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Fantasy football 2020 impact after first round of NFL Draft

By Bill Pivetz

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 13: Quarterback Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers runs off the field after running in for a score during the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Clemson Tigers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. LSU defeated Clemson 42 to 25. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 13: Quarterback Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers runs off the field after running in for a score during the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Clemson Tigers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. LSU defeated Clemson 42 to 25. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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How do the skill players drafted in the first round affect the upcoming fantasy football season?

With all sports on pause since March, football and sports fans everywhere were excited to watch the NFL Draft. The draft is also the unofficial start to the upcoming football season. Fantasy football owners are excited to see where the new rookies land and how it impacts the fantasy football values of everyone around them.

At the end of the first round, there were four quarterbacks, one running back, six wide receivers and zero tight ends. The offensive line will help their quarterbacks and secondary picks will help the defense as a whole but they aren’t the players fantasy owners get excited about.

Some of the players will start for their team and have a big impact right away. Others will sit on the bench and learn before taking their first snap. This piece will let you know which rookies to target this season and which ones to avoid (unless you play in dynasty leagues). I’ll start with the quarterbacks and go from there.

Quarterbacks

Joe Burrow, CIN

This pick was expected since we knew Cincinnati had the first overall pick and It was announced the day before the draft. Burrow is likely to start for the Bengals this season but for fantasy football, I’d stay away. The Bengals have solid weapons in the passing game and Burrow could be a low-end QB1 in 12-team leagues. Having a quarterback like Burrow throwing to AJ Green, Tyler Boyd and Joe Mixon could lead to a lot of points.

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Tua Tagovailoa, MIA

The Dolphins were also expected to take a quarterback and they did in Tagovailoa. There’s a lot of concern around his injury history but if he’s healthy, the Dolphins should be set for a few years. He will likely redshirt his first season in the league as Ryan Fitzpatrick starts. However, 2021 will be the year to target Tagovailoa in re-draft leagues.

Justin Herbert, LAC

After losing Philip Rivers, the Chargers were also in the hunt for a quarterback. They likely weren’t going to start the season with Tyrod Taylor under center. However, the Chargers coaching staff praised Taylor and expressed their confidence in him. Herbert will have to prove he can take over the starting job this offseason. I like the weapons he has around him in Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Austin Ekeler and Hunter Henry. They will get a boost in value with Herbert under center.

Jordan Love, GB

This was the surprise pick of the draft. The Packers have needed offensive help for years. Yet, they continue to pass up on skill players, especially in the first round. They could have used one of the six receivers drafted. Instead, they drafted the expected heir to the starting job in Love. He isn’t going to start for a couple of seasons unless the Packers move on from Aaron Rodgers sooner. Hopefully, they have some more offensive weapons by then. Love won’t be drafted this season.

Running Back

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC

In a very receiver-heavy draft, Edwards-Helaire was the only running back drafted. There were a couple of others that were fringe first-round picks but were not selected. Edwards-Helaire goes to a Chiefs team that can utilize all of his talents. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid loves his pass-catching running backs and CEH fits that mold. I still think Damien Williams has a role but his value is greatly diminished. Owners in PPR leagues should target Edwards-Helaire.

Wide Receivers

Henry Ruggs III, LV

Ruggs was the first receiver off the board at pick No. 12. As is tradition, the Raiders pick the fastest receiver available. But, Ruggs has more to offer. He has great hands, toughness, competitiveness, and deep ball tracking ability, something Derek Carr needs in a wide receiver. He will play opposite of Tyrell Williams with Zay Jones and Nelson Agholor on the bench. Ruggs should be drafted in all leagues.

Jerry Jeudy, DEN

Jeudy joins a rebuilding Broncos offense. Drew Lock takes over the quarterback duties. Melvin Gordon is the starting running back and Jeudy is starting opposite of Courtland Sutton. This is what I mentioned in my last piece, pushing down the value of DaeSean Hamilton. However, Jeudy is a much better option. He’s going to be a star and this even helps Lock’s fantasy value.

CeeDee Lamb, DAL

Lamb going to the Cowboys is a great move for them but a bad move for fantasy football. While Dak Prescott threw the ball 596 times, there are too many mouths to feed on this offense. Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup are going to want the ball. Ezekiel Elliott is also going to get his 275-plus carries as well as another 50 receptions. Lamb may break out to be a top-10 wide receiver but this season, he’s a WR3 at best.

Jalen Reagor, PHI

The Eagles drafting a receiver was just as obvious as the Bengals selecting Burrow. They dealt with so many injuries last season and their depth at the position is not the greatest. DeSean Jackson is their No. 1 and, while still explosive, is getting up there in age. Alshon Jeffery‘s status is unknown and the other options were not reliable down the stretch. Many thought they would go another route but Reagor can provide speed and snatch the ball away from defenders. This is a good offense for him to go to.

Justin Jefferson, MIN

With the Eagles going with Reagor, the Vikings couldn’t pass on Jefferson. They traded away Stefon Diggs and needed someone to fill his shoes. They lack depth at the position, so Jefferson will start right away. He is primarily a slot receiver and will rack up the receptions as Kirk Cousin’s go-to target across the middle. Jefferson will be drafted in the later rounds.

Brandon Aiyuk, SF

The final player on this list was selected 25th overall. Aiyuk isn’t the fastest receiver but has the hands to catch almost anything thrown his way. The 49ers have depth at the position but the names there are not reliable. Deebo Samuel is the only one I’d trust. The team is also thinking about trading one or two of their receivers, specifically Marquise Goodwin. For dynasty owners, Aiyuk is an all-or-nothing pick. I wouldn’t draft him in re-draft leagues this season. There’s a lot of depth at the position already, so you don’t need another rookie in the mix. He may be someone to target off the waiver wire after we see how he’s used in the offense.

Next. Fantasy football 2020: Top 10 players after pick 200. dark

This was an exciting first round of the NFL draft and the second round has already proven to be the same. Most of these players will start and have an impact on fantasy football. Others may take a year before you draft them. Either way, there are a lot of new names in the player pool this season.

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