Flash Forward: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft, Part Two

Ryan McDowell Posted On June 1, 2019

It is said every single year around this time. “Just wait until next year’s rookie class.” This time, we really mean it though! After many talented running backs produced breakout freshmen campaigns, the class of 2020 quickly became known as a class with strong runners and questions at other positions. That changed last season with many wide receivers establishing themselves as top prospects, along with a few quarterbacks. Altogether, this is now gaining steam as one of the top rookie classes in years.

With the 2019 NFL Draft now in the books, it’s time to take an early look at the potential class of 2020. I’ve found that a “hit rate” of around 50% has become the norm in these early versions of Flash Forward mock drafts. That is caused by both disappointing performances as well as players returning to school rather than declaring for the NFL Draft. Regardless, projecting and studying the potential 2020 draft class can be a rewarding exercise for both dynasty and devy players alike.

Here is part two of my Flash Forward: 2020 Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft.

1.07 Tylan Wallace, WR Oklahoma State

6’0”, 185 pounds

After a nearly invisible freshman season, Wallace picked up the slack for the departed James Washington and Marcell Ateman, catching 86 passes for 1,491 yards and a dozen scores. That yardage total was good for second in the country, and he led the nation with 23 contested catches and 56 first downs. He was such a dominant force for the Wildcats that he posted a pair of ten-catch, 220+ yard games.

While his frame is slight, his ball skills are borderline elite and he is also a long and fluid receiver, making him a candidate to repeat his Big 12-leading performance in 2019.

1.08 Cam Akers, RB Florida State

5’11”, 210 pounds

After a breakout opening season which saw him break the Florida State freshman rushing record with 1,025 yards, Akers took a major step back in year two. Specifically, the entire Florida State offense was a disaster with terrible quarterback play and an even worse performance from the offensive line. He had nowhere to run and managed only a single 100-yard game all season, finishing with just over 700 rushing yards and six scores.

Even in a disappointing season, he displayed a punishing running style, and has been praised for his explosive running ability. He is also an asset in the passing game, possessing the speed to break free from defenders with relative ease. If the Seminoles offense can get back on track in 2019, Akers is in for another huge year and could climb the draft chart much higher than this range.

1.09 JK Dobbins, RB Ohio State

5’10”, 214 pounds

Ohio State’s Dobbins is yet another back who enjoyed a breakout freshman season, only to see a dip in his sophomore production. He earned the starting job from day one, setting the new school freshman record for rushing yards with 1,403, and pushing talented back Mike Weber to a reserve role. Weber reemerged last season, causing Dobbins’ production to decline (230/1,053/10), but that was offset by a nice increase in his receiving numbers. He enters his third season as a Buckeye with 48 career receptions for 398 yards and three scores. In fact, he sometimes lines up out wide and runs passing routes.

Dobbins is a complete back and with Weber now gone, taking over 50% of the rushing production with him, the path is open to another mega-production season. His only real weakness is a lack of that “next gear” needed to break huge plays. He runs with power and athleticism and can serve as a pass-catcher in the NFL, making him a potential three-down back.

1.10 Eno Benjamin, RB Arizona State

5’10”, 208 pounds

Remember all those times last season you tuned in to watch Arizona State receiver N’Keal Harry and that running back caught your attention? Yeah, that was Benjamin, the power and speed back who toted the ball 300 times during his breakout sophomore season. He led the PAC-12 with 1,642 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, adding a 35/263/2 line as a receiver. The numbers don’t stop there: his 90 first down runs and 46% touch rate were tops in the nation, and his 61 red zone touches ranked third best.

Although he arrived at Arizona State as a four-star back, he played sparingly as a true freshman behind seniors Demario Richard and Kalen Ballage. With those two gone in 2018, he exploded for a complete workhorse role, showing good hands and balance as a receiver and strength and agility when running the ball. Due to his later breakout and west coast locale, Benjamin is not a household name like other players on this list.

1.11 Jalen Reagor, WR Texas Christian

5’11”, 195 pounds

A high school track and field champion and a prized recruit, Reagor was intent on setting his own path. After early commitments to Texas Tech and Oklahoma, the athletic receiver settled on Texas Christian and has put his name on the map ever since. After a respectable freshman season, he exploded to be one of the most productive and impressive receivers in the country last season, catching 72 balls for 1,061 yards and nine touchdowns. Even in a lesser role in his first year, he led all true freshmen in the nation with eight receiving scores, showing he is a legitimate red zone weapon.

He can do it all on the field. Along with his receiving prowess, he contributed in the return game, rushing 13 times for 170 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Prior to his breakout second season, he was clocked with a 4.32 40-yard run, showing off his elite speed. He also displays consistently reliable hands and the ability to make the contested catch. That’s even more impressive given his slight build. Reagor did undergo a cleanup procedure, which kept him out of spring workouts, but he’s expected to be ready in the fall and is yet another wideout who is expected to be selected on day one of the NFL Draft.

1.12 Najee Harris, RB Alabama

6’2”, 230 pounds

If this 2020 mock draft had been compiled two years ago as many of these players were set to begin their college careers, Alabama’s Harris might have topped the list. He entered college as the top-ranked recruit by multiple sites, but failed to breakout in either of his first two seasons. Of course, that is due to the crowded backfield, which included Damien Harris and Josh Jacobs, among others. That pair leaves almost 66% of the rushing offense unaccounted for. Even with prized recruit Trey Sanders joining the team in 2019, Harris is a popular breakout candidate.

He ran for 370 yards and three touchdowns as a true freshman. He bettered those numbers last season, totaling 783 rushing yards and four scores. With Harris’s monstrous size and the strength that comes with that, it is no surprise that he excels in gaining yardage after contact (512 yards last year) and forcing missed tackles (.32 per rush attempt, per PFF). If he does finally live up to the hype and lead the Crimson Tide backfield, it is unlikely he falls to this latter portion of round one of rookie drafts.

Well, there you have it, the projected first round of 2020 dynasty rookie drafts.

Working on my one-round 2020 dynasty rookie mock and I came up with 23 names to consider.

— Ryan McDowell (@RyanMc23) May 26, 2019

With so many talented players, I just can’t stop with twelve names. Here is what next year’s second round could look like:

2.01 Kylin Hill, RB Mississippi State

2.02 Tyler Johnson, WR Minnesota

2.03 Bryan Edwards, WR South Carolina

2.04 Tee Higgins, WR Clemson

2.05 Henry Ruggs, WR Alabama

2.06 Collin Johnson, WR Texas

2.07 Tua Tagovailoa, QB Alabama

2.08 Trey Sermon, RB Oklahoma

2.09 AJ Dillon, RB Boston College

2.10 Chuba Hubbard, RB Oklahoma State

2.11 Antonio Golden-Gandy, WR Liberty

Ryan McDowell

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

In addition to his senior leadership role here at DLF, Ryan is also a husband, father of three and PE teacher. Ryan is the commissioner of multiple dynasty leagues, most notably the Kitchen Sink Dynasty Leagues. Here at DLF, Ryan’s focus is on identifying, monitoring and analyzing player value.