The NFL draft is in the books and everyone is drooling over the fantasy prospects of Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Henry Ruggs III and many of the other first and second round picks. But some of the late round NFL draft picks could also be fantasy contributors in 2020.
Of course, a lot needs to go right for these players to make an impact in fantasy football this season. Look no further than 2019 for examples of how these late round picks can turn out. You have guys like Darius Slayton who end up being useful contributors. Then you get your Darwin Thompson-types that seem like they should play but never get the chance. And then you have players like Myles Gaskin who do nothing when given an opportunity.
Let’s take a look at a trio of late round NFL draft picks who could be fantasy contributors in 2020.
1) WR Quintez Cephus
Detroit Lions
Round 5 / Pick 166
Quintez Cephus had a horrible combine along with some off-the-field baggage which saw him fall to the fifth round of the NFL Draft. He seemed like a player who could have used pro days and team meetings to improve his draft stock, but external events made that impossible. He had some memorable performances during his final year at Wisconsin, including torching Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game.
He has all the tools to be a nice slot receiver at the next level and Detroit is a good landing place for him. Danny Amendola is currently the starter in three-receiver sets, but he’s 34 and the team could be looking for a little more explosiveness. If Amendola gets hurt or slows down even further, Cephus could be one of the late round NFL draft picks that are fantasy contributors in 2020.
2) La’Mical Perine
New York Jets
Round 4 / Pick 120
With Bilal Powell moving on after a decade in New York, the Jets’ backup running back job is wide open. Josh Adams and Kenneth Dixon both have some NFL starts, but it is easy to see La’Mical Perine doing enough to leap them on the depth chart. The Florida Gator will still need an injury to Le’Veon Bell to see touches, however, he could be a solid handcuff heading into 2020.
3) Antonio Gandy-Golden
Washington Redskins
Round 4 / Pick 142
The concerns about Antonio Gandy-Golden coming out of Liberty focused on his speed and level of competition. He still needs to prove himself on the field at the NFL level, but Washington is a great landing spot for him. At the very least, Gandy-Golden steps in as a decent red zone target for Dwayne Haskins.
The Redskins have Terry McLaurin and Steven Sims who are both under six feet. Kelvin Harmon is 6’2. He also played all 16 games last season without catching a touchdown. The team’s tight end situation is depressing leaving the 6’4 Gandy-Golden as a real threat to dominate red zone targets in 2020.
