The third issue of The Draft Board: Volume 2 will finish our look at 2020’s top rookies. This final portion of the series will be structured a bit differently. Since later rookies are harder to predict, less likely to hit, and more conditional to team need, each player will be accompanied by just a short write-up on their situation and their fantasy role. After all, when you’re looking at players this deep, there’s not a big difference between #43 and #63. As a trade off, this issue will include twice as many players as the previous two, to make sure anybody fantasy relevant is covered.
Most of the following players’ fantasy role is as a handcuff. A handcuff is a player who likely won’t see major playing time unless the player(s) ahead of them on the depth chart are injured. This makes them especially choice draft candidates if you already roster the player ahead of them on the depth chart, since it means your newly drafted rookie will act as an insurance policy in the case your starter is injured.
| Rank | Player | Pos. | College | Team | Round Drafted | Player Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #33 | Eno Benjamin | RB (12) | Arizona State | ARI | 7 | Likely RB3 in Arizona, behind Kenyan Drake and Chase Edmonds. Graded higher in scouting than several running backs who were selected before him. Role: Possible Kenyan Drake Handcuff |
| #34 | Joshua Kelley | RB (13) | UCLA | LAC | 4 | Likely RB3 on the Chargers, behind Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson. Scouting reports grade him as a low ceiling power runner. Role: Possible Austin Ekeler Handcuff |
| #35 | Lynn Bowden Jr. | RB (14) | Kentucky | LV | 3 | Possible RB2 on the Raiders, competing with Jalen Richard and clearly behind Josh Jacobs. In college, Bowden played quarterback, receiver, and return specialist. He was officially drafted as a running back, which he played in High School, but the Raiders have intentions of using him as a utility player. Role: Possible Josh Jacobs Handcuff |
| #36 | Deejay Dallas | RB (15) | Miami | SEA | 4 | Likely RB3 in Seattle who has received comparisons to Chris Carson. If Rashaad Penny starts the year on the PUP, Dallas could have a chance to shine and take over the starting job once Carson is gone. Or, he could struggle with weight issues and be out of the league in two years. Role: Chris Carson AND Rashaad Penny Handcuff |
| #37 | Adam Trautman | TE (2) | Dayton | NO | 3 | Possible TE2 in New Orleans, with a chance to become the #1 after Jared Cook is gone. Although, Drew Brees may also be gone by then. Role: Practice Squad Stash |
| #38 | Donovan Peoples-Jones | WR (18) | Michigan | CLE | 6 | Possible WR3 in Cleveland behind OBJ and Jarvis Landry, but Cleveland rarely uses three wide out sets. Scouting reports consider him a big slot receiver with sluggish routes. Role: Possible Odell Beckham Jr. Handcuff |
| #39 | Jordan Love | QB (4) | Utah State | GB | 1 | QB2 in Green Bay. The Packers traded up in the first round to get Love. He could be a future Aaron Rodgers replacement, but Rodgers’ contract doesn’t expire until Love’s does. Role: Aaron Rodgers Handcuff OR Practice Squad Stash |
| #40 | Lamical Perine | RB (16) | Florida | NYJ | 4 | Likely RB2 on the Jets behind Le’Veon Bell. The Jets have a potential out on Bell’s contract after this year, and there’s buzz Perine could take over in 2021 if he performs well. However, scouting reports only grade him as backup caliber. Role: Le’Veon Bell Handcuff OR Practice Squad Stash |
| #41 | Jalen Hurts | QB (5) | Oklahoma | PHI | 2 | QB2 in Philadelphia. Hurts was graded in scouting as a possible starter, but he’s unlikely to take the role from Carson Wentz in Philadelphia. Role: Carson Wentz Handcuff OR Practice Squad Stash |
| #42 | Jason Huntley | RB (17) | New Mexico State | DET | 5 | Possible RB3 in Detroit, absolutely behind Kerryon Johnson and D’Andre Swift. Lions G.M. Bob Quinn suggested Huntley will compete with Tyler Johnson for a role in the backfield. Given Kerryon Johnson’s injury history, there could be an eventual path to fantasy relevance if Huntley can beat Tyler Johnson. Role: Kerryon Johnson Handcuff |
| #43 | Brycen Hopkins | TE (3) | Purdue | LAR | 4 | Likely TE3 on the Rams behind Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett. He’s unlikely to see the field much until Everett’s contract is up after this year. Higbee, on the other hand, has four years left on his contract. Role: Practice Squad Stash |
| #44 | Devin Asiasi | TE (4) | UCLA | NE | 3 | Unknown spot in New England depth chart, but Belichick traded up to get Asiasi in the third round. His scouting report grades him as starter quality, but his place in an enigmatic offense has yet to be projected. Role: Practice Squad Stash |
| #45 | Albert Okwuegbunam | TE (5) | Missouri | DEN | 4 | Likely TE2 in Denver, clearly behind Noah Fant. Okwuegbunam is a big physical specimen similar to Fant, but his actual play isn’t as refined. He’s unlikely to see much fantasy relevance unless Fant is injured. Role: Practice Squad Stash |
| #46 | Hunter Bryant | TE (6) | Washington | DET | UDFA | Unknown spot in the Detroit depth chart. He could be the TE2 behind T.J. Hockenson, but he’s a little on the smaller side, so there’s talk of the Lions using him as a FB or slot receiver. Role: Exists to be drafted and stashed by Plumbob. |
| #47 | Gabriel Davis | WR (19) | UCF | BUF | 4 | Possible WR3 on the Buffalo Bills, but he’ll hav to compete in a very crowded receiving corps that include Stefon Diggs, John Brown, Cole Beasley, Robert Foster, Isaiah Hodgins, and Duke Williams. Scouting reports consider project him as a future starting possession receiver. Role: Practice Squad Stash |
| #48 | Harrison Bryant | TE (7) | Florida Atlantic | CLE | 4 | Likely TE3 in Cleveland, behind Austin Hooper. Bryant was rated as the second best TE prospect in the draft by many, but he’s unlikely to get field time until Njoku’s contract is up in 2022. Role: Long Term Practice Squad Stash |
| #49 | Quintez Cephus | WR (20) | Wisconsin | DET | 5 | Possible WR3 in Detroit, but his outside receiver specialty is already pretty well filled by Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones. He’s more likely to see playing time after Marvin Jones’ contract ends this year. Role: Marvin Jones Handcuff OR Practice Squad Stash |
| #50 | Darnell Mooney | WR (21) | Tulane | CHI | 5 | Possible WR3 now that Tyler Gabriel has been released. A small frame receiver that’s essentially a fantasy dart throw. Role: Practice Squad Stash |
| #51 | K.J. Hill | WR (22) | Ohio State | LAC | 7 | Possible WR3 on the Chargers, but he’ll have to compete with fellow rookie Joe Reed. Scouting reports project him as a primarily slot receiver. Role: Possible Keenan Allen Handcuff |
| #52 | Thaddeus Moss | TE (8) | LSU | WAS | UDFA | Possible TE1 on the Redskins. Went undrafted after a foot injury left him unavailable for athletic testing in the pre-draft process. Don’t let the fact that he’s Randy Moss’ son and played on a legendary LSU team fool you, he’s projected more as a run blocker, and he’ll have to compete against six others for the starting role. Role: Practice Squad Stash |
| #53 | Joe Reed | WR (23) | Virginia | LAC | 5 | Possible WR3 on the Chargers, but he’ll have to compete with fellow rookie K.J. Hill. Scouting reports project him as a return specialist capable of playing slot receiver. Role: Possible Keenan Allen Handcuff |
| #54 | Collin Johnson | WR (24) | Texas | JAX | 5 | Unknown spot in the Jacksonville depth chart. The Jaguars’ receiving group already contains D.J. Chark, Dede Westbrook, Keelan Cole, Chris Conley, and fellow rookie Laviska Shenault. Still, Westbrook’s, Cole’s, and Conley’s contracts expire after this season, so Johnson could see playing time starting next year. Scouting reports project him as a big outside receiver with below average speed. Role: Practice Squad Stash For 2021 |
| #55 | James Proche | WR (25) | SMU | BAL | 6 | Unknown spot in the Baltimore depth chart. Proche is a sure handed slot receiver whose role will likely be filled by fellow rookie Devin Duvernay. Role: Devin Duvernay Handcuff |
| #56 | Dalton Keene | TE (9) | Virginia Tech | NE | 3 | Unknown spot in the New England depth chart. The second tight end taken by the Patriots in the third round. Projected as a blocking end, but could end up taking the starting job if Devin Asiasi doesn’t perform well. Role: Deep TE Practice Squad Stash |
| #57 | Jacob Eason | QB (6) | Washington | IND | 4 | QB3 in Indianapolis. Will have the chance to compete with Jacoby Brissett for the backup job. There’s a slim chance he could end up a starter once Phillip Rivers is gone. Role: Possible Phillip Rivers Handcuff OR Desperate Practice Squad Stash |
| #58 | Raymond Calais | RB (18) | Louisiana | TB | 7 | Possible RB3 in Tampa Bay. He’ll have to compete with Dare Ogunbowale for the role. Theoretically, if he beats Ogunbowale, then gets the chance to fight Vaughn and RoJo for the starting role, he could be Tampa’s bellcow back. The chances of that are extremely slim. Role: Desperate Practice Squad Stash |
| #59 | John Hightower | WR (26) | Boise State | PHI | 5 | Unknown spot in the Philadelphia depth chart. Hightower is a speedy field stretcher, but he’s one of multiple players Philly added this year in that role. He could end up as the team’s WR3 in a year, or he could end up never seeing the field. |
| #60 | Jake Fromm | QB (7) | Georgia | BUF | 5 | Likely QB2 in Buffalo. Role: Josh Allen Handcuff |
| #61 | Isaiah Hodgins | WR (27) | Oregon State | BUF | 6 | Unknown spot in the Buffalo depth chart. One of two rookie receivers taken, dropped into a crowded Bills receiving group. Role: Desperate Practice Squad Stash |
| #62 | JaMycal Hasty | RB (19) | Baylor | SF | UDFA | Fighting for a RB5 spot on the 49ers. If he can make the roster, he’ll have Jeff Wilson Jr., Raheem Mostert, Jerick McKinnon, and Tevin Coleman ahead of him. But San Fran has taken nobody ball carries before and turned them into premier backs. Role: Desperate Practice Squad Stash |
| #63 | Josiah Deguara | TE (10) | Cincinnati | GB | 3 | Possible TE3 on the Packers, with a chance to rise up the depth chart in the future. Role: Long Term Practice Squad Stash |
| #64 | Michael Warren II | RB (20) | Cincinnati | PHI | UDFA | Fighting for a RB3 spot on the Eagles. Philadelphia has given chances to undrafted running backs in the past, but there’s a slim opportunity Warren sees any meaningful field time unless an injury happens. Role: Desperate Practice Squad Stash |
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