When it comes to fantasy football rookies in 2020, Clyde Edwards-Helaire is a unanimous favorite. So we asked our ESPN Fantasy crew: Other than Edwards-Helaire, which rookie running back will have the best season? Three names made the cut.
The ESPN Fantasy Football virtual summit highlighted many key storylines as we look forward to 2020 fantasy football drafts. Our composite rankings, which will be updated throughout the offseason, are always a great starting point for fantasy owners as they prepare for draft day.
To give you a peek behind the curtain of some of our best discussions, we introduce our fantasy football roundtable series. Each entry will feature members of our ESPN Fantasy team offering their analysis on the hottest topics that came out of this year's summit, which hopefully will get you thinking about how you want to approach your drafts in the months ahead.
Besides Edwards-Helaire, which rookie RB will have the best season?
Kerryon Johnson has flashed his talent, but knee injuries have significantly limited him in two consecutive seasons, perhaps steering the Lions to look for more RB help. We've seen Georgia running backs have an immediate impact in the NFL before, and Swift with his all-around (run/catch/quick-cut agility) ability should be able to do the same.
Matthew Berry: Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
I love the 5-foot-10, 226-pound Taylor landing with the Colts, who last season ranked fifth in yards before first contact on RB carries and sixth in rush percentage. I get that Marlon Mack is still there, but he has missed multiple games in each of his three seasons and was a fourth-round pick of the Chuck Pagano regime, while Taylor was a second-round pick of this coaching staff. By signing Philip Rivers, the Colts are in win-now mode, and I don't believe they would have used a pick this high on Taylor unless they had a substantial role in mind for him in 2020.
Matt Bowen: Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams
Akers has an opportunity to win the No. 1 role in Los Angeles, where he would see volume as a zone runner and in the screen game. Sean McVay's offense is a fit for Akers' pro-ready traits too.
Mike Clay: Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Taylor is going to have his hands full fending off Marlon Mack on early downs and Nyheim Hines in passing situations, but the second-round pick is a good bet to work his way into a significant offensive role behind an elite line at some point during the 2020 season. Of course, he may not be affordable considering his Round 2-3 ADP.
Tristan H. Cockcroft: Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Yes, Marlon Mack is still on the roster and Nyheim Hines is present to steal passing-down snaps, but I don't think the Colts draft Taylor without the intent to play him -- at the very least as a 1A to Mack's 1 on the depth chart. Taylor has elite speed and absurd college numbers, and Mack struggled through a disappointing 2019, especially late in the season, so I consider this a wide-open competition.
Daniel Dopp: D'Andre Swift, Detroit Lions
This is tough to write, because I'm a huge fan of Kerryon Johnson, but he's missed at least six games in each of the past two seasons, and the two most important factors to fantasy stardom are taking advantage of opportunities and staying healthy. Enter D'Andre Swift. He's an instant-impact runner with soft hands who will run through arm tackles and make guys miss in space. He's a low-end RB2 with top-15 upside for fantasy managers in 2020.
Eric Karabell: D'Andre Swift, Detroit Lions
Jonathan Taylor should have plenty of moments in Indy, but I think D'Andre Swift offers more immediate impact in Detroit because he should have an easier time assuming a great workload. Kerryon Johnson had his chances and did little with them, and now Swift, a terrific, all-around option at Georgia, should swiftly pass Johnson and amass 1,500 total yards.
Field Yates: Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams
I'm starting to feel stronger and stronger about Cam Akers, as the opportunity for him is too strong to ignore. He checked all the boxes at Florida State and would have received more attention if not for the Seminoles' poor overall play, but he's a star. While Darrell Henderson Jr. was a third-round pick just last year, Akers feels better equipped to handle the heavy lifting.