Fantasy Football 2020: Creative Team Names and Early Keeper Advice

Theo SalaunJul 17, 2020

The 2020 NFL season is scheduled to kick off on September 10 and, while that date could be pushed back, this is prime time to brainstorm fantasy team names and think through keeper decisions.

Long-term upside may be the name of the game when determining your keepers, but fantasy managers can get a little jiggy with it when naming teams. You don't have to call your team something intense and befitting a longstanding dynasty, like Fred's Lords of Fire. That may be an incredible name worthy of an impressive organization, but often the best team names are cringey dad jokes and puns.

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That's what we have assembled here, split into position groups and ignoring some of the more classic team and sport-based ones. Read ahead for some delightfully bad team names, followed by some keeper advice for the 2020 season and beyond.

Fantasy Football Team Names

Quarterback

Action Jackson
Beggars Can't Be Minshewsers
DaBrady
JoeJoe's Bizarre Adventure
Joe Exotic
Kyler Durden's Fight Club
Rum Ham Newton
Sherlock Mahomes
The Tagovailorian
Too Prescott to Handle

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is timeless and, despite seeming to be at the tail end of his career, Cam Newton is in position to claim Tom Brady's throne in New England—so it's impossible not to get "Rum Ham Newton" on the list.

Brady, meanwhile, can easily feature in a DaBaby-inspired team name while the rookies, Joe Burrows and Tua Tagovailoa, get simple references to one of the more popular anime and Star Wars series out there.

But there are some combos available, too. If you're in a two-quarterback league and manage to secure Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson, then "Mahomes and Watson" is on the table, while a more easily secured, still electrifying duo of Josh Allen and Kenyan Drake can grant you the blessings of "Drake and Josh."

Running Back

Chevrolet Kamara
CinnaMontgomery Toast Crunch
Dalvin and the Chipmunks
The D'Raheem Team
Henrything Is Possible
Ketchup and Mostert
Mixoncut Gems
Once Saquon a Time in Hollywood
Return of the Mack
TGS: The Gurley Show

Like Newton and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Todd Gurley gets a new chance to redirect his injury-riddled career and another iconic series, 30 Rock, to have his team named after.

Wide Receiver

Call of Jeudy: Modern Warfare
Chark Tank
Chillin' at the Golladay Inn
Classy, Jeudy, Ratchet
Keenan: Masters of the Universe
McLaurin F1
No Diggsity
Now You See 'Dee, Now You Don't
Scary Terry
SpongeBoyd RareHands

Jerry Jeudy's name has infinite potential and opens the door for references to this year's most popular video game and one of its most infamous TikTok songs. Similarly, Tyler Boyd's name gives us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a perfectly corny Spongebob Squarepants callout.

Less tight ends are fantasy-relevant, and that means they get fewer team names. But "George of the Jungle" is a classic for big George Kittle, "Too Hock to Handle" is a better ode to Netflix's absurd reality show and "Outer Fants" is an annoying way to turn an upcoming sophomore's ceiling into another grounded Netflix ode.

Oh, and if you pair Calvin Ridley and Kittle, you can prove your rap taste by referencing the most iconic line of Big Pun's repertoire from his "Twinz (Deep Cover 98)" classic: "Ridley Some Kittle Men" (who didn't do diddly).

Keeper Advice

Keeper leagues bring a different dimension as team managers prioritize players with an emphasis on longevity. Like typical drafting protocol, upside relative to position group is crucial when determining your keepers—meaning most quarterbacks aren't worth retaining over running backs, wide receivers and even tight ends.

That rule doesn't apply if you have Mahomes or Lamar Jackson, as both offer clear scoring ceilings far above their peers. But, generally, you should build around star backs and pass-catchers who have a lot of gas left in the tank.

Here are the top 32 PPR keepers, per Fantasy Pros' consensus rankings.

1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, CAR

2. Saquon Barkley, RB, NYG

3. Michael Thomas, WR, NO

4. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, DAL

5. Alvin Kamara, RB, NO

6. Tyreek Hill, WR, KC

7. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, ARI

8. Davante Adams, WR, GB

9. Dalvin Cook, RB, MIN

10. Chris Godwin, WR, TB

11. Joe Mixon, RB, CIN