Well, you missed out on the No. 1 pick in your upcoming fantasy football draft, but you did secure the second selection.
Assuming Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey goes first overall as most every set of preseason player rankings project, who do you go with at No. 2?
Below, we look at the top candidates for the No. 2 overall pick in fantasy football drafts and who should be selected.
No. 2 overall draft pick candidates
(ADP data courtesy of MyFantasyLeague.com)
- Minnesota Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (average pick of 2.82). 2020 (14 games): 312 rushes-1,557 yards, 44 receptions-361 yards, 17 total TDs, 293.8 (standard scoring)/337.8 (point-per-reception scoring) total fantasy points
- New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara (4.37). 2020 (15 games): 187 rushes-932 yards, 83 receptions-756 yards, 21 total TDs, 294.8/377.8 total fantasy points
- Tennessee Titans RB Derrick Henry (5.27). 2020 (16 games): 378 rushes-2,027 yards, 19 receptions-114 yards,17 total TDs, 316.1/335.1 total fantasy points
- Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott (8.46). 2020 (15 games): 244 rushes-979 yards, 52 receptions-338 yards, 8 total TDs, 179.7/231.7 total fantasy points
- Green Bay Packers WR Davante Adams (8.66). 2020 (14 games): 149 targets-115 receptions-1,374 yards, 18 total TDs, 245.4/360.4 total fantasy points
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So who should you select second overall in your fantasy football draft?
Henry, with 316.1 total fantasy points, was the non-quarterback leader in standard-scoring formats in 2020 while Kamara (377.8) topped the non-QB charts in PPR scoring.
But other than McCaffrey, Cook averaged the most standard-scoring points (21.0) on a per-game basis last season and finished 1.1 points behind Kamara (25.2-24.1) in terms of average PPR fantasy points per outing.
And that foreshadows our No. 2-pick recommendation.
We’re going to start by eliminating Elliott and Adams from consideration. The Cowboys’ back simply has too much to prove coming off a career-worst season (979 rushing yards and six TDs in 15 games) while the latter is a player at a deep position coming off a career year with historical numbers (league-leading 18 receiving TDs) that aren’t likely to be approached in 2021.
In standard-scoring formats, Cook offers the best rushing-receiving balance of the remaining three running backs as Henry is too run heavy (95.2 percent of his 397 touches in 2020 were rushes) while Kamara is the opposite (30.7 percent of his touches were receptions).
That makes Cook the preferred No. 2-pick in standard leagues despite his relative durability concerns having missed 21 games in four seasons.
In PPR formats, though, we’ll give the slight lean to Kamara over Cook.
Kamara’s league-leading 21 total TDs are certainly due to regress. However, with QB Drew Brees gone and the Saints’ other top offensive weapon, WR Michael Thomas, likely to start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, Kamara figures to be relied on more than ever. He very well could hit a career high in touches this season, and in doing so, he could also approach 100 receptions for the first time in his five pro campaigns.
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