It was one of the greatest sporting years in history, but there is at least one thing that brings a sense of normalcy.
At the end of August, it’s officially time to start preparing for the football season.
With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the drafts and dynasty qualifications of a handful of experts.
ESPN Mock Draft (10 participants): 10-team PPR
1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers
2. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
3. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys
4. Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings
5. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
6. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints
7. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
8. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Arizona Cardinals
9. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans
10. Miles Sanders, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
CBS Simulated Draft (12 participants): 12-team Superflex (field marshals can be in a flexible position)
1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers
2. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
3. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
4. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
5. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
6. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
7. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys
8. Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings
9. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
10. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints
11. Miles Sanders, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
12. Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
RANKING of ESPN Mike Clay Dynasties
1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers
2. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
3. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints
4. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys
5. Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings
6. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
7. Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
8. Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
9. Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns
10. Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers
11. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Arizona Cardinals
12. Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
13. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
14. Miles Sanders, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
15. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
16. Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City chefs
17. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
18. George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers
19. Lamar Jackson, Quarterback, Baltimore Ravens
20. D.J. Moore, WR, Carolina Panthers
CBS Dynasty Rookie Ranking ‘Heath Cummings’ (PPR)
1. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
2. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
3. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Denver Broncos
4. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
5. Henry Ruggs, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
6. J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ravens de Baltimore
7. D’Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions
8. Cam Akers, RB, Los Angeles Rams
9. Laviska Shenault, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
10. Jalen Reagor, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
11. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
12. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
13. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
14. Denzel Mims, WR, New York Jets
15. Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
16. Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington
17. Michael Pittman, WR, Indianapolis Colts
18. A.J. Dillon, RB, Packers de Green Bay
19. Zack Moss, RB, Buffalo Bills
20. Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
If there’s a lesson to be learned from mock drafts, it’s Christian McCaffery with selection No. 1.
Even the CBS superflex league, which puts so much emphasis on quarterbacks, has put the Carolina Panthers ball carrier in the top overall. The Clay Dynasty rating also lists Stanford Product No. 1 and for a reason.
After all, he is only 24 years old and has just finished his first Pro Bowl appearance after running for 1,387 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding 116 receptions for 1,005 yards and 4 touchdowns in the air.
It’s those skills as a receiver that stand out to the fullest from Fantasy football players. He has counted more than a hundred catches in each of the last two years, which would be numbers that would attract attention even to giant receivers. The fact that he has that kind of price as a pass receiver while running more than a hundred yards makes him an extremely unfair weapon.
Anyone in saquon Barkley’s organization, Ezekiel Elliott, Dalvin Cook and Alvin Kamara would bring significant price to fantasy players in the dynasty leagues or yet there is a transparent consensus that McCaffery is the first choice.
There is also a broad receptor-level consensus, with Michael Thomas ranked most sensible on the list on simulation projects and dynasty classifications.
The Ohio State product is in the midst of its heyday at 27, betting on a New Orleans Saints offense that accumulates many problems with Drew Brees still in command and Kamara making plays, and has led the league in receptions at all of the two years.
He led the league with 1,725 yards receiving last season as offensive player of the year and is a PPR DREAM.
The hope of the rookies is that one day they will have an effect on players like Thomas and McCaffery, and the safe bet to do so turns out to be the ball bearer of the Kansas City Chiefs, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, founded on one’s rankings.
There’s a lot to love from the point of view.
On the one hand, he sees many opportunities after Damien Williams withdrew from the 2020 season. He also plays in a stacked attack with Patrick Mahomes, who runs the screen and will never actually face loaded boxes given Kansas City’s ability to fire opposing defenses from the air.
The LSU product, which ran 1,414 yards and 16 touchdowns for national champions Tigers last season, took credit for a school-level stage, with Joe Burrow attracting so much attention.
If Edwards-Helaire does the same in the NFL, it will be the first dynasty selection it will take to achieve it.