Overall rankings for 2020 fantasy football

The NFL Draft is over and free agency signings are down to a trickle. We will continue to see impactful moves that will push the rankings around a bit, but for the most part we are set at the fantasy skill positions. That means it’s time to see where we are in the 2020 fantasy football rankings. Closer to the season, we’ll split this up into standard and PPR, but until then, let’s go with .5 point PPR scoring.

Rankings at this time of the year are still fluid, but it’s good to get an idea of value throughout the offseason, as it allows you to watch trends with some perspective and maybe not jump on bandwagons unless absolutely necessary.

Tier 1

Your top running backs remain Tier 1 fantasy players due to their big usage both on the ground and through the air. Christian McCaffrey is the epitome of the do it all back, but Saquon Barkley is the most likely to reach for that No. 1 spot in PPR leagues.

Michael Thomas is the No. 1 fantasy receiver after his huge 2019. Emmanuel Sanders may cut into his huge reception numbers, but he’ll only help get him open for more touchdown chances. Davante Adams has the best chance to usurp Thomas if he can stay healthy. With the Packers not adding to their receiver room in the draft, Adams be a league leader in targets and of course fantasy points.

Tier 2

Tier 2 is fluid, as there are a strong set of players that have the upside of Tier 1, but have a question or two that could keep them from reaching those heights. Tier 2 starts with Derrick Henry at eighth overall and goes to Chris Godwin at 13th overall. Henry’s floor is still too low for Tier 1, as he doesn’t catch enough passes, but in standard leagues he is right up there and in .5 PPR he’s just on the outside looking in.

Quarterbacks

Choosing between Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes for the No. 1 spot isn’t easy. Jackson was by far the superior fantasy player last season and would have been even if Mahomes had been healthy. The trouble is, Jackson will have an uphill battle to reach a nine percent passing touchdown rate again this season. That puts them about even for me if both remain healthy, but I trust Mahomes a little more to keep his touchdown rate up while I see Jackson having more uncertainty for passing and rushing touchdown numbers from year to year.

Draft Fallout

There won’t be a huge push of rookie players into the top tiers of these rankings, but the running backs have the best shot, as Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jonathan Taylor have the best opportunities and upside. Both could end up as league winners if they can take the bulk of the touches early on in the season.

There were a ton of great receivers taken in this year’s draft, but none that landed in obvious high target spots. All of the top rookie receivers have the ability to contribute early on, but they’ll need to win targets as the season progresses.