Arizona Cardinals 2020 Fantasy Football Rookie Roundup

Arizona Cardinals 2020 NFL Draft Rookie Round Up

The 2020 NFL Draft is in the books, and that means it’s time for us to fully turn our attention to the 2020 NFL season and fantasy football. While COVID-19 means we can’t guarantee an NFL season, our league mates want us to be on our heels, unprepared for the season. Never you fear, Football Absurdity is here to cover all of the 78 fantasy football eligible players drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft. Keep in mind, most of these guys won’t get selected in your draft, but you’ll want to know these 2020 NFL draftees when your fantasy football draft comes around. We will worry about undrafted free agents down the line, once we know they have a shot at the final roster. We start, as always, with the Arizona Cardinals.

The Arizona Cardinals spent their draft picks wisely, spending a second-rounder on DeAndre Hopkins from Houston. You’ve probably heard of him. As for the NFL Draft, they spent two picks on the offense. Kliff Kingsbury picked up tackle Josh Jones in the third, who will provide protection for Kyler and blowing open holes for the running backs. The other non-defensive pick spent by the Cardinals went for Eno Benjamin, the running back out of Arizona State. Let’s take a look at Eno Benjamin and the 2020 fantasy football opportunity for a guy who only has to move about 25 miles down Highway 10.

FULL ARIZONA CARDINALS DRAFT RESULTS
Rd Pick Player Pos School
1 8 Isaiah Simmons LB Clemson
3 8 Josh Jones OT Houston
4 8 Leki Fotu DT Utah
4 25 Rashard Lawrence DT LSU
6 23 Evan Weaver ILB Cal
7 8 Eno Benjamin RB Arizona St
Round 7, Pick 8: Eno Benjamin, Running Back, Arizona State University (5’9” 207 lbs)
40-yd Dash Bench Press Vertical Jump Broad Jump 3 Cone 20-yd shuttle 60-yd shuttle
4.57s (u) 12 reps 39.0 in 122.0 in 6.97s 4.25s
Courtesy: NFL.com, (u) = unofficial.
Depth Chart:
RB1        Kenyan Drake
RB2        Chase Edmonds
RB3        Eno Benjamin

 

TALENT

The more I think about it, the more I think that Eno Benjamin falling to the seventh-round was a massive oversight by the NFL. He is a multi-talented back, who was ASU’s workhouse in 2020. Only three guys in the 2020 draft class rushed for at least 1,000 yards and caught at least 40 passes last year, Clyde Edwards-Helaire (round 1 pick), Jason Huntley (round 5 pick), and Benjamin (round 7 pick). I like Benjamin a lot, and I had him as a top-ten back in this class. He’s multi-talented, as expressed by his rushing/receiving dual-threat prowess. He averaged 5.47 yards per carry at ASU through exceptional contact balance, good vision, and a deep bag of tricks to juke defenders. Unfortunately, he doesn’t do well with contact. In my favorite parlance, he deceives defenders well, but he doesn’t receive them very well.

I’m not alone in this evaluation, at least among amateur evaluators. The NFL, clearly, did not have the same opinion of Benjamin.  Unfortunately, he’s likely seen more as a jack of all trades, master of none. There are also concerns about his playing weight, as his official 207 pounds does not flesh with his 195-pound weigh-in at the Senior Bowl. He doesn’t have the raw ability to overcome being closer to 195, though I’m sure the Cardinals will make sure he stays closer to the 207 than the 195.

2020 OPPORTUNITY

I wish Eno Benjamin had gotten a better shot at 2020 fantasy football production. By going to the Arizona Cardinals, Benjamin will end up as second-fiddle at best, given that he sits behind both Kenyan Drake and Chase Edmonds, both of whom have had good NFL performances in the past. By spending just a seventh-rounder on Benjamin, the Cardinals showed their hands that they are more-than-satisfied than Edmonds and Drake as their one-two punch. However, should one of those guys go down, Benjamin should pique your interest.

2020 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK

By taking Eno Benjamin in the seventh round, the Cardinals scooped up a great depth piece. For 2020 fantasy football purposes, however, he shouldn’t be on your draft boards. The Cardinals have two backs ahead of him on the depth chart (for now), who should take priority. Should he flash in the preseason, he has a great chance of supplanting Chase Edmonds, but this still isn’t a draftable situation right now, unless you really want to handcuff Kenyan Drake. In that case… look (E)no further. Should he get the starting role in Arizona, he presents at least flex value in most leagues.

TALENT:
2020 OPPORTUNITY:
2020 FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK:

 

For more 2020 NFL Draft coverage, check out these:

Fantasy Football Fallout: 2020 NFL Draft Round One
Football Absurdity Podcast: First Round Recap

 

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About Jeff Krisko

You can follow me on twitter, @jeffkrisko for the same lukewarm takes you read here.

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