In our Fantasy Draft Grades Series, we review each of the leagues 8 divisions.  The Fantasy Draft Grades Series reviews and grades each organization’s draft selections from a fantasy perspective.  Engage with 1,400+ passionate dynasty players and let the RotoHeat content team know what topics YOU want to hear about by visiting our RotoHeat Facebook page.

We kick off this 8-part series with a review of the Fantasy Draft Grades in the AFC East.

1. New England Patriots

Fantasy Draft Grades - AFC East
CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 29: UCLA (TE) Devin Asiasi (86) during a college football game between the UCLA Bruins and Cincinnati Bearcats on August 29, 2019 at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, OH (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Fantasy Draft Grades – AFC East

2 (37). Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir-Rhyne
2 (60). Josh Uche, LB, Michigan
3 (87). Anfernee Jennings, LB, Alabama
3 (91). Devin Asiasi, TE, UCLA
3 (101). Dalton Keene, TE, Virginia Tech

5 (159). Justin Rohrwasser, K, Marshall
6 (182). Mike Onwenu, G, Michigan
6 (195). Justin Herron, G, Wake Forest

6 (204). Cassh Maluia, LB, Wyoming
7 (230). Dustin Woodard, C, Memphis

The New England Patriots are just one of two teams that have not drafted a single Pro Bowler in the last five years (the other is Cincinnati).

The Patriots entered this draft with fantasy needs at the quarterback position, tight end, and on the offensive line. The Patriots repeatedly passed on options at QB, focusing instead on holes left on their defense from free agency.

Bill Belichick drafted two tight ends just 10 picks apart–Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene. Asiasi needs to work on improving his technique as an in-line blocker, but his athleticism and speed really stand out in space. He’s a threat in the seam and with deep corners and over routes in a play-action based attack. Keene is lean but well-defined, and his play speed and competitiveness are both a plus. He will struggle against NFL power at the point of attack, but his ability to block in space and catch the football make him naturally suited for the H-back role, where teams can align him around the formation as needed. The TE position as we once knew it in New England is no more. The combination of sub-level TE talent, combined with uncertain QB play, makes this a position on this team to avoid.

In the 6th round, the Patriots looked to add some depth to their offensive line selecting Mike Onwenu and Justin Herron with picks 182 & 195 respectively. Both guards project to be back-ups / special teams depth players with Onwenu grading slightly higher than Herron. They rounded out the draft by selecting C Dustin Woodard in the 7th round. Woodard’s best case scenario is a spot on the Pats practice squad.

Overall Fantasy Draft Grade: D

2. Miami Dolphins

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 23: USC Trojans offensive lineman Austin Jackson (73) pass protects during a college football game between the UCLA Bruins and the USC Trojans on November 23, 2019, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Fantasy Draft Grades – AFC East

1 (5). Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
1 (18). Austin Jackson, T, USC
1 (30). Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn
2 (39). Robert Hunt, T, Louisiana
2 (56). Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama
3 (70). Brandon Jones, S, Texas
4 (111). Solomon Kindley, G, Georgia
5 (154). Jason Strowbridge, DE, North Carolina
5 (164). Curtis Weaver, DE, Boise State
6 (185). Blake Ferguson, C, LSU
7 (246). Malcolm Perry, WR, Navy

The Miami Dolphins entered the 2020 NFL draft with 14 selections and 3 in the first round alone. They used the first two of those picks on their offense– QB Tua Tagovailoa, and T Austin Jackson. At pick #5, Tua Tagovailoa represents a perfect outcome for Miami. 2019’s “Tanking for Tua” slogan proved false, but only because the Dolphins played so much better in the second half of the season and fell in the draft order. Tagovailoa’s late-season hip injury may have been a blessing in disguise, as none of the other QB-needy teams traded up to get him. That hip is reportedly healed, and there is time for it to get even stronger as the Dolphins don’t need Tagovailoa to play right away.

The Austin Jackson selection made sense, too. The Dolphins had just drafted a quarterback who must be protected. They had an extremely limited offensive line in 2019, and signing free agent left guard Ereck Flowers alone was not enough to change things in 2020. So, they used their next first-round pick on a left tackle. Jackson is a long-bodied, flexible athlete who showed competitiveness at USC.

They added a right tackle Robert Hunt in the second round. Miami entered this draft with glaring needs at both tackle spots, and addressed them both in the first two rounds. It has been suggested that Hunt might be better suited to play guard in the NFL, but given that Ereck Flowers was just signed to an expensive contract to play left guard, and Michael Deiter was drafted in the third round last year to play right guard, the plan at this point is likely for Hunt to be a right tackle.

The Dolphins added two additional offensive lineman in rounds 4 & 6, and ended their draft by adding a WR. Solomon Kindley, grades out as a back-up and special teams contributor and Blake Ferguson was added primarily as long snapper. Neither appear to be much of a benefit for the Dolphins in terms of fantasy relevance. Malcolm Perry was expected to pass through the draft and instead the Dolphins grabbed him in the 7th. He is what one would expect a 7th round draft pick to be. He has some leadership experience, being named a team captain at Navy, and he’s a gadget option that has slot receiver experience. The Dolphins needed to add a WR, and although this late in the draft isn’t overall exciting, it’s worth noting that they added Preston Williams as a UDFA a year ago.

Overall Fantasy Draft Grade: B

3. Buffalo Bills

Fantasy Draft Grades - AFC East
TEMPE, AZ – NOVEMBER 03: Running back Zack Moss #2 of the Utah Utes rushes the football against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half of the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Fantasy Draft Grades – AFC East

2 (54). A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
3 (86). Zack Moss, RB, Utah
4 (128). Gabriel Davis, WR, UCF
5 (167). Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia

6 (188). Tyler Bass, K, Georgia Southern
6 (207). Isaiah Hodgins, WR, Oregon State
7 (239). Dane Jackson, CB, Pittsburgh

Buffalo made their move to address their biggest need by trading for Minnesota Vikings WR Stefon Diggs. The Bills were one quality receiver away from having a solid offense. They’re coming off a playoff season and their division rival, New England, finally look weakened for the first time in two decades. Now is the time to go all-in for Buffalo, and Diggs provides way more value that any rookie wide receiver would have.

The Bills didn’t ignore the WR position in this deep draft, however. They spent fourth-and sixth-round picks on Gabriel Davis and Isaiah Hodgins. Both give Buffalo’s receiving corps the one thing it was grossly lacking: size. I wouldn’t expect either WR to be relevant in 2020, but Davis especially can be a nice bench stash. In 2019 at UCF, Davis led the Knights in receiving (72 receptions, 1,241 yards, 17.2 average, 12 touchdowns) and garnering first-team all-conference accolades.

After addressing the defense in the second round, Buffalo added Zack Moss in the third. Moss was a steady, workmanlike back at Utah and has even drew some comparisons to Frank Gore–the man he is going to replace (stylistically). He’s a smart investment by the Bills, as Devin Singletary does not have the build to play more than 50 snaps week in and week out. Moss has stand alone value as a dynasty RB and should likely be a second round selection in your league’s rookie drafts.

With the volatile style in which QB Josh Allen plays, the Bills decided to add a back-up QB by selecting Jake Fromm in the 5th round. Georgia finished the 2019 season with an 11–2 record. After winning the Sugar Bowl, Fromm finished his final season in Athens with a total of 24 touchdowns to 5 interceptions. He projects as a capable ball manager should he be called upon to lead the Bills.

Overall Fantasy Draft Grade: B

4. New York Jets

Fantasy Draft Grades - AFC East
LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 11 : Denzel Mims #15 of the Baylor Bears finds open running room during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on November 11, 2017 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Baylor 38-24. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) Fantasy Draft Grades – AFC East

1 (11). Mekhi Becton, T, Louisville
2 (59). Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
3 (68). Ashtyn Davis, S, California
3 (79). Jabari Zuniga, DE, Florida
4 (120). Lamical Perine, RB, Florida
4 (125). James Morgan, QB, Florida International
4 (129). Cameron Clark, G, Charlotte
5 (158). Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia
6 (191). Braden Mann, P, Texas A&M

By the end of last season, the Jets were playing with four backup offensive linemen, and that lineup actually played better than the starting unit had played. They desperately needed more O-line talent, and Mekhi Becton is a welcomed addition. He played left tackle at Louisville, and plugging him in there would let ex-Seahawk George Fant play right tackle where he’s probably better suited. Becton might have some pass-blocking mechanics to clean up, but he should be a day-one starter.

I envisioned the Jets using pick 11 on CeeDee Lamb or Jerry Jeudy, but instead they made the right move and selected Becton. The move paid off when they added wideout Denzel Mims in round 2. Mims is no Lamb or Jeudy, but the drop off from Becton to a second round tackle would have been larger than the drop off to Mims.

In 2019 New York’s lack of perimeter talent and depth at this position was grossly exposed, and that was with a quality receiver in Robby Anderson. Now Anderson is a Panther, leaving New York in need of a pure outside weapon to pair with newcomer Breshad Perriman. Mims gives Sam Darnold a well-sized target. Ideally the Jets would have added one more receiver in the middle rounds, but they decided the need for a backup QB (James Morgan) was a bigger need.

The addition of Lamical Perine in the 4th was an interesting one. Perine gives the Jets some running back depth to compensate for the departures of veterans Bilal Powell and Ty Montgomery.

Perine is a backup-caliber running back who fails to dazzle in any particular area, but does enough of what’s asked of him and has the character traits to become a dependable pro. He’s most skilled in the early stages of the run, where his feet and eyes help him find his initial hole. His his lack of burst and second-level creativity make him more of a grinder than a play maker.

Overall Fantasy Draft Grade: B+

Thank you for reading Fantasy Draft Grades – AFC East. Be sure to subscribe to RotoHeat so you don’t miss the remainder of the Fantasy Draft Grades Series. Follow me on Twitter @RotoHeatSully, and subscribe to the Sully’s 2 Cents Podcast for more of my fantasy football content.