Fantasy Football 2020: Early Mock Draft After Top Free-Agency Deals

With one week of NFL free agency completed, the fantasy picture is beginning to look a bit different than it did previously. While many of the top players are still going to excel on the playing field, early offseason deals have changed their fantasy outlook.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for example, added quarterback Tom Brady in free agency. While doing so should theoretically help Tampa make a run at the NFL postseason, it won't necessarily improve fantasy managers' quests for a title. 

Brady has consistently led his real-life teams to the playoffs. However, he hasn't thrown for more than 5,000 yards since 2011 and hasn't topped 30 touchdowns since 2017. Former Buccaneers starter Jameis Winston, meanwhile, threw for 5,109 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2019—though he also tossed 30 interceptions.

How will moves like Tampa's acquisition of Brady affect the fantasy landscape? Let's take a look. 

2020 NFL Fantasy Mock Draft, PPR

01.01: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

01.02: Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants

01.03: Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints

01.04: Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings

01.05: Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

01.06: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys

01.07: Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers

01.08: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Arizona Cardinals

01.09: Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers

01.10: Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans

01.11: George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers

01.12: Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns

02.01: Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

02.02: Amari Cooper, WR, Dallas Cowboys

02.03: Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

02.04: Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

02.05: Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons

02.06: Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

02.07: Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

02.08: Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

02.09: DeVante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins

02.10: Kenyan Drake, RB, Arizona Cardinals

02.11: Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

02.12: Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Cleveland Browns

Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

Coming off of a season in which he produced 1,387 rushing yards and 1,005 receiving yards, Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey is and should be the top target among fantasy managers. The fact that the Panthers are moving from Cam Newton to Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback shouldn't change that.

If anything, the addition of Bridgewater should ensure that McCaffrey remains a top-tier fantasy option for the foreseeable future. Carolina is committing to the former Louisville star and former New Orleans Saints backup long-term.

This means that the Panthers—and new head coach Matt Rhule—should already have a game plan in hand.

While that plan probably doesn't involve leaning on McCaffrey quite as much as the Kyle Allen-led Panthers did in 2019, it should ensure that Carolina doesn't have a disastrous offense this coming season.

Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

The addition of Brady in Tampa Bay is going to affect how coach Bruce Arians approaches things offensively. While he was happy to consistently attack downfield with Winston at quarterback, Arians is likely to take a more efficient and more methodical approach with Brady.

This doesn't mean that Arians will try to control the six-time champion, however.

"I asked him what he's going to do now that he's coaching the GOAT," Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said, per Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "He texted right back, 'Just stay out of his way.'"

Arians spent five seasons as Roethlisberger's offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh.

If Arians tailors his offense to fit Brady, it should keep wideout Mike Evans as a premier fantasy option. The former Texas A&M star is a tremendous downfield receiver, but he is also a dangerous possession receiver.

While Evans may lose a bit of fantasy value in the big-play department, he should make up for it in receptions. Brady's top target in 2019, Julian Edelman, had 110 of them this past season.

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Arizona Cardinals

One of the biggest fantasy changes this year—aside from Brady leaving the New England Patriots, of course—is DeAndre Hopkins' arrival with the Arizona Cardinals.

Arizona acquired the three-time first-team All-Pro from the Houston Texans via trade early in free agency. The Cardinals surrendered running back David Johnson to do so, but with Kenyan Drake locked up via the transition tag, Johnson was expendable.

For fantasy managers, the change of scenery could mean a slight dip in Hopkins' production. He had established chemistry with Deshaun Watson and will take some time to grow with Kyler Murray in Arizona.

However, Hopkins' fantasy value isn't going to drop off dramatically. He's an elite No. 1 receiver regardless of venue.

What the move to Arizona will mean is an increased fantasy value for Murray. The Oklahoma product passed for 3,722 yards, rushed for 544 yards and scored 24 touchdowns as a rookie. He should be even more productive in 2020.