Fantasy Football 2020 Rookie Rankings: Top Rookie WRs Part II
The 2020 draft was billed as the Year of the Receiver, and if the hype is to be believed, there are 13 rookie pass-catchers who may become fantasy relevant in Year 1. Here are the final seven. For the Top 6 rookie WRs click here.
Tee Higgins, Bengals (Rd. 2, No. 33 overall)
Higgins is a tremendous prospect who has landed in a potentially excellent situation. The Bengals have an offensive-minded coach, a brand spanking new QB in Joe Burrow, the No. 1 overall pick in this draft, and abundant skill talent. That last part is what cools me a bit on Higgins’ Year 1 prospects. No. 1 WR A.J. Green is expected to be at full strength this season, and Tyler Boyd has become a very trusty target out of the slot. There’s also former 2017 Top 10 pick John Ross, who was the fastest player in his draft and flashed before getting hurt last year. I am a believe in Higgins long term, but for this season there’s a few too many mouths to feed for him to be a major fantasy asset.
Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers (Rd. 1, No. 25 overall)
Aiyuk is a big boy, and a sorely needed tough catch-maker who can help keep defenses from focusing all attention on TE George Kittle. Aiyuk has a reputation for winning one-on-one battles, and has 4.5 speed to make big plays down the field, and after the catch on shorter routes. He averaged 18.3 yards per catch at Arizona State and scored eight touchdowns, so he’ll be another weapon for Jimmy Garoppolo in the red zone. It is tough for rookie receivers to really dominate right out of the gate, though, so keep expectations managed. Aiyuk should see solid opportunity, but Kittle is the clear No. 1 receiving option, and the 49ers are one of the most run-dominant offenses in football. Still, Aiyuk has the ceiling of a WR2 if everything breaks right.
Devin Duvernay, Ravens (Rd. 3, No. 92 overall)
Duvernay does not have the ceiling of guys like Aiyuk, Higgins, or even a few of the pass-catchers still to come. Duvernay, however, looks ready to walk into a high-volume role on a high-scoring offense. Baltimore leans hard on the running game, and that won’t change after adding RB J.K. Dobbins to their already ridiculous rushing attack. They lacked reliable receiving options though, and for all their running prowess teams still have to throw. Their top option was TE Mark Andrews, and no receiver had a catch percentage that even broke 65%. Enter Duvernay, who reeled in 106 passes last season as a senior for Texas, totaling 1,136 yards and nine touchdowns.
At 5’10, 200 lbs. he isn’t as physically impressive as other prospects in this class, but he has 4.39 speed to hurt defenses all over the field and he led the nation in receptions against big time competition. The low volume of passing in this offense hurts Duvernay’s ultimate ceiling, but there’s no doubt he could end the year as the Ravens’ WR1.
Chase Claypool, Steelers (Rd. 2, No. 49 overall)
Claypool is another exciting prospect whose situation limits his Year 1 potential. Claypool is a total beast of a receiver at 6’4, 238 lbs. with 4.4 speed. He put up big numbers at Notre Dame, hauling in 66 passes for 1,037 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Steelers also have a knack for crushing it with WR draft selections, so Claypool is a tasty dynasty pick. There’s also a world where he is one of the top rookies right away; his size will make him very appealing to Ben Roethlisberger in the red zone, and he has me thinking of Mike Evans back in the 2014 draft.
But, Pittsburgh has many options. Juju Smith-Schuster is still there, just one season removed from being a borderline first round fantasy pick. James Washington, a former second round pick is there and so is Diontae Johnson, who had a bit of a breakout with the Steelers’ cast of misfit QBs in 2019. The future is bright for Claypool, but right now he has a ton of receivers in his path, and a Roethlisberger injury torpedoes the value of all Steelers pass-catchers.
Denzel Mims, Jets (Rd. 2, No. 59 overall)
Mims fell further than most expected, and he went to a team where he should be able to play right away and have an immediate impact. At 6’3, 207 lbs. with sub-4.4 speed, Mims is physically everything you’d want in a No. 1 receiver. He caught 66 passes for 1,020 yards and 12 touchdowns at Baylor. Mims is a proven touchdown scorer, putting up 28 over his final three college seasons.
Mims could easily leapfrog a number of players on this list, including receivers I have in Part 1; my concern is the Jets’ low-wattage offense. Sam Darnold hasn’t proven he can support multiple pass-catchers’ fantasy relevance, and even though the Jets addressed the offensive line in a big way, these hogs are mostly rookies and will have growing pains. Plus, Jamison Crowder remains as a bit of a target hound out of the slot. Eventually, Mims may become a strong No. 1 for Gang Green, and even fantasy teams, but right now he’s probably a streaming type option in good matchups.
KJ Hamler, Broncos (Rd. 2, No. 46 overall)
Hamler, a burner out of Penn State, will have some moments this season. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to predict them, because he is competing for looks with Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, TE Noah Fant, as well as RBs Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay. On top of all that, second-year QB Drew Lock is far from locked in as a valuable signal caller. It’s very possible that Lock stinks, and nerfs the value of all these guys. If Hamler was in line for the volume that Henry Ruggs should see in Las Vegas, I’d be more pumped. For now though, Hamler is going to have some awesome highlights, but ultimately be an unreliable fantasy option.
Jalen Reagor, Eagles (Rd. 1, No. 21 overall)
Reagor landed with the Eagles, an offense that needed WR in a bad way. But despite 4.47 speed and a strong draft grade, the production did not pass muster for me. Reagor caught 43 passes for 611 yards and five touchdowns, a dramatic step back from an impressive sophomore campaign. He scored nine touchdowns the previous season, but has never hit double digits at TCU, and he’s only broken 1,000 yards once. I’d expect a bit more, considering TCU isn’t quite a powerhouse like Alabama or LSU, where the depth of talent can suppress production across the board. Reagor may wind up relevant just based on opportunity alone, but Alshon Jeffery is still there as the No. 1, and Philly has two excellent TEs in Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert. The volume may not be as plentiful as some are projecting.