If you’re reading this article from FantasyPros with the word, “Primer” in the headline, you might automatically assume that Mike Tagliere is writing this piece. Unfortunately for everyone involved, Tags is currently in the hospital recovering from COVID (you can read more about that here), so I’ve stepped in to highlight one of the more important articles you’ll read heading into your draft season.
Everything you need to know about the WR position this season can be found here. There are player notes for every single WR that is either fantasy relevant – or has the potential to be – in 2021 with the hopes of educating you before you head into your upcoming draft.
If you haven’t been following fantasy football in-depth throughout the off-season, that’s alright! It’s hard to keep up with all the moving pieces in the NFL off-season and how that could impact a player that you’ve loved drafting to your roster in years past. This article will serve as a quick guide for you to determine whether or not it’s still a wise investment or if there’s someone else you should pivot to in your draft!
It’s so crucial to nail the WR position in those leagues and to understand who’s worth selecting as the cornerstone of your fantasy football roster. My hope is that this article helps you develop your own thoughts on these players as you head into your draft!
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Let’s dive in.
Arizona Cardinals
DeAndre Hopkins (ECR – WR5): Did you know that over the past two seasons, Hopkins leads the entire NFL in total targets with 310? And that he’s second in the entire league with 2,572 receiving yards in that same time span? There seems to be no safer option for fantasy football at the top of your draft than Nuk in this Cardinals offense. While he might not have the upside that Davante Adams does because of his touchdown totals, we know that he’s going to bring an incredibly safe floor each and every week with his guaranteed volume in this offense. Hopkins should be off the board as a top-5 WR this year.
AJ Green (ECR – WR75): Green’s coming over from Cincinnati in an attempt to provide Murray with another big target on the outside opposite of Hopkins, but at this point of his career, we shouldn’t be holding out hope that Green’s going to jump back into top-24 relevancy. He’ll have some games where he’ll explode for a big performance, but trying to predict where the targets go after Hopkins week after week in this offense is truly going to be a headache. It’s probably best to let someone else deal with the headache of having Green on their fantasy roster this season.
Rondale Moore (ECR – WR66): Moore’s an incredibly electric and dynamic athlete at the WR position that should fill a valuable role for this Cardinals offense. He has shown time and time again throughout his college career at Purdue that he can make truly jaw-dropping plays after the catch and he should have several big performances this season in Arizona. With that being said, he does come with a lengthy injury history and he’s going to have to be insanely efficient with yards after the catch in order to ever enter our starting lineups in fantasy football this season. He has the talent to be an every week factor, but will his usage and efficiency be consistent enough to break into the FLEX conversation?
Christian Kirk (ECR – WR70): While Kirk has always shown flashes of his pure talent, he’s never been able to completely put it together for fantasy football. He’s most effective when he’s playing in the slot, but the Cardinals seem intent on keeping him out wide and it’s putting a cap on his potential fantasy output. Arizona lost Larry Fitzgerald this off-season, but they also brought in AJ Green and Rondale Moore as competition for targets in this offense. After DeAndre Hopkins, there might not be enough leftover targets to provide any of these options with consistent week in and week out production. Fantasy managers that have been hoping for Kirk to break out might find themselves waiting yet again.
Atlanta Falcons
Calvin Ridley (ECR – WR4): Since entering the NFL in 2018, Calvin Ridley ranks sixth among all WRs in total touchdowns with 26. He’s also in the top-15 during that time span for total receiving yards and there’s a path for him to ascend even higher on that list by the end of 2021. Julio Jones is no longer on this team and Ridley should see a natural uptick in targets. Ridley’s arrow is still pointing up and he is 100% worth drafting at his current ADP of WR5. There’s very little downside to adding him to your roster in 2021.
Russell Gage (ECR – WR55): With Jones no longer an Atlanta Falcon, someone else on this roster will need to step up and contribute if the Falcons are to find success in 2021. While there’s a lot of hype surrounding Pitts, Gage is the next most proven receiver out of this bunch. In order for Gage to find success this season though, he’ll need to be able to play on the outside in 2WR sets and that’s something we just haven’t seen from him before. Gage is worth taking the shot on in the later rounds of your draft in case he has a larger role in this offense than we’re projecting, but it’s a big leap of faith to project him for anything more than a depth piece on your roster.
Baltimore Ravens
Rashod Bateman (ECR – WR63): The Ravens passing attack last year was solely lacking a possession style receiver that could give Jackson a reliable target in tough situations. Baltimore addressed this in a big way this off-season by adding the dynamic route-runner out of Minnesota in the first round. While Bateman’s going to make an impact for the Ravens when he returns to the lineup after his injury, it might not lead to much fantasy production in this offense. Unless we see the Ravens completely alter their offensive strategy and lean more on the passing game, the overall opportunity simply isn’t there for Bateman to enter into the weekly FLEX conversation. He’ll be on the redraft radar this year when he comes back – which we’re unsure when exactly that will be – but he’s not worth drafting in leagues that you don’t have an IR spot. Make sure to monitor his progress though so you can scoop him up off of the waiver wire when he’s fully healthy.
Marquise Brown (ECR – WR52): Marquise Brown has been highlighted as a breakout player each of the past two seasons, but that has yet to come to fruition. The lack of other receiving talent around him has certainly made that very difficult and Brown’s been asked to play over-and-above what his skillset allows. Now, with Rashod Bateman in town and with Devin Duvernay expected to make a big jump in year two, Brown will be able to settle into a role. Unfortunately, these extra additions also mean a dip in target share. Brown’s going to be a better Best Ball investment this season than a weekly fantasy contributor. He’ll have his big performances, like he has in the past, but the predictability and consistency simply won’t be there.
Devin Duvernay (ECR – WR128): One of my favorite deep sleepers this season is Devin Duvernay. Duvernay was very high in my 2020 WR Rankings coming into the NFL and he showed off his speed and athleticism in his limited opportunities last year. Reports were glowing coming out of OTAs and we could actually see this offense turn more towards the passing game in 2021. The off-season additions that Baltimore has made signifies to me that they may be more pass-happy of a team this upcoming season and Duvernay should make a strong case to be the starting slot receiver. He’s not going to receive 10+ targets per game, but he has the speed to take any pass to the house. He’s not worth drafting in your traditional leagues, but in deep leagues he’s absolutely worth taking a look at.
Sammy Watkins (ECR – WR80): It feels like Watkins has been in the league for 10+ years, right? After moving around from team to team, Watkins has now landed in Baltimore where the passing volume simply isn’t going to be there. He might have a role to begin the season with Bateman sidelined, but we know that durability has never been Watkins’ strength. It’s unlikely that we’re ever talking about Watkins as a reliable fantasy starter in 2021.
Buffalo Bills
Stefon Diggs (ECR – WR3): Diggs absolutely won people fantasy championships in 2020. After being drafted around the WR20 off the board last season, Diggs exploded and ended the season as the overall WR3. His connection with Allen was on full display right out of the gate and it could even get better after a full off-season working together this year too. With Diggs’ route-running acumen, plus the skillset that Allen brings to the table, NFL defenses are going to have to dedicate multiple defenders to slowing down the talented wideout. With the plethora of other receiving options Buffalo has, that’s going to be near impossible. You’re going to have to pay up for Diggs in your fantasy drafts this season, but it seems like one of the safest bets you can make.
Emmanuel Sanders (ECR – WR68): Sanders made the move over to the Bills this off-season and he figures to see plenty of work in this Buffalo passing attack. While he might be fourth on the WR depth chart in total targets, the Bills run a ton of 11-personnel where they’ll be rotating in wideouts. Sanders probably isn’t worth drafting in traditional redraft leagues this year, but he does come with upside if something were to happen to one of the other receiving options in this offense. He’d be a reliable FLEX play each week due to how productive the offense is in Buffalo.
Gabriel Davis (ECR – WR67): Davis showed his big-time playmaking ability last season on numerous occasions and he seems poised to take a big leap in his second year. It’s highly likely that he steps onto the field as a starter in 3WR sets and we know how powerful this offense can be when it’s rolling. With his talent and opportunity, Davis could easily return value on where he’s being drafted right now as a late-round pick. Additionally, he comes with incredible upside if something were to happen to one of the other receivers in this offense and they were to miss time. There’s very little downside to drafting Davis and the upside is through the roof.
Cole Beasley (ECR – WR57): Beasley’s one of the most reliable receivers in the NFL. What he offers Allen and this Bills offense is an answer in tough situations where they can turn to him and know that he’s going to help them convert. While he helps keep the offense moving and opens things up for other weapons on this roster, it’s most likely not going to translate to consistent fantasy production. Beasley’s a fine bye week fill-in for your roster in Full PPR formats, but at this stage of his career, that’s all that we should be expecting from him.
Carolina Panthers
Robby Anderson (ECR – WR30): Did you know that Anderson had 136 targets last season?! While I was pounding the drum for Anderson last off-season, I certainly did not see that type of workload incoming for the veteran wideout. Now, Anderson has some competition for targets again with CMC back and healthy – plus the addition of Marshall to this offense – but he also has the already established chemistry with Sam Darnold from their Jets days. Anderson might not reach the level of production that he had in 2020, but he’s still going to be a reliable fantasy asset week in and week out that does come with some boom potential. As a WR3 for your roster, that’s a perfect recipe for success.
Terrace Marshall (ECR – WR76): Marshall certainly has some ridiculous upside in the NFL, but he also comes with a low floor due to his skillset. While there are certainly people that are all-in with Marshall in Carolina, it’s very difficult to find the targets in this offense to see how he returns consistent production. He’ll be behind CMC, DJ Moore, and Robby Anderson and we could see Darnold lean on one of the TEs in this offense over the middle of the field before Marshall. He’ll have some big games here or there, but we shouldn’t let the hype get too out of control on the raw rookie receiver. He’s worth taking a late shot on in your drafts to see what happens, but nothing more than that.
DJ Moore (ECR – WR18): Moore has been hyped as a potential breakout the past couple of seasons and it has yet to come to fruition. While Moore’s certainly been fine for fantasy purposes, he has yet to take the massive leap forward that many people have been hoping for from him. Heading into 2021, there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic on him yet again though, especially once you factor in the addition of Sam Darnold at QB. Darnold is known for peppering his slot receiver with targets, which is where I’m fully expecting Moore to line up at the majority of the time. Moore should lead this WR corps in targets and he’ll be an extremely valuable asset in Full PPR formats. Whether or not he can take that massive leap we’ve been anticipating all rides on the shoulders of Darnold. If Darnold can bounce back, Moore could smash his ADP. If not, he’ll still be a safe option as a middling WR2 that will always have volume to fall back on.
Chicago Bears
Allen Robinson (ECR – WR10): While the city of Chicago is elated that Justin Fields is now in town, there’s probably no one happier than Robinson. After playing with guys like Blake Bortles and Mitchell Trubisky for his entire career, Robinson finally has the chance to put up absurd numbers with competent QB play. He’s still made it work and has been a fantastic fantasy asset for many years now, but this has the chance to be special. ARob will still be a very reliable receiver with Dalton behind center to start this year, but he has the chance to push top-5 WR status as soon as Fields takes over. Robinson’s one of my favorite early WR selections in 2021.
Darnell Mooney (ECR – WR50): Seemingly everyone’s favorite sleeper this year is the second-year wideout out of Tulane, Mooney. He put together some incredible film in his rookie season and there’s plenty there to build off of heading into 2021. He might not be a favorite target of Dalton’s right away deep downfield, but Fields loves to push the ball downfield for big plays and Mooney showed the constant ability to get open time and time again. We could be looking at some big numbers this season for Mooney as soon as Fields takes over and he’s worth drafting late and holding onto your bench until that happens.
Cincinnati Bengals
Ja’Marr Chase (ECR – WR28): More and more college football WRs are coming into the NFL and making an immediate impact. Whether that was DK Metcalf a couple of years ago to Justin Jefferson on his path to breaking records last season, rookies are now firmly in the conversation for redraft leagues. Chase is coming into the NFL as a ridiculously talented prospect that landed in a near perfect situation. He’s now reunited with his college QB and this offense figures to pass the ball at a ridiculous rate again in 2021. While it might take him a little bit to get his sea legs underneath him after not playing football for all of 2020, he’s going to be a factor for fantasy football this year. It might take him just a little bit to get acclimated – which is why he should be viewed as more of a WR3 than a WR2 – but once he gets it all together, he could be a top-15 WR.
Tee Higgins (ECR – WR23): When Chase was selected at No. 5 overall, everyone seemed to downgrade Higgins significantly and move him down draft boards. However, we shouldn’t overreact and completely move off of Higgins. After sitting down and working through projections, you’ll see that there’s more than enough volume available for both of these players to be top-24 WRs as early as this season. Higgins might take a back seat to Chase from a targets perspective once Chase gets up to speed, but Higgins should come out of the gates on fire and also be Burrow’s favorite target in the red zone due to his size. As a WR2, Higgins is a very safe option.
Tyler Boyd (ECR – WR33): For the past couple of seasons, Tyler Boyd has been the definition of consistency. In 2018, he finished as the WR17, meanwhile he was the WR23 in 2019. Additionally, through the first 10 weeks of the 2020 season – when Burrow was healthy – Boyd was the WR18 in all of fantasy football. Once Burrow left the lineup though, Boyd’s production fell off a cliff and he was the WR66 from Weeks 11-17. There are certainly reasons to be optimistic that Boyd can get back to performing at a top-tier level, but it all comes down to the difference between AJ Green last season and Ja’Marr Chase entering the lineup. Boyd was performing well because of Green’s inefficiencies and inability to make the most out of his targets. Chase should see as much – if not more – work than Green did and he has the ability to capitalize on his opportunity. At that point, once you factor in Tee Higgins too, there’s not much left over for Boyd to perform as a top-20 receiver like he was last season. He’ll still be very fantasy relevant, but he should play third fiddle to Chase and Higgins in this offense. As a low-end WR3 in Full PPR formats, he’s worth the investment.
Cleveland Browns
Odell Beckham Jr (ECR – WR25): It’s true, the injury history is adding up for OBJ and making it more and more difficult to select him in fantasy drafts each season. With that being said, he’s now coming at enough of a discount that it’s not going to significantly damage your team if Beckham misses time yet again. The upside is still there for someone of Beckham’s talent and he has the potential to be a very reliable asset for your lineup in 2021. Due to the offensive philosophy, we’re probably never going to see OBJ max out with 12+ targets in a single game, but he’s simply too talented to not return value on where he’s being drafted if he stays healthy. Adding OBJ as your WR2 or WR3 if you load up on RBs early in your draft is a great strategy this year.
Jarvis Landry (ECR – WR42): While Landry hasn’t been as much of a steal in fantasy drafts as the time when he was with the Miami Dolphins, he’s still an incredibly reliable fantasy option week in and week out. He doesn’t come with much upside due to the offensive structure and how committed the Browns are to their run game, but as a solid low-end WR3 for your lineup, you know exactly what you’re going to get from Landry each week. He’s a safe option in the mid rounds of your drafts this year.
Rashard Higgins (ECR – WR96): Each year, Higgins continues to show out when he gets an opportunity. He’s not worth drafting this season due to how little the third receiver is involved in this offense, but he’s worth watching on the waiver wire if something happens to OBJ again.
Dallas Cowboys
Amari Cooper (ECR – WR16): Despite plenty of other receiving options in this offense, Cooper continues to shine for fantasy purposes. Through Week 5 last year – which is when Dak went down with his injury – Cooper was the WR13 in all of fantasy football. Even with Lamb performing at a very high level right away, Cooper was still a fantastic fantasy asset to have on your roster. Heading into 2021, we should see Dallas air the ball out a ton again and Cooper’s going to be the favorite to lead this team in targets. He’s a fantastic high-end WR2 to add to your fantasy lineup this year.
CeeDee Lamb (ECR – WR12): Lamb came out on fire last year and immediately returned value for fantasy managers that added him in the mid-to-late rounds. While the price tag is certainly going to be a bit higher this time around, he still has the chance of returning value. Lamb is going to reportedly move outside and play more snaps away from the slot, which could allow him to use his speed and excellent ball-tracking ability downfield. Ultimately, Lamb is on the verge of becoming a fantasy football superstar this year and he absolutely could end the year as a top-5 wideout. If you start your draft with two RBs in the first two rounds and snag Lamb as your top WR, you should be ecstatic.
Michael Gallup (ECR – WR45): Gallup seems to be the player everyone thinks is on the outside looking in on this Dallas offense, but we shouldn’t completely write him off just yet. Through the first five weeks of the season when Dak was healthy, Gallup was the WR29 in all of fantasy football. This is while Cooper and Lamb were both top-15 options too. Gallup will be a bit boom-or-bust week in and week out, but he has the potential to be a matchup winner with his big performances. Based on last season’s ups-and-downs, Gallup’s going to have a depressed ADP that’s perfect for the type of role he can fill for your fantasy roster. As a FLEX option, you can plug him into your lineup and live with the boom-or-bust performances and it’s not going to significantly hurt your roster. Invest in this high-powered offense in Dallas if you can and Gallup’s price tag is a perfect way to do just that.
Denver Broncos
Jerry Jeudy (ECR – WR29): Let’s be clear, things did not go well for Jerry Jeudy in his rookie season. On 113 targets, Jeudy posted a 46% catch rate and suffered 12 drops. His route-running acumen was on full display throughout the season, but the consistency simply was not there. Heading into 2021, I fully expect Jeudy to bounce back to the type of receiver I know he can be, but there is certainly some risk there. With a crowded offense, can Jeudy see enough volume to return value as a low-end WR3 or FLEX play? Will the drops return in 2021? Caution needs to be exercised with Jeudy from a redraft perspective, but he has the talent to take that next step and be a fantastic fantasy option. He’s worth pulling the trigger on in your drafts this year if the price is right. At his current ADP, I believe that to be the case.
Courtland Sutton (ECR – WR32): It’s been a while since we’ve seen Sutton on a football field, but let’s not forget how good he can be when he’s fully healthy. Despite inadequate QB play, Sutton’s thrived the past few seasons and has displayed his talent on multiple occasions. While he does have a crowded offense to worry about now, Sutton should be pushing Jeudy to lead this team in targets. While he might be coming off his previous injury a little bit slower than expected, he’ll get up to speed eventually. As a low-end WR3, you can live with the ups-and-downs before he gets his feet completely under him.
KJ Hamler (ECR – WR83): Hamler’s a dynamic and explosive receiver that should only continue to develop on what he showed in his rookie season. He’ll make some splash plays here or there this season, but with the other receiving options around him, it’s unlikely that he sees enough consistent volume week after week. He’s worth monitoring on the waiver wire in case something were to happen in this receiving corps to clear targets up a bit, but otherwise he’s not worth drafting this season.
Detroit Lions
Breshad Perriman (ECR – WR73): Perriman was released by the Detroit Lions and is no longer on the redraft radar.
Tyrell Williams (ECR – WR82): As far as a convergence of value and opportunity, it might not get any better than Williams at this point of your draft. Williams is going to be a late-round pick at best in your fantasy drafts, but he has an incredible opportunity in front of him. Unfortunately, he’s not on a great team and his skillset doesn’t exactly mesh with Jared Goff. Williams will have some big weeks here or there, but it’s unlikely that we ever view him as a staple of our fantasy lineups in 2021.
Amon-Ra St. Brown (ECR – WR77): As you assess the Lions receiving corps, it’s impossible to not be excited about St. Brown and his opportunity in this offense. With players like Tyrell Williams and Quintez Cephus above him on the depth chart, St. Brown has the talent to work his way into a starting role as early as Week 1. With Jared Goff‘s tendency to keep the ball close to the line of scrimmage, we could see St. Brown peppered with targets in 2021. The scoring opportunities might not be plentiful with this offense, but there’s a world in which St. Brown leads all rookie receivers in catches this season. As a last-round dart throw in Full PPR formats, St. Brown’s a solid target.
Quintez Cephus (ECR – WR100): Cephus was in an incredibly talented WR coming out of Wisconsin in the 2020 NFL Draft, but a poor 40-time at the Combine tanked his draft stock. He was able to sit for the majority of his rookie campaign and learn from players like Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones and he seems set to ascend into a starting role in 2021. With the release of Perriman, Cephus should be a starter in this offense week one and we know the Lions are going to be playing from behind a lot. This could lead to a significant opportunity for Cephus for fantasy purposes. As a late-round flier, he’s worth taking a look at.
Green Bay Packers
Davante Adams (ECR – WR1): What is there to be said about Adams that hasn’t been said already? Adams is coming off of the highest fantasy points per game average since Jerry Rice’s 1987 season (22.69 ppg in 12 games) and it appears to be a record that he could easily beat against next season. While 21.5 fantasy points per game is a ridiculous mark, Rodgers and Adams have a chemistry that simply cannot be guarded or defended. With Rodgers back in town for 2021, there’s no reason that Adams shouldn’t be the first receiver off the board.
Allen Lazard (ECR – WR79): Lazard has shown flashes of what he could be for fantasy football when he’s been on the field and healthy, but that’s been an issue with the WR over the past couple of seasons. Now with a couple of other receiving options in town, the path for consistent targets seems to be evaporating quickly in front of Lazard. He’s worth taking a shot on in the later rounds of your drafts to see if he can maintain a pertinent role in this offense, but we shouldn’t be relying on it or expecting it from him in 2021.
Randall Cobb (ECR – WR78): Cobb’s reunited with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, but it’s been a long time since we’ve seen Cobb be a regular fantasy contributor in starting lineups. He falls into the low-end FLEX conversation and probably someone that you can plug in to your lineup during bye weeks. Outside of that, it’s probably best to temper our expectations for the veteran receiver.
Houston Texans
Brandin Cooks (ECR – WR34): Cooks has been the definition of productive over the course of his career. However, if Watson does not play in 2021, Cooks has very little appeal for me in redraft leagues. This Texans team is essentially going to be guaranteed the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft at the start of Week 1 and the scoring opportunities for this offense are not exactly going to be abundant. Cooks might give you a safe floor each week, but there’s virtually no upside to drafting the veteran receiver. Around his ADP, there are some other options that I’d prefer pulling the trigger on that have a higher ceiling.
Nico Collins (ECR – WR91): Collins has the talent to develop into a nice NFL receiver, but we never got to see it consistently due to the putrid QB play at Michigan. Collins is a worthy stash in Dynasty leagues to see if he can develop into something down the road, but he’s essentially off the redraft radar for now.
Anthony Miller (ECR – WR93): Miller’s now making his way to Houston after failing to stick on the starting roster in Chicago. For all the ups-and-downs that Miller has experienced over his first few seasons, he’s still a very talented wideout that can make an impact for fantasy football. While his fantasy outlook in Houston will depend on which QB is throwing him the ball, he’s worth a stash at the bottom of your bench – or keeping an eye on on the waiver wire – to see what he can become in his new surroundings.
Indianapolis Colts
Michael Pittman Jr (ECR – WR49): Pittman showed enough last season for me to believe that he’s ready to take a massive leap in 2021. With Carson Wentz now at QB, he should be more willing to push the ball downfield, which means good things for someone with Pittman’s skillset. With an aging T.Y. Hilton – who is now likely to miss the start of the season – and an oft-injured Parris Campbell as his main competition for targets, we could see Pittman enter into the WR2 conversation this season. At his current ADP of WR48, that’s a screaming value. He’s my target in the later rounds every single time and I’m even willing to reach a round to make sure I get him onto my roster.
Parris Campbell (ECR – WR71): Campbell’s been hyped as a breakout candidate each of the past two seasons, but he’s only played in nine career games. With his current ADP, he’s worth taking the shot on in the event that he can finally stay healthy and take that next step forward. However, he’s nothing more than a dart throw later on in your drafts to see if he can turn into a consistent contributor for your fantasy lineup.
T.Y Hilton (ECR – WR54): Note** Hilton suffered an injury in practice and is likely to miss several weeks with an injury. I was on the record fading Hilton last season due a number of factors. Michael Pittman‘s potential emergence, Philip Rivers’ fading arm strength, and Hilton’s injury history all forced me to stay away when he was being drafted as a top-25 WR. Hilton still has his injury history to worry about and also the presence of Pittman Jr, but he does now have a QB in town that has a cannon for an arm. Hilton’s been at his best when he’s able to stretch the field and reel in those deep targets, but he hasn’t had that opportunity since Andrew Luck’s retirement. With Wentz, we could see a bit of a revitalization from Hilton, but it’s still unlikely that he pushes into weekly starting consideration for fantasy football. He’s the perfect FLEX option for your lineup that can bring you one or two deep shots per game, but he shouldn’t be relied on for anything more than that. If you can get him in your drafts in that territory, it’s enough of a discount for me to be interested.
Zach Pascal (ECR – WR103): Pascal’s been viewed as a depth piece in the Colts passing offense for years now, but he’s been actually very productive when he’s gotten the opportunity in the past. There’s a possibility that Campbell doesn’t take that big step forward in 2021 and Pascal could be a starting WR in an offense that promises to put points up on the board. He’s not worth drafting in your traditional leagues, but if you’re in a deeper format, sliding Pascal onto your bench isn’t a bad move.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Marvin Jones Jr (ECR – WR46): Jones signed on in free agency to be a veteran presence on this roster due to his familiarity with Darrell Bevell and the scheme he’s running now in Jacksonville. With Chark missing time in training camp with an injury, Jones has stepped up into the WR1 role for the Jaguars and has developed a nice chemistry with Trevor Lawrence. He’s not exactly the sexiest pick in all of fantasy football, but he has the potential to be a consistent contributor for your lineup in 2021. As the current WR54 off the board in FantasyPros’ ADP Consensus, that’s worth the investment.
DJ Chark (ECR – WR36): Chark certainly disappointed last year, but the QB play certainly had its role in his lack of production. Moving into 2021, Chark has a massive upgrade at QB and he should become one of Lawrence’s favorite targets deep downfield. There are plenty of other mouths to feed in this offense, so Chark will have a cap on his weekly output, but he still comes with plenty of upside due to his talent. If the price is right, he’s worth adding to your roster as a low-end WR3.
Laviska Shenault (ECR – WR41): Shenault’s been garnering a ton of hype coming out of Jaguars’ camp and he has the potential to make a big impact for fantasy football this season. With Etienne now out for the year, Shenault has a clear role in this offense as the “RAC” player underneath. With his size and speed, he should be able to soak up targets from Lawrence over the middle of the field and then turn them into big plays. Additionally, without a significant threat at TE in this offense that could take away work over the middle of the field, Shenault should see all the targets he can handle. As a FLEX option for your lineup, he’s a fantastic pick.
Kansas City Chiefs
Tyreek Hill (ECR – WR2): Since Patrick Mahomes took over for the Chiefs in 2018, Hill is second in the entire NFL at the WR position in total touchdowns and fourth in yards per target. He’s dominated for fantasy football over that time frame and we could be looking at more of the same in 2021. His skillset – matched with Mahomes’ arm talent – gives fantasy managers the ability to win a matchup any given week. Hill is simply one of the most difficult receivers to guard due to his speed and he has the ability to put up insane numbers in this offense. Davante Adams should be the first WR drafted this year, but Hill makes a compelling case to be the next one off the board.
Mecole Hardman (ECR – WR53): Hardman’s going to be relied upon a little bit more this year than in season’s past due to the departure of Sammy Watkins. There’s a gap here in this receiving corps where someone else will need to step up and carry their weight. Hardman has all the tools to do just that, but he seemingly hasn’t been able to put it together for fantasy purposes yet. At his current ADP, it’s worth taking the shot on him to see if he can turn into that reliable weekly starter, but it’s important to exercise caution. We could be hyping up another breakout season only to be disappointed again.
Byron Pringle (ECR – WR115): One of my favorite sleepers at the WR position this year is Pringle. The Chiefs let Sammy Watkins walk in free agency due to his unavailability, which leaves a major opening on this roster for someone else to step up. While some people hope that Mecole Hardman can take that next step, there’s a ton of buzz growing about Pringle and his potential in this offense. Right now, he’s simply a flier pick in the last round of your drafts. However, if he comes out and secures the WR3 role that it seems like he’s trending towards doing, he’s absolutely going to be in the FLEX conversation every week.
Los Angeles Chargers
Keenan Allen (ECR – WR9): Do you remember when we had concerns about Keenan Allen heading into the 2020 season? The Chargers seemed destined to be a run-heavy team with Tyrod Taylor as their QB, which didn’t leave much optimism for the veteran wideout. Well, the situation changed very quickly with Justin Herbert behind center and Allen turned out to be a steal in fantasy drafts. While the price tag for Allen might be a bit high this pre-season, it’s going to be difficult to find a more consistent option at the WR position week in and week out. Allen might not give you a ton of yardage, but he could easily push for a top-10 finish in a Full PPR format with how much volume he sees in this offense.
Mike Williams (ECR – WR44): From a pure talent perspective, Williams is a ton of fun to watch on film. His contested catch ability just might be the best in the entire league and he can make some truly jaw-dropping grabs. For everything that he brings to the table though, he has not been able to put it together for fantasy football. Over the past three seasons, Williams has gone from a WR24 finish to WR38 to WR45. Even with Justin Herbert last season – whose skillset lines up with Williams’ almost perfectly – Williams took a clear back seat to Keenan Allen and multiple other options on this depth chart. He has the talent to break out, but he falls into the camp where I need to see it happen before I can buy back in. As long as Allen and Austin Ekeler are on the field, there might not be enough targets left over to give Williams’ weekly fantasy viability. He’s fine stashing at the bottom of your bench in hopes that he can finally turn it around, but if you’re hoping for anything more than that, I’d encourage you to exercise caution.
Tyron Johnson (ECR – WR106): Johnson was cut from the Los Angeles Chargers.
Los Angeles Rams
Robert Woods (ECR – WR13): Since joining the Rams in 2017, Woods is 9th in total targets, 8th in receptions, and 9th in total receiving yards. He has done nothing but outperform his ADP every single year for the past several seasons. He’s now finished as the WR10, the WR17, and WR13 the past three years and that was with Jared Goff as his QB. Now, Woods has Matthew Stafford in town and this offense could be on its path to going nuclear. Stafford should lean heavily on Woods this upcoming season and there’s the potential that we see Woods put up career high numbers across the board. He’s going to be undervalued yet again in 2021 – for unknown reasons – and that’s a perfect situation to add him to your fantasy football roster at a discount.
Cooper Kupp (ECR – WR19): Kupp saw his production take a hit last season, but it’s hard to put the blame on his shoulders when Goff threw for only 20 touchdowns all year. With Stafford now in town, we could truly see Kupp reemerge and ascend back into the top-10 conversation. I won’t be ranking him there, but it’s certainly in the realm of possibilities. This offense is going to be incredibly powerful in 2021 and I’m looking to get all the pieces that I can. As a WR2 for my roster, I’d love to add Kupp and the upside that he presents.
Las Vegas Raiders
Bryan Edwards (ECR – WR69): Edwards certainly has the talent to be a factor for fantasy football, but injuries seem to be holding him back. He should have a clear role in this offense as a starter in 2021 and he could breakout if everything goes his way. At his current ADP, he’s worth taking a shot on to see if he can emerge in this offense, but it’s certainly far from a guarantee. His stock is certainly on the upswing as we head into the regular season though.
Henry Ruggs (ECR – WR56): Last season, Ruggs had an ADOT (Average Depth of Target) of 17.3. For the skillset that Ruggs brings to the table, this is a gross misuse of his abilities. Ruggs thrives on being able to take short passes and then create after the catch with his speed and explosiveness, which targeting him deep downfield does not allow him to do. Unfortunately, it appears that this is how the Raiders are going to continue to utilize the speedster receiver. With that being said, at his current ADP, Ruggs is absolutely worth adding to your roster in hopes that he can take that second-year leap and be more involved in this offense. We’ll just have to wait and see if it actually happens.
Hunter Renfrow (ECR – WR88): Renfrow is a very talented route-runner and overall slot receiver. While he was phased out of the offense last year, it appears like he’s going to have the slot role in this offense to himself again in 2021. If that’s the case, sneaking Renfrow onto your roster in the last round of a Full PPR draft is not a bad strategy to deploy. It could pay off for you.
Miami Dolphins
Jaylen Waddle (ECR – WR48): Waddle has the draft capital to his name, he has the speed and explosiveness to make an impact for fantasy, and he has familiarity already with his QB in Miami. We’ve seen rookie WRs step into the NFL and produce right away and Waddle could be the next one in line. With Fuller and Parker on the outside, Waddle will be able to settle into the slot and take short passes from Tua and create with his agility after the catch. He should see plenty of work from week one and I would not be surprised if he’s in the conversation for Offensive Rookie of the Year when it’s all said and done. I’m drafting him everywhere I can this season.
Will Fuller (ECR – WR37): We already know that Will Fuller won’t be available for the first game of the 2021 NFL season, which could scare some fantasy managers off of pulling the trigger on him in their drafts depending on where his ADP lands. If he’s available at a major discount, I’m pulling the trigger all day long. The Dolphins have done a ton to surround Tua Tagovailoa with talent this off-season and Fuller is merely one of the additions. While Fuller might be more of a boom-or-bust FLEX play when everyone is healthy and on the field, we know from last season in Miami that health is never a guarantee. With Fuller’s big play explosiveness, plus the potential for an increased target share if Parker struggles with injuries again, Fuller has the potential to smash his ADP.
DeVante Parker (ECR – WR51): Parker’s been a steady fantasy option over the past year or so, but that was particularly with Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB. While Parker can certainly still have some big games here or there, his skillset doesn’t match up with what Tagovailoa prefers to do at QB. It’s likely that we see Tua lean on players like Waddle or Fuller more and more as the season progresses, which puts Parker more in the low-end FLEX conversation.
Minnesota Vikings
Adam Thielen (ECR – WR22): Based on Expected TD Rate, Thielen should have had 5.5 receiving touchdowns last season on his 925 receiving yards. He finished with 14! He was incredibly efficient in the red zone, catching eight touchdowns on only 12 targets. This high level of efficiency makes Thielen a very risky investment for fantasy this upcoming season. With Jefferson stepping up and assuming the WR1 role in this offense, Thielen now has to keep up this unprecedented touchdown rate in order to return value on where he’s being drafted. Cousins and Thielen certainly have the chemistry to make that happen, but it’s not exactly a sure thing. If you can get Thielen as a high-end WR3 on your roster, where you can live with the potential range of outcomes, I’m okay with that team-building strategy. However, having to rely on him as anything more than that is a recipe for disaster.
Justin Jefferson (ECR – WR8): How are we feeling about Justin Jefferson heading into 2021, folks?! Wow! Coming off of a truly ridiculous rookie season, the arrow can’t be pointing any higher heading into year two. Jefferson put up an absurd 70% Catch Rate on 125 targets with a 15.9 Yards Per Reception total in his rookie season, which is one of the most unbelievable stats from last season. Despite barely being involved in the offense the first two weeks of the season, Jefferson finished as the WR6 and there’s very little reason to doubt that he can finish in that range again in 2021. Based on his previous performance, you’re absolutely going to have to pay a premium price for Jefferson in fantasy this season if you want him on your roster. However, if you want to build your fantasy roster around the stud wideout, you’re not going to get any complaints from this analyst. He’s that good.
New England Patriots
Nelson Agholor (ECR – WR62): Agholor bounced back last season in Las Vegas and worked his way into a pretty sizable contract from New England via free agency. While the opportunity is certainly going to be in front of Agholor to take on a larger role, it might not exactly lead to a ton of fantasy football production. This offense should run through the TEs (Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry) with Agholor being asked to stretch the field and open things up underneath. Jones should be able to find him once or twice a game for a big play, but that might not be enough to have sustained value. He’ll have some appeal as a boom-or-bust FLEX play most weeks, but he’s unlikely to step up in this offense and assert himself as the unquestioned No. 1 target.
Jakobi Meyers (ECR – WR60): Meyers has performed well when he’s been given the opportunity and it looks like he’ll now have a starting role in this offense. He’s impressed throughout the pre-season and figures to be one of Jones’ favorite targets. While he’ll be vying for targets with Jonnu and Henry at the TE position, there’s more than enough passing volume now to go around to allow Meyers to have weekly FLEX value.
Kendrick Bourne (ECR – WR101): Bourne was brought in early in free agency this year, which indicates that the Patriots have a plan for how to utilize him. However, with other options stepping up in this passing game, there’s not a ton of targets left over for Bourne to have weekly fantasy relevance. He’ll have some games here or there that will pop up, but he’s most likely not worth rostering in your traditional redraft leagues.
New Orleans Saints
Michael Thomas (ECR – WR47): After dealing with an injury for the majority of last season, MT underwent surgery in June to fully fix the issue and he’s now projected to be out for the first half of the season. It’s a bit of a mystery right now as to exactly how long he’s going to be out, but it doesn’t look good for his draft stock heading into fantasy football draft season. After projecting him to miss the first five games of the season, Thomas dropped from WR12 in my projections to WR44. Without the guarantee that he’s going to return to fantasy football dominance – as evidenced by last year’s performance – Thomas may just be on my “do not draft” list. I’m willing to let someone else in my league deal with the potential range of outcomes unless he falls to a ridiculous value point in my draft.
Marquez Callaway (ECR – WR85): One of the things I love/hate the most about this job is player development. While we spend so much time researching previous statistics and analyzing a current team’s situation to death sometimes, there’s no way to account for a player working tirelessly during the off-season to become a better football player. I hate it because I missed out on telling people to draft that player before everyone else, but I love it because this player is now taking advantage of their opportunity and making the game better. That’s what has happened with Marquez Callaway this year. Based on last year’s stats (21/213/0), Callaway shouldn’t be someone we’re talking about as a potential breakout for fantasy football. However, he’s putting on a show during this 2021 NFL pre-season and he deserves to be in the redraft conversation now. With Michael Thomas sidelined, Callaway has a significant opportunity in front of him and he could emerge as the WR1 for this Saints team. If that’s the case, Callaway deserves to be talked about as a low-end FLEX play with considerable upside. He’s still unproven, so we shouldn’t go overboard with our expectations, but as a player to draft on your bench and stash to see what happens? I can get on board with that.
Tre’Quan Smith (ECR – WR65): Smith was someone that I was keeping a close eye on and acquiring in my drafts for super cheap before the MT injury news and he’s certainly on my radar now. Smith will be battling for the WR1 role in this offense and he should see as many targets as he can handle while Thomas is out of the lineup. He should get off to a hot start and could be someone worth rostering the entire season. While it’s a bit of a risk due to the fact that we haven’t seen Smith truly breakout up to this point of his NFL career, he’s worth the shot if you can get him as a WR5 on your roster. With Callaway showing out in the preseason – and Smith missing time in training camp – it’s likely that we see Smith’s ADP dip to a point where you can add him with your last pick. That’s worth the investment at that point to see what he can do.
New York Giants
Kenny Golladay (ECR – WR26): There was a lot of hype surrounding Golladay earlier on this off-season and it was easy to understand why that was the case. He’s an incredibly talented receiver and he signed a massive contract with the New York Giants in free agency. However, once you sit down and really assess the situation around him, it’s difficult to get too excited. Golladay now joins an absolutely crowded offense with a lot of mouths to feed, which instantly puts a cap on his projected ceiling. With Saquon Barkley, Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, Kadarius Toney, Evan Engram, Kyle Rudolph, and Devontae Booker all in the mix for targets, Golladay is going to have to be ultra efficient with his opportunity to make an impact for fantasy football. Once you factor the injury Golladay’s currently dealing with in camp, he is more of a high-end WR3 than anything else. You’re buying into Daniel Jones taking a massive step forward if you trust Golladay as anything more than that.
Sterling Shepard (ECR – WR61): Shepard was seemingly left in the dust after the drafting of Toney in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, but Shepard’s role might have opened back up in this offense. Toney has struggled to get onto the field throughout training camp and the Giants need a reliable slot option over the middle of the field. With that being said, this is still a crowded offense with uninspiring play-calling. It’s probably best to avoid Shepard regardless of what his draft cost is this year.
Darius Slayton (ECR – WR74): Slayton has had some moments of being a fantastic contributor for fantasy lineups, but he now has a whole lot of competition for targets on this roster. Slayton should have a role on this team as the field-stretching option, but this might be more beneficial to other players than it will be to Slayton’s fantasy value. He’s bound to have some big performances throughout the season, but trying to project when those will be will be an absolute nightmare. I recommend letting someone else deal with the potential range of outcomes.
Kadarius Toney (ECR – WR92): Toney’s an exciting and electric player that should have some splash plays throughout this 2021 season. Unfortunately, he’s unlikely to make a significant impact for fantasy football due to the offense that he landed in. With so many other mouths to feed, it’s unlikely that we see Toney see enough sustained volume that he’s a reliable option week after week. If something were to happen to one of the other receivers above him on the depth chart, we might have a different conversation, but he’s not necessarily someone that I’m looking to invest heavily in right now for 2021.
New York Jets
Corey Davis (ECR – WR39): Well, it finally happened, folks! Corey Davis finally put together a solid season-long fantasy performance! While it wasn’t a dominant performance by any means, Davis showed enough flashes in Tennessee to indicate that he could get the job done if he were in a more pass-happy offense. Now, Davis lands in New York in an offense that figures to still be in some negative game-scripts, which will certainly lead to more pass attempts. He has some other competition for targets on this roster and a rookie QB to deal with, but he should easily establish himself as the WR1 on this roster. Zach Wilson has locked onto him throughout the pre-season and Davis should see plenty of volume in 2021. At his current ADP, that’s a steal.
Elijah Moore (ECR – WR58): Moore certainly has his fans in the fantasy community, but it’s important to temper expectations for him in year one. He’s a rookie receiver playing with a rookie QB on a team that doesn’t exactly figure to be a playoff contender in 2021. Additionally, the path for Moore to get onto the field isn’t exactly evident at the time of writing. Jamison Crowder is still on this roster and he’s most likely going to get the nod at the starting slot role, which is where Moore will play. Until Crowder is no longer in the picture, Moore can’t be viewed as draft-worthy in fantasy leagues this season.
Keelan Cole (ECR – WR102): With the other additions at WR this off-season, it’s near impossible to find the path for Cole to get onto the field in New York and make a significant impact. However, there’s been a lot of buzz about Cole this off-season and how he is tearing it up and developing a solid connection with Zach Wilson. He might not be someone worth drafting right away, but it’s going to be important to monitor to see if Cole can take one of the starting roles in this offense. If he does, he’s going to be an absolute steal in fantasy drafts.
Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Reagor (ECR – WR59): Reagor didn’t exactly do much in his rookie season to justify the pick Philadelphia selected him with, but it’s not time yet to completely write off the talented wideout. He has some competition on this roster for targets, but he has the explosiveness to make his opportunities count. With his current ADP, Reagor’s a perfect stash on your bench to see if he can make more of an impact in year two right out of the gates. If he does, you have a viable fantasy asset moving forward. If he doesn’t, you’re able to cut bait easily and move on to pick up the new waiver wire commodity.
DeVonta Smith (ECR – WR38): Smith’s coming off of one of – if not the most – productive seasons for a CFB WR ever. There’s absolutely no denying his talent and how he produced against SEC corners, which projects well for his transition to the NFL. All signs point to Smith being a value this upcoming draft season except for the state of the offense. For Smith to return value, Hurts needs to take a massive step forward as a passer from what we saw last season. In an offense that doesn’t project to pass the ball a ridiculous amount, Smith is going to have to be incredibly efficient to crack the top-30 at the WR position this year. It’s certainly possible due to his talent level, but his current ADP is appropriate, in my opinion. As a FLEX option, you’re able to live with the potential range of outcomes.
Quez Watkins (ECR – WR120): Watkins has made the most of his opportunity this pre-season and he’s emerging as a legitimate candidate to take over the slot duties in this Nick Sirianni offense. We saw in the pre-season just how much juice this wideout has and how easily he can pick up yards after the catch. Sirianni is going to be looking for ways to take pressure off of Jalen Hurts as a passer and simply getting the ball in Watkins’ hands is going to be an easy way to accomplish that. He’s not exactly on the redraft radar just yet in shallow leagues, but if you’re in a deeper format and want to take a shot on the second-year wideout, it’s worth seeing what he can become in this offense.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Diontae Johnson (ECR – WR21): When he’s healthy and in the lineup, Johnson’s target totals rival that of the top-tier fantasy wideouts. While he’s struggled with drops – 14 in 2020 – Big Ben repeatedly looked his way. As long as he’s on the field, Johnson’s going to be a safe fantasy option that comes with a very high floor. He’ll need to clean up the drops to ascend into the top-15 at the WR position, but the opportunity is absolutely in front of him. If Claypool takes a big step forward in 2021 though, that could take away some of the opportunity from Johnson in what promises to be a crowded offense. It’s enough to at least be aware of when you’re on the clock.
Chase Claypool (ECR – WR27): As college offenses progress and the coaching gets better, we’re starting to see more and more receivers come into the NFL and make an impact immediately. No receiver better exemplifies this from last season than Chase Claypool, who was not high on consensus draft boards, but came in and absolutely shattered expectations. He ran hot and cold throughout the season due to the offense’s struggles, but the talent is absolutely there. While Diontae Johnson should be Big Ben’s favorite target yet again this season, Claypool’s big play ability is going to lead to some fantastic fantasy performances. When it’s all said and done, it would not shock me to see Claypool end the season with the highest fantasy finish among the Steelers WRs.
JuJu Smith-Schuster (ECR – WR31): After being viewed as the consensus Dynasty WR1 just a couple of years ago, Smith-Schuster has taken a free fall down rankings recently. After putting up underwhelming numbers in 2020, Juju only signed a very small deal in free agency to remain in Pittsburgh. Everything that this team has done this off-season signals that Juju might be in for another down year, unfortunately. With the addition of Harris in the first round, this team should return to a more balanced approach and Harris will take away some work as a receiver out of the backfield. Additionally, the selection of Freiermuth in the second round indicates that this team could be moving towards more of a 12-personnel approach with Matt Canada now at OC. This effectively takes Juju off the field as the slot receiver, therefore limiting his fantasy projections. Juju will still have weeks of being fantasy relevant, but he fits more as a low-end FLEX option in my rankings versus a guaranteed WR3. There doesn’t seem to be much upside to selecting him at his current ADP.
San Francisco 49ers
Brandon Aiyuk (ECR – WR24): Aiyuk stepped into a majority role in Week 4 of last season. From a Fantasy Points Per Game perspective, Aiyuk was the WR15 from Weeks 4-16! While Samuel and Kittle being in and out of the lineup certainly helped him reach that status, Aiyuk was dominant as a rookie. Heading into 2021, the 49ers are going to experience a change at QB at some point during the season. With Lance’s skillset, Aiyuk could potentially breakout in a big way this upcoming season. He’ll have to do it on the back of high efficiency, as he’s not going to see the type of volume that other receivers in the league will, but he has the talent to maximize his opportunity. He might not have top-12 upside due to the volume concerns, but Aiyuk’s going to deliver you some potential matchup-winning performances throughout the year. He’s someone I’d be thrilled to get as a WR3 on my roster if his current ADP holds.
Deebo Samuel (ECR – WR35): Did you know that Samuel had an ADOT of 2.2 yards last season? Additionally, Samuel had 401 yards after the catch in 2020, but finished with only 391 receiving yards. As far as YAC monsters in the NFL, Samuel has to be up at the top of the list based on what he can do with the ball in his hands. This makes him an incredibly exciting player to roster in fantasy football, but also one that has a very unpredictable and unreliable path to relevancy. In order for Samuel to return weekly value, he has to post unheard of efficiency in terms of yards after the catch. With his role in this offense revolving around being given the ball at or behind the line of scrimmage, if he doesn’t break metrics in this category, he’s not going to be someone that you can count on for fantasy purposes. He’s one of the best to do it, so it’s likely that he continues to post insane numbers, but it’s not something that I’m willing to bet on as a cornerstone of my fantasy roster. As a FLEX option, I can live with the risks, but as anything more than that it’s a tough pill to swallow.
Seattle Seahawks
DK Metcalf (ECR – WR6): Remember when the entire NFL was so scared off of Metcalf that he fell all the way to the end of the 2nd round of the 2019 NFL Draft? 31 other teams are kicking themselves now because Metcalf has come out of the gates absolutely on fire to start his NFL career. He now has 2,203 receiving yards over the past two seasons to pair with 17 receiving touchdowns. He’s one of the best vertical threats in the game and he’s widely viewed as a top-12 lock at the WR position this year for fantasy football. With Wilson and Metcalf’s chemistry, finishing as the WR7 in all of fantasy football is certainly in the realm of possibilities again this season. This offense is going to continue to operate at a high level and the new scheme should only help make it more potent. Metcalf’s a perfect WR to build your fantasy roster around this year.
Tyler Lockett (ECR – WR20): If you’re looking for a boom-or-bust WR, look no further than Lockett. While his 2020 stats look great, there’s a greater context that doesn’t come across when looking at the fact that he finished with 1,054 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns last season. The majority of Lockett’s production came in three games last year, which is extremely concerning for fantasy managers that are playing in weekly redraft leagues. He absolutely comes with week-winning upside, but there’s the potential that he can hurt your fantasy lineup if he doesn’t come through with a huge performance. This all comes down to Lockett’s value point and where you’re able to get him in drafts. If you’re able to secure him as a WR3 on your roster, this is enough of a discount to where you can live with the potential range of outcomes. However, if you’re needing to rely on him as a WR2 or a consistent producer to keep your lineup in matchups, this is a strategy that can lead to a lot of heartache. We know what Lockett can be for fantasy, so he’s still worth selecting in your drafts this year. However, it’s going to all come down to roster construction and where you can get him in your drafts.
D’Wayne Eskridge (ECR – WR107): If you’ve followed any of our podcasts for any length of time, you know that I am obviously a fan of Eskridge and what he brings to the table. In this new offense in Seattle that Shane Waldron is bringing over from the Rams, Eskridge fits like a hand in a glove. With DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, the Seahawks have two incredible deep threats, but they didn’t have a receiver last season that could work the horizontal areas of the field and make life easy on Russell Wilson. Eskridge is going to be able to step in immediately and be a threat on Jet Sweeps and underneath routes that will pick up easy yardage. He has the route-running prowess and skillset to build upon and become a lethal weapon in this offense that will run 3WR-sets a lot. There are a lot of people doubting the rookie WR, but don’t be shocked when you see his ADP rise several rounds because of positive news coming out of training camp or a couple of splash plays in the preseason.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Godwin (ECR – WR15): While Godwin’s production certainly wasn’t the same in 2020 as it was with Jameis Winston in 2019, he was still one of the most consistent options for your fantasy lineup last season. He did have some peak games here or there, but otherwise there were only one or two performances where he hurt your lineup. Looking to 2021, it’s certainly still a very loaded offense around him – which puts a cap on his overall ceiling – but he’s still going to be one of the safest bets you can make in fantasy this year. You’ll know exactly what you’re going to get from him week after week and he does come with some upside that can push your team over the top to a victory. The casual fantasy player might be scared off because of how many other mouths there are to feed in this offense, but Godwin should be one of the top options yet again. He can be viewed as a high-end WR2.
Mike Evans (ECR – WR14): What Evans has done throughout his career is no small feat. In his seven seasons in the NFL, Evans has never finished with less than 1,000 receiving yards in any given year. With that being said, he’s a roller coaster to have on your fantasy football roster. Last season, Evans had numerous games where he only had one to three receptions, but he was able to come down with a touchdown on several occasions to save his fantasy output. Evans brings some massive upside based on his size, skillset, and talent. However, fantasy managers need consistency from their WRs if they’re being drafted at a premium price. Evans is currently being drafted as the WR13 off the board in FantasyPros’ Consensus ADP. He’ll provide you with some of those week-winning performances, but that’s too steep of a price for me to get on board with that unpredictability.
Antonio Brown (ECR – WR40): One of the players that I’ve been rising on dramatically as the off-season progresses is AB. While he was an inconsistent option week in and week out in 2020, everything seems to have clicked for Brown in Tampa this off-season and he’s going to be more of an integral part of this offense than we anticipate. Fantasy managers are consistently paying top dollar for Evans and Godwin in their drafts, but Brown is sitting at a fantastic value point later on. There’s a very good possibility that the target share is split fairly evenly across all three wideouts in Tampa and Brown ends up being the best value of all of them. If you can load up on RBs in the early parts of your draft and then snag AB as your WR3 for your roster, that’s a move I’m very comfortable making.
Tennessee Titans
AJ Brown (ECR – WR7): Did you know that Brown is first all-time in NFL history in Yards Per Target for WRs through their first two seasons with a threshold of 100 receptions? Brown has 11.19 YPT on 190 targets over the past two seasons and the next highest mark is Randy Moss with 10.44 YPT. He’s above names like Moss, Santonio Holmes, Torry Holt, Julio Jones, and OBJ to name a few. He’s an absolute superstar of a WR! While AJ Brown may not get the 180+ targets we were hoping for from him this season before the Julio trade, he’s still a top-tier fantasy option. This offense is going to be incredibly fun to watch in 2021 and adding Brown to your fantasy roster might be too good to pass up, no matter his price tag.
Julio Jones (ECR – WR17): Julio’s now in Tennessee after being shipped off from Atlanta and he’s walking into a huge opportunity in this offense. The Titans lost some key receiving weapons in free agency this offseason and Julio could be walking into a significant target share. While it might not be as much as it was in Atlanta due to the overall offensive philosophies and state of the teams, it’s still going to be plenty enough to view Julio as a mid-range WR2. The injury concerns are still there, but we know that Jones is going to do everything he can to fight through them. He’s worth selecting at his current ADP.
Washington Football Team
Terry McLaurin (ECR – WR11): What McLaurin has done with the list of QBs he’s played with up to this point of his career is honestly incredible. No matter who has been throwing him the football, McLaurin has got the job done for fantasy football. Now with Ryan Fitzpatrick in town – who loves to lock onto his WR1 and funnel them targets – McLaurin could go nuclear in 2021. There are enough other receiving threats in this offense to keep defenses from double-teaming McLaurin and he’ll beat single coverage all day long with his route-running ability. There are plenty of other names in the range of ADP where McLaurin is going that have an excellent chance of returning top-12 value, but McLaurin’s the most enticing. There’s a strong possibility that we look back at the end of the 2021 season and talk about McLaurin as a top-5 WR.
Curtis Samuel (ECR – WR43): Samuel’s coming over from Carolina to reunite with his former head coach, Ron Rivera. While Samuel put together a very solid season last year in Carolina, we should be pumping the brakes on him in this Scott Turner offense. When Samuel was in this offense previously, he was used primarily as an intermediate-to-deep threat and had a relatively high ADOT. Last season, Samuel was used closer to the line of scrimmage and this is where he saw his production really take a jump. Samuel’s a fine FLEX option this upcoming season that should have some big performances throughout the year, but we need to remain cautious with our expectations for the talented wideout.
Dyami Brown (ECR – WR108): Brown has some competition for this WR3 spot in this offense with players like Adam Humphries and Antonio Gandy-Golden, so it’s not a guarantee that he’s even the starter this upcoming season. However, if he is on the field as the primary third option, he should have some moments of relevancy throughout the year. Brown’s a better target in best ball formats where you won’t have to deal with predicting which weeks he’ll be relevant, but he’s worth watching on your waiver wire in traditional redraft leagues in case he does emerge.
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Kyle Yates is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Kyle, check out his archive and follow him @KyleYNFL.
