Welcome to The 2020 Rookie IDP Player Situational Reports for our fantasy football assessment purposes. It’s a proven fact that a rookie’s situation with his new team can dictate his value for fantasy football as much as his talent. And in this series, we will cover the players drafted team by team to gauge our expectations for our dynasty fantasy football rosters.

2020 Rookie IDP: AFC East

Looking for our 2020 rookie IDP composite rankings? Then Check out our current top 36 HERE.

The Squads Key For Fantasy Football

The First Squad: Possible clear path to immediate playing time now.

The Taxi Squad: Possible path to rotational playing time now.

The Practice Squad: Possible path to playing after a developmental period.

NOTE: We are not including undrafted free agents signed (deep long-shots) by any NFL teams at this time.

AFC East Note

There is nothing really special about this particular division. And is likely the least informative of the series due to the team’s situations. Thank you for letting me get this off my chest. It is doing the due diligence for the series that kept me researching with little to no enthusiasm.

Buffalo’s Two Defensive Draft Picks

The First Squad

• A.J. Epenesa, pick 2.54, out of Iowa, is in a little of a situational bind for 2020. The Bills have there other capable veteran defensive ends on the roster in Jerry Hughes, Trent Murphy, and Mario Addison. And this fact likely means a rotational role for Epenesa in 2020. It’ll also be tough to call that he could beat any of those veteran players out as a starter in the rotation, for now. But from a dynasty aspect, his IDP window should open up more in 2021. That is when the three aging veterans are either free agents or have an optional out in their contracts.

The Practice Squad

• The following later round rookie is currently not ranked in our top 36 rankings. And they’ll have a long way to go to make an IDP impact. And for now, their best situational case scenario is to make the roster as depth and special teams players.
• Cornerback Dane Jackson

Miami’s Five Defensive Draft Picks

The First Squad

• Noah Igbinoghene, pick 1.30, out of Auburn, will likely offer IDP relevancy for owners needing a solid cornerback option in 2020. His draft status alone should secure a starting gig as an outside corner that opposing quarterbacks test early and often. All he’ll need to do is beat out Xavien Howard for the starting outside gig, which shouldn’t be too difficult. And at the least, he’ll have a rotational role in 2020 as the third corner. Which could have him in the slot and on the field often.

The Taxi Squad

• Despite some of these following players draft stock, they’ll likely all have to overachiever in 2020 to unseat a starting veteran. And notably, that is a possibility, and the situational could change with any injury to the depth charts. But for now, these players are worth the Taxi Squad designation based on their situations in 2021. When most will see an IDP window open up as Miami continues to try and revamp the defense. This also includes the couple of fifth rounders added to the list. The status of the Dolphins IDPs warrants an “Any Given Sunday” attitude concerning any upside now or later. And for this coming season, their best-case scenario is earning a rotational role.
• Defensive Tackle Raekwon Davis
• Safety Brandon Jones
• Defensive End Jason Strowbridge
• Defensive end Chris Weaver

New England’s Four Defensive Draft Picks

The Taxi Squad

• We have exactly the same situation with the Patriots, as we noted for most of the Dolphins players. Adding that Bill Belichick rarely to never leans on a rookie of any kind his first year in the league. And unless, by some miracle, despite some of these following players draft stock, they’ll likely all have to overachiever in 2020 to unseat a starting veteran. And notably, that is a possibility, and the situational could change with any injury to the depth charts. But for now, these players are worth the Taxi Squad designation based on their situations in 2021. When most will see an IDP window open up as Belichick continues to try and revamp the defense. And for this coming season, their best-case scenario is earning a marginal rotational role. Adding a special note, draft status means very little in New England, so any player can earn a role down the road.
• Safety Kyle Dugger
• Linebacker Josh Uche
• Linebacker Anfernee Jennings
• Linebacker Cassh Maluia

New York’s Three Defensive Draft Picks

The Taxi Squad

• This is just redundant to repeat, same scenarios for the Jet’s IDP players as Dolphins and Patriots. 
• Safety Ashtyn Davis, likely the third safety in a rotational role. 2021 looks like it could be a huge window for him with Adams and Maye both possibly becoming free agents.
• Edge Rusher Jabari Zuniga, may see some rotational snaps as either the outside linebacker or even defensive end. And on the radar for 2021 offseason.

The Practice Squad

• Cornerback Bryce Hall, a bit longer path in store for him to become relevant. But taking nothing off the table after the 2020 season.

2020 Rookie IDP

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Gary VanDyke

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