Saturday, July 31, 2021

Fantasy Football Projections 2021: Cleveland Browns

Our 2021 Fantasy Football Projections will be viewable by both position and team.

Below you will find our 2021 fantasy football projections for the Cleveland Browns.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

PlayerAtt.Comp.YardsTDINTRushYardsTDPoints
Baker Mayfield530.3334.93887.127.849.8154.6185.61.77276.4
Case Keenum19.212.1135.40.720.381.34.20.028.08

Baker Mayfield: Making major improvements over his 2019 campaign, Mayfield set a career high in passer rating (95.9) and a career low in INT% (1.6%). Outside of a four-game stretch near the end of the season (Weeks 12-15), however, Mayfield's efficiency didn't translate into a usable level of fantasy production.

Mayfield performed as a QB1 (top 12) in all four of those weeks (Weeks 12-15), but he had only one other top-12 weekly finish throughout the rest of the season (Week 7). Over the full season, he finished as fantasy's QB17. Leading a run-first playoff-caliber team likely means another season of modest passing volume that translates into mid-tier QB2-level fantasy production.

RUNNING BACKS

PlayerAtt.YardsTDRec.YardsTDPoints
Nick Chubb269.2134611.0424.6201.11.6242.85
Kareem Hunt134.6572.14.4439335.92.7153.14
Demetric Felton17.876.50.456.950.30.421.23
D'Ernest Johnson22.9100.80.57430.20.219.72
Andy Janovich1.32.90.011.714.10.13.21

Nick Chubb: Despite missing four games, Chubb still finished as fantasy's RB9 in 2020. Chubb has finished second and third in rushing yards per game in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Through his first three seasons, Chubb has never averaged fewer than five yards per carry in a season.

Even with the league's best No. 2 back (Kareem Hunt) on the roster, Chubb has averaged 18.05 touches per game since Hunt returned from his 2019 suspension. Only four teams in the league had a higher rushing play percentage than the Browns in Kevin Stefanski's first year as head coach.

Kareem Hunt: While Chubb (RB9) was a top-10 fantasy running back in 2020, so was Hunt (RB10). Outside of Week 16, Hunt had double-digit touches in all of his other 15 games. Playing in one of the league's most run-heavy offenses, there is enough to go around for both Chubb and Hunt to be drafted as viable starters in 12-team leagues.

WIDE RECEIVERS

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Odell Beckham67.7955.36.12.512.50.08167.71
Jarvis Landry72834.75.63.818.10.15155.78
Rashard Higgins26.9382.12.600067.26
Donovan Peoples-Jones9.5156.91.100027.04
Anthony Schwartz6.1110.60.600017.71
KhaDarel Hodge0.910.10.10002.06

Odell Beckham: OBJ has now missed at least four games in three of the past four seasons. Since becoming a Brown, Beckham has averaged 4.6 and 3.3 receptions per game in 2019 and 2020, respectively, both of which are the lowest per-game averages of his career. In addition, Beckham's per-game averages of 4.2/58.9/0.3 as a Brown are significantly lower compared to his per-game averages as a Giant (6.6/92.8/0.75).

Jarvis Landry: While he has typically exceeded his preseason expectations, Landry finished 2020 as fantasy's WR36, identical to his final 2020 half-PPR ADP (via Fantasy Football Calculator). Landry set career lows in targets (101) and receptions (72) last season and his yards from scrimmage (850) and total touchdowns (four) were either the lowest or second-lowest of his career. Given that those numbers were mostly without Odell Beckham Jr. (torn ACL), it's unlikely that Landry outperforms last year's modest numbers (by much) in Cleveland's run-first offense.

Rashard Higgins: Higgins' 2020 averages of 46.1 yards per game, 11.5 yards per target and 16.2 yards per reception all set career highs. That said, Cleveland's run-heavy offense can barely support two fantasy-relevant wide receivers, let alone three, so Higgins will be off the fantasy radar in standard-sized leagues without an injury to OBJ and/or Landry.

TIGHT ENDS

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Austin Hooper51.4524.94.1000102.79
Harrison Bryant21.7241.4200046.99
David Njoku13.7164.91.400031.74
Stephen Carlson0.910.10.10002.06

Austin Hooper: The team's overall passing volume is modest, but Cleveland's offense is TE-friendly with 27.74% of 2020 targets going to the position. Hooper, who has now missed three games in back-to-back seasons, underwhelmed in his first season in Cleveland as he averaged a career-low 6.2 Y/TGT and 33.5 YPG, a three-year low. With Odell Beckham sidelined (torn ACL), Hooper was more productive down the stretch -- 25/211/3 on 40 targets over his final five games including the playoffs.

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Fantasy Football Projections 2021: Atlanta Falcons

Our 2021 Fantasy Football Projections will be viewable by both position and team.

Below you will find our 2021 fantasy football projections for the Atlanta Falcons.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

PlayerAtt.Comp.YardsTDINTRushYardsTDPoints
Matt Ryan586.4384.74339.426.6811.7331.7101.41.11273.64
A.J. McCarron18.111.4121.30.620.324.511.30.058.12

Matt Ryan: There are a number of offseason changes that will impact Ryan's 2021 fantasy outlook -- new coaching staff, drafting Kyle Pitts, trading away Julio Jones, etc. While Arthur Smith may prefer to operate a run-first offense, personnel and game script may dictate a less run-heavy offense than some may expect. Even with a 17th regular-season game added to the schedule, Ryan's streak of three consecutive seasons with at least 608 pass attempts will likely come to an end in 2021.

RUNNING BACKS

PlayerAtt.YardsTDRec.YardsTDPoints
Mike Davis215.4829.36.2546.5345.72.7194.45
Qadree Ollison88.4344.83.328.966.90.467.94
Javian Hawkins39.7162.80.79537.90.329.11
Keith Smith4.59.50.09322.30.15.82

Mike Davis: Filling in for a mostly-injured Christian McCaffrey in 2020, Davis performed as a top-15 (half-PPR) fantasy running back last season. With limited competition for running back touches, Davis will have at least flex appeal, especially with Arthur Smith (most recently OC in Tennessee) taking over as Atlanta's head coach.

WIDE RECEIVERS

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Calvin Ridley1021349.47.74.520.30.09234.71
Russell Gage59.46583.72.390.03118.78
Olamide Zaccheaus31.7392.52.21.13.30.0168.69
Cordarrelle Patterson16.8167.3161.23061.8472.77
Christian Blake18.82031.200036.9
Frank Darby6.978.10.400013.66
Tajae Sharpe340.10.20006.71

Calvin Ridley: Ridley closed the season the same way he started it -- with 100-plus yards in four of five games. Along with Davante Adams (six) and Stefon Diggs (three), Ridley was one of three receivers to finish as a top-two weekly fantasy receiver at least three times in 2020. Ridley finished last season with 90 catches on 143 targets for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns and should be a top-five fantasy wide receiver in 2021, especially with Julio Jones in Tennessee.

Russell Gage: With the Falcons trading Julio Jones to Tennessee, Gage should rank second or third on the team in receiving behind Calvin Ridley and possibly rookie Kyle Pitts in 2021. Gage set career highs across the board in 2020 with 72 catches, 110 targets, 786 yards and four touchdowns.

TIGHT ENDS

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Kyle Pitts57.4724.94.7000129.39
Hayden Hurst32.7341.22.300064.27
Jaeden Graham322.30.20004.93
Lee Smith111.20.10002.22

Kyle Pitts: It's typically a difficult transition to the NFL for rookie tight ends, but Pitts isn't the typical tight end. The definition of a mismatch player in the mold of Darren Waller, Pitts has the potential to develop into fantasy's TE1 within a few years. The John Mackey Award winner, Pitts won't turn 21 until October, runs like a receiver (4.44 forty) and no pass-catcher over the past 20 drafts has had a larger wingspan.

Hayden Hurst: Hurst performed as the TE9 in half-PPR and PPR formats and the TE11 in non-PPR formats as he set career highs in targets (88), receptions (56), yards (571) and touchdowns (six) in year one in Atlanta. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, his weekly performance was inconsistent as he had five games with single-digit receiving yards. While Arthur Smith will run a TE-friendly offense, Kyle Pitts will make Hurst even more of a TD-dependent option in 2021.

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Friday, July 30, 2021

Fantasy Football Projections 2021: New Orleans Saints

Our 2021 Fantasy Football Projections will be viewable by both position and team.

Below you will find our 2021 fantasy football projections for the New Orleans Saints.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

PlayerAtt.Comp.YardsTDINTRushYardsTDPoints
Jameis Winston346.8224.62583.715.9511.142.5174.31.7172.58
Taysom Hill186.7121.41372.27.654.1172.43915.25162.63

Jameis Winston: Taysom Hill drew four starts when Drew Brees was sidelined last season. Earlier in the offseason, most expected Winston to be named the starter with Brees decided to hang up his cleats this offseason. Now that training camp is underway, however, the team in the midst of a legitimate quarterback competition.

Perhaps both quarterbacks will make starts during the season, but I believe Winston will begin the season as the starter in part so that New Orleans can maximize Hill's versatility. Two seasons ago in Tampa, Winston led the NFL in both passing yards (5,109) and interceptions thrown (30), but his ball security will be pivotal in his ability to keep the starting gig (should be named the starter).

Taysom Hill: Whenever/if he gets the opportunity to start, Hill will flirt with top-12 production. During his four starts last seasone, he performed as a top-12 fantasy quarterback every week.

RUNNING BACKS

PlayerAtt.YardsTDRec.YardsTDPoints
Alvin Kamara204.9942.58.572.7652.73.7269.07
Latavius Murray139.9622.64.3427.7227.51.2132.1
Ty Montgomery20880.510.4890.629.5
Alex Armah5110.31.713.80.15.73
Dwayne Washington7.532.60.150.95.905.2

Alvin Kamara: No running back scored more fantasy points in half-PPR formats than Kamara in 2020. The versatile back had exactly 81 receptions in each of his first three NFL seasons and then set a career high (83) in 2020. That said, he was on pace for a much higher career-best number before Drew Brees (ribs) missed four weeks. The only three games that Kamara failed to reach three catches came with Brees sidelined.

If the Saints utilize Taysom Hill as their starter, it would likely cap Kamara's upside and lead to more volatility in his weekly production. In 11 games with Brees, Kamara was a top-10 weekly producer in all but one game last season. In four games with Hill, Kamara posted weekly finishes (half-PPR) of RB25, RB36, RB9 and RB9, respectively.

Latavius Murray: When both Kamara and Murray are active, Murray flirts with stand-alone flex value -- especially during bye weeks. For any weeks that Kamara may miss, however, Murray becomes a must-start play. In the two games that Kamara missed and Murray was active, Murray had a total of 62 touches, 307 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns.

WIDE RECEIVERS

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Michael Thomas70.1862.45000151.29
Tre'quan Smith42.4617.13.8000105.71
Marquez Callaway20.8274.91.600047.49
Deonte Harris17.3207.71.27.561.90.1543.71
Juwan Johnson6.9102.90.600017.34
Chris Hogan3.151.40.30008.49
Lil'Jordan Humphrey2.129.70.20005.22

Michael Thomas: It was an injury-plagued 2020 season for Thomas, who failed to score in seven regular-season appearances. Thomas decided to postpone ankle surgery until June and now he's likely to miss the start of the 2021 season.

Before 2020, Thomas had improved every season -- 1,137 yards (2016), 1,245 (2017), 1,405 (2018) and 1,725 (2019). In his last full season (2019), he led the NFL in both receptions (149) and yards (1,725). Drew Brees' retirement and the injury dampen his fantasy outlook for the upcoming season.

Tre'quan Smith: Smith posted career numbers in receptions (34) and yards (448) in 2020. Even with Brees retiring, Smith should set new career highs with Emmanuel Sanders leaving for Buffalo and Thomas likely to miss the start of the season.

Marquez Callaway: An expanded role early in the season provides Callaway with some sleeper appeal heading into 2021.

TIGHT ENDS

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Adam Trautman45.85343.200095.5
Nick Vannett13.8158.20.900028.12
Garrett Griffin2.629.70.20005.47

Adam Trautman: A breakout candidate set for an expanded role in year two, Trautman will be a popular sleeper pick at tight end. Not only are Jared Cook and Josh Hill no longer on the roster, but Emmanuel Sanders (82 targets) is also gone and Michael Thomas is likely to miss the start of the season following recent ankle surgery.

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Thursday, July 29, 2021

Fantasy Football Projections 2021: Green Bay Packers

Our 2021 Fantasy Football Projections will be viewable by both position and team.

Below you will find our 2021 fantasy football projections for the Green Bay Packers.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

PlayerAtt.Comp.YardsTDINTRushYardsTDPoints
Aaron Rodgers568.7378.24435.933.275.6940.2160.81.91326.68
Jordan Love36.322259.51.491.0913.433.50.1318.29

Aaron Rodgers: While "his future [was] in Jeopardy," the offseason drama between Rodgers and the Packers front office is now fortunately behind us. The reigning and three-time MVP, Rodgers led the NFL in completion percentage (70.7%), passing touchdowns (48, 9.1%) and passer rating (121.5) last season. All of those were either career highs or the second-best of his Hall-of-Famer career.

RUNNING BACKS

PlayerAtt.YardsTDRec.YardsTDPoints
Aaron Jones223.31049.59.8358.4511.83.5265.31
A.J. Dillon127.3560.15.2813.493.90.8108.58
Dexter Williams29123.30.732.621.10.221.32
Kylin Hill2.29.50.05170.13.05

Aaron Jones: One year after leading the NFL in touchdowns (19, 2019), Jones averaged a career-high 5.89 yards per touch for the league's top-scoring offense. Even though he missed two games and scored eight fewer touchdowns in 2020, he has finished as a top-five fantasy running back in consecutive seasons.

A.J. Dillon: With 21/124/2 against the Titans in Week 16, fantasy managers got a glimpse of what Dillon could do in a lead-back role. With Aaron Jones re-upping with the Packers, however, that won't happen as long as Jones is on the field. Unlike Jamaal Williams, who's now in Detroit, Dillon isn't much of a receiver out of the backfield, which lowers his fantasy floor.

WIDE RECEIVERS

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Davante Adams109.11349.911.1000256.14
Allen Lazard39.4537.63.73.328.10.199.07
Randall Cobb43.6504.83.51.16.50.0294.05
Marquez Valdes-Scantling29481.33.62.2130.0685.89
Amari Rodgers26293.51.84.529.30.0956.62
Devin Funchess4.6610.600012
Equanimeous St. Brown2.432.90.30006.29
Malik Taylor0.89.40.10001.94

Davante Adams: Not only did Adams miss two games in 2020, but he has missed multiple games in three of his past four seasons. Even so, the seven-year veteran led the NFL in receiving touchdowns (18) and yards per game (98.1) and also set a career high in receptions (115). With double-digit touchdowns in four of five seasons, Adams has a total of 58 scores in 71 games over that span. With Aaron Rodgers still playing at an MVP level, Adams moves back into the WR1 spot with the Rodgers drama behind us.

Allen Lazard: After Adams, there are a number of receivers that could emerge as the team's second-most productive fantasy wide receiver. Unfortunately, Lazard (or whomever performs as the team's WR2) is unlikely to be a consistent fantasy performer.

Randall Cobb: Naturally, Cobb is excited to reunite with Rodgers and the Packers.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling: A big play waiting to happen, Valdes-Scantling led the NFL in Y/R (20.9) last season and had a career high in yards (690) and touchdowns (six). MVS had five games with no catches and two games with only one catch despite Rodgers playing at an MVP level.

Amari Rodgers: The Athletic's Matt Schneidman dubbed Rodgers as the team's breakout candidate for 2021. Coincidentally, Tee Martin (Rodgers' father) coached former (and again current) Packer receiver Randall Cobb at Kentucky.

TIGHT ENDS

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Robert Tonyan52591.64.5000112.16
Marcedes Lewis10.61150.900022.2
Jace Sternberger6.677.50.500014.05
Josiah Deguara0.670.10001.6

Robert Tonyan: Entering 2020 with 14 career receptions, Tonyan scored nearly as many touchdowns (12 counting the playoffs) as he had career receptions prior to last season. While teammate Davante Adams led the NFL with 18 touchdown receptions, Tonyan's 11 regular-season scores tied a position high with Travis Kelce.

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Fantasy Football Projections 2021: Buffalo Bills

Our 2021 Fantasy Football Projections will be viewable by both position and team.

Below you will find our 2021 fantasy football projections for the Buffalo Bills.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

PlayerAtt.Comp.YardsTDINTRushYardsTDPoints
Josh Allen603.8414.84709.637.1311.1780.93566.07386.58
Mitchell Trubisky38.525.2261.81.810.965.318.60.218.85

Josh Allen: One of the league's best young dual-threat quarterbacks, Allen has exactly 300 rush attempts in his three NFL seasons and has racked up 1,562 yards and 25 touchdowns on the ground. Remarkably, he has rushed for at least eight touchdowns in all three of his NFL seasons. Since his rookie season (2008), Allen has 22.32% of the team's rush attempts, 27.11% of the rushing yards and 56.82% of the rushing touchdowns.

Continuing to make major strides as a passer, Allen shattered previous career bests across the board in 2020. In his third season, Allen threw for 4,544 yards (284.0/G, 7.9/A) and 37 touchdowns (6.5 TD%) with only 10 interceptions (1.7%). Despite last year's unusual offseason, the trade for Stefon Diggs paid immediate dividends as the duo's instant rapport allowed Diggs to post career highs across the board as well.

RUNNING BACKS

PlayerAtt.YardsTDRec.YardsTDPoints
Zack Moss151.3658.25.3727.5211.32.1145.52
Devin Singletary136.6594.22.32332612.3129.74
Matt Breida31.5143.30.638.867.10.733.42
Antonio Williams4.218.50.132.217.40.26.67

Zack Moss: Many 2021 mock drafts linked the Bills to a first-round running back. Instead of adding an early-round running back, it's a positive for the outlook of Moss and Devin Singletary that the Bills only added Matt Breida in free agency. While I prefer Moss over Singletary, a concern for both is that Josh Allen has 25 rushing touchdowns over the past three seasons. Not only has Allen led the team in that category in each of the past three years, he has 56.8% (25 of 44) of the team's rushing touchdowns over that stretch.

Devin Singletary: Singletary followed up his rookie season with 687 rushing yards (4.4 YPC) and two touchdowns to go along with 38 catches for 269 yards. While I would prefer Moss over Singletary, both are not much more than a flex option heading into 2021. On a positive note, however, coach Sean McDermott has praised Singletary for "really trying to master the small things that come up down in and down out. ... I've really been impressed with his attention to detail over the past few days."

WIDE RECEIVERS

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Stefon Diggs116.61446.79.11.15.80.01258.21
Cole Beasley79.28704.7000154.8
Gabriel Davis46.2693.56000128.45
Emmanuel Sanders445274.7000102.9
Isaiah McKenzie14.3141.72.19.540.40.2439.4
Isaiah Hodgins4.449.70.500010.17

Stefon Diggs: Things could not have gone better for Diggs in his first season with the Bills. Buffalo's starters played fewer snaps than usual in Week 17, as Diggs played a season-low 48% of the team's offensive snaps in the regular-season finale. Even so, that Week 17 performance (7/76) was the only game over the final five weeks where Diggs had fewer than 128 receiving yards. A top-three performer across all scoring formats, Diggs led the league in targets (166), receptions (127) and yards (1,535) in 2020.

Cole Beasley: The recipient of triple-digit targets in back-to-back seasons, Beasley posted career highs in receptions (82) and catch rate (76.6%) as well as in yards (967), yards per reception (11.8), per target (9.0) and per game (64.5) in 2020. Catching only four touchdowns last season, Beasley has still finished as a top-36 wide receiver in both of his seasons as a Bill. While he will most likely outperform his ADP, Buffalo News' Jay Skurski included Beasley on his list of candidates that could be surprise cuts.

Gabriel Davis: Without signing Emmanuel Sanders to partially fill the void created by John Brown's release, there would be more hype for Davis as a 2021 breakout candidate. As a rookie, the 2020 fourth-round pick ended the year with 35 receptions for 599 yards (17.1 Y/R) and seven touchdowns.

Emmanuel Sanders: Most fantasy rankings will project Diggs, Beasley and Davis as the team's top-three receivers, but at least one beat reporter (The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia) believes that Sanders could factor into the offense more than Davis. Buscaglia described Sanders' contract as a "weighty contract indicative of a substantial role in the offense" and wrote that "all of the Bills' actions in the offseason were not of a team confident that Davis was ready to step into an enormous role."

TIGHT ENDS

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Dawson Knox36.3397.73.900081.32
Jacob Hollister22236.1200046.61
Tommy Sweeney5.552.20.600011.57

Dawson Knox: Knox missed four games in 2020 and his per-game numbers last season (2.0/24.0/0.25) weren't much different than his rookie averages (1.87/25.9/0.13). One of the more athletic tight ends in the league, there is the potential for a year-over-year improvement in his third season, but he will likely rank fourth or fifth in pecking order amongst the team's pass catchers. In fact, Josh Allen's Wyoming teammate, Jacob Hollister, could wind up moving ahead of Knox on the depth chart.

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Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Fantasy Football Projections 2021: Cincinnati Bengals

Our 2021 Fantasy Football Projections will be viewable by both position and team.

Below you will find our 2021 fantasy football projections for the Cincinnati Bengals.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

PlayerAtt.Comp.YardsTDINTRushYardsTDPoints
Joe Burrow587.2387.84213.225.257.6366247.54.62306.74
Brandon Allen40.825.92531.451.064.47.70.0214.69

Joe Burrow: Sustaining his season-ending knee injury in Week 11, the only quarterback to throw more pass attempts than Burrow (404, 36.7/G) through that point in the season was Tom Brady (433, 36.1/G). Burrow should rank near the top of the NFL in pass attempts in 2021. That volume makes last year's No. 1 overall pick a worthy back-end QB1 in drafts this summer.

RUNNING BACKS

PlayerAtt.YardsTDRec.YardsTDPoints
Joe Mixon276.112017.3256.1455.62.9255.03
Samaje Perine59.4246.51.4913.7100.50.553.49
Trayveon Williams18.780.40.374.1290.115.81
Chris Evans5.523.40.123.122.30.17.44

Joe Mixon: Mixon appeared in only six games in 2020 and he has now missed multiple games in three of his four NFL seasons. That said, Mixon had a minimum of 19 touches in the six games in which he appeared in 2020. Through Week 6, Mixon had more carries (119) than all running backs not named Derrick Henry (123) and was top 10 among running backs in targets (26). With Giovani Bernard now in Tampa, Mixon should be even more involved as a receiver.

MORE: Joe Mixon 2021 Fantasy Football Outlook

Samaje Perine: Perine averaged 6.6 YPC last season for the Bengals and he slides in as the RB2 behind Mixon with Bernard now longer on the roster. Given Mixon's durability history, Perine will be one of the top handcuffs to target late whether your fantasy roster has Mixon or not.

WIDE RECEIVERS

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Ja'Marr Chase85.41045.16.11.15.90.01184.46
Tee Higgins81.71009.46.44.424.20.04182.85
Tyler Boyd83.8917.85.34.427.30.04168.45
Auden Tate24.8301.51.800053.35
Trent Taylor4.644.70.10007.37
Stanley Morgan3.133.50.10005.5

Ja'Marr Chase: Former college teammate Justin Jefferson dominated as a rookie in 2020. If Chase were draft-eligible last year, the 2019 Biletnikoff award winner would have been the first receiver off the board. Reunited with his former college quarterback, Chase should be able to establish immediate chemistry. While Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd will still see substantial (perhaps equal) targets as well, Chase should emerge eventually as the team's WR1.

Tee Higgins: From Week 2 until Week 11 (Joe Burrow's knee injury), Higgins scored the 19th-most fantasy points (half-PPR scoring) amongst wide receivers. With the Bengals drafting Ja'Marr Chase over Penei Sewell, it took some steam out of Higgins' opportunity to build upon his strong rookie season. On the other hand, A.J. Green and his 104 targets (6.5/G) are no longer on the roster.

MORE: Tee Higgins 2021 Fantasy Football Outlook

Tyler Boyd: Boyd had just one catch for one yard in Weeks 15 and 17 -- he was out in Week 16 -- as he failed to extend his 1,000-yard streak to three seasons. Through Week 11 (when Joe Burrow tore his ACL), however, Boyd was averaging 71.0 yards per game, which put him on a 16-game pace of 1,136 yards. Even though the Bengals drafted Chase, a healthy Burrow keeps Boyd in the WR3 mix.

Auden Tate: As The Athletic's Jay Morrison notes, the Bengals could use more four-WR sets in 2021 with what expects to be an improved offensive line and the quick processing skills of Joe Burrow. Even so, it's more likely to require an injury to one of the team's top three receivers for Tate to become useful in fantasy in 2021.

TIGHT ENDS

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
C.J. Uzomah27.5272.41.700051.19
Drew Sample24.6223.31.400043.03
Mason Schreck1.211.20.10002.32

C.J. Uzomah: Uzomah suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 2 last season, but The Athletic's Jay Morrison notes that offensive coordinator Brian Callahan thinks they team could have five players hit the 50-reception mark with Uzomah occupying one of those spots.

Drew Sample: Over 16 games last season, Sample had 40 catches for 349 yards and one touchdown. A healthy Uzomah knocks Sample back down to the TE2 spot on the depth chart.

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2021 Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft: 12 Teams, 2nd Pick

The best way to become good at something is to practice. So, what should you do if you want to draft a better fantasy football team?

Practice, of course!

Leading up to the start of the 2021 NFL season, we will use the 2021 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator (powered by FantasyPros) to complete fantasy football mock drafts.

We will use a variety of scoring formats -- PPR, half-PPR, standard scoring and even 2-QB leagues, league sizes and draft slots. The goal is to give you a good representation of the team that you may be able to construct given your league settings and the rationale of why we made the picks we did.

+ Our mocks will be tracked here: Fantasy Football Mock Drafts.

That said, nothing beats practicing yourself so (check out the simulator) and complete a mock in a matter of minutes.

PPR Mock Draft: 12 Teams, 2nd Pick

1.02 - Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Once again, Cook has missed multiple games, but he set career highs in touches (356), yards from scrimmage (1,918) and touchdowns (17) and scored the second-most PPR fantasy pointsamong running backs. The clear lead back in one of the league's most run-heavy offenses, Cook averaged a career-high 5.0 YPC and has a minimum of 40 catches in each of the past three seasons.

2.11 - Darren Waller, TE, Las Vegas Raiders

Waller set career highs across the board -- 107 receptions on 146 targets for 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns -- and was dominant down the stretch. Not only did Waller have a 13/200/2 game in Week 13, but he exceeded the 100-yard mark in four of his final five games of the season. Especially in full PPR formats (like this mock), Waller is my TE2 over George Kittle.

3.02 - Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

Allen missed a couple of games and was limited in others, but he finished with 100 catches for the third time in four seasons despite playing with a rookie quarterback. Although just shy of the 1,000-yard mark and averaging a career-low 9.92 Y/R, Allen tied his career high (set as a rookie in 2013) with eight touchdowns. Along with Davante Adams and Diontae Johnson, Allen was just one of three receivers to get double-digit targets in 10 games in 2020.

More: Los Angeles Chargers 2021 Fantasy Football Projections

4.11 - Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings

Thielen averaged only 61.7 YPG, but he scored 14 touchdowns in 2020. Only three receivers were targeted more often in the red zone than Thielen (19). While Justin Jefferson has moved ahead of him in the wide receiver pecking order, Thielen remains a strong WR2.

5.02 - Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks

The full-season numbers (100/1,054/10, WR9 in half-PPR) look great and Lockett now has back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns and three consecutive seasons with at least eight touchdowns. That said, there were three spike games (9/100/3, 15/200/3 and 12/90/2) and mostly modest performances the rest of the season. There may be some week-to-week consistency, but he offers plenty of upside as my WR3.

6.11 - Chase Edmonds, RB, Arizona Cardinals

The former fourth-round pick has averaged 4.4 yards per carry and 7.2 yards per reception over his first three NFL seasons. With Kenyan Drake out and James Conner in, Edmonds should be Arizona's RB1 or 1(a) and has an opportunity to perform as a fantasy RB2 in 2021.

More: Chase Edmonds 2021 Fantasy Football Outlook

7.02 - Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks

It was a tale of two seasons for Wilson. In his first eight games, Wilson averaged 29.52 fantasy points per game and scored no fewer than 21.9. In his final eight games, he averaged only 17.08 and scored more than 21.9 only once during that span.

Despite Pete Carroll's prioritization to establish the run, Wilson has never finished worse than the QB11 (2016) and has finished as a top-six fantasy quarterback in five of the past seven seasons.

8.11 - Jarvis Landry, WR, Cleveland Browns

Landry set career lows in targets (101) and receptions (72) last season and his yards from scrimmage (850) and total touchdowns (four) were either the lowest or second-lowest of his career. That said, Landry typically outperforms his draft position and while the upside in Cleveland's run-first offense isn't very high, he offers a solid floor as my WR4.

9.02 - Michael Carter, RB, New York Jets

The Jets will likely use a committee approach, but at this point of the offseason, Carter appears set to become the 1(a) to the team's other backs. Carter averaged 8.0 YPC as a senior and finished his collegiate career with 82 receptions.

10.11 - Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Despite playing fewer than 50% of the team's offensive snaps every week except for the game Ezekiel Elliott missed (Week 15, 90%), Pollard had at least eight touches in 10 of the team's final 12 games. Excluding his one start, Pollard averaged nine touches over his final 11 games in which he appeared in less than half of the team's offensive snaps. Assuming good health for Dak Prescott and the offensive line, 8-10 weekly touches in this offense could lead to stand-alone flex value for Pollard on a weekly basis.

More: Dak Prescott 2021 Fantasy Football Outlook

11.02 - Noah Fant, TE, Denver Broncos

Playing at less than 100% in 2020, Fant averaged only 10.9 Y/R after averaging 14.1 in 2019. Fant's ADOT (7.6 to 6.7) and YAC/R (8.3 to 6.1) both declined year over year, but he also set career highs in receptions (62) and yards (673).

12.11 - Alexander Mattison, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Dalvin Cook has never played a full season and has actually missed multiple games in all four seasons. Given Cook's durabilty history and the team's offensive philosophy, Mattison is a high-end handcuff for this team if/when Cook misses any time.

13.02 - Tevin Coleman, RB, New York Jets

Injuries have limited Coleman during his two seasons with the 49ers as he has played only 36% and 6% of the offensive snaps in 2019 and 2020, respectively. That said, he brings with him knowledge of the system and familiarity with the coaches that Robert Saleh brought with him from San Francisco. With an ADP currently a couple of rounds behind Carter, Coleman is worthy dart throw in the 13th round (current ADP).

More: New York Jets 2022 NFL Mock Draft Roundup

14.11 - Washington Football Team DST

15.02 - Christian Kirk, WR, Arizona Cardinals

With DeAndre Hopkins dominating targets, Kirk's targets dropped from 108 (8.31/G) in 2019 to 79 (5.64/G) in 2020. The vast majority of his fantasy production including all of his touchdowns occurred during a five-game stretch from Weeks 4-9 (20/343/6, 17.15 Y/R, WR7). Kirk has missed multiple games in all three of his NFL seasons, but he offers some WR depth late and could be the first to drop if a waiver-wire add is made.

16.11 - Robbie Gould, K, San Francisco 49ers

- View Full Mock Draft Results

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Chase Edmonds 2021 Fantasy Football Outlook

The Arizona Cardinals gave nearly all of their 418 running back touches in 2020 to two backs -- Kenyan Drake (264, 63.16%) and Chase Edmonds (150, 35.89%) -- and one of them (Drake) is no longer on the roster.

A couple of weeks prior to the 2021 NFL Draft, the Cardinals gave James Conner a one-year deal for less than $2 million to fill part of the void created by Drake's departure.

Heading into the draft, a few analysts had linked the Cardinals to a first-round running back, but that would not have made much sense from a roster-construction standpoint, especially given that the franchise had only three picks in the first five rounds.

So, the net effect of losing Drake and adding Conner ultimately bodes well for Edmonds' 2021 fantasy outlook.

Prior to NFL free agency, Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury said the following of Edmonds (via PFT):

"As far as Chase goes, you've seen when he's had his opportunity, he's played at a starting running back level. We all understand that he's unfortunately been nicked up a couple times, which we want to keep him on the field. But we have all the confidence in the world in Chase and him being able to be the bell cow if that's how this plays out."

Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Edmonds to become a "bell cow," but he will most likely become the 1(a) to Conner's 1(b) given the relatively modest one-year deal that the Cardinals gave to Conner.

Conner has been efficient as a receiver (7.8 Y/R, 81.0% catch rate), but it's more likely that the Cardinals utilize him as an early-down complement to Edmonds similar to the way the Los Angeles Chargers will use an early-down complement for Austin Ekeler. In other words, I don't expect Edmonds to reach the 200-carry mark as the RB1(a) and it wouldn't be a surprise if Conner has more carries than Edmonds.

Even so, only six backs had more receptions than the Edmonds in 2020. At a minimum, he should hold serve on his role as a receiver while adding more rush attempts compared to last year's volume.

The workload gap between Edmonds and Conner won't be as large as it was between Drake and Edmonds last year, but I still project a healthy split in Edmonds' favor (57.9% to 42.1%).

When Edmonds has been on the field, he has been extremely efficient. Over the past two seasons in the current offense, Edmonds has averaged 4.78 YPC and 7.8 Y/R with 10 all-purpose touchdowns on 222 touches.

Arizona's offensive line ranks 11th in PFF's preseason offensive line rankings in general although they have generally performed better in pass protection than run blocking. That said, PFF notes that the Cardinals generated the third-highest EPA per play on runs last season (0.07).

Edmonds finished 2020 as fantasy's RB25 in PPR, RB28 in half-PPR and RB30 in non-PPR. Despite Drake's departure and the expected volume boost, Edmonds' ADPs remain in that same range.

Chase Edmonds Fantasy Football ADP

Based on scoring format, here are the current Fantasy Football ADPs for Chase Edmonds:

Scoring FormatCurrent ADP
Non-PPR Fantasy ADP5.12 (RB28)
Half-PPR Fantasy Football ADP5.08 (RB26)
PPR Fantasy Football ADP5.10 (RB27)

Below is a chart of Chase Edmonds' half-PPR ADP over the past month:

Chase Edmonds Average Draft Position

[Source: ADP from Fantasy Football Calculator.]

Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule (SOS)

Based on the cumulative fantasy points allowed in 2020 by their opponents this season, here are the ranks for Chase Edmonds and the Cardinals running backs rank in 2021 strength of schedule:

Scoring FormatWeek 1-17 RankWeek 15-17 Rank
Non-PPR Fantasy RB SOS12th3rd
Half-PPR Fantasy RB SOS13thT-3rd
PPR Fantasy RB SOS13th6th

+ MORE: Game-by-game Fantasy Football SOS for the Arizona Cardinals

Chase Edmonds Full-Season Projections

Here are our full-season projections for Edmonds:

RushRuYDRuTDRec.ReYDReTDFantasy
Points
1607124.4858487.23.2195

- Arizona Cardinals 2021 Fantasy Football Projections

- More Fantasy Football Projections

Bottom line

Relative value: Undervalued

As noted above, Edmonds 2021 ADP falls in line with his actual 2020 production. Increased volume may (or may not) lead to a reduction in efficiency, but an expanded workload should compensate for any potential decrease in efficiency. In other words, I feel that Edmonds is currently priced much closer to his floor than his ceiling. There is always the threat that Kyler Murray steals rushing opportunities from Edmonds (and/or Conner), but there's a good chance that you'll churn a profit if you can draft him as your RB3/flex.

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