2020 DLF Staff Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Round Two
Dynasty Christmas (aka NFL Draft) is finally complete and just because no one likes having just one present (rookie mock drafts) under the tree, your friends at DLF are here with a second present just for you!
A few hours after day three of the NFL Draft, I gathered up 11 of DLF’s finest and started in on a rookie mock draft, just to give you another take on how all of this might shake out! Keep in mind that things are changing quickly right now and the next phase of our rookie evaluations are just beginning. After further evaluation, thoughts and opinions may shift. However, this is what we are thinking right at this moment.
The rules for this mock were pretty simple:
- No trades
- Standard PPR scoring without any positional bias
- One quarterback allowed in your starting lineup
If you missed the first round of this mock, you should go take a look before going any further.
With that said, let’s get on with the show!
2.01 – Denzel Mims, WR NYJ
Pre-Combine, I didn’t hear a whole lot about Mims. But then, with one of the biggest standout performances, his numbers made people go back and look at his tape once again. What many of us found was that he was actually a pretty good receiver as well! His burst, strength, and ball skills all stand out to me. The biggest concerns actually stem from the fact that he is going to be playing for the Jets for the next few years.
2.02 – Laviska Shenault, WR JAC
One of the more unique names in this year’s draft class, Shenault is also one of the most talented wide receivers. He has speed, is explosive, possesses plus size, and has everything else you would want in a receiver. He was also one of the most productive players in college when he was on the field. The issue for him is that he oftentimes lacked the most important ability… availability. Frequent injuries limited his time in college, the pre-draft process, and possibly in the NFL as well. He has a big ceiling, but a very low floor as well.
2.03 – Brandon Aiyuk, WR SF
One of the six wide receivers who were drafted in the first round of the NFL draft, the fantasy community doesn’t seem to be nearly as high on Aiyuk as NFL circles. In fact, he was drafted here as the ninth receiver in this mock. I think the main reason is that he lacks that special quality. He is very good at pretty much everything, but he lacks that calling card skill that so many others have. I think he’s being a little underrated though. While he might never be a WR1 in fantasy leagues, he has the skills to still be very effective.
2.04 – Michael Pittman, WR IND
I was pretty high on Pittman pre-draft, and his selection by the Colts in the very early second was great to see. A lot is made about Pittman’s speed, or rather the lack thereof, but I think that has been blown out of proportion quite a bit. For a player of his size – 6’4” and 223 pounds – running a 4.52 second 40 is still pretty good. To go along with that size, he has some of the best hands in this draft class. He should be a fixture for the Colts for a very long time and could definitely help out your fantasy squad as well. He is one of my favorite second-round targets and would probably be a first-round fantasy selection in almost any other year.
2.05 – Bryan Edwards, WR LV
One of the more polarizing players of this year’s draft class, I’ve seen Edwards in people’s top five receivers and I’ve seen him outside of their top 30 players overall. I think it all comes down to what you are looking for. The analytics are definitely in his favor, but there are also a lot of concerns, including – but not limited to – the fact that the NFL drafted 15 other receivers before him and that he never topped 850 yards in a single season. There are quite a few who feel he is going to be the future WR1 for the Raiders, so I would expect him to be a fixture in the middle of the second round.
2.06 – Joe Burrow, QB CIN
At this point in the draft, after we have had ten straight receivers go off the board, 11 overall, as well as six running backs, it is definitely time to pivot. I’m a huge advocate of scooping up quarterbacks in the second round once you hit the tier drop, so I think this is a great pick. Burrow has the talent to be a QB1 for the next decade. Given the large number of quarterbacks who will be retiring in the next few years, I think he is more than worth a middle second-round pick.
2.07 – Tua Tagovailoa, QB MIA
For the same reason I like the pick above, I’m a fan of this selection as well. Tagovailoa has a slightly higher ceiling but a much lower floor than Burrow. I think he could also be a QB1, but I have major reservations about the length of his career and how often he will be able to play a full season. Everyone knows about the hip. However, there are also double ankle surgeries, concussions, and other issues to be concerned about. When you add that to the style of play, I’m more than a little concerned.
2.08 – Zack Moss, RB BUF
A pre-draft favorite of some, but not all, the landing spot definitely puts Moss on the second round radar. I’m not super high on his overall ability, but he is definitely good enough to take at least a part-time role in the Buffalo backfield. The fact that he has a chance to be the chairperson of that committee or even win the job outright makes him worth a shot at this point in the draft.
2.09 – Van Jefferson, WR LAR
The son of an NFL wide receiver coach, Jefferson is everything that you would expect from that environment. He is a true student of the game and very polished when it comes to things like route running and overall technique. The Rams are desperate for quality receivers after some of their losses this past year too, so that means the opportunity is there. The biggest concern for me is that he is merely an average athlete, which makes me wonder if he has already maxed out his potential since he is such a great technician of the game.
2.10 – AJ Dillon, RB GB
One of the more surprising picks of the NFL draft for some was the Packers drafting Dillon when they have Aaron Jones. I think this is merely the Packers looking towards the future. Jones is in the final year of his rookie deal and the Packers are a franchise which basically refuses to sign running backs to a second contract. If Dillon shows well enough in a part-time role this year, he could be the starter in 2021. If not, the Packers will draft another one in the middle rounds.
2.11 – Devin Duvernay, WR BAL
The Ravens added another weapon for their budding offense to play with. Undersized but with speed to spare, Duvernay was one of the most productive receivers in all of college football. He likely projects in the slot at the NFL level and could give the offense an added dimension this year, which I’m sure is exactly what defenses want to hear! My concern is that the offense struggled to support much in the way of consistent fantasy production from the wide receivers. Adding another target could make things worse.
2.12 – Chase Claypool, WR PIT
The final pick in the second round, Claypool is a physical specimen. He is the next receiver in a long line of size/speed freaks from Notre Dame. He uses his size to win at the point of the catch and has great straight-line speed, especially for his size. Unfortunately, he doesn’t gain much separation and seems to be lacking in the agility department. This hurts him in his route running as well as after the catch. It will be interesting to see how the Steelers use him down the road. They could have him bulk up a bit and play a WR/TE hybrid role.
That’s it for the second round! The third and final round will be coming soon!
- Final 2021 Pre-Draft Rookie Mock: Round Three - April 28, 2021
- Final 2021 Pre-Draft Rookie Mock: Round Two - April 26, 2021
- Final 2021 Pre-Draft Rookie Mock: Round One - April 25, 2021
