Luke Reynolds
The Odyssey
It may seem too early for a post like this. But maybe your season has not gone the way you wanted it to go. Maybe you are sitting at home hating yourself for drafting Michael Thomas over Alvin Kamara, or drafting the quarterback one from last year, Lamar Jackson, first overall. We've all been there. None of us our perfect in constructing our fantasy teams because we simply cannot predict the future. What we can do is take our knowledge and experience from prior years in order to give ourselves a better chance to win in the future. Regardless, this article is pointless considering we do not know what is going to happen between now and the start of next season. But nevertheless, it is still fun to think about and look back on 9 months from now when these should be made. So without further a do. Here is my projected 12 players selected in the first round of next years Fantasy Football drafts, standard scoring.
Round 1: 1
Christian McCaffery
I know, I know. The guy has been injured for most of the season this year. But when he plays, he plays. In the three games he has played this season he has yet to score below 19 fantasy points. Obviously, it is a small sample size but if you would like a big one, just look up 2019 Christian McCaffery and then immediately apologize for ever doubting him. You don't have to apologize, but seriously, barring an injury riddled season, McCaffery will be the number one running back in fantasy.
Round 1:2
Dalvin Cook
Cook is a close second. I could see why you could take him first overall. He has been absolutely ridiculous this season. The number one running back in fantasy with 1069 rushing yards so far with six games still left to go. To put that into perspective, last season he had 1139 rushing yards. So yeah, he has been a monster. Add 13 touchdowns to that list, you can't go wrong getting him with the second pick.
Round 1:3
Derrick Henry
Watching Derrick Henry play these last couple of seasons has made me wonder seriously if anybody can stop this man. He is easily the biggest running back in the NFL at a towering 6'3 247lbs and it is going to be hard for opposing defenses to slow him down when he is averaging 9.5 yards a carry for his career. The only reason I am not taking him ahead of this is because of his lack of involvement in the pass game. But, overlooking that, he is easily one of the, if not the best running back in the NFL.
Round 1:4
Alvin Kamara
The past few seasons, Alvin Kamara has always been a solid RB1 in Fantasy Football. Yet it seems like in the past injury issues have hindered his ability to truly break out. It seems like he has finally broken out this year and is finally becoming that true RB1 for fantasy teams. Kamara has 8 rushing touchdowns and 4 receiving touchdowns through 12 weeks this year. As long as Drew Brees is the quarterback next year, I expect Kamara to obtain his top 5 running back fantasy value.
Round 1:5
Saquon Barkley
It may not seem like the correct choice right now, but if Saquon Barkley comes back healthy next season and you get him with the fifth overall pick, you may have just acquired the best overall player in fantasy football. That is Saquon's potential. A healthy saquon without injuries in 2018 finished with over 1300 rushing yards and over 700 yards receiving. He also contributed 15 total touchdowns and that was behind a not so good Giants offensive line. We all know the Giants are going to play through Saquon so this is a definite pick here at number five.
Round 1:6
Davante Adams
The first wide receiver off the board at pick six. But Davante Adams definitely deserves to be picked this high. Through nine games this season he has had 11 touchdowns with over 900 receiving yards. Through nine games. That's 100 rushing yards and a little over a touchdown a game. As of now he is Aaron Rodgers only receiver and his favorite target so he should be the first wide receiver taken in all formats.
Round 1:7
Ezekiel Elliott
This has been a rough year for Elliot, he started the year off strong with 16.8 fantasy points per game in his first five games. However, that is the same week that Dak Prescott was injured and Zeke has never been the same averaging 6.3 fantasy points per game. If Dak is healthy next season, I expect to Zeke to live up to this ADP and potentially move into the top 3 into his position.
Round 1:8
Aaron Jones
Free Aaron Jones. It seems like he has been freed this year as he has become a very big part of Green Bay's offense. The selection of running back Aj Dillon in the second round has not affected Aaron Jones performance this year and might've even been motivation for him. With 624 rushing yards and 8 total touchdowns through nine games this season, you can count on Jones to be an RB1 for your team.
Round 1:9
Josh Jacobs
Jacobs is one of the best up and coming running backs in the game. If Oakland involved him more in the passing game he could be higher on draft boards but his ceiling gets capped because he is mainly used in the rushing game. The raiders run the ball a lot and Jacobs' 3.8 yards per carry may seem low but if they are running the ball 25-30 times a game, you can live with it. Go with the former Alabama back here.
Round 1:10
James Robinson
You could go with a wide receiver here, like Tyreek Hill, Deandre Hopkins or Michael Thomas. But, it is important to go running back heavy, especially in the first round of fantasy football drafts so that is why I am going Robinson here. Coming out of absolutely nowhere as an undraft rookie, Robinson has dominated on the lowly Jaguars this season. He is projected to finish with 1,295 yards rushing and 407 receiving and 12 total touchdowns. The jaguars are rebuiliding and Robinson is a bright spot in their offense that is looking to draft a quarterback for next season. Expect Robinson to continue his success.
Round 1:11
Tyreek Hill
Tyreek Hill is the second best wide receiver in the game. Patrick Mahomes and him are one of the best QB-WR duo's in the game. He is projected to finish the season with 19 touchdowns and 1,485 receiving yards. It is hard to imagine a world where he is not drafted in the first round or as your WR1. He is a beast and he will continue to do beast like things in his sixth season in Kansas City.
Round 1:12
Travis Kelce
Personally, I would go with the other great Kansas City Receiver here. It may not seem like a smart decision to draft a tight end this high. But Kelce is clearly the best tight end in the NFL and is projected to finish the season with 1,423 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is a huge part of this offense and he is a fantasy monster. He is has consistent as it comes at the tight end position and in fantasy in general.
Sources:
Staff, Fantasy. "Fantasy Football Wide Receivers Non-PPR Rankings: NFL Week 13." ESPN, ESPN Internet Ventures, 1 Dec. 2020, www.espn.com/fantasy/football/story/_/page/WeeklyRanks2020WRnonPPR/fantasy-football-weekly-wide-receivers-nonppr-rankings-2020.
