Jayce Standridge / Contributing Writer
Fantasy Football season is here, and I couldn’t be more excited. The drafts are starting, the trash talk is heating up, and for some reason people are still picking defenses before the 8th round. I’ve been in just under 50 leagues and away with first place in 14 of them, here’s how I think the first 20 picks should go in a PPR league.
1. Christian McCaffrey (CAR)
2. Dalvin Cook (MIN)
3. Alvin Kamara (NO)
4. Derrick Henry (TEN)
5. Davante Adams (GB)
The first four should be obvious for any fantasy GM. And with the reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers under center, Davante Adams definitely belongs in the fifth spot. He was also the WR1 in fantasy just a year ago. You just can’t go wrong with any of these five.
6. Jonathan Taylor (IND)
7. Travis Kelce (KC)
8. Aaron Jones (GB)
9. Tyreek Hill (KC)
10. Austin Ekeler (LAC)
Picks 6-10 is where we start seeing separation from the top. Jonathan Taylor should have a big year with a new QB in Carson Wentz, and a new OC. Aaron Jones should also produce big points since he has been a top five RB for three years straight.
11. Nick Chubb (CLE)
12. Saquon Barkley (NYG)
13. Ezekiel Elliott (DAL)
14. Stefon Diggs (BUF)
15. Antonio Gibson (WAS)
The next five picks were trickier considering the medical history of Saquon Barkley. Coming off of a torn ACL is not an easy task to do for anyone, especially RBs, so it’s safe to say that he might not play as well as he should. I also have Elliott not as high as others since the Cowboys have tons of weapons this year.
16. Najee Harris (PIT)
17. DeAndre Hopkins (ARI)
18. Calvin Ridley (ATL)
19. Justin Jefferson (MIN)
20. A.J Brown (TEN)
My last five picks introduce the only rookie I have listed in the top 20. Harris should make an immediate impact for the Steelers who have struggled in the running game in recent years. Calvin Ridley is also a great option for a WR1. Julio Jones left the Falcons for the Titans, which leaves Ridley alone in a passing heavy Falcons offense.
This should be a great year in Fantasy. There are some really exciting rookies including Trevor Lawrence, Najee Harris, and Justin Fields just to name a few. Questions will be answered like can Matthew Stafford lead a team to the playoffs, is Mac Jones the future of the Patriots, and are the Cowboys contenders or pretenders? With everything returning back to “normal,” how will that affect the league?
