Rookie Dynasty Mock Draft 2020 part II

By John Laub
John Laub

 

 

  Dynasty Football 101

 

              Rookie Mock Draft part II

 

                 February 14-17, 2020

 

 

 

Second-Round Recap and Analysis

 

2.2 WR Justin Jefferson, LSU

“My next selection was Justin Jefferson, who I think is just beginning to coalesce as a prospect. A junior in 2019, he led the country with 111 receptions. His 18 receiving touchdowns ranked second in the country and his 1,540 receiving yards were third most. He’s about 6-foot-3 and 196-pounds, and he had a 91% catch rate, my guess is he’s likely to run about 4.48 40-yard dash at the Combine. I think he becomes a slightly slower version of D. J. Chark.” 

Bill Carroll, @elevenbravo138

 

2.2 WR Laviska Shenault, Jr., Colorado

“Laviska Shenault may be raw as a route runner, but he more than makes up for it with his ability once the ball is in his hands. At 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds and rumored to run a 4.40, there may not be a receiver in the draft harder to tackle than Shenault, who forced 57 missed tackles across 191 career touches on offense per PFF. Just get him the ball in space and watch him work.”

Jack Cavanagh, @javanagh87

 

2.3 QB Joe Burrow, LSU

“At 6-foot-4 and 216 pounds, Burrow has the size and stats of an elite prospect, completing 77% of his passes for 60 touchdowns. After winning the title, Burrow also has the ‘IT’ factor. Coordinators and coaching will be key to his professional growth, but I see a young Tony Romo in Burrow, and I am certain that he will be a top twelve fantasy guy immediately.”

Mitch Hardt, @aceholesrule

 

 

2.4 WR Bryan Edwards, South Carolina

“Bryan Edwards is a physical beast at the receiver position; he dominates defenders using his body to box out and create separation at the catch point. Edwards also excels with contested catches giving him a lot of red zone upside. Edwards has the upside to be his team’s top receiver, and at this point of the draft that’s getting harder to find.”

Ryan Cearfoss, @fntsyfbconnect

 

2.5 WR Antonio Gandy-Golden, Liberty

“Antonio Gandy-Golden is a star waiting to happen. He is somewhat overlooked by some due to playing at small school, but his strong performance during Senior Bowl week has raised his profile. AGG could prove to be a steal at this point of the second round, and is a name to target once the first round is in the books. He is currently nineteenth overall in terms of rookie ADP in 1-QB leagues, but has the upside to return first-round value. A special talent who can make spectacular catches with ease, Gandy-Golden is set to become a household Dynasty name by the end of day two of the NFL Draft.”

Raju Byfield, @FantasyContext

 

2.6 WR Tyler Johnson, Minnesota

“I was hoping for Z. Moss, L. Shenault or K. Vaughn here but I’ll settle for Tyler Johnson. The Gophers’ star amassed over 3,300 receiving yards during his four years at Minnesota with a whopping 33 touchdowns, which is fifth all-time in the Big Ten. Johnson is a big-physical receiver—6-foor-2 and 205 pounds—with great hands and runs very good routes. I was a bit disappointed Johnson did not get an invite to the Senior Bowl as I believed he could have had a Cooper Kupp-Terry McLaurin-esque week, but I look forward to seeing him at the Combine. His size, speed and agility should grant him some buzz.”

Johnny Schepps, @CoachSchepps

 

2.7 WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State

“In between draft picks, I went to see Birds of Prey on Saturday and crossed my fingers that Brandon Aiyuk would fall to me with my second pick. Since I selected Clyde Edwards-Helaire, seven wide receivers went off the board. Luckily, the Sun Devils’ home run hitter remained available. I immediately scooped Aiyuk up. A JUCO transfer, the senior blossomed with nearly 1,200 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. He is a quick-twitch athlete who easily escapes tacklers and is dynamic in the open field. Unfortunately, he did not participate in the Senior Bowl, and I am patiently waiting to see how he scores athletically at the Combine. I like the value of a potential playmaker with a high ceiling in the second round.”

John Laub, @GridironSchol91

 

2.8 RB A.J. Dillon, Boston College

“With my second-round pick, I was hoping to go receiver, but my philosophy has always been to stockpile potential bell-cow backs. Fifteen years ago, Dillon may have been that guy, and he would have been labeled the personification of a RB prospect. At 6-foot-0 and 250 pounds, he is a bruiser. In the current NFL, he’s more of the thunder to be paired with the lightning. That said, he’s quicker than he gets credit for, in my opinion, you see on the highlight reel he can pull away from secondary defenders. I took him here, as I see at the very least a touchdown-heavy, short yardage back aka a Derrick Henry light. Dillon could very easily end up being, depending on where he is drafted, a fifteen-plus touch guy with a modest ceiling.” 

Rich Maletto, @BodaciousBeer

 

2.9 WR Michael Pittman, Jr., USC

“Michael Pittman, Jr. is one of the most underrated players in this draft class. His hype has been lost amongst poor quarterback play and in the shadows of Tyler Vaughn and Amon Ra St. Brown. He is a well-rounded boundary wide receiver that beats defensive backs constantly with sharp footwork and a quick release, can climb the ladder to win jump balls over nearly any corner unlikely enough to be matched up against him without help, and displays quick lateral movements that make it look like he’s gliding around the field.”

Matt Hicks, @TheFF_Educator

 

2.10 WR Devin Duvernay, Texas

“As mentioned with my first pick, the wide receiver class is very deep, and I landed a gem here. Duvernay offers good short-area quickness and has the ability to turn any screen or three-yard route into a first down. He has outstanding hands as evidenced by his 104 catches in 2019 but sometimes he still allows the ball get into his body. After the catch, he runs with more power than you would expect from a wide receiver. The Longhorns’ product will be a very good slot receiver wherever he lands.” 

Jeff DeMatteo, @NFL_DiMatteo

 

 

2.11 RB Lamical Perine, Florida

“I am higher than most on Lamical Perine. As a senior, Perine averaged 5.1 yards per carry and caught 40 passes displaying versatility in his game. Late in the second round, I am willing to take a shot on a back with a three-down body and good speed. At 5-foot-11 and 211 pounds, the former Florida product has the size to handle 15-20 touches per game and his lack of injury history bodes well for him answering the bell when called. I’d expect Perine to push for a time share role to start out. Each year though, a back seems to come from the pack and put up low RB No. 1 to No. 2 numbers, and Perine has the makings of being that guy in 2020.”

Dennis Bennett, @Culture_Coach

 

2.12 QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

“Selecting Tagovailoa 24 picks into the draft was too good to pass up. Yes, there is the injury concern; however, he could very well be the best quarterback to come out of this class when it’s all said and done. It’s a value and upside play that could prove to be brilliant or a disaster; either way, I’m excited to see where he lands and to have him on my roster. A team will move up in the draft to select him, and he should have every opportunity to start Week 1 assuming he’s fully recovered from his hip injury.”  

— Brandon Lejeune, @DynastyDeepDive

 

Avengers Assemble: Mock Drafters

1.Bill Carroll, @elevenbravo138

2. Jack Cavanagh, @javanagh87

3. Mitch Hardt, @aceholesrule

4. Ryan Cearfoss, @fntsyfbconnect

5. Raju Byfield, @FantasyContext

6. Johnny Schepps, @CoachSchepps

7. John Laub, @GridironSchol91

8. Rich Maletto, @BodaciousBeer

9. Matt Hicks, @TheFF_Educator

10. Jeff DeMatteo, @NFL_DiMatteo

11. Dennis Bennett, @Culture_Coach

12. Brandon Lejeune, @DynastyDeepDive

 

Third-Round Recap and Analysis

 

3.1 RB Eno Benjamin, Arizona State

“My final pick was Eno Benjamin, he was the first Sun Devil since 1974-75 to surpass 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons. He’s a classic contact-balance, fall forward, quick back with a bit more pop than his 5-foot-9 and 216-pound frame may suggest. I think become an important cog in a committee backfield in the mode of Ahmad Bradshaw.” 

Bill Carroll, @elevenbravo138

 

3.2 WR K.J. Hamler, Penn State

“K.J. Hamler tore his ACL before his senior season of high school and then redshirted as a freshman at Penn State. Hamler spent two years without playing a football game, and when he returned, he put up 799 receiving yards and six touchdowns in the Big Ten. At just 5-foot-9 and 176 pounds, Hamler is undersized in addition to being inexperienced, but his stock is going to explode when he runs a sub-4.30 in the 40-yard dash at the Combine.”

Jack Cavanagh, @javanagh87

 

 

3.3 WR Denzel Mims, Baylor

“Denzel Mims, 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, has a long-and-rangy frame with very good top-end speed and nice hands. Catches the ball with great extension and works the sideline well. Mims reminds me of DeVante Parker. He won’t win the Combine but has a great mix of size, speed and hands. The Eagles would be a near perfect fit.” 

Mitch Hardt, @aceholesrule

 

3.4 WR Van Jefferson, Florida

“Van Jefferson is someone who has just exploded onto the scene as of recently with a phenomenal Senior Bowl showing. He exhibited just how good he was at getting open and how productive he could be with a quality quarterback. Jefferson showed enough upside to have the potential of being an industrious player at the next level.”

Ryan Cearfoss, @fntsyfbconnect

 

3.5 RB DeeJay Dallas, Miami

“DeeJay Dallas is arguably the top rookie running back who has not yet entered the consensus Top 10 conversation. Pop on his tape and you will think you are watching an electric scat-back with surprising power and an every-down skillset. Then you find out he is listed at 220 pounds. Dallas is a home run hitter, who has great contact balance, a combination of which propelled him to third in the draft class in chunk play percentage (carries ten+ yards by percent) at 18.26%. There is no guarantee that Dallas will be drafted for a lead-back role, but he has the tools to force his way into a committee role immediately.” 

Raju Byfield, @FantasyContext

 

3.6 RB Anthony Mcfarland, Maryland

“I started the draft with an electrifying player, and I ended with one. Anthony McFarland’s production dropped in his sophomore campaign due to a high-ankle sprain but his freshman season was quite impressive with 1,034 rushing yards and 7.9 yards per carry. The former Terrapins’ ball carrier makes defenders miss with a nasty juke, and then, runs by and around opponents with good vision, impressive anticipation and terrific burst. I believe his best football is ahead, and I’m happy with the mid-third round price.”

Johnny Schepps, @CoachSchepps

        

3.7 WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan

“In the third round, I like to target quarterbacks or upside playmakers. I hoped that Tua Tagovailoa would fall to me but he did not. Therefore, I targeted a wide receiver with a high ceiling. In evaluating Donovan Peoples-Jones, career production will not illuminate a professional future. A five-star prospect in high school, the former Wolverine immediately made an impact, earning Freshman All-American as a punt returner and Michigan’s Rookie of the Year. At 6-foot-2 and 208 pounds, the junior has the size and athleticism with good body control and hands that foreshadow a gamebreaker at the next level. He snatched only 103 passes for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns during his campus tenure; however, those numbers must be placed in context. Peoples-Jones performed in a Neanderthal-like aerial assualt under coach Jim Harbaugh with meager quarterback production. I’ll shot for the moon in the third round, and the speedster offers a jet pack to reach the stars.” 

John Laub, @GridironSchol91

 

3.8 QB Justin Herbert, Oregon

“Even though this was just a mock for a 1 QB, ppr-league format, I went ahead and snagged this quarterback. This was a lottery ticket to me. There are plenty of questions about his ability to take the next step, as he’s quick to pull the ball down instead of going through all his progressions, and he’s worked almost exclusively out of the shotgun. What can’t be coached or learned is his size, 6-foot-6 and 227 pounds, and his natural ability to add touch on the ball when needed. I will gamble on size and skills since these are things that can be coached or learned. He is moving up NFL team draft boards—a report came out this week—and the Dolphins supposedly prefer Herbert over Tua. I attained Herbert a round later than Tua.”

Rich Maletto, @BodaciousBeer

 

3.9 RB JaMycal Hasty, Baylor

“I don’t blame you if this is the first time you’re hearing JaMycal Hasty’s name. He ran the ball just 386 times over four years at Baylor, but averaged above five yards per carry in his collegiate career. He bursts off the line of scrimmage and has high-end acceleration. He navigates between the tackles well and is equal parts elusive and balanced, which makes him a nightmare for defenders to constantly take down. His limited volume may push him to day three in the NFL Draft, but don’t let it push him off your fantasy football radar.”

Matt Hicks, @TheFF_Educator

 

3.10 TE Brycen Hopkins, Purdue

“Pretty sure I’m the only guy taking a tight end in this mock and I’m ok with that. Hopkins is the son of former Titans OL Brad Hopkins. The younger Hopkins is more athletic than his dad was but not nearly the blocker. The good news for him is that he is the kind of player the league is looking for at the tight end position. He’s a big guy, 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds, who runs solid routes and has a fantastic pedigree. If he tests well at the Combine, he could be drafted in the top 24 picks of rookie drafts.”

Jeff DeMatteo, @NFL_DiMatteo

 

 

3.11 WR Isaiah Hodgins, Oregon State

“At the end of the third, I am looking for potential and Isaiah Hodgins provides just that. At 6-foot-4 and 209 pounds with strong hands, Hodgins makes up for the lack of elite speed by creating separation with quick cuts. Hodgins has a large-catch radius and should be able to step into a red zone role quickly. After putting up 86 catches for 1,171 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior, Hodgins is ready to take on the NFL and be a reliable target for some lucky quarterback.”

Dennis Bennett, @Culture_Coach

 

3.12 TE Cole Kmet, Notre Dame

“Having a stable of quality tight ends on your roster gives you a competitive advantage in dynasty. All of us are trying to uncover the next Gronk so selecting the top-rated tight end in the draft was my selection. This pick comes with risk however, as Kmet will be barely 21-years old when his name is called on draft night, and he’s had limited production because he played baseball full time in his early years at Notre Dame. Nonetheless, he has the youth, size and work ethic to possibly grow into one of the top tight ends in the NFL.”

— Brandon Lejeune, @DynastyDeepDive

 

Top Undrafted Dynasty Assets:

       Best Available Players to Target in Rounds 4 & 5

 

QB Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma

RB Joshua Kelley, UCLA

RB Darrynton Evans, Appalachian State

RB Scottie Phillips, Ole Miss

WR Collin Johnson, Texas

WR James Proche, SMU

WR Lynn Bowden, Jr. Kentucky

TE Harrison Bryant, FAU

TE Adam Trautman, Dayton

 

It is John Laub’s seventh year publishing The Scholar’s Study Sheets: NFL Draft Prospects. With his Masters in history and professional experience as an educator, Laub is uniquely qualified to research, analyze and discover new insights and trends in college and professional football. Laub has played fantasy football over thirty years and published articles for FootballDiehards.com for well over 25 years. He won $10,000 in 1993, defeating nearly 15,000 owners, and published Audibles: Winning is Everything in the 1990s. He truly is The Gridiron Scholar.

Twitter: @GridironSchol91 or e-mail: Audibles@aol.com