Fantasy Football: Winners and losers from the 2020 NFL Draft
Winner: Drew Lock, QB, Denver Broncos
What other team did more this offseason than what the Broncos did for Drew Lock? Things were already looking up for the second-year quarterback with weapons like Courtland Sutton and Noah Fant ready to keep growing and Melvin Gordon joining Phillip Lindsay in the background.
During the 2020 NFL Draft, however, Denver loaded up on offensive talent. They used their first-round pick on Jerry Jeudy out of Alabama, who was graded by many as the best all-around wide receiver in a deep class at the position. His route-running is the best in the class and his only true weakness is the lack of game-breaking speed.
That’s where second-round pick K.J. Hamler out of Penn State comes into play. He’s a big play waiting to happen with speed to take the top off of the defense and win downfield, in addition to taking advantage of Lock’s big arm. While Hamler may be a boom-or-bust fantasy football option himself, his presence will greatly help the young quarterback’s value.
Loser: Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
Despite how good Howie Roseman has been as an NFL executive, the 2020 NFL Draft was an odd time for Carson Wentz. The Eagles filled roster needs but the selections and the timing of those picks were often head-scratching.
Philadelphia, as predicted, used their first-round pick to add a wide receiver. However, adding Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson was questionable. Instead of taking a crafty and seemingly pro-ready player like the latter, the Eagles instead took an explosive “gadget” player who is more athlete than polished wide receiver. This was a whiff for Roseman and, as such, Wentz.
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Of course, the second round was even more perplexing. Wentz has struggled with injuries in his young career but using a second-round pick to select Jalen Hurts as a backup doesn’t do anything to truly improve the Eagles’ chances of winning. Not only is the possible pressure of a quarterback controversy now brewing in Philadelphia but the team failed to add another weapon for the quarterback.