With SuperFlex and 2QB leagues taking over the fantasy football industry, our 2020 SuperFlex dynasty rookie rankings examine how to gauge quarterback value in this year’s rookie drafts accurately. At first glance, these rankings might just look like a SuperFlex version of my post-NFL Draft 2020 dynasty rookie rankings, but you’ll see slight changes throughout the rankings as my draft process has evolved.
While I’m more of a traditionalist that prefers a 1QB setup, I’ve learned to appreciate and understand the love for SuperFlex dynasty leagues. Having the ability to start a quarterback instead of a backup position player is an obvious value-booster for the most critical position in football.
During Weeks 1-16 of the 2019 NFL Season, quarterbacks accounted for 11 of the top 20 scorers in PPR scoring formats. Quarterbacks were even more dominant in standard-scoring leagues with signal-callers finishing with 16 of the top 20 highest scorers.
Instead of having the ability to sit back and wait on a deep quarterback position, SuperFlex formats helps increase the value of the highest-scoring position in fantasy football and the essential position in real-life football.
First Round SuperFlex 2020 Dynasty Rookie Rankings
References:
Tony Pauline’s Big Board
Relative Athletic Score
1) Joe Burrow (QB1 – Cincinnati Bengals)
Ranking on Pauline’s big board: QB2, No. 8 overall
RAS: N/A
QB’s are indispensable in SuperFlex fantasy leagues, and number one overall pick Joe Burrow is the safest choice to produce both short-term and long-term results. With Cincinnati’s offensive line set to improve with the return of 2019 first-round pick Jonah Williams, the Bengals offense has the potential to surprise some folks around the league. Even with a shortened off-season, Burrow is almost guaranteed to open the season as the starting quarterback on an offense featuring Joe Mixon, A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, and John Ross, among others.
2) Tua Tagovailoa (QB2 – Miami Dolphins)
Ranking on Pauline’s big board: QB1, No. 7 overall
RAS: N/A
If new Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was fully healthy for the entire pre-draft process, I’m under the belief that there would’ve been a legit conversation over QB1 in the 2020 NFL Draft. But unfortunately, with injury-risk a legit concern for Tagovailoa, Burrow is the safer gamble when drafting at the 1.01 position.
Even though I like Miami’s pass-catching trio of DeVante Parker, Preston Williams, and Mike Gesicki more than most, Burrow’s offensive weapons are also the better overall group. After drafting Tagovailoa at number five overall, Miami emphasized protecting their franchise signal-caller with three offensive linemen selected in the first 111 picks of the draft, so expect Miami to improve the skill-position group during the 2021 offseason.
3) Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB1 – Kansas City Chiefs)
Ranking on Pauline’s big board: RB4, No. 44 overall
RAS: 5.43
Damien Williams isn’t going away in 2020, but it’s only a matter of time before Clyde Edwards-Helaire takes over as Kansas City’s 1a running back. Even if he shares time in year one, Edwards-Helaire’s pass-catching ability will give him one of the highest floors of any prospect in 2020 rookie drafts. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, head coach Andy Reid, and general manager Brett Veach all glowed about Edwards-Helaire following his selection at No. 32 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft.
4) Jonathan Taylor (RB2 – Indianapolis Colts)
Ranking on Pauline’s big board: RB2, No. 27 overall
RAS: 9.53
Former Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor might be the best rusher of the 2020 NFL Draft, but there’s legit concern about his ability to be a three-down workhorse. Taylor showed improvement there in 2019 by more than doubling his previous college receiving production, but catching the ball isn’t as natural for Taylor as it is for other running backs.
Now, that doesn’t mean he can’t improve; it just means there’s risk involved. Running backs that don’t catch passes are detrimental to your fantasy teams, and the Colts aren’t set up to force-feed Taylor targets in the passing game. Scatback Nyheim Hines will have a role on third-downs while 2019 starter Marlon Mack can do a little bit of everything.
5) CeeDee Lamb (WR1 – Dallas Cowboys)
Ranking on Pauline’s big board: WR2, No. 14 overall
RAS: 7.45
CeeDee Lamb entered the 2020 NFL Draft as my dynasty WR1, and he now joins a Dallas Cowboys team that led the NFL in both yards and passing yards in 2019. Even with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup on the roster, the Cowboys have plenty of targets to go around after losing wide receiver Randall Cobb and tight end Jason Witten. Lamb should become a favorite of quarterback Dak Prescott in no time.
6) J.K. Dobbins (RB3 – Baltimore Ravens)
Ranking on Pauline’s big board: RB3, No. 41 overall
RAS: N/A
Playing beside 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins has the potential to be a fantasy stud for years to come. Mark Ingram’s presence is a year-one progress-stopper, but there are carries to go around in Baltimore’s offense. Backup running back Gus Edwards averaged over eight carries a game in 2019, so that’s probably Dobbins’ floor in year-one.
7) D’Andre Swift (RB4 – Detroit Lions)
Ranking on Pauline’s big board: RB1, No. 15 overall
RAS: 7.58
No. 35 overall pick D’Andre Swift is an explosive three-down running back drafted to a Detroit team desperate for production from the backfield. The Lions haven’t featured a 1,000-yard rusher since Reggie Bush rushed for 1,006 yards all the way back in 2013, and Kerryon Johnson has been a disappointment. Although landing in Detroit ultimately dropped Swift down my rankings, the running back is the most talented running back the Lions have rostered in years.
8) Cam Akers (RB5 – Los Angeles Rams)
Ranking on Pauline’s big board: RB10, No. 134 overall
RAS: 8.81
Clearly unhappy with 2019 NFL Draft pick Darrell Henderson, the Rams invested yet another pick in the running back position. The Rams’ offensive line is a significant concern for any running back on the roster. Still, Akers’ experience behind Florida State’s abysmal offensive line, plus the Rams running more 12-personnel in 2020, could help Los Angeles hide a glaring weakness.
9) Jerry Jeudy (WR2 – Denver Broncos)
Ranking on Pauline’s big board: WR1, No. 13 overall
RAS: 6.78
Target volume will be a concern for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy on a loaded Denver Broncos’ offense that also features Courtland Sutton, Melvin Gordon, KJ Hamler, Noah Fant, and Albert Okwuegbunam. Barring a massive year-two leap, quarterback Drew Lock is highly unlikely to keep all of these players fantasy-relevant. Still, we’re betting on Jeudy’s elite route-running and ability to make plays in the open field.
10) Justin Herbert (QB3 – Los Angeles Chargers)
Ranking on Pauline’s big board: QB3, No. 10 overall
RAS: 9.7
Quarterback-needy teams could easily justify taking Herbert in the 3-6 range in a SuperFlex format, but at this point, the value is just too good to turn down. Tyrod Taylor is likely to begin the season as the Chargers starter, but he’s been relegated to backup the past few seasons for a reason. Taylor will protect the ball and keep Los Angeles competitive for a while, but Herbert should take over as starting quarterback before the season is over.