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Last week, we provided a first-round dynasty rookie mock draft. This week, our writers are providing a two-round rookie mock draft. This is for a 12-team, PPR, 1QB dynasty fantasy football league. They each provide a pick along with their reasoning for the selection.

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2020 Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft

Pick 1.01 – Jonathan Taylor (RB – IND)
Don’t overthink the best RB in the class, who has a good landing spot and early second-round draft capital. Taylor’s draft positioning tells you everything you need to know about how the Colts plan to use him relative to Marlon Mack. A box-score monster at Wisconsin with both rushing and receiving work, Taylor lands with the Colts, who have both one of the best run-blocking offensive lines in football and a quarterback who targets running backs as much as anyone. Taylor also practically broke the NFL Combine, testing off the charts athletically in all aspects. Taylor is truly one of the best RB prospects in recent memory (outside of Saquon Barkley). There is little to no chance of regret three years from now for teams who draft Taylor at 1.01. He is a perfect centerpiece for any dynasty roster.
– Mark Leipold (@LeipoldNFL)

Pick 1.02 – Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB – KC)
When you’re picking at the 1.02 in 1QB leagues this year, you really can’t lose. I like Jonathan Taylor’s talent, and his landing spot is solid, but Edwards-Helaire hit the jackpot when getting drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs as the final pick in Round 1. Edwards-Helaire slides right into an offense that is already at the top of the league, with little competition to overcome. Considered by most to be the top pass-catching RB in the class, Edwards-Helaire’s PPR value should have him as an RB1 right out of the gate for 2020 and beyond.
– Kyle August (@kyleFFfellas)

Pick 1.03 – CeeDee Lamb (WR – DAL)
While some of the other top RBs like Cam Akers and D’Andre Swift tempted me here, I decided to grab who I believe is the most talented WR in this year’s draft class. Playing alongside Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup, Lamb should have plenty of opportunities to produce both this year and in the future.
– Brian Rzeppa (@brianrzeppa)

Pick 1.04 – J.K. Dobbins (RB – BAL)
In a few years, Dobbins could out-produce the rest of these rookie running backs. Until then, he’s a dynasty selection for patient owners. The Ravens shattered the NFL’s single-season rushing record (3,296) behind Pro Football Focus’ second-ranked offensive line. Mark Ingram is the clear RB1 until 2021 because of a three-year, $15 million deal he signed in 2019. The 30-year-old Ingram caught 26 passes and scored five times in 2019, earning him RB8 in standard scoring (216.5 points) and RB11 in full-point PPR (242.5) leagues. The difference between Ingram finishing as the RB6 was 2.8 more fantasy points, and the backups feasted while he sat out Week 17. Gus Edwards and Justice Hill received 191 carries, caught 15 of 22 targets, and combined for 1,051 rushing and receiving yards and four total touchdowns in 2019. Dobbins could easily gobble up a majority of those rushing and receiving yards in year one, as the Ravens enter 2020 with the easiest strength of schedule following an NFL-best 14-2 season. FantasyPros’ Rookie RB Predictor pegs Dobbins as the fifth-highest-rated running back over the next three years, and he led the top five with 5.04 yards created per carry. Dobbins will capture or seriously contend for the starting role in 2021. Until then, he must take whatever scraps and capitalize on the touches that Lamar Jackson and Mark Ingram feed him.
– Vaughn Dalzell (@VaughnDalzell)

Pick 1.05 – Cam Akers (RB – LAR)
Running backs may not matter in real football, but they continue to be the lifeblood of fantasy. The influx of passing offenses has convinced many that receivers should be your fantasy foundation, and it might be true in leagues that start three. In all other formats, running backs reign supreme. As the NFL becomes more of a passing league, we’re seeing an over-saturation of receivers as teams distribute the ball to more pass-catchers, thus reducing the number of traditional “number ones.” With a more level playing field, the gap between WR3 and WR2 has closed some, while former bell-cows like Devonta Freeman, Todd Gurley, and Le’Veon Bell have dropped off. Even younger studs like Melvin Gordon III and Leonard Fournette have seen their value fall. With more and more teams deploying a running back by committee, leading rushers are dwindling. You stay ahead of the curve by drafting rookie rushers. They can be acquired for nothing but a draft pick but can be flipped later to RB-needy teams for proven, often elite talent. The Rams jettisoned Gurley, and neither Darrell Henderson nor Malcolm Brown seems capable of handling the load. Otherwise, the Rams wouldn’t have spent a second-round pick on Akers despite using two thirds on Henderson last year. Akers can run gap or inside zone with breakaway speed, catch the ball out of the backfield, and dominate behind poor offensive line play, as he demonstrated at FSU. You can see why Sean McVay coveted him as Gurley’s replacement, which is why he’s the best value here at 1.05.
– Paul Ghiglieri (FantasyGhigs)

Pick 1.06 – D’Andre Swift (RB – DET)
Prior to the NFL Draft, D’Andre Swift was my top-rated rookie running back. After some fantastic landing spots, Swift is becoming a nice value in dynasty rookie drafts. Kerryon Johnson has dealt with injuries his entire career, leaving this starring role open for the taking. Detroit has been a black hole for running backs in the past, but if there’s any running back talented enough to break that mold, I’d bet on Swift to do just that. Some of my favorite receivers in this class (Jerry Jeudy and Jalen Reagor), but any time you can get your hands on a stud running back in a potential lead role, it’s tough to pass up. While the wide receivers may offer more from a long-term perspective, if I’m playing to win now, I’ll gladly take Swift at a discount here due to his landing spot.
– Aaron Schill (@aaron_schill)

Pick 1.07 – Justin Jefferson (WR – MIN)
When you look at the best landing spots for 2020 rookies, it’s hard not to fall in love with Justin Jefferson’s addition to Minnesota. Now that Stefon Diggs and his 94 targets are out of the Twin Cities, Jefferson will slide into an immediate impact role in the Vikings’ offense. True, head coach Mike Zimmer is a defensive-minded guy who loves to pound the rock. Last season, Dalvin Cook had the eighth-most carries in the league (250) while Kirk Cousins ranked just 24th in pass attempts (444). But did you know that there’s a new offensive coordinator in town? Gary Kubiak, who won a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos in 2015 and has been touted as an “offensive guru,” will take over the Vikings’ playcalling duties in 2020. In his championship year with Denver, Peyton Manning unleashed the 13th-most pass attempts in the league. Is Kirk Cousins Peyton Manning? No, but he is one of the most capable quarterbacks in the league. If Cousins attempts more passes in 2020, Jefferson is likely to be on the receiving end of many of them. As a bonus, Cousins should have more time to throw the ball this season. Minnesota added OT Ezra Cleveland in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, bringing much-needed protection to the team’s offensive line. Bottom line: Jefferson is a fresh weapon for an all-new offense with an upgraded O-line and above-average quarterback. Look for the top-tier wideout to come out of the gate strong — and stay strong — as a viable asset in dynasty rookie leagues.
– Jim Colombo (@WideRightNBlue)

Pick 1.08 – Jerry Jeudy (WR – DEN)
People may have not been thrilled with Jerry Jeudy’s landing spot, but he will have a lot of opportunity playing alongside Courtland Sutton in Denver. This offense will certainly be above-average in terms of passing volume, as Drew Lock averaged 31 attempts per game last season. Jeudy is also an outstanding receiver in his own right, having caught 77 passes for 1,163 yards and seven touchdowns in his last season at Alabama. Jeudy is able to line up all over the formation and excels in creating yards after the catch. He has the necessary attributes to be one of the best receivers in the game for a long time and should be heavily relied upon by Lock. He’s a safe player who should provide consistent fantasy production for the foreseeable future. Jeudy could be a building block on a dynasty team for the next 10 years, so I’ll certainly take him over the riskier prospects left on the board.
– Dan Ambrosino (@AmbrosinoNFL)

Pick 1.09 – Henry Ruggs III (WR – LV)
In what was considered one of the deepest wide receiver classes in NFL history, one player’s speed stood out above the rest. After a stellar career at Alabama where he totaled 98 receptions, 1,716 yards, and 24 touchdowns, Ruggs had high expectations heading into the offseason. Fast forward to the NFL Combine, and he did not disappoint, running a 4.27 40-yard dash, the fastest time among all participants. Landing in Vegas isn’t necessarily the best-case scenario, but in an offense that’s desperate for playmakers, Ruggs should be called upon early and often. While Ruggs may not get a ton of deep-ball opportunities from Derek Carr, I still expect Jon Gruden to do everything he can to get his new weapon the football. Whether it’s bubble screens, slant routes, or even jet sweeps, Ruggs is a threat to score on any play as long as he has the ball.
– Eli Berkovits (@PTTF_Eli)

Pick 1.10 – Ke’Shawn Vaughn (RB – TB)
Sitting at 1.10 in a one quarterback rookie draft, I was not expecting Ke’Shawn Vaughn to be available. I was thrilled to see my RB4 in this class there for my first-round pick. While his age is a concern — he turned 23 years old in May — from a long-term outlook, I feel very comfortable with his prospects over the next few years. Ronald Jones, the younger of the two backs, is still going to be a factor in Tampa Bay’s offense this season, but there are few backfields that won’t use some type of committee. With Vaughn being the better pass-blocker of the two and more than capable in the passing game (10% target share during his senior year at Vanderbilt), he has the potential to become a three-down back in the NFL. With the addition of Tom Brady and first-round draft choice Tristan Wirfs to bolster the offensive line, I expect a much more offense than in years past to have more of a focus on the running game.
– John Bauer (@TheBauerClub)

Pick 1.11 – Joe Burrow (QB – CIN)
The back end of rookie drafts is a tough spot. You miss out on the presumed elite prospects at WR and RB, and this class has an average selection of TEs at best. I have seen Vaughn fall to this spot, which was my hope in this mock. Ruggs has also dipped into the early second round in some drafts I have done, which would have made him a fine pick here as well. While your pick here really depends on your roster’s overall needs, I couldn’t let Joe Burrow slip out of the first round, even in a 1QB league. You are getting the number one overall pick from the NFL Draft and a potential long-time franchise QB if he doesn’t bust. We all know what a historic season Burrow had with LSU. He broke the single-season FBS record for most TD passes (60) and had the most TDs (6) and total yards (521) in a national title game. He also led LSU to break the FBS record for most points in a season (726). We know that this class is stacked at WR, which gave me hope that I could potentially land a solid WR prospect at the end of the second round.
– John Ferguson (@FantasyFerguson)

Pick 1.12 – Denzel Mims (WR – NYJ)
If I didn’t select Jalen Reagor in our previous mock draft, I would have selected him in this one, but I wanted to mix things up a bit. Outside of Reagor, the rookie wide receiver with the clearest path to becoming his team’s lead option is Denzel Mims. Mims had a well-above-average breakout age and an elite dominator share during his four years at Baylor. Mims is an elite size/speed prospect who blazed a 4.38 at the NFL Combine while also landing in the 94th percentile in the broad jump and the 84th percentile in the vertical. In addition to his elite college production and physical profile, Mims also walks into a wide receiver room in need of a legitimate alpha. Jamison Crowder is a fine player, but not many successful offenses are based around a slot receiver. Although Breshad Perriman showed out to end the 2018 and 2019 seasons, he hasn’t shown that he can consistently produce when a team’s featured wide receivers are healthy. The departure of Robby Anderson, who ranked in the top 18 each of the past two seasons in air yards (per airyards.com) provides Mims with a chance to the be the Jets’ lead wide receiver immediately.
– Shane Manila (ShaneIsTheWorst)

Pick 2.01 – Jalen Reagor (WR – PHI)
Reagor belongs in the late first, so he was an automatic pick after the turn over to Round 2. After dominating the receiving production in TCU’s offense with everything working against him, Reagor shredded the NFL Combine. He finished his sophomore season with 72 catches for over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns, but then disappointed in his junior season, much like JuJu Smith-Schuster at USC. Reagor’s relative dominance of the passing game and his true sophomore breakout season illuminate his real ability and upside at the NFL level. Reagor has legit wheels, and though his 4.47 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine still gives him a 70th-percentile Speed Score, he has allegedly been clocked at 4.29. Even adjusting if that was hand-timed, it is still bananas. On the field, Reagor is a true do-it-all receiver who can get on the field immediately and offer a versatile weapon for an Eagles’ passing attack that is starved for dynamic and versatile wide receivers. It’s easy to imagine a world where Reagor leads all rookie wideouts in both targets and yards for 2020. The most mind-blowing part of Reagor’s college career is that he only dropped from a 54% catch rate in 2018 to a 46% catch rate in 2019, even though only 55 of his 92 targets were charted as “catchable” by Sports Info Solutions. Reagor’s dip in production in his junior year can be mostly attributed to abysmal quarterback play, so take the discount on him if it’s offered.
– Mark Leipold (@LeipoldNFL)

Pick 2.02 – Michael Pittman (WR – IND)
Other than Vaughn, Michael Pittman Jr.  might be the biggest riser in this rookie class over the past couple of weeks. In this deep WR class, Pittman was getting first-round hype as the NFL Draft approached, and the Colts ultimately selected him at pick 34 overall. With veteran WR T.Y. Hilton entering a contract year at age 30, there could be plenty of opportunities for Pittman in this Colts offense. The long-terms QB situation in Indianapolis is unclear, but if the Colts decide to let Hilton walk after 2020, Pittman could step right in as the WR1 for this offense.
– Kyle August (@kyleFFfellas)

Pick 2.03 – Tee Higgins (WR – CIN)
Compared to A.J. Green by NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein, Higgins became one of the top threats in college football due to his combination of size and athleticism, paired with his incredible catch radius. Higgins is an excellent deep threat who is able to overpower smaller cornerbacks and should be an excellent weapon for Joe Burrow right away within that role. He struggles against more physical corners at this point in his career, but even at his worst, he should be a great home-run hitter in the NFL. If he can take the next step in his development, however, Higgins could be a borderline elite receiver.
– Brian Rzeppa (@brianrzeppa)

Pick 2.04 – Tua Tagovailoa (QB – MIA)
If Tua Tagovailoa never got hurt at Alabama, would he be a Miami Dolphin or Cincinnati Bengal? He’s right where he should be, and so is this spot for him in dynasty leagues. He’s a franchise quarterback who could wait a year to take the reins, but Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, and Deshaun Watson all had to wait some time too. Over the last two seasons at Bama, Tagovailoa finished top three in clean pocket (2nd), no play-action (2nd), early-down (3rd), standard dropbacks (3rd), and second overall in all passing grades, per Pro Football Focus. What makes him even more of a potential top-tier fantasy threat — and potentially more valuable than Joe Burrow — is his rushing ability. If 37-year-old Ryan Fitzpatrick can finish 10th overall in rushing yards (243) and tie for fourth in rushing touchdowns (four), then Tagovailoa could do some damage on the ground. In 2018, Tagovailoa recorded 10 of 15 games with a rush of at least nine yards while scoring five touchdowns on a career-high 57 attempts. Fitzpatrick was one of five quarterbacks in 2019 to throw for 500 pass attempts and 200 yards rushing (Kyler Murray, Dak Prescott, Carson Wentz, Russell Wilson), and he did it with the least amount of rushing attempts (54). Tua checks every box and is well worth the wait, but I doubt we have to wait for 16 games to see him start.
– Vaughn Dalzell (@VaughnDalzell)

Pick 2.05 – Bryan Edwards (WR – LV)
Bryan Edwards “fell” to the third round, but that draft capital is plenty enough to invest early in a prospect with Edwards’ profile. Plus, Raiders GM Mike Mayock went on record saying they had a second-round grade on him anyway. Consider that Edwards suffered a knee injury during his final season at South Carolina, preventing him from participating at the Combine, and he still heard his name called on Day 2 of the NFL Draft. Edwards broke out at age 17 in college, the earliest ever age for a receiver to command at least 20% of his team’s total receiving yards and touchdowns. His 48.4% college dominator rating is the second highest in this loaded class, eclipsed only by the mercurial Tyler Johnson. Edwards stands tall at 6’3″, with a thickly built, 212-pound frame that is nearly identical to Michael Thomas. Derek Carr compared him to Anquan Boldin already, so Edwards profiles as somebody who could take the mantle as the next great big-bodied slot receiver in the NFL, racking up receptions over the middle while piling up yards and scores for your fantasy team.
– Paul Ghiglieri (FantasyGhigs)

Pick 2.06 – Brandon Aiyuk (WR – SF)
After getting selected by the San Francisco 49ers, Brandon Aiyuk has quickly shot up draft boards in dynasty rankings. The 49ers clearly are in need of another weapon to go along with Deebo Samuel, and they used an early pick to get their guy. Aiyuk is a former defensive back and is a fairly raw prospect, but he’s an excellent athlete with great speed and excels in the open field. We’ll see what the 49ers plan on using Aiyuk for. Given his limited route-running ability, it’ll be interesting to see how they deploy him. With Emmanuel Sanders out of town, there’s a definite need for another wide receiver to pair with Samuel and George Kittle. With the availability of targets in front of him, Aiyuk has a nice path to success early in his career. While Samuel may still be the WR1, there’s definitely a role available for the taking, and Aiyuk is more than capable of handling some of the targets available in San Francisco.
– Aaron Schill (@aaron_schill)

Pick 2.07 – Zack Moss (RB – BUF)
Remember Giovani Bernard’s rookie year? In 2013, he carried the ball 170 times for 695 yards and five touchdowns for the Bengals. He also caught 56 passes for 514 yards and three touchdowns. How did Cincinnati celebrate his success? The team went out and drafted Jeremy Hill in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Hill, a 6-foot-1 power back, was brought aboard to supplement Bernard, the smaller, shiftier scat back. Is this story starting to sound familiar? Zack Moss, whom the Bills drafted in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, was brought to Buffalo to complement Devin Singletary, the smaller, more elusive rusher. While Moss isn’t as big as Hill, he has drawn comparisons to Marshawn Lynch, and everyone is expecting Moss to add a powerful element to the Bills’ rushing attack. In 2020, Moss could do more than just fill Frank Gore‘s shoes; he has a great chance of becoming the feature back on a sneaky-good up-and-coming offense. Remember, when Cincinnati added Hill for the same reasons, he rushed for 1,224 yards and nine TDs on 222 carries. Could history repeat itself in Buffalo? Is Moss Beast Mode 2.0? Time will tell, but the odds are looking pretty good. I absolutely love Moss as a second-round selection in dynasty rookie drafts this year.
– Jim Colombo (@WideRightNBlue)

Pick 2.08 – Laviska Shenault (WR – JAX)
This late down the board, I am looking for players that can contribute immediately from a volume perspective. After getting drafted in the second round by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Shenault will slide right in as the X receiver opposite D.J. Chark. Shenault is a big, physical wide receiver who is able to make contested catches and grab those 50/50 balls. The Colorado product broke out in his sophomore season, leading the FBS in receptions per game and ranking fourth in the nation in receiving yards per contest. He eclipsed 1,000 yards despite only playing nine games. After a down season in 2019, when Shenault’s target share dipped from 26 percent to 20, he slid down draft boards due to his injury concerns and poor combine metrics. Nonetheless, Shenault has all of the intangibles to carve out a meaningful role in this Jaguars offense. He has the ability to line up at all three receiver spots and even play quarterback from the Wildcat formation. Given this team looks as though they’ll need to play catch-up early and often next season, Shenault could find himself receiving heavy volume and become a worthwhile dynasty asset for the foreseeable future.
– Dan Ambrosino (@AmbrosinoNFL)

Pick 2.09 – Van Jefferson (WR – LAR)
Entering this year’s draft, most experts expected the Rams to target a running back early to replace Todd Gurley. Instead, they decided to replace Brandin Cooks with Florida wide receiver Van Jefferson. Jefferson has gone under the radar a bit ever since missing the Combine due to injury, but his Senior Bowl performance was one to remember. According to Zebra Technology, Jefferson was the fastest player participating in the Senior Bowl, clocking him at over 21 mph. Look where he ended up in the NFL, and the fit couldn’t be much better. The Rams have a clear need for a third receiver, and Jefferson should immediately fill that void. During his two seasons with the Rams, Cooks received an average of 94 targets per year. Give 80% of those targets to Jefferson, and you have yourself a steal in the second round of dynasty drafts.
– Eli Berkovits (@PTTF_Eli)

Pick 2.10 – Darrynton Evans (RB – TEN)
Darrynton Evans is not going to be that bell-cow type back, but he does offer upside in the Tennessee passing game. We all know that Derrick Henry is not a prolific, high-volume receiver out of the backfield, so I expect Evans to take over the Dion Lewis role. With question marks surrounding Henry’s long-term outlook as a Titan, Evans has the potential to see a spike in value in 2021 and beyond by being a more involved piece in what I assume would still be a committee. Evans does not profile as a between-the-tackles back, but he doesn’t need to be alongisde Henry. With his elusiveness and breakaway speed (4.41 40 time), I feel comfortable with Evans in PPR formats at this point of the draft.
– John Bauer (@TheBauerClub)

Pick 2.11 – Lynn Bowden Jr. (RB – LV)
I’m really happy that this is a mock because I got double-sniped in the first round, missing out on Ruggs and Vaughn. In the second round, my top three picks would have been Shenault, Van Jefferson, and Evans, all of whom were taken consecutively before my turn. So, at this point, I am going with one of “my guys” from this draft class in former Kentucky wideout Lynn Bowden Jr., who was drafted as an RB by the Raiders in the third round. There is nothing this kid can’t do, and he has the scrappiness reminiscent of former Panthers wideout Steve Smith, but with a larger body frame. Bowden basically carried Kentucky to bowl eligibility in his final year, as he was asked to fill in as the emergency QB for the final eight games of the season. His passing stats were nothing to write home about, but playing in more of a Wildcat role, he led the team and SEC in rushing with 1,468 yards on 185 carries (7.9 YPA — most in NCAA) with 13 rushing TDs (second-most in SEC). He also led the team with a meager 30/348/1 line as a receiver. If that wasn’t enough, he topped the team in kick return yards as well. His role with Raiders should be well beyond that of your run-of-the-mill scat back, and his ability to make a difference on special teams all but guarantees he will always remain active. It also seems pretty evident that the Raiders want more diverse options out of the backfield than just Josh Jacobs. Bowden gives them that, and so much more.
– John Ferguson (@FantasyFerguson)

Pick 2.12 – Anthony McFarland (RB – PIT)
McFarland is a speed demon who comps to some pretty interesting players on mockdraftable.com, including Ray Rice, Duke Johnson, and 2020 draftee Ke’Shawn Vaughn. Playing on a high ankle sprain most of the 2019 college season hurt McFarland’s production as well as his draft stock, causing him to fall to the Steelers in the fourth round. Despite playing injured last year, McFarland hauled in 17 passes in 11 games, showing that he has ability in the passing game. James Conner is the starter in Pittsburgh, but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy the last two seasons. Benny Snell is a replacement-level player, and Jaylen Samuels hasn’t proven to be a starting-level running back when given the chance. If Conner somehow were able to stay healthy in 2020, he’s still a free agent after the season, so McFarland could be in line for a starting role in 2021. There are a lot of things that need to break right for McFarland to hit, but I’m shooting for upside at the end of the second round. His situation provides that.
– Shane Manila (ShaneIsTheWorst)

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