2020 NFL Draft Dynasty Review: NFC North
Is this the most enigmatic division in the NFL? This might be a strong stance considering this division sent two teams to the conference semifinals last season, but arguably, all members of the NFC North appear to be looking for an identity.
The Packers have been at the top for most of Aaron Rodgers’ tenure, but how long will that last? The Lions have been contemplating the reset button for a few seasons and it does not appear this is the year to press it. Both the Vikings and Bears are facing salary cap challenges and legitimate questions about whether their current competitive model has the horsepower to keep up with the rest of the league.
The storylines should be abundant and now that the draft has come and gone, let us look at the moves each team made and how they could impact your dynasty teams for 2020 and beyond.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Jordan Love, QB Utah State (ROUND 1, 26th PICK)
The Packers shocked by moving a fourth-round pick along with the 30th overall selection to the Dolphins in exchange for the 26th pick and selecting the fourth quarterback off the board, Jordan Love. The move is even more curious considering Aaron Rodgers is signed through the 2023 season and there is no viable option to move his contract until 2022. History may be repeating itself as 15 years ago, 21-year old Rodgers was selected with the 24th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft and spent the first three seasons of his career as a backup to Brett Favre.
Is Love the heir apparent? He is a very polarizing prospect and we may have to wait quite a while to find out. As a result, he has become quite the value and potential profit-investment in superflex rookie drafts with a current ADP of 3.01. You may have to wait a while, but draft capital suggests Love will eventually be named the starter and can be sold for more than you invested when that time comes.
AJ Dillon, RB Boston College (ROUND 2, 62nd, PICK)
After surprising everyone with the Love selection in round one, the expectation was that the Packers would address their depleted receiver group in the second round in what appeared to be a loaded draft class. After all, the last four receivers drafted in this range by the Packers (Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings) were all tremendous selections. Instead, Dillon was added to the fold and now appears to be in line for a big role as Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams both enter their final seasons under contract in Green Bay.
Whether you are a fan of Dillon or not, his physical attributes and draft capital boxes are checked. Check out his more than impressive list of player comparisons. Based on this, he also appears to be a tremendous value coming off the board at 2.10 in the latest superflex ADP.
Josiah Deguara, TE Cincinnati (ROUND 3, 94th PICK)
After two shocking picks in the first two rounds, the Packers selected Deguara with the 30th pick of round three. After not being on the radar of very many dynasty owners, he is now the fifth tight end coming off the board in superflex ADP and was the third TE taken in the NFL Draft. The plan appears to use him like Kyle Juszczyk of the San Francisco 49ers who has never eclipsed 100 PPR points in a season. Any pick you may consider using on Deguara is likely better spent elsewhere.
DETROIT LIONS
D’Andre Swift, RB Georgia (ROUND 2, 35th PICK)
Detroit did not wait long to select the first running back off the board as they selected Swift with the third pick of the second round. This spot is only eight picks earlier than the Lions selected Kerryon Johnson two seasons ago and after entering the pre-draft process as a consensus top two ball carrier in the draft, landing spot questions are present for the former Georgia Bulldog. Learn more about why Swift is so highly regarded here.
If you are considering Swift in your rookie drafts, it likely will come down to preference between him, Cam Akers and JK Dobbins. His current superflex ADP is 1.06 and despite being the third back in his own class, he has moved into the top 15 already of overall RB ADP.
Quintez Cephus, WR Wisconsin (ROUND 5, 166th PICK)
On paper, this selection likely did not stand out to very many people as the Lions selected the former Wisconsin Badger in the fifth round. Known as a big slot receiver, Cephus did not impress many dynasty owners at the Combine and after missing his entire junior season due to a legal issue, he didn’t get much of an opportunity in college until his senior season where he posted 59 receptions, 901 yards and seven touchdowns. His highlight game came in the Big Ten Championship where he posted seven catches for 122 yards going up against his new teammate, Jeffrey Okudah.
Look for the early opportunity in the slot with only Danny Amendola and Geronimo Allison standing in the way from Cephus getting a chance. With a current superflex ADP of 4.09, there are worse ways to spend a late fourth-round pick.
Jason Huntley, RB New Mexico State (ROUND 5, 172nd PICK)
One of the most curious picks of the draft, the Lions selected their second running back of the class and a player who was not on the radar of most before he was chosen. Huntley played 46 games in his four-year career at New Mexico State and only carried the ball 374 times. He did post impressive receiving numbers with 39 or more receptions in each of his last three years. He will battle with Ty Johnson for a roster spot come training camp.
Statistics from sports-reference.com.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Justin Jefferson, WR LSU (ROUND 1, 25th PICK)
The Vikings traded Stefon Diggs away just one month before the NFL Draft and with two first-round picks, many expected them to address the position aggressively. They did not disappoint – and drafted the fifth receiver off the board in Jefferson. He led the national champion Tigers in receptions last season and steps right into a role vacated by Diggs that has averaged more than eight targets per game over the past two seasons with Kirk Cousins. He is also one of the younger receivers in the draft and will play his entire rookie season at age 21.
Jefferson is currently coming off the board at pick 1.11 in the latest superflex ADP and will likely fall into a preference range along with Jalen Reagor, Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb and Henry Ruggs. As a younger player with immediate opportunity, he is well worth a selection in this range.
Image from the Player Combine Performance App.
KJ Osborn, WR Miami (FLORIDA) (ROUND 5, 176th PICK)
Osborn was the second receiver of the draft taken by the Vikings and comes off a season where he led the Miami Hurricanes with 50 receptions in 2019. He is a former graduate transfer who played at the University of Buffalo and stepped up the level of competition during his final year of college at Miami. He is worth keeping an eye on after your draft concludes to determine if you have room to add him off the waiver wire. The Vikings drafted Olabisi Johnson in the seventh round last season and he not only made the roster but contributed as a rookie. Osborn may have a chance to do the same on a depth chart that still has capacity.
Nate Stanley, QB Iowa (ROUND 7, 244th PICK)
Stanley was the 13th and final quarterback selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. A three-year starter, the former Iowa Hawkeye had some serious devy buzz prior to the 2019 season. Despite leading Iowa to a career-best 10-3 record, his touchdown numbers declined, and his yardage and attempt totals never took the next step. The Vikings have stated they wanted to add competition to their quarterback room alongside Sean Mannion and Stanley will be looking to earn a roster spot in camp. He is worth a roster spot if he wins the backup job, but do not waste your time adding him until there is more clarity on the situation.
CHICAGO BEARS
Cole Kmet, TE Notre Dame (ROUND 2, 43rd PICK)
I cannot remember a class where the first tight end off the board in the NFL Draft has been less inspiring than this pick. Maybe it is the abundance of tight ends who have come through the windy city in the past year, or simply the overall lack of buzz for the position class. Kmet battled numerous injuries in college and never produced at the level you would expect from an elite prospect. As an early entrant, he only turned 21 years old in March and should not be expected to make an early impact.
Regardless, he is the first off the board at the position and his current 3.10 price in superflex ADP could present a nice value for tight end-starved dynasty owners. This is evidenced by the fact that despite attaining coveted round-two draft capital and a solid combine performance, his overall startup ADP fell 29 spots from February to April.
Darnell Mooney, WR Tulane (ROUND 5, 173rd PICK)
Mooney was almost a complete unknown before being selected in the fifth round and when you look at his complete profile, it is fair to wonder what type of role he will play in the NFL. He played at Tulane for four seasons and led the team in receiving during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. With that said, he is likely a contributor on special teams and will have to earn a bigger role on an underwhelming offense. He does have something you cannot teach: speed. Mooney ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the February combine and will have Ted Ginn on the roster to battle with for that role in the offense.
He is currently going undrafted in superflex drafts but considering his draft capital and the speed element, add him off waivers and watch what happens in camp/preseason.
CONCLUSION
Aside from Dillon, Swift and Jefferson, the NFC North does not have many other potential contributors in 2020. As the division continues to play itself out, the identities of each team will continue to emerge and with all four teams facing a potential quarterback change in the next two or three seasons, a lot can change with player values during this time. This crop does also include a few very long-term investments with Jordan Love and Cole Kmet, and each could be very solid options for a team strictly looking to make a profit in the future.
- Four Tight Ends to Buy, Sell, or Hold in Dynasty Leagues - August 23, 2023
- Four Wide Receivers to Buy, Sell, or Hold in Dynasty Leagues - August 16, 2023
- Four Running Backs to Buy, Sell, or Hold in Dynasty Leagues - August 9, 2023
