The impact of the 2020 NFL Draft on the upcoming fantasy football season
By Kyle Edmond
Of the 2020 NFL Draft selections, who will have the greatest impact on fantasy football this coming season?
Every year the NFL Draft produces top fantasy football talent and the 2020 NFL Draft class will be no different. Although there isn’t a Saquon Barkley or Ezekiel Elliott in this class (both players that were top selections even in their rookie seasons), there are still plenty of strong contributors available. Whether it’s a keeper league, dynasty, or just redraft, each position offers a variety of talent that can make a difference.
Going through the core positions of fantasy football — quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end — I’ll identify the best available at each position, as well as a sleeper pick that will return high value over where they are selected and a bust pick that should be avoided at all costs.
With little “big-name talent” like a Barkley or Elliott from the 2020 NFL Draft, the door is open for those who do their homework to dominate leagues with talented rookies later in the draft. Players like D’Andre Swift or Henry Ruggs could be the difference makers late in the season while Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerry Jeudy might be immediate contributors.
When it comes to a dynasty league, these players will go much higher than a standard redraft.
Down the road, the rookies of the 2020 NFL Draft will be the core of fantasy football teams, but at this point, they could just be value picks that make a big difference.
For redraft leagues, they could provide a late-season boost, or in some cases a reliable option at any point during the season. As for keeper leagues, it’ll fall somewhere in the middle. Depending on how many keepers there are, some players could easily be candidates to hold on to moving to next season and the seasons after or at the very least hold the same value they do in redraft leagues.