Fantasy Football 2020 Rookie Rankings: Top Rookie RBs Part II

The NFL Draft is the official start to draft prep. Now that we know where the rookies have landed, it’s time to sort out which ones will be fantasy relevant, and how relevant they will be. Entering 2020, there should be about 11 relevant RBs, and below you’ll find the final six. Click here to read about the Top 5 rookie RBs.

Zack Moss, Bills (Rd. 3, No. 86 overall)

Moss isn’t a prototypical RB prospect, nor did he land on a team where he’s expected to see a heavy workload. At 5’9, 223 lbs. he’s a load, and his 40 time of 4.65 seconds means he’s on the slower end of the spectrum for the position. He also is behind Devin Singletary, a third rounder just last year who averaged 5.1 dynamic yards per carry. But, Singletary is small – 5’7, 207 lbs. – and notched just three touchdowns in 2019. The Bills didn’t give him much opportunity around the goal line, instead leaning on veteran Frank Gore or just letting QB Josh Allen punch it in. The addition of Moss seems to enforce the perception that Singletary is going to have to do his scoring on long plays or receptions. Moss scored 15 touchdowns for Utah last season, totaling 1,416 yards on the ground. Moss also caught 28 passes for 388 yards and two scores, so he’s well-rounded enough to earn more snaps, or even potentially eclipse Singletary. More likely, they’ll form a strong thunder-and-lightning combination, with Moss seeing fewer touches, but higher value opportunities. And should Singletary get banged up, Moss has the look of someone ready to immediately handle a leading role.

Joshua Kelley, Chargers (Rd. 4, No. 112 overall)

Kelley was very productive at UCLA, topping 200 carries and 1,000 rushing yards in back-to-back seasons, and scoring 12 and 13 touchdowns, respectively. He wasn’t much of a receiver, which limits his outlook, but with Melvin Gordon departed he has a good shot at early down and short yardage work for the Bolts.

Austin Ekeler is going to lead the Chargers’ backfield by a lot in terms of touches, but his small frame makes him iffy as a bell cow. The Chargers have talked up Justin Jackson, but while Gordon held out in 2019 Jackson, who was expected to split work with Ekeler, wound up a distant second option. A fourth round pick isn’t a huge investment, but it’s high enough that Kelley could start the season ahead of Jackson on the depth chart. That role would give him some desperation FLEX value in deeper leagues, with a chance at RB2 value if Ekeler went down.

DeeJay Dallas, Seahawks (Rd. 4, No. 144 overall)

Dallas wasn’t much of a pass-catcher in Miami, but that’s okay in Seattle, where the Seahawks run more than any other team in football besides the Ravens. The backfield looks crowded, but Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny are both coming off serious injuries late in 2019, putting their availability in the beginning of 2020 at risk. Penny is almost assuredly starting the season on the PUP list after tearing his ACL. Carson could be ready by Week 1, but hip injuries are very, very bad for RBs. If both are out, Dallas shouldn’t have any issue usurping fellow former Hurricane Travis Homer and securing a high-volume role. After averaging 5.3 yards or more through three collegiate seasons, that would be a role that allows him to surprise some people.

Anthony McFarland Jr., Steelers (Rd. 4, No. 124 overall)

McFarland Jr. wasn’t overly productive at Maryland, and he’s headed to a Steelers team with a clear RB1 in James Conner. He’s not a recommended draft pick here unless you are handcuffing Conner, who has shown that he’s fairly brittle. Yeah, Jaylen Samuels and Benny Snell are in town, but neither of them grabbed the reins while Conner was hurt last season, so I’d bet on McFarland to be the next man up in Pittsburgh.

A.J. Dillon, Packers (Rd. 2, No. 62 overall)

Dillon was wildly productive across three seasons at Boston College, topping 1,100 yards in each of his three seasons, racking up double-digit touchdowns in all three, scoring 14 times twice, and even notching 300 or more carries twice.

The problem is he’s landed in Green Bay, where Aaron Jones just scored 16 touchdowns in 2019, and Jamaal Williams was a high-usage backup. The Packers did not need Dillon, and despite his enormous frame and talent at finding the end zone, that’s not an area where the incumbent was failing. I’d be way higher on Dillon on another team, but in Green Bay he’s not even really a handcuff.

Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Buccaneers (Rd. 2, No. 76 overall)

Vaughn landed in a solid spot, because the Bucs don’t seem very impressed by incumbent Ronald Jones. He improved in 2019 on a disastrous rookie season, but improvement meant 724 rushing yards on just 172 carries. This offense is pass-heavy, and will be especially so with Tom Brady entering the fray, as well as TE Rob Gronkowski. Despite 31 catches by Jones last season, receiving isn’t his strong suit and that could be where Vaughn gets the majority of his early work. Unfortunately, despite the high scoring I’m expecting from Tampa Bay, Vaughn will be, at best, a fourth option behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Gronkowski. Not only that, Jones still should be the man in short yardage, limiting Vaughn’s touchdown upside. I don’t think I’d draft him, even as a handcuff, since Jones’ value is pretty low even as a starter. But he’s worth keeping track of.