2020 Dynasty Superflex Mock Draft from the 12th pick

Round 9: RB Alexander Mattison

A potential Dalvin Cook holdout offers an opportunity for Alexander Mattison to build on his rookie year and provides a big bump in his fantasy value. via @benrolfe15 https://t.co/80trxDMKH9

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365)

Mattison may be the best backup RB in the NFL

After looking at my running back group of Mixon, Dobbins, and Hunt, I see plenty of fantasy firepower. Starting next season, Mixon and Dobbins will be RB1’s on their respective teams, while Hunt should be a starting running back in the NFL but will not be in Cleveland. I went down the running back rankings and asked myself, “Self, which of these available running backs could be a featured back?” One player stood out: Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison.

Mattison, a third-round pick out of Boise State, produced 100 carries for 462 yards and one touchdown in a complementary and backup role to featured back Dalvin Cook. Mattison received plenty of opportunities due to the inability of Cook to stay healthy, as evidenced by him missing a total of 19 games in his three seasons with the Vikings.

Cook has recently announced that he will be holding out until a new contract is agreed upon. If the two sides cannot agree, the Vikings would likely give the keys to their backfield to Mattison.

Mattison’s Fantasy Analysis

If Cook’s holdout extends into the season, Mattison will become the featured back with Mike Boone stepping into Mattison’s former role. Mattison is an above-average running back, but he does not possess the elite status that Cook has. He is a grinder-type running back who will be productive but not a game-breaker like Cook.

Mattison will get the opportunity to explode under the play-calling of new offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak. Kubiak is a run-first coach who could even call more running plays than their fourth-most rushing plays in 2019 under former offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski.

Related | What does a Cook holdout mean for Mattison?

At worst, Mattison is a top handcuff to Cook and a lottery ticket on my bench, which could hit and be a league winner. At best, Cook gets stubborn with his financial demands, and his holdout continues into the season. He potentially misses several games in which Mattison shines, proving he is capable of handling a bell-cow workload. In that time, Mattison produces close to 1,000 yards and eight touchdown season while Cook gets ultimately traded.

In either scenario, Mattison is a great value pick and a running back all dynasty owners should target in their startup drafts.

Round 10: WR Diontae Johnson

🎙️ Fantasy Football in 15, June 23

Steelers beat writer @MarkKaboly joins @MBeller and @DerekVanRiper to discuss…

🏈 Big Ben's Health
📈 Diontae Johnson on the rise
🏈 Juju a WR1?
🔔🐄 James Conner's expected workloadhttps://t.co/1JSqIW62FChttps://t.co/50VqRudJjG pic.twitter.com/7MM2jIz0xf

— The Athletic Fantasy (@TheAthleticFS)

Diontae Johnson is one of the biggest risers heading into 2020

One of the most discussed fantasy players currently is Pittsburgh Steelers WR Diontae Johnson. The Toledo product led all rookie receivers with 59 receptions and tied San Francisco 49ers’ Deebo Samuel for the NFL lead in missed tackles forced with 18.

Johnson was one of the few bright spots for the Steelers’ offense in 2019, even with terrible backup quarterbacks. The former third-round pick will attempt to build upon his rookie season with Ben Roethlisberger back as the team’s signal-caller. The sky is the limit for this dynamic playmaker, and I would have regretted it if I didn’t snap him up here.

Johnson’s Fantasy Analysis

Johnson is a threat all over the field because of his ability to take any pass to the house. Johnson and JuJu Smith-Schuster form an exceptional duo for Roethlisberger as he returns to fantasy relevance again. I can foresee both receivers going over 1,000 yards receiving next season.

Johnson may not lead the team in receiving touchdowns again, but a monster sophomore season makes Johnson an excellent buy here in the 10th round.

Round 11: QB Drew Brees

Brees could be a league-winner in 2020

I’m reviewing my current roster, and I am concerned about having only two quarterbacks, so I start viewing the available quarterbacks at this juncture. One quarterback screamed league winner, and that was New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. The future Hall-of-Famer might indeed be playing in his last season in the league in 2020. However, for my roster, Brees is a great depth play here.

The ceiling for Brees could be a top-five fantasy quarterback. On the flip side, we are reaching a point where the production falls off a cliff, and we are staring at a Peyton Manning type of situation where his skills deteriorate to a point where he becomes a detriment to the team.

Brees suffered a thumb injury on his throwing hand, which made him miss several games in the first half of the 2019 season. Overall, he finished the season outside of the top 15 fantasy quarterbacks for the season. More importantly, though, Brees finished 8th among quarterbacks in fantasy points per game.

Brees’ Fantasy Analysis

Drew Brees will be 41 when the 2020 season kicks off, but he still can be a valuable asset on your fantasy roster. Brees may have the most talented roster in the NFL. Michael Thomas just set a new NFL receptions mark with 149 last season. This off-season, New Orleans signed two-time Pro Bowl receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Running back Alvin Kamara suffered a myriad of injuries last season, and he was not the same dynamic game-breaker that he normally is.

This Saints team can produce video game-like numbers with the head coach and offensive mastermind of Sean Payton doing the game-planning, which revolves around the elite accuracy and efficiency of Brees. The additions to the Saints offense provides even more ammunition for Brees in his NFL swan song.

Round 12: WR Darius Slayton

📣The WireHQ #32in32 #FantasyFootball Series

32 #NFL teams in 32 days

Team: #Giants

💪 Flex Appeal: Sterling Shepard
💥 Breakout: Darius Slayton
📌 Dynasty Buy: Saquon Barkley
📡 FF Radar: Evan Engram

Details Here⤵️https://t.co/dthFugixKy pic.twitter.com/wxXt5XRxPu

— Street Official Media (@_streetofficial)

Slayton is no longer a sleeper in New York

Wide receiver Darius Slayton was a free-agent pickup last season that won me some leagues. Slayton did not reach the field until Week 3 due to battling a hamstring injury, which he suffered in the preseason. After that, he broke out in his rookie season with 48 receptions for 740 yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games. What does Slayton do for an encore?

His opportunity presented itself with a plethora of injuries to the wide receiver group. Sterling Shepard suffered two concussions last season and is a big hit away from ending his career. Tight end Evan Engram suffered a foot injury that shortened his season to eight games. Both of those players and Golden Tate (suspension) will be available for the entire 2020 season. Slayton excelled as a deep threat, and more opportunities will be available with the weapons returning to the field.

I am grabbing Slayton as my WR5, which seems like a huge steal, and it is one that I know will play fantasy dividends.

Slayton’s Fantasy Analysis

The former 2019 fifth-round selection finished tied with A.J. Brown of the Tennessee Titans for most receiving touchdowns by a rookie last season. The explosive playmaker developed an excellent rapport with fellow rookie Daniel Jones, who threw for over 3,000 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. Jones will look to build upon his rookie season with the new coaching staff in New York. The Giants hired former New England Patriots’ special teams coach Joe Judge as their next head coach, taking over for Pat Shurmur.

Judge wasted no time in finding his guy to run the young and talented Giants offense when they hired former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett to serve as their offensive coordinator. Garrett has been considered a quarterback guru with his success with Tony Romo and Dak Prescott. His offenses consistently produced top-ten finishes.

I believe Slayton continues his ascension in the wide receiver rankings with an enormous 2020 season. There is a lot of hope and hype surrounding the Giants for the 2020 season and beyond. I want a piece of that soon to be an elite offense. Getting Slayton, who led the team in receiving yards and touchdowns, this late in the drafts is a great steal.