First Round Fantasy's Top Ten of 2020

 

   

Whether you're the cream of the crop or a Cinderella story, the MVP is used to describe a player who, well, what the acronym stands for “The Most Valuable Player” on their team. Many different fantasy perspectives and teams that drafted this year culminated a multitude of their own MVPs for their specific teams. This top ten list is a combination of both, top tier talent, and Cinderella stories that were seen around the fantasy world this year. This personal top 10 list was generated based on draft value and hype “or the lack of it” in the offseason. Let us know down in the comments if one of these players were one of your fantasy MVPs, or if you happened to have your own. Let's get to it.  

#10 Calvin Ridley, WR, Atlanta. 

2020 Recap: 90 REC / 1,374 Yds. / 9TDs

Fantasy Finish: WR #5

    Everyone expected great things from Calvin Ridley in 2020 and of course, he delivered. What is intriguing here though is what Ridley was able to do without Julio Jones. In seven games without Jones, Ridley put together an impressive 50 REC / 763 YDs. / 3 TDs proving his standalone value as a number one. With both Jones and Matt Ryan in the twilight of their careers the window is closing on another possible championship run. For the likes of Calvin Ridley however, he has certainly cemented himself as an elite wide receiver with top 8 fantasy finishes as his ceiling for years to come.

% of Repeat - 92%

#9 Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota  

2020 Recap: 88 REC / 1,374 Yds. / 9 TDs

Fantasy Finish WR #6

    Every year we hear the same thing “rookie wide receivers just do not pan out year one for fantasy”. Well Justin Jefferson kindly asked everyone to hold their beers and chug quietly in the corner. Justin Jefferson shattered the rookie receiving yards record and earned himself a pro bowl nod. Despite the atrocious defense, Minnesota’s offense showed promise with Kirk Cousins (11), Dalvin Cook (2) and Adam Theilan along with Jefferson all held tremendous fantasy value. There were balancing issues early on when it came to play calling however it looks like Klint Kubiak has fixed that for the foreseeable future. This only means Justin Jefferson must avoid the sophomore slump curse in order to return to fantasy greatness and we see that working in his favor.

% of Repeat 92%

#8 Myles Gaskin, RB, Miami

2020 Recap: 972 TOT Yds. / 41 REC / 5 TOT TDs

Fantasy Finish RB #28

The first Cinderella story of the 2020 fantasy season, but not the most impactful (That is yet to come) Gaskin was a week one waiver wire pickup that held a special place in our hearts. Stealing the fire from newly acquired Howard and Breida, Gaskin was a premium value that you didn't just have to pick him up week 1. Gaskin was dropped without thought after his injury in week 8. Only to be picked up by people who rode his Flex value into the fantasy playoffs. While it was a fun ride, Miami had already shown interest in Aaron Jones before he resigned with the Packers, showing that although Gaskin was a low investment high reward type of guy, he is an easy write off as well. It will be a situation to monitor in Miami whether through the draft or free agency leading us to believe Gaskin’s tale will be one lost in folklore.

% of Repeat 42%

#7 Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo

2020 Recap: 4,965 TOT Yds. / 45 TOT TDs

Fantasy Finish QB #1

Josh Allen had the arm, but lacked the pocket presence and accuracy that left many to believe his future could be in jeopardy if not addressed. Well, lets just say he worked on fine tuning his skill set in the offseason. Allen threw the ball 572 times in 2020, up 111 from the previous year which in turn hindered his completion percentage, however the use of his legs helped propel him to the top spot of the fantasy world. I will cut straight to the chase on Josh Allen. If Buffalo can address the running back position with a more adept runner, Allen finds himself in contention as king of the fantasy world for years to come.

% of Repeat 96%

#6 Aaaron Rodgers

2020 Recap: 4,299 Yds. / 51 TOT TDs

Fantasy Finish QB #2

Hopefully you didn't pay up for Mahomes and Jackson in the 3rd. Rodgers' value outside the 10th round was beautiful for people who drafted him as their QB 1 or backup. A #2 finish for a QB who was projected outside the top 10 this year when he has finished inside the top ten all but two (Injured one season) in the last eleven seasons.... Shame on them. Congrats to his drafters.

% of Repeat 92%  

#5 James Robinson, RB, Jacksonville  

2020 Recap: 1,414 TOT Yds. / 49 Rec / 10 TOT TDs 

Fantasy Finish RB #7

Leonard Fornette? Ryquel Armstead? No. James Robinson, yes! Robinson was one of the best values of the year coming off the waiver wire week 1. If you happened to snag Robinson you were lucky enough to have a top 10 RB rest of season for not cost at all! That's a VALUE. Even with pass catching specialist Chris Thompson there, Robinson soaked up the targets as well albeit, not as flashy, he got the job done. Robinson is another example of a low risk, easy write off type of guy. However Robinson showed he's worth keeping around. Still this situation should be monitored as Jacksonville has a whopping 10 draft picks in the 2021 draft. This makes for an interesting offseason for Robinson owners (like myself) as teams like Las Vegas who just signed Kenyan Drake solidifying Josh Jacobs non existent fate as a pass catcher. The ceiling may not get higher for Robinson from here. Although a top 10 RB is not the worst thing in the world.

% of Repeat 70%

#4 Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City

2020 Recap: 1,399 TOT Yds. / 17 TOT TDs

Fantasy Finish WR #2

 Like few other names on this list, there is not much to say. Hill is simply on the list for being dominant and leading your team to fantasy stardom. The biggest knack against Hill purely from a fantasy standpoint was that you loved his blowup games and you swallowed the L’s when he tanked your team over the last few years. This matter of inconsistency was irrelevant in 2021 as Hill failed to score in just four games. There is no doubt or questioning here. Don’t mess with the Cheetah

% of Repeat - 90%

#3 Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City

2020 Recap: 105 Rec / 1,416 Yds. / 11 TDs

Fantasy Finish TE #1

Much like Tyreek Hill, there is not much to say about Travis Kelce. If you gambled and passed up on an RB1 or WR1, well you were granted with RB1 or WR1 numbers. True fantasy MVP. Let's move on.

% of Repeat - 97%

#2 Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo

2020 Recap: 127 Rec / 1,535 Yds. / 8 TDs

Fantasy Finish - WR #3

There were many fantasy analysts out there (including myself) that said Diggs's new home wasn't the perfect fit for his fantasy stock. Well, Diggs definitely proved the naysayers wrong. Big props to Jacob, Joe and Justin of the First Round Fantasy team for buying Diggs in 2020. With the departure of John Brown and the acquisition of Emmanuel Sanders, re-signing of Isaiah Mckenzie, and the rumors of adding another WR in the draft, this only improves Diggs stock in Buffalo. 

% of Repeat - 94%

#1 Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans

2020 Recap: 1,688 TOT Yds. / 83 Rec / 21 TOT TDs

Fantasy Finish #1

Over the last three seasons Kamara has consistently been overlooked as a #1 pick behind the likes of Barkley, Zeke, and CMC. This year due to a lingering back issue drafters strayed away from Kamara, often falling outside of the top 5 or even top 10! For someone like myself who drafted Kamara with #9 pick in one particular draft, it was the ultimate reward. With the tides changing in New Orleans as Drew Brees departs, Kamara fans may not enjoy seeing Taysom Hill behind center as his fantasy value was tremendously crippled with the small sample size last year. Most signs point to Jameis Winston under center however which may bode well for the PPR machine. Regardless this is a notable change and one that must be monitored, however let’s make sure to never let Kamara drop out of the top 10, at least for the next few years ;).

% of Repeat - 90%

Note: This writing does not represent the views of the entire First Round Fantasy team.

Note: Check out daring boy interactive or @darensharpe on instagram for all art pictured.

Written by,

Gabriel Miramontes 

Twitter @Miramontesssss 

@FRFFootball