With the 2020 NFL Combine taking center stage this weekend, we take a look at the top 40 dynasty prospects available in the 2020 NFL Draft with our pre-combine dynasty rookie rankings. While the hype surrounding the “underwear Olympics” has grown increasingly out of control over the years, there’s no denying the importance of the event.
Even old-school “football guys” that only care about the film can appreciate the amount of information being processed in Indianapolis. Whether it’s measurables, on-field performance, interviews, or medicals, the NFL Scouting Combine is a potential make-or-break event for prospects every season.
First Round Pre-Combine 2020 Dynasty Rookie Rankings
Without further ado, I give you my top 40 Pre-NFL Scouting Combine 2020 dynasty football rookie rankings. This edition of our dynasty rookie rankings features individual write-ups on the top 20 dynasty prospects available in the 2020 NFL Draft. I’ve also added a third and fourth-round projection as an early look ahead at the talent available in the mid-rounds of rookie drafts. For a look forward to next year’s class, you can also check out my way-too-early 2021 dynasty rookie rankings.
1) D’Andre Swift (RB – Georgia)
After Travis Etienne’s surprise return to Clemson, D’Andre Swift jumps up to RB1 on my big board. Swift is a natural pass-catcher that presents a matchup nightmare in one-on-one situations.
The Georgia running back only has 513 offensive touches (rushes and receptions), which is significantly less wear and tear than J.K. Dobbins (796 offensive touches) and Jonathan Taylor (968 offensive touches) accumulated over their college careers.
The RB1 in my pre-combine 2020 dynasty rookie rankings should test extremely well in both the speed and agility tests at the 2020 NFL Combine, with the three-cone being of particular interest considering Swift’s start-stop ability.
2) J.K. Dobbins (RB – Ohio State)
Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins is one of the most complete running backs attending the 2020 NFL Combine. While Dobbins doesn’t seem to have a single dominating trait, he does everything at a high level. Dobbins has tremendous vision and cutting ability when given the rock, while he’s also been one of the most consistent pass-catching backs over his career. Dobbins is best suited in a zone-blocking scheme while he’s also performed better when paired with a dual-threat quarterback.
3) CeeDee Lamb (WR – Oklahoma)
Coming into the 2019 season, I never imagined anyone could challenge Jerry Jeudy for WR1 status. Enter CeeDee Lamb. With Oklahoma losing Marquise Brown to the 2019 NFL Draft, Lamb slid into the Sooners’ WR1 slot and immediately took his game to another level.
I’ve always been a fan of Lamb. He was the eighth-ranked prospect in my initial 2020 dynasty rookie rankings, but the wide receiver’s career-year in 2019, (over 1,300 receiving yards and 14 touchdown receptions) plus immense potential, was enough to push him ahead in my way-too-early 2020 dynasty rookie rankings.
4) Jonathan Taylor (RB – Wisconsin)
The purest runner in the 2020 NFL Draft class, Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor, is a nice consolation prize for RB-needy dynasty teams in early 2020 rookie drafts. While there are concerns about Taylor’s college workload, receiving ability, and early-career fumble woes, the Wisconsin running back possesses more than enough traits to build around.
After entering 2019 with 16 career catches and 155 receiving yards, Taylor put some of the questions about his three-down ability to rest with 26 receptions, 252 receiving yards, and five touchdown receptions during his junior season. The 2020 NFL Combine presents the perfect opportunity for Taylor to put questions about his speed to rest.
5) Jerry Jeudy (WR – Alabama)
Even with Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy dropping below Lamb as WR1 in the 2020 NFL Draft, there’s still little doubt about the wide receiver’s potential at the next level. Jeudy is a terrific route-runner with tremendous playmaking ability in the open field. The Alabama wide receiver moves seamlessly in and out of routes in a similar manner as former Crimson Tide and current Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper.
6) Tee Higgins (WR – Clemson)
With surprising speed and YAC ability, Clemson WR Tee Higgins is more than your typical “jump-ball” wide receiver. Higgins excelled over his junior season with 1,167 receiving yards and 13 touchdown receptions. Possessing ideal size for the position, Higgins projects as a highly-targeted outside wide receiver at the next level. With a good showing at the 2020 NFL Combine, Higgins could cement his status as a first-round draft pick.
7) Cam Akers (RB – Florida State)
After being surrounded by ineptitude over his career at Florida State, running back Cam Akers is talented enough to have a better career in the NFL than he did in college. Akers routinely had one of the worst offensive lines in college football, yet the running back averaged 1,120 total yards per season over his three-year career. With 69 career catches, Akers has shown to be one of the best receiving backs in the 2020 NFL Draft.
8) Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB – LSU)
After a nondescript career before 2019, LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is the type of out-of-nowhere prospect we look for every season in dynasty leagues. While Etienne, Chuba Hubbard, and Najee Harris returning to school hurt the depth of the 2020 draft class, players like Edwards-Helaire help to boost the running back depth back up.
No player is rising up draft boards quicker than Edwards-Helaire after the LSU running back finished his junior season with 1,414 rushing yards, 453 receiving yards, and 17 total touchdowns for the National Champions.
9) Laviska Shenault Jr. (WR – Colorado)
After being used on a combination of go-routes and fly sweeps near the line of scrimmage over his career, Colorado’s Laviska Shenault Jr. will have to diversify his route tree to excel in the NFL. Although Shenault Jr. is dangerous with the ball in his hands, his ranking here is more about projection and the hope that the wide receiver can take his game to the next level once playing on Sundays.
For further information about Shenault Jr.’s potential, I highly recommend PFN’s Brad Kelly’s look at one of the most polarizing prospects available in the 2020 NFL Draft.
10) Jalen Reagor (WR – TCU)
TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor is an excellent case-study on trying to project the next big star based on talent and skill set instead of looking at underwhelming college production. Reagor did top 1,000 yards in 2018, but the wide receiver had a disappointing junior season with only 611 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions. With the TCU quarterback situation as one of the worst in all of college football, you can hardly blame Reagor for his lack of production in 2019.
Even with the struggles on the offensive side of the ball, Reagor remained one of the most dangerous return men in all of college football with two punt return touchdowns on the season. Reagor is an exceptional route-runner with an advanced route-tree, which should help his transition to the National Football League.
Flip the page for our second round rankings