NFL 2020 Post-Draft Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

The NFL 2020 Draft is over.  The fantasy football season is in full swing. And the winners and losers may determine how your fantasy season plays out.

QUARTERBACK

WINNER: DREW LOCK

Are you kidding?  John Elway drafted like he was playing fantasy football. In his 10 picks, Elway gifted Lock with back-to-back wide receivers, Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler.  He also added a tight end to go with Noah Fant, and another wide receiver in round six.

Last season Lock only played five games due to injury.  In those five games he threw seven touchdowns and three interceptions.  His completion rate was 64.1 percent and he averaged 31.2 attempts per game.  While averaging 6.5 yards per game.

Now he has Jeudy, Hamler, Courtland Sutton and Noah Fant in the fold.  Last season Jeudy averaged 15.1 yards per reception with 10 touchdowns.  Hamler averaged 16.1 yards per reception with eight touchdowns.

As for that pesky offensive line problem, he added a center and a guard.

LOSER: JARRETT STIDHAM or BRIAN HOYER

Whoever is under center for the New England Patriots.  Last season the Patriots averaged 5.2 yards on offensive plays.  It is reported that Tom Brady’s possible return to the Patriots hinged on the Patriots getting him some real weapons.

That didn’t happen.  Let that sink in.  The G.O.A.T felt he couldn’t succeed with the weapons the Patriots had…have.

WIDE RECEIVER

WINNER: DENZEL MIMS

Mims turned heads at the combine.  He had the best time among wide receivers in the 3-cone drill (6.66 seconds), while posting top five times in 40-yard dash (4.38 seconds) and the broad jump (131.0 inches).

And now he has landed in the best possible place.  The Jets lost Robby Anderson and Demaryius Thomas.  That is 154 targets up for grabs.

Last season Mims was on the receiving end of 66 receptions, 1,020 yards and 12 touchdowns.  He averaged 15.45 yards per reception.

Mims landed in the best possible landing spot.

LOSER: MICHAEL GALLUP

CeeDee Lamb fell into the Dallas Cowboys lap.  So now the Cowboys are currently rostering Amari Cooper, Ezekiel Elliott, Lamb and Gallup.  Gone are Jason Witten and Randall Cobb which is 166 open targets, 83 belonging to Cobb, who averaged 5.5 targets per game.  Witten averaged 5.2 targets per game.

Last season Cooper averaged 7.4 targets per game.  Gallup averaged 8.1 targets per game.  It is assured that Lamb will average more than 5.5 targets.

In his 2019 season, Lamb was the top ranked wide receiver in yards per target (14.3), yard per route run (3.9) and yards after the catch per reception (11.2). Lamb is more than capable of eating into Gallup’s production.

RUNNING BACK

WINNER: JAMES CONNER

There were pre-draft rumors that the Pittsburgh Steelers would draft a running back.  They did.  Maryland’s running back Anthony McFarland in the fourth round.

Conner had a down year last ear.  He only played in 10 games.  He finished with 464 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.  This was after his rookie season ran for 973 rushing yards and 13 total touchdowns.

Drafting a running back in the fourth round should be a boost to Conner’s confidence in Pittsburgh, and a bounce back year in his production.

LOSER: MARLON MACK

Speaking of running backs in the last year of their contract, Mack is in the last year of his contract.

The Indianapolis Colts traded up to get Jonathan Taylor.  Mack is good.  He runs behind the third ranked offensive line.  Now a more dynamic runner just got drafted.

Mack will be the starter.  Don’t look for him to retain that position for very long.

TIGHT END

WINNER: HAYDEN HURST

The Falcons did not draft a tight end.  They have Hurst to replace Austin Hooper.  In that offense, Hooper was targeted 97 times in 2019.  He finished with 75 receptions, 787 yards and six touchdowns.

While sharing the field with Mark Andrews last season, Hurst was targeted 39 times.  He had 30 receptions for 349 yards and two touchdowns.

Stepping into Hooper’s shoes in this potent offense makes Hurst a winner.

LOSER: DARREN WALLER

It is not that Waller is a loser.  It is that the Las Vegas Raiders upgraded their offense.

Waller was the leading receiver in the Raiders offense last season.  He finished as TE3 in fantasy football.  He was targeted 117 times for 90 receptions and three touchdowns.

With the first round selection of Henry Ruggs, Bryan Edwards and Lynn Bowden, look for Waller’s production to decrease.  It’s inevitable.

Fantasy football season is here people.  Be diligent.

 

ATTN Dynasty Commissioners: Do you want to do something cool for your league? How about a 1-hour live show dedicated to YOUR league? Team-by-team breakdowns, rankings, and more. For details and to book a show, visit: GoingFor2.com/plp.