Davante Adams

Heading into the 2020 NFL season (whatever form that takes), PPR has staked its claim as the most popular fantasy scoring format, according to a survey by Apex Fantasy Leagues.

That trend has been reflected in the wider industry. In 2018, Yahoo adopted half-PPR as its standard scoring format for new leagues, and ESPN made PPR its default in the same year. 

There are still plenty of fantasy managers who deride PPR, arguing, among other things, that it gives too much weight to receptions that may go for no gain.

Chances are, though, most fantasy managers also find themselves in leagues that rely on half-PPR or PPR scoring, and as such, knowing how to draft within that scoring system will pay dividends in your league. 

Fantasy rankings will change slightly between now and the start of the new season, mostly based on any injuries that may happen in training camp. But the top flex players in PPR leagues will remain fairly stable between now and then, so you can get your research done ahead of time and be ready to draft come late summer. 

Let's break down the top 50 flex players to target in PPR leagues this year. 

                               

Ranking Top 50 PPR Flex Targets

1. Christian McCaffrey, CAR (RB1)

2. Saquon Barkley, NYG (RB2)

3. Michael Thomas, NO (WR1)

4. Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (RB3)

5. Alvin Kamara, NO (RB4)

6. Dalvin Cook, MIN (RB5) 

7. Davante Adams, GB (WR2)

8. Derrick Henry, TEN (RB6)

9. Joe Mixon, CIN (RB7)

10. Julio Jones, ATL (WR3)

11. Tyreek Hill, KC (WR4)

12. DeAndre Hopkins, ARI (WR5)

13. Austin Ekeler, LAC (RB8)

14. Kenyan Drake, ARI (RB9) 

15. Chris Godwin, TB (WR6)

16. Travis Kelce, KC (TE1)

17. George Kittle, SF (TE2)

18. Miles Sanders, PHI (RB10)

19. Aaron Jones, GB (RB11)

20. Nick Chubb, CLE (RB12)

21. Josh Jacobs, LV (RB13)

22. Kenny Golladay, DET (WR7) 

23. Allen Robinson, CHI (WR8)

24. Mike Evans, TB (WR9)

25. JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT (WR10)

26. D.J. Moore, CAR (WR11)

27. Amari Cooper, DAL (WR12)

28. Odell Beckham Jr., CLE (WR13)

29. Zach Ertz, PHI (TE3)

30. Leonard Fournette, JAC (RB14)

31. Adam Thielen, MIN (WR14)

32. Todd Gurley, ATL (RB15)

33. Cooper Kupp, LAR (WR15)

34. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC (RB16)

35. Robert Woods, LAR (WR16)

36. Calvin Ridley, ATL (WR17)

37. Keenan Allen, LAC (WR18)

38. Chris Carson, SEA (RB17)

39. Melvin Gordon, DEN (RB18) 

40. A.J. Brown, TEN (WR19)

41. Le'Veon Bell, NYJ (RB19)

42. Courtland Sutton, DEN (WR20)

43. Mark Andrews, BAL (TE4)

44. DeVante Parker, MIA (WR21)

45. Tyler Lockett, SEA (WR22)

46. D.J. Chark, JAC (WR23)

47. James Conner, PIT (RB20)

48. David Johnson, HOU (RB21)

49. T.Y. Hilton, IND (WR24)

50. Terry McLaurin, WAS (WR25)

            

Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints

Especially in PPR leagues, Saints wideout Michael Thomas is ranked to be the first receiver taken off the board in fantasy drafts this year, and it's not hard to see why.

The 27-year-old provides a massive bang for your buck in PPR scoring, leading the league in receptions (149), targets (185) and yards (1,725) in 2019. In fact, his season was historic; in December, he passed Marvin Harrison's former record of 143 for the most single-season receptions in NFL history.

In a PPR league or otherwise, Thomas should be one of the first players you look to add to your roster this year. The fact that he added nine receiving touchdowns to those totals—tying for third-most in the league—doesn't hurt, either. 

In 2019, he commanded double-digit targets 12 times. The addition of Emmanuel Sanders this offseason may have some fantasy owners wondering if Thomas' production can keep pace with last year, but it's safe to say he'll be the linchpin of the Saints' passing game this season. 

              

Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers

Davante Adams is the No. 2-ranked wide receiver on average ahead of fantasy drafts this summer but the No. 7 player overall. That is largely due to the outsize preference for pass-catching running backs in PPR leagues.

When it comes to a WR1, though, fantasy managers can feel confident in the 27-year-old, who doesn't have a lot of competition for targets in Green Bay this season. 

For the second draft in a row, the Packers elected not to select a wide receiver, preferring to go with the group they have been developing over the last few years. As a result, Adams will be primarily flanked by free-agent signing Devin Funchess, in addition to Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown. 

The Fresno State product didn't deliver on his high ADP last season, finishing outside the top 20 in fantasy wideouts, but he also suffered a toe injury that kept him sidelined for multiple games.

As Fantasy Pros' Mike Tagliere pointed out, Adams has scored 16 or more PPR points in 23 of 27 games over the last two years. Expect him to live up to his billing this season. 

               

Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

Alvin Kamara is coming off his worst fantasy season to date in 2019, and it wouldn't be surprising if some fantasy managers are feeling gun-shy about drafting him this year as a result. 

The 24-year-old netted 1,330 yards from scrimmage in 2019, and both his yards per catch (6.6) and total touchdowns (six) were down from the previous year (8.8 and 18, respectively).

However, Kamara played through knee, ankle and back injuries last season, as Saints running backs coach Joel Thomas told reporters on a call Monday.

Saints RB coach Joel Thomas is talking about the season Alvin Kamara had last year. Said no one really knows how much Kamara went through to play with knee, ankle and back injuries. Pointed out body language interpreted as something else, but Kamara was playing through a lot.

— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) June 15, 2020

While staying healthy is no guarantee for any player in the NFL, it stands to reason that a healthier Kamara will be a more productive Kamara in 2020. 

Setting aside the time he's missed due to injuries, the former University of Tennessee star's fantasy production speaks for itself. In 45 games, he has scored 25 or more PPR points 14 times, per Tagliere. 

Drew Brees himself was not free from injury in 2019, and the 41-year-old signal-caller may be looking to hand the ball off more next season than he has before. If so, Kamara will be waiting. 

              

All rankings via Fantasy Pros. 

Green Bay Packers players, including Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams and David Bakhtiari, and head coach Matt LaFleur released a video Thursday calling for reforms to address social inequality.

Enough is enough.

It's time for change. https://t.co/AS7wP9qz2x

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) June 4, 2020

"Antiquated laws and legislation needs to be amended or repealed, especially those that are prejudicially biased to people of color," Rodgers said (h/t ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky).

Adams added: "Racism is taught and learned; it's not something you're born with. Let's do a better job of educating our youth and the younger people behind us."

Over recent days, protesters have marched and gathered to call attention to police brutality and systemic racism. The demonstrations arose in the wake of George Floyd's killing.

Floyd was removed from his vehicle on May 25 while four Minneapolis police officers were investigating an alleged forgery in progress. A video showed an officer kneeling on Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes despite Floyd indicating he couldn't breathe. Floyd later died at a local hospital.

The four officers were fired from their jobs, and prosecutors initially charged Chauvin with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced Wednesday he was upgrading Chauvin's charge to second-degree murder and charging the other three officers with aiding and abetting murder.

Whether the 2020-21 NFL season will kick off as scheduled on Sept. 10 remains to be seen, but amid all the uncertainty, fantasy managers must begin to prepare for rookie drafts for dynasty leagues and full drafts for one-off leagues. 

In 2020, the day that NFL teams must cut their roster down to the final 53 players on the active/inactive list is Sept. 5. Many fantasy commissioners choose to hold their drafts between that date and opening kickoff to limit the number of roster issues related to sway injuries or other unexpected circumstances.

But many other commissioners elect to hold drafts in the late summer, and given the dearth of sports on the horizon, it's safe to assume NFL fantasy managers will be poring over research in the coming months. 

With that being said, we've compiled rankings of where the three most important skill players—quarterback, running back and wide receiver—stand. As a bonus, we've also thrown in the top-ranked rookie at each position in case your rookie draft is coming up soon. 

The following rankings are for standard scoring leagues and assume a 12-team league. 

           

Top Fantasy QB Rankings

1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

2. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

3. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

4. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

5. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals 

6. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans

7. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

8. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

9. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

10. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

11. Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles

12. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Top rookie: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (No. 21 overall)

   

Notable names left out of the starting-caliber-quarterback range this season include Detroit's Matthew Stafford, the New York Giants' Daniel Jones, Cleveland's Baker Mayfield and Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger.

Meanwhile, the top of the list gets younger and younger, with Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes—entering their third and fourth seasons, respectively—anchoring the rankings. 

Mahomes' 2019 season was "below average" by his own very high standards, as he missed two games and posted 4,031 yards and 26 touchdowns, down from his eye-popping marks of 5,097 and 50 in 2018.

However, the 24-year-old's adjusted yards per attempt continues to be among the league's best, with his 8.9 mark ranking third last year (down from 9.6 and first in 2018). 

Meanwhile, Jackson has been the subject of much hand-wringing as analysts and models have projected a regression when he returns to the field. It's likely overblown, given that he has a sizable production insurance policy in the form of his next-level run game.

Though the 23-year-old doesn't pass the ball that often, averaging just 26.7 attempts per game last season, he still managed to put up 36 passing scores. Even if those numbers go down this season, Baltimore's commitment to the ground game will include plenty of plays designed for him, too. 

If you're in a dynasty league and have a middle-to-low pick that you're looking to grab the first quarterback off the board with, look no further than Joe Burrow.

LSU's offense was incredible preparation for a pro-NFL scheme, and the 23-year-old should be able to take whatever Cincinnati tasks him with in the playbook and turn it into production right away. 

         

Top Fantasy RB Rankings

1. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers

2. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants 

3. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys 

4. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans 

5. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings

6. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

7. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals

8. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns

9. Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders

10. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers

11. Kenyan Drake, Arizona Cardinals 

12. Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles

13. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers

14. Todd Gurley, Atlanta Falcons

15. Top Rookie: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs

16. Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks

17. Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville Jaguars

18. Melvin Gordon, Denver Broncos

19. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

20. David Johnson, Houston Texans

21. Mark Ingram, Baltimore Ravens

22. Le'Veon Bell, New York Jets

23. David Montgomery, Chicago Bears

24. James Conner, Pittsburgh Steelers

25. Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills

26. Raheem Mostert, San Francisco 49ers

27. D'Andre Swift, Detroit Lions

28. Sony Michel, New England Patriots

29. Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams 

30. Derrius Guice, Washington

31. Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns

32. Jordan Howard, Miami Dolphins

33. Kerryon Johnson, Detroit Lions

34. Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts

35. Phillip Lindsay, Denver Broncos

36. Damien Williams, Kansas City Chiefs

        

There aren't too many new names near the top of this list heading into the upcoming season, which should make managers in keeper leagues just tickled. 

Christian McCaffrey continues to be a no-brainer No. 1 given his pass-catching prowess, leading all running backs in receiving yards last season. More than that, though, he led the league among players at any position in yards from scrimmage. 

The player who should probably be sitting higher in these Fantasy Pros rankings, and the one you may want to consider taking above his average draft position (ADP), is Los Angeles' Austin Ekeler.

What started as an opportunity gleaned from Melvin Gordon's holdout blossomed into bona fide star power for the 25-year-old, who finished his season with 557 rushing yards and three scores on the ground and nearly 1,000 receiving yards on 92 catches, with another eight touchdowns through the air.

If Ekeler shares backfield duties, his value will be higher in PPR leagues. 

The top rookie to keep an eye on in dynasty leagues is the Chiefs' first-round selection, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, as he'll be one of the hottest tickets.

Even in non-dynasty leagues, he'll probably be gone in Round 2. Andy Reid and Mahomes were both banging the table for him, which should assuage worries about what Damien Williams will mean for Edwards-Helaire's potential production.

The LSU product won't exactly be posting similar numbers to his monster campaign with the Tigers last season—1,867 total yards and 17 total touchdowns—but his receiving prowess gives him starting potential early in his NFL career. 

     

Top Fantasy WR Rankings

1. Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints

2. Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers

3. Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs

4. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons

5. DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals

6. Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

7. Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions

8. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

9. Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys

10. Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns

11. A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans

12. Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings

13. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers

14. Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears

15. D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers

16. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams

17. Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons

18. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

19. Robert Woods, Los Angeles Rams

20. DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins

21. Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks

22. D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks

23. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers

24. T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts

25. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills

26. Terry McLaurin, Washington

27. D.J. Chark, Jacksonville Jaguars

28. A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

29. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers

30. Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns

31. Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys

32. Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals

33. Marquise Brown, Baltimore Ravens

34. Julian Edelman, New England Patriots

35. Will Fuller, Houston Texans

36. Marvin Jones, Detroit Lions

Top Rookie: CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys (No. 53 overall)

        

It's hard to imagine what the world will look like three months from now, when the NFL would presumably be resuming play.

As of today, though, No. 1 fantasy receiver Michael Thomas is engaged in some off-field turmoil with quarterback Drew Brees, who recently doubled down on comments he had made about kneeling disrespecting the American flag in an interview with Yahoo Finance.

On Thursday, Brees apologized for his remarks.

Last season, the pair connected for more than 1,000 yards and six touchdowns. In each of his four seasons in the league, Thomas has topped 1,000 receiving yards. 

There are obviously far bigger implications to this story than the impact on fantasy football, but with Thomas and Brees clashing over as sensitive a topic as racial injustice, it's fair to wonder what their relationship will be moving forward.

The Green Bay Packers certainly didn't do anything to bolster their wide receiver room in the NFL draft, and signing Devin Funchess in free agency isn't going to take many targets away from Aaron Rodgers' No. 1 guy, Davante Adams, who saw a whopping 127 in just 12 games. 

Your rookie wideout to keep in mind this upcoming season is the Dallas Cowboys' first-round pick, CeeDee Lamb, who wasn't the first rookie wideout off the board in this year's NFL draft but will likely earn that title when it comes to fantasy.

The situation in Dallas under Mike McCarthy is set up for Lamb to make a strong impact in Year 1. 

       

Player rankings via FantasyPros

Michael Thomas' record-breaking 2019 season has put him near the top of most of fantasy football draft boards. 

The New Orleans Saints wide receiver should be the first player chosen at his position, and he could be taken in the top five in most leagues. 

The next wideout off the board could be someone who did not rank in the top 10 in any of the major receiving categories in 2019.

Tyreek Hill will be selected for his potential to put up massive numbers in the Kansas City offense alongside Patrick Mahomes. 

After that, the debate may get heated between Julio Jones, Davante Adams, Chris Godwin and DeAndre Hopkins, all of whom could put up 1,000-yard seasons.

              

Wide Receiver Fantasy Rankings

1. Michael Thomas, New Orleans

2. Tyreek Hill, Kansas City

3. Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay 

4. Davante Adams, Green Bay

5. DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona

6. Julio Jones, Atlanta

7. Kenny Golladay, Detroit

8. Amari Cooper, Dallas

9. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay

10. Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland

         

Michael Thomas

Thomas led the NFL in receptions and receiving yards, and he finished in a tie for fourth in touchdown catches. 

His single-season record of 149 catches came on 185 targets, and he averaged a league-best 107.8 yards per game. 

Thomas has received at least 140 targets in each of the last three seasons, and in 2018 and 2019, he produced a catch percentage over 80. 

If the 27-year-old produces at a similar clip in 2020, he could make a case to be the top overall fantasy football player. 

That title currently belongs to Christian McCaffrey, who carries more value at running back because of his impact in both aspects of Carolina's offense. 

You could justify taking Thomas as high as No. 2 overall because he is expected to perform at a similar level in a New Orleans offense that has the potential to score at least 30 points every week. 

Some owners would argue that the premier running backs are more valuable at that stage, which could lead to Saquon Barkley and Ezekiel Elliott being chosen ahead of the Saints star. 

If Thomas lasts beyond the No. 4 or No. 5 pick in any fantasy draft, it would be viewed as a shock given how consistent he has been in the New Orleans passing attack. 

If you opt to go with a running back over Thomas, there should still be plenty of top-notch receivers left for you in the second round, such as Kenny Golladay and Mike Evans. 

              

Tyreek Hill

Hill has to be considered as a first-round selection because of the system he plays in with the Chiefs. When healthy, he is the No. 1 option for the top quarterback in the NFL.

In 2019, he recorded 860 receiving yards on 58 receptions in 12 games. That occurred after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. 

Hill has had at least six touchdowns in each of his four seasons, and he produced a career-best 12 scores in 2018 when he combined with Mahomes for a full 16-game slate. 

The 26-year-old does not have a comparable catch percentage to Thomas, but his speed could lead to more scoring plays and more touchdowns of 40 yards or longer. 

Hill would likely be selected late in the first round once the initial wave of running backs ends.

It may be hard to justify taking him over one of the top five-to-six running backs, but once those players are off the board, he should be considered. 

Hill's scoring potential in Kansas City's offense could be too enticing to ignore if you are selecting anywhere from No. 8 to No. 12. 

                

Chris Godwin 

Godwin is expected to receive a boost in draft position after Tom Brady's arrival with the Buccaneers.

The 24-year-old is coming off his first 1,000-yard season in the NFL in which he recorded career bests in targets, receptions, yards and touchdowns. 

Godwin topped Mike Evans in most stat categories and played in one more game than his Tampa Bay teammate. 

Both receivers should benefit from Brady's pocket presence, but the Penn State product deserves the nod over Evans because of how much he improved in Bruce Arians' system in 2019.

The surge in production combined with the addition of Brady could make Godwin a late first-round choice over Adams, Hopkins and Jones. 

Those three receivers could all make a case to be chosen in the opening round, but they all come with some minor concerns. 

Adams will be the primary target of most defenses with little depth behind him in Green Bay, while some of Jones' touchdowns could be taken away by Calvin Ridley, and Hopkins may take a few weeks to get on the same page with Kyler Murray. 

                     

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from Pro Football Reference

For all the statistical deep dives and film study that might go into your fantasy football predraft process, nothing prepares you for the real thing better than a mock draft.

It's most obviously beneficial in terms of valuing players and determining precise draft costs, but the advantages run deeper than that. For instance, since you aren't married to the roster beyond the mock, it can be a time to experiment with different strategies and see what works best for you.

That's the route we're taking here; we used the FantasyPros mock draft simulator to form rosters with two different strategic approaches. We'll break down the results below, after laying out our top-50 rankings for point-per-reception leagues.

                   

Top-50 PPR Rankings

1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

2. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants

3. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints

4. Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings

5. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys

6. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

7. Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers

8. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Arizona Cardinals

9. Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers

10. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans

11. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons

12. Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

13. Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

14. Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

15. Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns

16. Amari Cooper, WR, Dallas Cowboys

17. Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

18. Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

19. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

20. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

21. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

22. Kenny Golladay, WR, Detroit Lions

23. Melvin Gordon, RB, Denver Broncos

24. George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers

25. Todd Gurley, RB, Atlanta Falcons

26. David Johnson, RB, Houston Texans

27. Miles Sanders, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

28. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

29. Kenyan Drake, RB, Arizona Cardinals

30. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

31. A.J. Brown, WR, Tennessee Titans

32. Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos

33. Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings

34. Le'Veon Bell, RB, New York Jets

35. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

36. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Cleveland Browns

37. D.J. Moore, WR, Carolina Panthers

38. Allen Robinson, WR, Chicago Bears

39. D.J. Chark, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

40. Chris Carson, RB, Seattle Seahawks

41. T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts

42. D'Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions

43. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks

44. Devin Singletary, RB, Buffalo Bills

45. Leonard Fournette, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

46. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

47. DK Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks

48. James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

49. Tyler Boyd, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

50. Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

                  

Mock Draft Selection Strategies

Starting with 2 Running Backs

Drafting out of the fifth slot in a 12-team PPR league, I wanted to target the running back spot with my first two selections. It's the shallowest of the marquee positions, so the thought is to grab a pair of top talents there, then rely on the depth of the other spots to adequately fill out the roster.

This mock opened with Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, Michael Thomas and Ezekiel Elliott. That meant Dalvin Cook, my fourth-ranked player, was still on the board at No. 5. So, Cook was the choice and built my starting lineup as follows.

• QB: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
• RB: Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
• RB: Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
• WR: Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys
• WR: Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
• WR: T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts
• TE: Hunter Henry, Los Angeles Chargers
• D/ST: New Orleans Saints
• K: Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens

While Cook is the centerpiece, Josh Jacobs could steal that title by season's end. Despite fighting a nagging shoulder injury, Jacobs managed 1,136 scrimmage yards and seven scores as a rookie. The Raiders upgraded their defense this offseason, so they could be looking to play more clock-controlled battles, which should up Jacobs' usage. He'll also benefit from the arrival of new offensive threats, like rookie speedster Henry Ruggs III.

Wide receiver took up the third, fourth and fifth picks, and the position looks as strong as it could be for not addressing it in the first two rounds. Amari Cooper should provide reliable elite production, and I like the balance of Courtland Sutton's upside with T.Y. Hilton's relative safety.

I probably waited too long at quarterback, but maybe a motivated Aaron Rodgers could become a fantasy monster again. Plus, waiting at that spot allowed me to dip back into the running back ranks to grab David Johnson in the sixth round. That should give me at least two good-to-great options every week, as the Texans' huge investment in Johnson suggests they're about to let him run wild.

                     

Opening With Wide Receiver, Quarterback, Wide Receiver

After mocking an RB-heavy roster, why not flip the script and take the passing game for a spin?

I snagged the seventh pick this time, which dropped Davante Adams right in my lap. Since the Green Bay Packers inexplicably ignored the wide receiver spot this offseason (no offense, Devin Funchess), Adams should again be the (heavily) favored target for a future Hall of Fame quarterback.

Last season, Adams caught 83 passes for 997 yards and five scores. Those don't seem like blow-you-away numbers, but once you factor in he only played 12 games, this is clearly top-shelf production. It was his fourth straight season with at least 117 targets, and in the three previous years, those opportunities turned into 35 total touchdown receptions.

With an elite wideout in hand, I wanted to see how my roster would look after spending my second-round pick on my QB1. So, I grabbed Lamar Jackson with the 18th selection. That's only one spot ahead of where I have him ranked, so the value was fine. And if he looks like he did last season (3,127 passing yards with 36 touchdowns, 1,260 rushing yards with seven more scores), this might be grand larceny.

I wanted one more passing weapon at the top, so JuJu Smith-Schuster was a third-rounder. By the draft's end, this is how the starting lineup looked:

• QB: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
• RB: Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks
• RB: Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
• WR: Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers
• WR: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers
• WR: Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys
• TE: Jared Cook, New Orleans Saints
• D/ST: New England Patriots
• K: Matt Prater, Detroit Lions

This puts a lot of pressure on Chris Carson and Jonathan Taylor to perform.

Carson battled some fumbling issues last season and still wound up with 1,230 rushing yards and seven rushing scores. Taylor won the last two Doak Walker Awards as the best back in college football. Obviously, he still has to compete with Marlon Mack for touches, but the Colts traded up for Taylor. If they give the rookie a big role, he could do major damage behind that offensive line.

Plus, the first two bench spots (after the Michael Gallup selection, which I love), went right back to the running back position with D'Andre Swift and Kareem Hunt. Carson might be the only rusher in a fully featured role, but Hunt will be involved in what should be an improved Browns offense, and both Taylor and Swift could work their way into huge opportunities.

I'm not sure I prefer one lineup over the other, which is perhaps the best reminder that there are many ways to build a formidable fantasy roster.

The Green Bay Packers narrowly bested the Minnesota Vikings 14-9 in the opening round of the B/R GOAT Sim on Madden NFL 20.

Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre retired as the NFL's all-time leading passer, while Minnesota's Fran Tarkenton was one of the league's first successful dual-threat quarterbacks. However, defense ruled the day in this game.

With points coming at a premium, Minnesota went for it on 4th-and-goal from the 2-yard line on the first play of the fourth quarter. Things quickly unraveled as Darren Sharper hit Tarkenton and forced a fumble.

PACKERS GET THE HUGE GOAL-LINE STAND ‼️

Watch live: https://t.co/LLiOj3TBX5 pic.twitter.com/5ziC2VGT0g

— br_betting (@br_betting) April 1, 2020

Favre marched the Packers offense down the field to put Green Bay ahead 14-3.

Randy Moss, who was largely held in check, caught a pass from Tarkenton in the back of the end zone to bring the Vikings to within one score inside the final minute.

.@RandyMoss TD and the Vikings have life 👀https://t.co/LLiOj3TBX5 pic.twitter.com/T0aVJA0e7U

— br_betting (@br_betting) April 1, 2020

Minnesota's two-point conversion failed, keeping the deficit at five points. The Packers recovered the ensuing kickoff, which allowed them to run the remaining time off the clock.

After the Vikings got the game's first points on a Dan Bailey field goal, Favre showed off his legendary arm strength when he hit Davante Adams for a touchdown with 1:29 left in a tight first half between the two NFC North rivals.

.@BrettFavre tossing TDs to @tae15adams 🔥

Pack (-2.5) grab the lead before halftime #BRGOATSimhttps://t.co/LLiOj3TBX5 pic.twitter.com/inBGEBdtAv

— br_betting (@br_betting) April 1, 2020

The Packers will face off against either the Detroit Lions or Chicago Bears in the second round.

All B/R GOAT Sim games are available to watch on Bleacher Report's Twitch channel.

The 2020 NFL draft isn't set to get underway until April 23, but it feels like we already have a solid grasp on how the first few picks may unfold.

The Cincinnati Bengals will likely grab LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. The Washington Redskins will either trade out of the No. 2 slot, take Ohio State edge-rusher Chase Young or shock everyone and replace Dwayne Haskins as their next quarterback of the future. Alabama signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa and Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert could both be top-five selections, and a team may trade up to take one of them.

Outside of the first handful of selections, though, the picture is a bit foggier. The needs for each franchise are well-known, but a large number of high-end prospects and players on the rise make it difficult to predict exactly who will be selected with each pick.

                 

2020 NFL Mock Draft

1. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

2. Washington Redskins: Chase Young, Edge, Ohio State

3. Detroit Lions: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State

4. New York Giants: Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama

5. Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama

6. Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

7. Carolina Panthers: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

8. Arizona Cardinals: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa

9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

10. Cleveland Browns: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

11. New York Jets: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama

12. Las Vegas Raiders: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma

13. San Francisco 49ers (from Indianapolis): Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia

15. Denver Broncos: Austin Jackson, OT, USC

16. Atlanta Falcons: Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama

17. Dallas Cowboys: K'Lavon Chaisson, Edge, LSU

18. Miami Dolphins (from Pittsburgh): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

19. Las Vegas Raiders (from Chicago): CJ Henderson, CB, Florida

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Rams): Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah

21. Philadelphia Eagles: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

22. Minnesota Vikings (from Buffalo): Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

23. New England Patriots: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

24. New Orleans Saints: Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor

25. Minnesota Vikings: A.J. Epenesa, Edge, Iowa

26. Miami Dolphins (from Houston): Yetur Gross-Matos, Edge, Penn State

27. Seattle Seahawks: Joshua Jones, OT, Houston

28. Baltimore Ravens: Curtis Weaver, Edge, Boise State

29. Tennessee Titans: Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU

30. Green Bay Packers: Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame

31. San Francisco 49ers: Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State

                      

10. Cleveland Browns: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville

The Cleveland Browns entered the offseason needing an upgrade at each tackle position. They addressed the right side by adding former Tennessee Titans star Jack Conklin. Their next move has to be adding a new blindside blocker for Baker Mayfield.

This is where Louisville offensive lineman Mekhi Becton comes in. A massive 6'7", 364-pound blocker, he has a combination of size and athleticism that should serve him well at the next level. However, the former Cardinals standout is not a particularly polished product.

"Becton's combination of movement and force should allow him to fit easily into all running schemes, but he needs to play with better patience in order to control and redirect all that mass into centered blocks in both run and pass," NFL Media's Lance Zierlein wrote.

Becton started to really make noise as a potential top-10 prospect at the scouting combine. In Indianapolis, he produced 23 reps of the 225-pound bench press and ran a 5.1-second 40-yard dash. For a man his size, that's impressive.

The Browns reworked Chris Hubbard's contract this offseason in order to keep the swing tackle onboard. This gives Cleveland an insurance policy in the event a tackle prospect like Becton isn't ready to start Day 1.

                

23. New England Patriots: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

Will the New England Patriots take a quarterback in this year's draft? That is one of the big mysteries heading into April, as the Patriots search for the heir to Tom Brady.

With the 42-year-old now a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England is left with the likes of Brian Hoyer, Jarett Stidham and Cody Kessler on the roster. There isn't a lot of cap room to work with, either, as the Patriots are roughly $2 million under the cap.

If they are going to add another quarterback, it's probably going to happen in the draft. A rising prospect like Utah State's Jordan Love could make sense at 23 overall.

While the 21-year-old didn't enter the predraft process with as much hype as Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert, he started to pick up steam during Senior Bowl Week.

"I think he has the highest ceiling of any quarterback in this draft," Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy said, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. "I equate him to Patrick Mahomes in the sense that they both have playmaking ability and really natural arm talent."

Love isn't likely to be ready to start Day 1. By bringing back Hoyer, though, the Patriots may have given themselves the veteran presence needed to bring along a project like the Utah State product slowly.

                  

30. Green Bay Packers: Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame

In a draft class loaded with big-name receiver talent—from Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III to CeeDee Lamb and Tee Higgins—Notre Dame's Chase Claypool may not initially stand out. However, he is beginning to gain traction as a first-round pick.

Bleacher Report draft analyst Matt Miller recently tabbed the Notre Dame product as his "biggest riser" among receivers.

A big part of Claypool's ascent is the 4.42-second 40 he produced at the scouting combine. For a 6'4", 238-pound pass-catcher, that's phenomenal.

Claypool has enough burst to threaten vertically and enough size to reel in contested balls deep down the field. That makes him a perfect fit for the Green Bay Packers, who lack a reliable deep threat opposite Davante Adams.

Green Bay signed Devin Funchess in free agency, but he is almost exclusively a possession guy. Claypool can be a versatile and productive No. 2 receiver for the foreseeable future.

Several NFL wide receivers responded to the Buffalo Bills' Stefon Diggs Twitter request for people to name the five best wideouts in league history.

Here's a look at some of the answers:

              

Davante Adams (Green Bay Packers)

• Randy Moss
• Jerry Rice
• Marvin Harrison
• Calvin Johnson
• Julio Jones

           

Keenan Allen (Los Angeles Chargers)

• Randy Moss
• Jerry Rice
• Terrell Owens
• Calvin Johnson
• Larry Fitzgerald

          

Robby Anderson (Carolina Panthers)

• Randy Moss
• Jerry Rice
• Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson
• Steve Smith
• Antonio Brown

         

Unsurprisingly, there's universal agreement on Moss and Rice among the current generation.

Rice leads all players in NFL history with 22,895 receiving yards, which is 5,812 more than second-placed Fitzgerald, and nobody was more dominant at their peak than Moss.

An intriguing debate could develop beyond those two, however, with at least a dozen other receivers worthy of consideration for the three remaining spots in the top five.

Cris Carter, Tim Brown, Steve Largent and Isaac Bruce are among the other players who at least belong in the discussion.

"I think the best receiver and the hardest to cover is two different conversations...," Diggs wrote.

He hasn't released his own top-five list as of Wednesday afternoon, though.  

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams accomplished a lifelong dream.

On Monday, Jordan Brand announced it was adding the three-time Pro Bowler to its list of athletes with an endorsement deal.

"It was something I always thought about," Adams said. "I wanted to be part of Jordan Brand, because I saw Randy Moss, my favorite receiver, wearing Jordans when I was younger. I wanted to do everything like Randy. The next part was getting to the Nike family. Everything ended up working out well. Now, we made the dream come true."

Adams also revealed in the announcement he had the opportunity to design his own cleats, calling Jordan Brand "the best-looking and best-feeling cleats."

It is no wonder Jordan Brand added Green Bay's go-to receiver.

He has established himself as one of the best pass-catchers in the league since the team selected him with a second-round pick out of Fresno State in 2014. He went to each of the last three Pro Bowls and was particularly impressive in 2018 with 111 catches for 1,386 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Adams is also just 27 years old and figures to remain on top of his game for the foreseeable future as Aaron Rodgers' top target.

He will be hauling those passes in with a new look in 2020.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams is trying to pass his time at home amid the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. So on Friday, he took to Twitter to answer fan questions about a number of questions, from queries on the NFL to his favorite flavor of Skittles (sour).

One question was which NFL wide receiver Adams would want to pair with on the Packers:

Keenan Allen https://t.co/VwvpKmLCj0

— Davante Adams (@tae15adams) March 20, 2020

That would be a scary combo. Keenan Allen caught 104 passes for 1,199 yards and six touchdowns last season, while Adams posted 83 receptions for 997 yards and five scores (in just 12 games). Both players have been elected to the Pro Bowl three times each. Suffice to say, Aaron Rodgers would be in heaven with that pair to target. 

He also said Alabama's Jerry Jeudy and Oklahoma's CeeDee Lamb are his picks for the rookie wideouts he would like to pair with:

I like Jeudy and CeeDee a lot but them boys gonna be gone before Roger get there https://t.co/KVF2LvY27X

— Davante Adams (@tae15adams) March 20, 2020

B/R's Matt Miller had Jeudy listed as his No. 5 overall prospect and Lamb at No. 13 in his latest big board, so unless the Green Bay Packers trade up, neither player will be available to them at No. 30 overall in the first round.  

This year's wide receiver class is deep though. Miller had nine wideouts in his top 50—Jeudy, Lamb, Alabama's Henry Ruggs III (12), Clemson's Tee Huggins (20), LSU's Justin Jefferson (21), Arizona State's Brandon Aiyuk (39), Penn State's KJ Hamler (41), TCU's Jalen Reagor (47) and Michigan's Donovan Peoples-Jones (49)—so the Packers should be able to snag a quality wide receiver in the first or second round if that's the direction they decide to go. 

Adams also answered a few other questions, including his favorite routes to run and which former teammate he'd choose to be isolated with during the COVID-19 pandemic:

Slant or a Go route it goes back n forth... https://t.co/Eln8bAjjH3

— Davante Adams (@tae15adams) March 20, 2020

Great question gotta be @jmon_moore lol https://t.co/6LqxUCu7mg

— Davante Adams (@tae15adams) March 20, 2020

Wideout J'Mon Moore, who spent time with the Cleveland Browns on their practice squad in 2019, appreciated the response:

Cause that’s my brother for life!! The vibes are real. https://t.co/rFpjbGGwNy

— J’Mon Moore (@jmon_moore) March 20, 2020

See that, folks? Even in isolation, we can find a way to come closer together.