Players to Target in Every Round of Fantasy Football Drafts

Sep 03, 2020

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This has been an unusual summer, to put it extremely mildly. And it is looking like the fall will follow the same trajectory. One thing that has helped keep me sane has been participating in and writing about fantasy football drafts. Fantasy football, while a career for some, is and always will be an escape for most. An escape from schoolwork. An escape from work. An escape from chores. An escape from the mundane. After all, the word “fantasy” is in the very title of the game. I write all of this not to get on some soapbox or moral high horse, but to remind everyone reading this to enjoy this build-up process and the fantasy season (however long it may be). We all take fantasy football seriously here at 4for4, but it is important to remember that this is a game, and games are meant to be fun. So study hard, but be sure to enjoy the ride.

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Speaking of studying hard, on to the real reason you’re here: fantasy football analysis. With fantasy drafts rapidly approaching, I took it upon myself to go round-by-round, highlighting one of my favorite players to draft in that round. The players listed below are not the ONLY players to take in that round, but someone who is a value based on 4for4’s tools and analysis, factoring in my own personal preference of course. I skipped Round 1 because for the most part, it’s pretty chalky, and I skipped the last few rounds (of standard-length drafts) as those should be reserved for kickers and defenses. ADP was based on 4for4’s ADP tool. For more ADP bargains, check out the ADP Bargain tool as well as my site-by-site look at the some of the best draft values in 2020.

Round 2 – RB Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers

Melvin Gordon’s ill-timed holdout in 2019 worked wonders for Ekeler (who parlayed his performance into a new contract) and his fantasy managers. Ekeler ran for 557 yards and three scores on the ground while adding 92 receptions, 993 yards and eight touchdowns through the air. He finished as a top-10 back in standard and half-PPR scoring, and a top-five back in PPR. Looking ahead to 2020, things have only improved for Ekeler. Yes, Philip Rivers left town, but so did Melvin Gordon, and the team did little to add to the running back room.

Ekeler will be the featured back on what could be a sneakily good offense with Tyrod Taylor filling in for the aging Rivers. Ekeler’s passing workload should be locked-in, and the same cannot be said for backs going ahead of him like Josh Jacobs, Nick Chubb, Kenyan Drake, and Aaron Jones. Ekeler offers both a safe yardage/reception floor, with top-five potential if he finds the end zone enough. If he falls to Round 2 don’t hesitate.

Round 3 – WR Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears

Robinson authored one of the quietest 98-reception, 1,100-yard, seven-touchdown seasons in recent memory last season. Perhaps that’s because the narratives around Mitchell Trubisky were all-consuming. Robinson owned 26.6% of the team’s targets and 39.2% of the team’s air yards (fourth-most in the league) last season. Robinson could benefit from improved quarterback play in 2020, as the team acquired Nick Foles from the Jaguars. Meanwhile, the Bears made only marginal additions to the pass-catching corps with Ted Ginn and Jimmy Graham replacing Taylor Gabriel and Trey Burton. Robinson’s target share and air yards share look secure, once again giving him WR1 potential in 2020.