Reviewing a 3-round 2020 superflex dynasty rookie draft

The fine folks over at FantasyPros invited me and 11 other fantasy writers to join a superflex dynasty league a couple years back. Superflex refers to the ability to start two quarterbacks each week. It isn’t strictly a 2QB league, as you can substitute any offensive skill position for the superflex spot, but that would be suboptimal for your team and is only an emergency measure. For reference, this league is also full PPR scoring.

Below, I will review the first four rounds, giving you some insight into an “industry draft” as we like to call them.

Round 1

1. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

Edwards-Helaire shot up the rankings as soon as he was the first running back off the board, taken by the world champs with the last pick of the first round. The draft capital and opportunity for Edwards-Helaire has made him the consensus No. 1 dynasty pick. But, in superflex leagues, much depends on need, as a quarterback-needy team very well might have taken Joe Burrow with the first pick.

2. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Taylor appears to be the consensus No. 2 pick so far this offseason, as he landed in a spot he should get work early on behind a good offensive line in a run-oriented offense. He may need to share snaps with Marlon Mack at first, but all signs point to him taking over as the lead back sooner than later.

3. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

I had the No. 3 pick, and since I have Russell Wilson and Patrick Mahomes as my starters, I passed on Burrow, but had a tough choice between my No. 1 wide receiver and J.K. Dobbins. I have need at both receiver and running back, so either would have helped my team, but thinking longterm, I went with Lamb, who should have more good seasons in him than Dobbins and landed on a team with a good, young quarterback in Dak Prescott. My only regret is not trying to trade my pick to a quarterback needy team.

4. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

The team who had the No. 4 pick got a nice haul in a trade for the honor of grabbing Burrow. They leveraged their pick much better than I did unfortunately, but I digress. Burrow is a great pick here, but if this were a single quarterback league, it would be a huge reach. Know your league setting well before sitting down to draft.

5. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins

Tagovailoa and Burrow were the top two quarterbacks taken in the draft this year and they will be the top quarterbacks taken in rookie drafts as well. Their path to starting is a short one, and any quarterback who starts has value in superflex leagues — let alone players like these who are on their way to being the longterm starters.

6. D’Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions

Swift was the running back many thought would be first running back taken in the draft, but Edwards-Helaire ended up with that distinction. Instead, Swift ended up in Detroit, where Kerryon Johnson is still considered the starter by most. I prefer Dobbins here, but Swift’s talent as a receiver is something to think of in PPR leagues.

7. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Denver Broncos

Jeudy was considered the No. 1 wide receiver in the 2002 NFL Draft by many, but ended up going after Henry Ruggs. The Broncos got a nice deal there, but Jeudy did land in a spot with some question marks at quarterback, as Drew Lock has yet to prove he’s the answer in Denver. Jeudy’s ability make him a high rookie pick and there is upside in that now stacked Broncos offense.

8. J.K. Dobbins, RB, Baltimore Ravens

Dobbins is set to take over for Mark Ingram as the lead back after getting drafted in the second round. It may not happen this season, but it might, and Ingram will be a free agent next season, almost assuring the veteran is out. The Ravens consider Dobbins a three-down back and his upside in the Ravens awesome rushing attack is great, especially if Lamar Jackson ends up cutting back on his rushing attempts as his career progresses.

9. Cam Akers, RB, Los Angeles Rams

Akers landed in a great spot for early work, as the Rams let their starter Todd Gurley go this offseason. Akers will likely share work with Darrell Henderson and much will depend on how those two perform, but Akers is a strong prospect in a creative offense for running backs. He doesn’t need to put up Gurley numbers to be a great pick at this point in the rookie draft.

10. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

Jefferson was considered a Top-4 wide receiver in a deep draft for the position and landed in one of the best spots for early targets in Minnesota. The Vikings traded Stefon Diggs to the Bills this offseason and needed his replacement and got it in Jefferson. The Vikings will likely rely on Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook early on, but Jefferson should be a top target there for a long time.

11. Jalen Reagor, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Reagor went earlier in the draft than many thought and pushed his fantasy draft capital up in the process. Reagor has all the tools to become a No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL and landed in a spot looking for a No. 1 receiver. The Eagles No. 1 receiver at the moment is tight end Zach Ertz, while their wide receivers haven’t lived up to the task. Reagor will have plenty of competition to start, especially with DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery still with the team, but they won’t be for much longer.

12. Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Vaughn landed in a great spot with the new look Buccaneers, as his only competition is Ronald Jones, who the team hasn’t seemed to buy into. The trouble with Vaughn is his average ability. There’s nothing to really show he is that much better than Jones. The opportunity is a good one what should be a good offense, but his longterm success is still in question.

Round 2

13. Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
14. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
15. Henry Ruggs III, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
16. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts
17. Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
18. Denzel Mims, WR, New York Jets
19. A.J. Dillon, RB, Green Bay Packers
20. Bryan Edwards, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
21. Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
22. Chase Claypool, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
23. Darrynton Evans, RB, Tennessee Titans
24. Antonio Gibson, RB/WR, Washington

Round two brings us eight wide receivers while Round 1 gave us four. That is likely due to top running backs in good positions being scarcer than top receivers. The depth at wide receiver is real and second round picks are still extremely valuable.

Round 3

25. Zack Moss, RB, Buffalo Bills
26. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
27. Jacob Eason, QB, Indianapolis Colts
28. Joshua Kelly, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
29. Jordan Love, WR, Green Bay Packers
30. Van Jefferson, WR, Los Angeles Rams
31. KJ Hamler, WR, Denver Broncos
32. Anthony McFarland Jr., RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
33. Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Washington
34. DeeJay Dallas, RB, Seattle Seahawks
35. Tyler Johnson, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
36. Cole Kmet, TE, Chicago Bears

In round 3, the player pool starts to thin out and in single quarterback leagues it will be even thinner, but there are still strong picks available.

Round 4

37. Quintez Cephus, WR, Detroit Lions
38. Lamical Perine, RB, New York Jets
39. Devin Duvernay, WR, Baltimore Ravens
40. Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona Cardinals
41. Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Cleveland Browns
42. Devin Asiasi, TE, New England Patriots
43. Adam Trautman, TE, New Orleans Saints
44. K.J. Hill, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
45. Tampa Bay D/ST
46. Lynn Bowden, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
47. Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Denver Broncos
48. Jake Fromm, QB, Buffalo Bills

Round 4 still has strong picks available, but risk starts to go up while valuable picks thin out. To assure yourself a good player this season, you’ll need to have a selection in the first three rounds. If you can, trading up using your fourth and fifth round picks sounds like a good plan this season.