-2020 NFL Schedule -Strength of Schedule
MOCK DRAFT
Ask the Commish.Com 2020 Draft Kit
Tyler Johnson will battle Justin Watson and Scott Miller for the No. 3 job in the Buccaneers receiving corps. He's probably not draftable in re-draft due to the presence of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Rob Gronkowski but he's worth a third-round pick in Dynasty rookie-only drafts.
The Broncos selected rookie receiver Jerry Jeudy in the first round of the NFL Draft, and he's expected to be the likely No. 2 option in the passing game. He's worth drafting with a mid-round pick in seasonal leagues and a first-round pick in rookie-only drafts for Dynasty formats. In Denver, Jeudy could compete with Courtland Sutton to be the No. 1 receiver right away. While Sutton likely has more upside in 2020, Jeudy has the better pedigree and could become the best pass catcher for the Broncos right away. We'll see how he does with Drew Lock and how quickly Jeudy picks up the offense, but he's oozing with upside. It's between him and CeeDee Lamb to be the top rookie receiver off the board this year.
The Eagles selected rookie receiver John Hightower in the fifth round of the NFL Draft, and he will compete for a role as a reserve in Philadelphia this year. He's not worth drafting in seasonal leagues. His value could rise if Alshon Jeffery or DeSean Jackson miss time due to injury, which happened in 2019, but Hightower would also have to contend with fellow rookies Jalen Reagor and Quez Watkins, as well as Marquise Goodwin and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. Hightower could carve out a role for himself if everyone is healthy, but he's definitely behind Jeffery, Jackson and Reagor on the depth chart to open the year. In rookie-only drafts for dynasty leagues, Hightower is only worth drafting with a late-round selection.
With their next pick after taking Joe Burrow in the NFL Draft, the Bengals took Clemson receiver Tee Higgins. The tall, lanky wideout with pretty good speed and great hands beat up on college defensive backs for over 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Higgins worked out with Burrow before the draft, which is swell since the two figure to work together for the foreseeable future. Higgins has an uphill battle for targets this year with A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd on the field, but there is massive potential as soon as 2021 when Green might not be with the Bengals. Higgins is still worth a late-round pick in this year's leagues, but has the upside of a Round 7 or 8 pick in Dynasty/keeper formats and a pick between 10th and 15th overall in rookie-only drafts.
The Chargers selected receiver Joe Reed in the fifth round of the NFL Draft, and he will compete for a role as a reserve this year. He is not worth drafting in seasonal Fantasy leagues, and he's only a late-round pick in rookie-only drafts for Dynasty formats. Reed will help the Chargers in the return game, but he's the No. 3 receiver at best behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. He'll have to compete with Andre Patton, Jason Moore and fellow rookie K.J. Hill for that job, and it's a position battle to monitor in training camp. At best, Reed can be added off the waiver wire in deeper leagues.
Brandon Aiyuk will add speed to the 49ers passing game, but will begin his career as a bench Fantasy receiver. Aiyuk has a second gear to kick into when he gets into space after the catch, and he's good at running through tackles. But Aiyuk does have a history of drops and wasn't among the well-established route-runners in his draft class. Kyle Shanahan has a way of making his playmakers good, so there's hope for Aiyuk, but patience is warranted - especially since he'll be behind George Kittle and Deebo Samuel for targets. Anytime after Round 10 is a good time to draft Aiyuk in seasonal leagues whereas he'll be a Round 9 choice in Dynasty start-ups and a pick between 10th overall and the end of Round 2 in rookie-only drafts.
The Cowboys drafted receiver CeeDee Lamb in Round 1 of the NFL Draft, and he's expected to compete for the No. 2 spot in Dallas behind Amari Cooper. We expect Lamb to be No. 3 on the depth chart behind Cooper and Michael Gallup, but Lamb can still make plenty of plays in his rookie campaign. He's a standout receiver with the ball in his hands, and he can line up inside and outside. But he will likely be third on the team in targets behind Cooper and Gallup, so it could take an injury to maximize his potential. He's only worth drafting with a mid-round pick in seasonal leagues, but he's still a first-round selection in rookie-only drafts for Dynasty formats. Lamb might be limited in his rookie season, but he's too talented to be limited for long.
The Steelers didn't just draft a receiver in Round 2 of the NFL Draft - they took a nearly 6-foot-5 giant who ran a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash at the combine. Funny, Claypool didn't play anywhere near that fast at Notre Dame but did manage to dominate defenders with 1,037 yards in 13 games with a touchdown every 5.1 catches. Put simply, Claypool's size makes him unique, not to mention tough to cover, but his route-running needs work. The Steelers have a good track record of cultivating receivers, so Claypool has a chance to be helpful. Might it happen as soon as 2020? Seems unlikely, but if his preseason reports are glowing then a late-round pick could be in order. His long-term outlook is brighter as he carries late-round appeal in Dynasty/keeper formats and is a borderline Round 2/Round 3 option in rookie-only drafts.
Fantasy managers will be attracted to Justin Jefferson's velcro hands and good size, putting him in the conversation of picks between 110th and 120th overall. The Vikings were attracted to Jefferson's entire skill set, including his ability to win jump balls and scamper away from defenders with his short-area quickness. It's likely that Jefferson will begin 2020 as a starter for the Vikings opposite Adam Thielen, opening the door to help Fantasy managers as a quality bench receiver, especially in PPR. Jefferson will go closer to 90th overall in long-term formats like Dynasty drafts, and he's a lock to get picked between fifth and 12th overall in rookie-only drafts.