Monday, December 23, 2024

Fantasy Football

Dynasty WR Rankings 2020 — 30-21

Life was so different when I started my WR rankings at the beginning of March. The NCAA Tournament was close to being underway, many states weren’t in mandatory lockdown, the stock market was doing well, and DeAndre Hopkins was on the Texans. Wow, March has been what you can say different. One thing has been stable though and that is my Dynasty WR Rankings. As I approach the end, I am starting to enjoy writing these players more. Any of my top 30 WR are great players to own in dynasty leagues, and like I addressed in my RB articles, having as many of these WRs on your team will only spell success. Well in a time of chaos, please enjoy what I have brought to you. You can expect WR 20-11 on 3/28 and my top 10 dynasty WR on 4/1. God bless and please enjoy the article.

Catch up with the WRs I am ranking in March;80-71;70-61;60-51;50-41; 40-31

30. Tee Higgins

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Tee Higgins has a great lengthy frame that gives him the potential to play above the rim and make big-time catches when called upon. Higgins is one of the taller WR talents at 6′ 4″, and his height allows him to go over the top of corners and secure catches. Higgins has tall legs that help him get off the line quickly and create immediate separation. At Clemson, he would slide from X-Y-Z and excel at all 3 locations. Higgins caught a TD on 20% of his total catches at Clemson. This guy has a knack for the red zone and I believe he has the potential to grab double-digit TD each year.

The Eagles need a playmaker in their receiving core and this is exactly where Higgins falls in. Higgins would immediately give Carson Wentz a new flashy target. Wentz has dealt with old and banged up WRs for most of his career and Higgins would make things much smoother for Wentz. Under Pederson, Higgins has the opportunity to get 100 targets as a rookie. Higgins is my top target in the back end of 1st round rookie drafts if he lands on the Eagles. I truly hope the Eagles are smart here and take their future star WR. Higgins has what it takes to be an immediate fantasy producer in dynasty leagues.

29. Adam Thielen

As of now, Adam Thielen is the lone man in Minnesota. I do think this will change however, as I see them bringing in Justin Jefferson to play across from Thielen. Thielen is Kirk Cousins‘ favorite target in the red zone and registered 6 TD before week 10. After Week 10, Thielen dealt with injuries and was never able to get back to full health. Thielen was an undrafted free agent and has made a name for himself in the NFL and now has made himself the outright WR1 for the Minnesota Vikings.

Despite being a run-heavy team, Thielen is the go-to man in the play-action game. Thielen has every shot to grab 7+ TD and 100 catches in 2020, and his current ADP is a great buy for me in dynasty formats. With the departure of Stefon Diggs, monitor who the Vikings bring in to take his spot. A notable WR could help Thielen not draw double teams in 2020.

28. Jarvis Landry

Jarvis Landry has a found better home for his style of play in Cleveland. After the great news of Odell Beckham joining the Browns before the 2019 season, it was expected that the whole Brown’s offense would see an increase in production. The Browns had a very disappointing 2019 campaign. Baker Mayfield didn’t take the next step and I think this was due to Freddie Kitchen’s coaching. Under new head coach, Kevin Stefanski, I see the Browns hitting the ground running.

Nick Chubb will see a Dalvin Cook like workload and I would compare the usage of OBJ and Landry to the Diggs and Thielen combo. Landry’s usage will stay the same as he works in the slot and saw 138 targets in 2019. I see Landry getting the same workload in 2020 and will have another 1,000-yard season. Landry has gone through an offseason hip surgery and his Week 1 availability is uncertain. Right now is a perfect time to buy Landry in dynasty formats, the offense should see improvement under a better offensive head coach. Landry is 27 years old and would be a great WR3 for your team and would even consider him a good WR2 for deeper leagues.

27. Michael Gallup

I had a feeling Gallup was heading in a positive direction in 2019. Dak and the Boys had a prolific passing offense but still managed to not make the playoffs in a lackluster NFC East. Gallup brought in 66 balls for 1,100 yards and people still aren’t buying into this kid. Yes, he did lead the league in dropped passes in 2019, but he still got close to 115 targets. Dak Prescott received the franchise tag which will keep him in Dallas for the 2020 season. Amari Cooper received a big extension which helps Gallup more than you think.

With Amari being the main focal point for defenses in the passing game, Gallup will get the 2nd corner to guard him most weeks. The Dallas defense didn’t improve much this offseason and most of their defense is injury-prone. The Cowboys will have to play in shoot-outs to win in 2020 and this helps Dak and Michael Gallup. Gallup will sure up his hands and bring in more balls in 2020. I can see him repeating what he did in 2019 and he currently goes around the 7th or 8th round in dynasty startups. This is one of the hottest buys in dynasty leagues as people are sleeping on what Gallup can do going forward.

26. Henry Ruggs III

Henry Ruggs ran an outstanding 4.27 40 at the combine. Wow! The blazing speed that will help him transition to the next level. Teams will be very happy to take this speedster. When you possess a guy this fast on your team, it helps in both games– running and passing. Corners must stay on their toes because if they are caught with their eyes in the backfield, they are beaten and there goes Ruggs for a 65-yard TD. Ruggs excels in the slant game and many times at Alabama, Ruggs would take a slant and extend it into a long play. A problem I have with Ruggs is that he is a smaller receiver and if a corner is physical and likes to press, Ruggs may be in trouble.

Ruggs does have soft hands to bring the ball in though. Most guys with his caliber of speed aren’t the greatest WR in the pros. There has more correlation to speedy WR to not do well in the league than to do well. I believe that Henry Ruggs will be drafted by the Denver Broncos and join Drew Lock and company. Denver is heading in the right direction with Courtland Sutton and Noah Fant, just acquired Melvin Gordon, and adding Ruggs to the mix would be a success. Ruggs would be able to take the top off the defense which will benefit the whole offense. I’m still a little hesitant on Ruggs because I don’t know how much production he will have his rookie year. He is still a 1st round in dynasty rookie drafts and could pay off if he is the next Tyreek Hill.

25. Tyler Lockett

Tyler Lockett was an excellent receiver in 2019, especially for PPR formats. He finished with 82/1057/8 which all statistically made him a top WR2. Unfortunately for Lockett, his lower leg contusion in week 10 caused him to be less involved for the team throughout the remainder of the year. Lockett served up to expectation, even in a run-first scheme, he also had 4 games with over 100 yards. The outlook for him in the 2020 season seems to be about the same result in 2019, but with an emerging D.K. Metcalf, some of his production might be hindered. The one thing the 27-year-old receiver has that won’t affect production is the chemistry between him and Russell Wilson. For dynasty leagues, Lockett serves as the ideal WR2 and should be viewed as this in 2020.

24. Tyler Boyd

Tyler Boyd has now put up back to back 1,000-yard seasons with a carousel of QB’s — Andy Dalton and Ryan Finley. Boyd will be receiving the best birthday present you could ever ask for as a WR in this league. A National Champion, Heisman Winner QB to come in and be a pure gun-slinger because your defense still won’t be able to stop anybody. Boyd has an opportunity in 2020 to get over 150 targets, and when I dig deeper into my projections for 2020, I wouldn’t be surprised if that number is closer to 175. So why is he so low on my list if I talk so greatly about him?

Boyd isn’t the greatest WR in the world and his high volume workload is what makes him relevant. I would assume 2020 would be the last of A.J. Green in Cincy and this would make Boyd the #1 for Joe Burrow. Boyd will do better with talent around him and he isn’t a natural WR1. I would love to see Ja’Marr Chase join Burrow in Cincy in 2021 and help take some off of Boyd. Tyler Boyd has a great floor for a WR 2 in dynasty leagues and has what it takes to finish as a WR1.

23. D.J. Chark

D.J Chark was the hot waiver wire pickup in weeks 1 or 2 depending on competition levels. The second-year receiver out of LSU shocked the fantasy community by putting up 73/1008/8. The young star started the season hot by putting up 6 of his 8 touchdowns in the first 8 games. The second half of the year simmered down for him but different factors played a part in it. The drama in the locker room and the return of Nick Foles interrupted his efficiency in the end. But for 2020, with a full year to grind with Gardner Minshew, along with underrated offensive mind Jay Gruden, I would expect Chark’s number to increase. To put a value on Chark, I would say mid-to-high WR2 is in play, I would also say I will be targeting him in dynasty leagues.

22. Calvin Ridley

Calvin Ridley is primed to take the next step in 2020. With Austin Hooper leaving for the Cleveland Browns, there are over 100 targets left on the table for someone to get. Yes, Julio Jones will take some of them but I see Ridley receiving the vast majority of the rest. The NFC South got better this offseason with the acquisition of Tom Brady. I expect each divisional game to have an over/under of at least 55 points in 2020. These divisional games will be shootouts and Ridley will only see benefits from the game styles I expect. Calvin Ridley is known for being able to burn down the sideline but in 2019, we saw him as more of a route runner complementary to his deep game.

He has 17 total TD in his first 2 years, which is great. Julio Jones has been a pain in the fantasy owner’s sides as he struggles to get into the red zone despite his high yardage total. The Falcons passing attack will be strong again in 2020 and Ridley will be the part of it. I just grabbed Ridley in the 8th round of a dynasty startup which is an absolute steal. Ridley is one of my favorite mid-round targets in dynasty leagues.

21. Stefon Diggs

Stefon Diggs gets a bad rap in social media displaying prima-donna actions off the field. However, this doesn’t mean the dude isn’t an amazing talent. The newly acquired Buffalo Bill instantly becomes the number 1 receiver. The shiny new toy that Josh Allen has will open up the field and hopefully increase fantasy value for all players on offense. The downside for Diggs is his touchdown totals. He finished with 6 last year with 3 of them coming in one game. The nice part, therefore, is that he is extremely crafty and can rack-up yards like an SOB.

The weeks 4-8 he had over four 100 yard games with 7 reception for each of those games. The lucky number 7 is key to note because those games were at least 17 PPR points or more. Now looking into the 2020 season I wouldn’t be surprised if fantasy owners have Diggs as their WR1, but realistically he falls into the high WR2 column. If Diggs can capitalize on TD for the Bills, there could be a chance he finishes in the top 15, but as of now, his ranking of 21 is about right.

Catch up with the WR I am ranking in March;80-71;70-61;60-51;50-41; 40-31

Don’t forget to check out where I ranked my full dynasty QB (Post Combine):1-25;26-44

Check out my;Rookie QB Dynasty Rankings

Check out my 2020 Dynasty RB Ranking:70-61;60-51;50-41;40-31;30-21;20-11;10-1

Follow my work on Twitter @FinalDriveFF and check out other Belly Up Fantasy Sports articles.