Photo: Katie Stratman, USA Today Sports

The consensus rookie rankings at Footballguys are one of the strongest features we produce each season. However, despite embedded commentary, the consensus rankings can be light on context. If you look carefully, you can see tiers, but it can be difficult to compare players within their position and across multiple positions.

Knowing Player X is the consensus RB3 is clear from the rankings. Knowing how nearly Player X was to being ranked RB2 or RB6, or how Player X compares to the WR5 or TE1 or LB2 is much less clear.

I prefer a more visual approach, one that tiers players by position but also shows the value of one position relative to another across my draft board.

NOTES ON THE DRAFT BOARD

• The first version of this feature is based on limited information. Coaching comments, mini-camp observations, debate within the fantasy community, and the clarity that comes from testing this board in my own drafts will bring changes to future versions.
• I build this draft board with the following league parameters in mind: 12-14 teams, PPR, balanced IDP scoring, and full IDP lineups that include defensive tackles and cornerbacks. The commentary that follows the draft board will sometimes address modifications for leagues that provide bonuses for tight end scoring, big play IDP systems, etc.
• There may be more than 12-14 players listed in a given draft round. That's a function of the tiering approach. It's also a natural reflection of the wide range of ADP valuations we always see as a rookie draft moves into the deeper rounds. In some years, there may be fewer than 10-12 players in a draft round. Drafting trends may change from year-to-year, but it’s important to recognize when to trade for a future pick than to reach for a clearly less valuable talent now.
• This board reflects my personal drafting philosophy. I prioritize upside over floor within tiers. I'm willing to accept a higher bust risk in all rounds. I prefer to draft players who are likely to be successful sooner if other variables are equal. And I'm not afraid to trust my evaluations of defensive players and draft a second-tier IDP over a third-tier offensive prospect -- regardless of positional scarcity.
• The offensive columns of this draft board are informed by the in-depth process and work of Matt Waldman, Matt Harmon, Sigmund Bloom, Cecil Lammey, as well as Josh Norris, Dane Brugler, Mark Schofield, Emory Hunt, Evan Silva, J.J. Zachariason, Gary Davenport, and many others. I have also relied on the rankings of Bob Henry, John Norton, and Jason Wood at Footballguys for years. If you have other evaluators on your shortlist and they differ greatly from this board, tweak accordingly.

The draft board is designed to be read top to bottom and left to right. Each position is tiered from top to bottom in its own column. Separations within the columns represent relative tiers and the players are ranked by preference within those tiers. Relative value between positions can be tracked from left to right. The "suggested" draft rounds are based on my view of a player's value, with some consideration given to keeping the number of players with a given draft round grade to a reasonable total.

Positional commentaries can be found after the draft board.

2020 Combined Draft Board

***Email me at bramel@footballguys.com and I'll send a more easily readable Excel file so you can modify this draft board to better fit your player evaluations, draft philosophy, and league parameters.

THE BIG PICTURE

I hope everyone is well. We've all been touched by the coronavirus pandemic. Aside from the critical risk to personal health some have faced, the risk of social isolation to behavioral health and the financial struggles many of you continue to battle make this a very trying time.

This is where I usually ramble about which position makes sense where or how to attack the relatively deeper and weaker spots on the draft board. This year, I might also have discussed what fragmented OTA schedules could mean to rookie production.

But the big picture in 2020 is different.

My very best to your families. Stay well. When and where you can, look out for those you know and those you may not.

With the strong depth at other positions, I'm not likely to draft a quarterback. It's not that I don't believe in the QB1 upside for Burrow and Tagovailoa. I prefer the upside at the linebacker position at the end of the first round, a likely falling wide receiver, or the Chase Young prize. No other quarterback excites me - I've tiered them and slotted them on the draft board where I think their likely ADP may settle, but I'll be drafting other positions in that range, too.

I have no preference in the first tier. Edwards-Helaire reminds Andy Reid of Brian Westbrook, which could mean a majority target share if the rookie can prove himself reliable enough to protect Patrick Mahomes II when needed. Taylor has immediate and long-term upside behind a strong offensive line. Dobbins won't be an immediate hit but will soon remind you of Nick Chubb -- a rookie without a clear path to playing time whose talent won out sooner than later.

Do not shy away from Lamb in the early first round. Explosive offenses can support multiple elite fantasy performers. Lamb has an elite skill set and opposing defenses will not be able to key on him. I'm partial to Mims and Jefferson as clear second-tier options but there are lots of intriguing options in the second round -- Edwards and Pittman in particular.

Rookie tight ends are big producers and the two most attractive options this year have lots of long-term uncertainty. Trautman is blocked by Jared Cook for now and Drew Brees is retiring. The New England offense is a huge unknown for the foreseeable future, casting doubt on Asiasi's production. You can fully expect Kmet to be drafted long before I'll consider him.

I was too excited about Quinnen Williams and Ed Oliver last year. Kinlaw and Brown aren't in their class. In general, positional scarcity in DT-only leagues means you'll need to consider the one or two viable tackle prospects in the mid-third or fourth-round range.

Young won't need any developmental time and is a plug-and-play fantasy stud. He's a first-round value. There aren't any other prospects with a clear path to immediate impact. I like Chiasson better in sack-heavy leagues but he'll move up here in 2020 if he is classified at DE but gets linebacker snaps.

Young remains the prize in this group and is a no-doubt, first-round option in edge leagues. Lewis, Taylor, and Greenard all get sizable bumps in value in sack-heavy leagues and those that allow edge rushers as a separate position.

It's been a long, long, long time since I've seen a linebacker class this deep.

The Cardinals told reporters Simmons will play linebacker. That gives him the half-tier bump over Queen and Murray. However, unless you see Simmons as a generational, must-have player, you can let your leaguemates draft him and go get Queen or Murray at the end of the first or early second round. Both would be clear top IDP overall options in most seasons.

I may be a little low on Wilson due to coverage concerns but he's another high-floor option. Brooks is also tiered very low for a first-round draftee -- the Seahawks likely see him as an every-down player but I'm not convinced.

Every other linebacker tiered -- all the way through Dye in the free-agent group -- has a chance to carve out an every-down role at some point. My read of the scouting reports on Phillips and Harrison has me questioning their every-down projections; both are tiered relatively low when compared to their draft position.

When in doubt in the later rounds, add a linebacker.

You're looking for aggressive tacklers with elite ball skills and a path to immediate playing time. I've listed a bunch of options for deep leagues but I'll only be considering Okudah and only at the end of drafts. I can't see a scenario where I'm not continuing to draft linebackers in the late rounds this season.

I think Chinn will prove to be the class of this group. However, I fully expect to appease the fantasy gods by drafting Winfield whenever I can. It's good karma to have an Antoine Winfield Jr on your roster. Many, many, many fantasy titles in IDP leagues have been won that way over many years.

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