2020 Dynasty Rookie Rankings for Fantasy Football: Post-Combine

April 23, 2020

Rotoballer analyst Brandon Murchison gives you his updated 2020 rookie rankings for fantasy football dynasty leagues. After the recent NFL Scouting Combine, who are the players that are rising and falling?

The NFL Scouting Combine is now in the rearview mirror which means it is now time to switch our focus towards the NFL Draft. With this renewed focus comes the preparation for Dynasty rookie drafts. Depending on the setup of your leagues, this draft could take place as early as May or as late as right up until the beginning of the season. With Best Ball drafts already underway for the 2020 season, you can get a good indication of the interest level of rookies and where their values may be currently. But as is the case each year, the combine sways the values of certain players. Whether it be because of lack of knowedge of a prospect, or that we use combine results to reassess our original stance. What we see these few days in Indy ramps up preparations in earnest.

What we learned during the combine this past week was that the running back class may indeed be deeper than originally thought. While after the tests concluded, we found the confirmation that this year's wide receiver crop will be one of the best in recent years. Players like Jonathan Taylor, Ceedee Lamb, and Jerry Jeudy solidified their standings as we head towards the NFL Draft. The testing results all but affirmed what most of us were already seeing with top players like this. But Jalen Hurts, for example, came out of the combine shining and improved his draft stock immensely. But such is the case of the NFL Combine. We have to take stock of the results and apply them to our rankings of players in dynasty formats.

Some of these prospects made themselves look like stars, while others fumbled away a great opportunity to succeed. Let's take a look at a few of these players and how their stocks look from a dynasty rankings standpoints as the draft draws near.

2020 Dynasty Rookie Rankings for Fantasy Football

Dynasty Rookie Rankings Analysis - Risers

Henry Ruggs, Alabama

Heading into the combine, I had Ruggs as a fringe 1st-round pick in dynasty drafts. But after his blazing 4.27 40-yard dash, his stock is on the rise. He is a receiver that will be more than just your typical burner at the next level, but more so a player that can wreak havoc on a defense on different levels of the field. His 99th percentile Adjusted SPARQ rating all but ensures that he will hear his name called within the first 15 picks in the draft. That alone solidifies him as a prospect that will firmly inside the Top 12 picks in dynasty drafts and will provide an immediate impact in 2020.

Denzel Mims, Baylor

Another receiver on the rise, Mims has been on the incline since his performance during Senior Bowl week. A player I had graded towards the end of the second round of rookie drafts heading into the combine, Mims could now be pushing towards first-round value. Testing off the charts in Indy (4.38 40 and a 6.66 3-cone drill), he is a player that will see a lot of hype start to surround his name. While many fantasy owners will take a stab at the high-profile names like Tee Higgins and Justin Jefferson, Mims could wind up being the better player to own at a better value.

A.J. Dillon, Boston College

Dillon is a running back that was on my radar heading into the combine. His film showed a prospect whose skillset was very favorable to find success in the NFL. But what he showed athletically in Indy was very eye-opening. Sure, the 4.53 40-yard dash was better than expected, but the 23 bench press reps and 41-inch vertical showed an all-around athlete. According to the Adjusted SPARQ rating, he graded out as the top RB at the combine (97th percentile). A prospect I had at the beginning of the third-round before the combine, now finds himself in the middle of the second as we get closer to the draft.

Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan

A prospect that was going vastly overlooked before the combine, Peoples-Jones showed up and showed out in Indy. For his size, his 4.48 40-yard dash was certainly a head-turner by many talent evaluators. but his jumping ability is what shook the crowd. The 44.5-inch vertical along with the 139-inch broad jump provided some prospective into an athlete who could become a valuable weapon in the right NFL offense. His landing spot will sway his value after the NFL Draft, but as things stand he has vaulted up to be a player I would target towards the end of the second-round in rookie drafts.

Dynasty Rookie Rankings Analysis - Fallers

Zack Moss, Utah

Moss is a running back that, although I am still high on heading towards the draft, you have to take stock of the tough combine results. The 4.65 40 was certainly disappointing and the 33-inch vertical was somewhat low, providing all the ammunition needed by some to knock him down a few levels. Whether or not it's true, Moss did come out after the combine and said that he sustained an injury during the testing process but powered through. He has the opportunity to change his value at his Pro Day, but as of now, he is a player that holds a second-round price in rookie drafts.

Eno Benjamin, Arizona State

It's not what Benjamin did or did not do at the combine that has him on the Fallers list. His testing numbers fell right in line with what many were expecting heading in (4.57 40-yard dash, 6.97 3-cone drill, and 39-inch vertical). But what has his value dinged just a bit is more about the backs that were slightly below him in ranking that have now been bumped ahead (Anthony McFarland and Joshua Kelley). Just a week ago, Benjamin was a second-round value in dynasty. But with the movements after the combine, he is now a player you should be able to get in the third.

Jauan Jennings, Tennessee

Jennings is a lesser-known receiver that I have been high on with his potential in the NFL. But to be fair, he completely bombed during the testing process at the combine. His 4.72 40-yard dash was among the slowest among all skill position players. While his 29-inch vertical and 119-inch broad jump show a player that is lacking a bit on the athletic side. His Adjusted SPARQ rating comes in at the 13th percentile, nearly the worst among the receivers. Of course, landing spot has everything to do with Jennings's potential at the next level, but his draft stock has taken a hit as well as his fantasy value. He now holds mid-round value in rookie drafts, which could also dip even further if he has another poor showing during his Pro Day.

Jake Fromm, Georgia

Fromm went to Indy with every opportunity to solidify himself as one of the next QBs in the tier below Burrow, Tagovailoa, and Herbert. But what he showed during testing was what you could see on tape during the 2019 season at Georgia. A QB that is not athletically gifted and can do things well but has no qualities that you would deem great. An old school prospect at the position, Fromm has all the makings to be a player that may not see extended time as a starter in the league. He may be able to come in and perform well for stretches but will not retain fantasy value. Depending on the landing spot, look for Fromm to continue to lose value from a dynasty perspective.

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