The NFL season kicks off next Thursday with rosters and depth charts beginning to round into shape. If your fantasy football draft hasn’t happened yet, then it’s coming up quick.
To help with preparations, we’ve ranked the top-12 fantasy quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs and tight ends based on a half-PPR format. Also included are honourable mentions and a player to watch for at each position group.
Even if you’ve got a team rostered already, the below ratings and sleepers can still be useful for DFS contests throughout 2020.
QUARTERBACK RANKINGS
1. Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs)
2. Dak Prescott (Cowboys)
3. Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
4. Deshaun Watson (Texans)
5. Kyler Murray (Cardinals)
6. Lamar Jackson (Ravens)
7. Josh Allen (Bills)
8. Drew Brees (Saints)
9. Matt Ryan (Falcons)
10. Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
11. Tom Brady (Buccaneers)
12. Matthew Stafford (Lions)
Honourable Mentions – Baker Mayfield, Browns; Ryan Tannehill, Titans; Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers.
SLEEPER PICK
Gardner Minshew’s fantasy stock got a boost after the surprise release of workhorse running back Leonard Fournette. The Jaguars are clearly in tank mode as they dismembered their once-proud defence, and that means they will be trailing a lot in 2020.
Maybe Minshew can transform into a garbage-time fantasy darling like former Jacksonville quarterback Blake Bortles. The moustached, bandana-wearing sophomore can rack up some ground with his legs too as he had the fifth-most rushing yards for among QBs last year. If his passing touchdowns can increase, then “Minshew Mania” could become a starting-calibre option.
RUNNING BACK RANKINGS
1. Christian McCaffrey (Panthers)
2. Saquon Barkley (Giants)
3. Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys)
4. Alvin Kamara (Saints)
5. Derrick Henry (Titans)
6. Dalvin Cook (Vikings)
7. Kenyan Drake (Cardinals)
8. Miles Sanders (Eagles)
9. Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Chiefs)
10. Nick Chubb (Browns)
11. Joe Mixon (Bengals)
12. Josh Jacobs (Raiders)
Honourable Mentions – Austin Ekeler, Chargers; Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers; Chris Carson, Seahawks.
SLEEPER PICK
Antonio Gibson is a fascinating boom-or-bust option, especially with the release of Adrian Peterson. If he was a run-of-the-mill running back I wouldn’t be that excited, but the possibilities at receiver are intriguing. New head coach Ron Rivera called Gibson a “Christian McCaffrey-type of weapon.”
Washington’s playmakers on offence stop after Terry McLaurin. A backfield committee, nothing else interesting at receiver, and no notable tight end leaves an opening for the versatile rookie to pop. He’s very raw, but the ability to move him all over the field could quickly elevate his stock.
WIDE RECEIVER RANKINGS
1. Michael Thomas (Saints)
2. DeAndre Hopkins (Cardinals)
3. Devante Adams (Packers)
4. Julio Jones (Falcons)
5. Tyreek Hill (Chiefs)
6. Kenny Golladay (Lions)
7. Mike Evans (Bucs)
8. JuJu Smith-Schuster (Steelers)
9. Adam Thielen (Vikings)
10. Chris Godwin (Buccaneers)
11. Allen Robinson (Bears)
12. D.J. Moore (Panthers)
Honourable Mentions - Amari Cooper, Cowboys; Odell Beckham Jr., Browns; Courtland Sutton, Broncos.
SLEEPER PICK
Quickly rising up draft boards, Raiders rookie receiver Bryan Edwards won’t be considered a sleeper for long. Edwards, not speedy first-round pick teammate Henry Ruggs III, is the Las Vegas wideout to grab.
The season-ending injury to Tyrell Williams catapults Edwards into the starter spotlight as Derek Carr’s new big-bodied target. At six-foot-three and 212 pounds, the South Carolina product has a defined role in the offence and is getting rave reviews out of training camp. Consider Edwards as WR bench depth with flex-spot upside.
TIGHT END RANKINGS
1. Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
2. George Kittle (49ers)
3. Darren Waller (Raiders)
4. Evan Engram (Giants)
5. Zach Ertz (Eagles)
6. Hayden Hurst (Falcons)
7. Mark Andrews (Ravens)
8. Jack Doyle (Colts)
9. Austin Hooper (Browns)
10. Tyler Higbee (Rams)
11. T.J. Hockenson (Lions)
12. Mike Gesicki (Dolphins)
Honourable Mentions – Dallas Goedert, Eagles; Jared Cook, Saints; Hunter Henry, Chargers.
SLEEPER PICK
Jay Gruden as the new offensive coordinator in Jacksonville puts Tyler Eifert back on the tight end radar as someone to watch. The two worked together in Cincinnati when Gruden was the OC as Eifert was entering the NFL.
The Jaguars running game is in shambles and the club will likely be playing a ton of catch-up. That’s good news for the oft-injured Eifert as the TE position should become more of a focus for the Jaguars than in recent years. Multiple reports have also noted the growing chemistry between the 29-year-old and Minshew.
