Fantasy Football Rookie Stock Watch: Risers and fallers from 2020 NFL Draft

Fantasy Football rookie wide receiver risers, fallers and rankings

Of the seven prospects we highlighted back in February, Jalen Reagor saw the biggest lift in value after being selected in the first round by the receiver-starved Eagles. Reagor has a built-in mentor in the form of DeSean Jackson, and the Eagles’ offense is perfectly suited for his talents.

With Reagor in the fold, Carson Wentz will be able to challenge defenses vertically in ways he hasn’t since he targeted Jackson nine times in Week 1. Before succumbing to injury that day, the veteran wideout burned the Washington Redskins for 154 yards and a pair of touchdowns on eight catches.

Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb were ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively, in my pre-draft rankings. They were close in value then, and remain so today; they’ve switched places in my rankings, though they remain nary a hair apart.

Lamb could unseat Michael Gallup as the WR2 in an electric Dallas Cowboys offense by mid-season, and it wouldn’t be a total surprise if he outperformed Amari Cooper someday and took over as the franchise’s go-to guy. Meanwhile, Jeudy should line up opposite Courtland Sutton, a symbiotic pairing that should benefit both budding Denver Broncos stars.

Tee Higgins, my third-ranked wide receiver prior to the NFL Combine, breaks into the NFL along with his new quarterback, Burrow. A.J. Green and John Ross are not long for the Bengals’ long-term roster, so a lack of pre-existing chemistry to any incumbent receiver could go a long way towards helping the two rookies establish an impressive on-field rapport from day one.

Like Higgins, Henry Ruggs, the first wide receiver taken in the NFL Draft, slips just one spot in our rankings. I took a lot of heat for ranking Ruggs over Reagor and I felt vindicated for about 24-48 hours — before the Las Vegas Raiders proceeded to select underrated prospects Bryan Edwards and Lynn Bowden, Jr.

The former has first-round skills, while the latter should catch passes out of the backfield as often as he will out of the slot or out wide. They join a healthy Tyrell Williams and a dependable, underrated slot receiver in the form of Hunter Renfrow, a collection of weapons who should siphon potential targets away from Ruggs, a do-it-all talent who’s been saddled with the lazy “one-trick pony” stereotype by analysts who don’t realize just how good his hands really are.

Justin Jefferson also slides down a notch, from fourth to fifth. The LSU product emerged from the shadows of a cast of talented teammates and turned heads during the Tigers’ march to a National Championship.

He’ll consume the vast majority of targets left behind by Stefon Diggs, and should compliment Adam Thielen well while benefiting from steadier-than-you-think quarterback play from Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins. Jefferson is pigeon-holed as a slot receiver by analysts who hone in on his college usage, yet he’s got the size, quickness, and route-running ability to line up out wide:

Other high risers include Van Jefferson, who’ll compete with Josh Reynolds for the WR3 role in a potent Rams offense, and Michael Pittman, Jr., who could be a day one starter for the Colts opposite T.Y. Hilton. Of all players ranked outside the top seven, these two enjoyed the biggest lifts of any rookie wide receivers.

Arizona State’s Brandon Aiyuk still bears watching, as he adds a new dimension to the aerial attack for the defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers. Meanwhile, Denzel Mims should be able to take advantage of mismatches in a sustainable role on the New York Jets, a neutral landing spot for the 6-3 standout from Baylor.

Not everyone saw their draft day stocks rise or stay high. Laviska Shenault, our sixth-ranked receiver in February, slipped all the way to tenth after being taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars, an organization that has become about as dysfunctional as an episode of Tiger King.

The Jags have hinted at using Shenault as a “swiss-army knife,” but that’s more or less code for, “we don’t have a steady role in mind for him.” All is not lost for the Colorado Buffalo, however; his immense upside makes still him an attractive target in the mid-to-late second round of dynasty rookie drafts.

Meanwhile, the luster of Tyler Johnson has somehow worn off now that he’ll be dressed in pewter. Sure, he’ll be in a Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense led by Tom Brady, but the Minnesota product will fight incumbents Scott Miller and Justin Watson for a role as a fourth option (at best) in a passing game featuring Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, third-down back Dare Ogunbowale, rookie running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn, O.J Howard and newly-added tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Another Big Ten wide receiver, K.J. Hamler, saw his fantasy football stock slip significantly on Draft Day. Hamler figures to be the fourth option at best behind Jeudy, Sutton and tight end Noah Fant on a Broncos team that likes to run the football.

Updated dynasty rookie wide receiver rankings:

1. CeeDee Lamb, DAL (by a nose)
2. Jerry Jeudy, DEN
3. Jalen Reagor, PHI
4. Tee Higgins, CIN
5. Henry Ruggs, LVR
6. Justin Jefferson, MIN
7. Denzel Mims, NYJ
8. Michael Pittman Jr., IND
9. Brandon Aiyuk, SF
10. Laviska Shenault, JAX
11. Bryan Edwards, LVR
12. Van Jefferson, LAR