The Daily Blitz: August 2021

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

2021 Fantasy Football Projections: Minnesota Vikings

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

Below you will find our 2021 fantasy football projections for the Minnesota Vikings.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

Player	Att.	Comp.	Yards	TD	INT	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Kirk Cousins	512.3	350.9	4047.2	29.46	10.76	33.6	109.2	0.76	273.69
Kellen Mond	32.7	20.8	242	1.34	0.98	3.7	12.6	0.07	14.76

Kirk Cousins: Throwing 35 touchdowns and 13 interceptions (both career highs) in 2020, Cousins was especially good down the stretch. Cousins scored a minimum of 20 fantasy points in seven of his final nine games last season. Even though Stefon Diggs led the NFL in receiving, rookie Justin Jefferson (88/1,400/7) more than compensated for the 2019 version of Diggs (63/1,130/6). Given the team's run-first nature, however, Cousins remains a streaming option for those in single-QB 12-team leagues.

RUNNING BACKS

Player	Att.	Yards	TD	Rec.	Yards	TD	Points
Dalvin Cook	293.4	1349.6	12.47	49.3	418.2	2.5	291.25
Alexander Mattison	124.3	553.1	2.67	14.9	122.2	0.9	96.4
Kene Nwangwu	32.3	142.1	0.89	3.2	25.7	0.2	24.92
C.J. Ham	5	15.5	0.1	7.1	57.9	0.4	13.89

Dalvin Cook: 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 third-most fantasy points (half-PPR) among running backs. The clear lead back in one of the league's most run-heavy offenses, Cook averaged a career-high 5.0 YPC in 2020 and has a minimum of 40 catches in each of the past three seasons.

Alexander Mattison: 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 run-first offensive philosophy, Mattison is a high-end handcuff.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Justin Jefferson	87.7	1231	8	0	0	0	214.95
Adam Thielen	80.3	1020.8	7.5	5	27	0.05	190.23
Dede Westbrook	29.2	323.8	2.3	0	0	0	60.78
K.J. Osborn	3.3	40.7	0.3	0	0	0	7.52
Ihmir Smith-Marsette	2	25.7	0.2	0	0	0	4.77

Justin Jefferson: Jefferson exceeded all expectations in his inaugural season with 88 catches for a rookie-record 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns. Not only did the former LSU Tiger have seven 100-yard games, but he had double-digit targets in five of his final six games after doing so in only two of his first 10 games. Going forward, Jefferson is clearly the 1(a) to Adam Thielen's 1(b) in Minnesota's passing offense.

Adam Thielen: 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 in both real life and fantasy.

TIGHT ENDS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Points
Irv Smith	38.3	411.8	3.8	83.13
Tyler Conklin	29.9	321.7	2.4	61.52
Chris Herndon	25.1	274.5	2.2	53.2
Brandon Dillon	1.5	15	0.1	2.85

Irv Smith: Smith missed three games last season, but the second-year tight end set career highs in YPG (28.1), Y/R (12.2) and touchdowns (five). The arrow was pointing up for the third-year tight end with Kyle Rudolph in New York, but he will have meniscus surgery that is expected to "sideline him for at least the start of the regular season."

Tyler Conklin: Earlier this offseason, Mike Zimmer talked up Conklin when he said: "It's a bigger role for Tyler Conklin [this season]. He's kind of emerged as a guy that's moving upward, and with those two guys (Conklin and Smith), we have a lot of weapons there." With Smith set to have meniscus surgery, Conklin has the potential to flirt with TE1 (top-12) numbers if Smith misses most or all of the season.

Chris Herndon: Missing most of the 2019 season, Herndon played a full 16-game slate in 2020, but he was mostly a non-factor with an average receiving line of 1.9/17.9 and a total of three touchdowns. With the Vikings sending a fourth-round pick to acquire Herndon from the Jets, it's possible the Vikings expect Smith to miss a significant portion of the 2021 season.

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Monday, August 30, 2021

2021 Fantasy Football Non-PPR Mock Draft: 12 Teams, 10th 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.

Non-PPR Mock Draft: 12 Teams, 10th Pick

1.10 - Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants

As a rookie, Barkley was about as good as it gets. Technically, Todd Gurley was better (fantasy's RB1), but Barkley was the RB2 in his rookie season and led the NFL in scrimmage yards (2,028), scored 15 touchdowns and hauled in 91 catches. Injuries have kept him out of 17 of the team's past 19 games (and his ACL rehab this offseason continues to be a major storyline). If his health cooperates in 2021, he has the skill set to finish better than this draft slot.

2.03 - Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

The all-time career rushing leader in Alabama history, Harris rushed for 1,466 yards and 26 touchdowns and added 43 receptions for 425 yards and four more scores last season. With few holes in his game, Harris will step in as a Week 1 workhorse. Given the team's propensity to feature its lead back, Harris is locked into one of the largest projected workloads, which makes him one of my favorite second-round RB targets.

More: NFL Predictions 2021: AFC North

3.10 - Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Football Team

While the team's quarterback play hasn't done him many favors, McLaurin managed to set career highs with 87 catches and 1,118 yards in his second season. While his Y/R dipped to 12.9 from 15.8, he set career highs in YPG (74.5) and catch rate (64.9%). Even though WFT didn't draft a QB in April, signing Ryan Fitzpatrick in free agency boosts McLaurin's outlook and puts him squarely in the WR1 (top 12) mix.

4.03 - Amari Cooper, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Cooper finished 2020 with a career-high 92 receptions for 1,114 yards and five touchdowns. It was his third consecutive 1,000-yard season and fifth of his career. In 41 games as a member of the Cowboys, Cooper has averaged 73.9 yards per game. Even though I started RB/RB in this mock, both McLaurin (Round 3) and Cooper (Round 4) are ranked in the top 12 of my preseason wide receiver rankings.

5.10 - Chase Claypool, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Claypool scored 11 touchdowns -- nine receiving and two rushing -- in the regular season and added two more receiving scores in the team's playoff loss to Cleveland. Re-signing JuJu Smith-Schuster to a one-year deal takes some steam out of Mapletron's upside in year two, but it wouldn't surprise me if he performed as the team's most productive wideout in 2021.

6.03 - Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

From Weeks 2 to 4 last season, Prescott threw for a minimum (yes, minimum) of 450 yards in three consecutive games with a total of 11 touchdowns (eight passing and three rushing). As noted in our Dak Prescott 2021 Fantasy Football Profile, Prescott (three) had more 450-yard passing games than the rest of the league combined (two) in 2020. During that three-game stretch before getting injured, Prescott performed as the weekly QB1, QB4 and QB1, respectively. With a talented trio of wide receivers, Prescott has tremendous upside if he can stay healthy although his ankle and shoulder injuries led ESPN's Adam Schefter to suggest that Prescott "may not be (fully) back all season long."

7.10 - Robby Anderson, WR, Carolina Panthers

Year 1 in Carolina was generally a success for Anderson, who set career highs in targets (136), receptions (95) and yards (1,096). On the other hand, he set a career low in Y/R (11.5) and his three touchdowns were a career low outside of his rookie season. Getting off to a great start, Anderson had 74-plus yards in six of his first seven games with all three of his 100-yard games during that span. Beyond that point, however, he reached 74 yards in only two of nine games and averaged nearly 40 YPG less over the final nine-game span (91.4 YPG in first 7G vs. 50.7 in final 9G). The free-agency departure of Curtis Samuel could help Anderson improve upon his 2020 numbers.

8.03 - James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals

Joining the Cardinals on a one-year deal, Conner will steal some early-down carries from Chase Edmonds and could potentially be in a fairly even split. If he can stay healthy and earn a larger role, there is plenty of upside for Conner as well (as Edmonds).

More: Chase Edmonds 2021 Fantasy Football Outlook

9.10 - Jamaal Williams, RB, Detroit Lions

In his four NFL seasons, Williams has averaged 736.5 scrimmage yards, 155.5 touches and 30.5 receptions per season with the Packers. While he remains his team's RB2 (to D'Andre Swift instead of Aaron Jones), Williams should get 8-10 touches per game even with both Swift and Williams healthy.

10.03 - Darnell Mooney, WR, Chicago Bears

A fifth-round pick out of Tulane, Mooney had a highly productive rookie campaign (61/631/4). Earlier this offseason, coach Matt Nagy talked up Mooney by saying that he "has a rare element of speed, combined with route-running, hands and passion. And commitment." With the Bears trading Anthony Miller to the Texans, it only further boosts Mooney's outlook for 2021.

11.10 - Tyler Higbee, TE, Los Angeles Rams

A common approach I've taken in drafts is to double-down on tight ends if I end up waiting on the position. With Gerald Everett signing with Seattle and the team trading for Matthew Stafford, there is optimism for improved numbers from Higbee.

More: 10 Undervalued Players in 2021 Fantasy Football Drafts

12.03 - 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). Fant is currently dealing with a "leg issue" that isn't believed to be serious or keep him out Week 1.

13.10 - Jakobi Meyers, WR, New England Patriots

Meyers led the Patriots with 81 targets, 59 receptions and 729 yards in 2020. While the team added Nelson Agholor and Kendall Bourne in free agency, there's a good chance that the Meyers leads the position group in receiving once again.

14.03 - Washington DST, Washington Football Team

15.10 - Younghoe Koe, K, Atlanta Falcons

16.03 - Benny Snell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

There is competition on the depth chart, but Snell -- or whichever back ultimately slides into the RB2 role -- would become a top waiver-wire add if Harris were to miss any time. With my last pick, I prevent missing out on Snell as a handcuff to Harris.

- View Full Mock Draft Results

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Sunday, August 29, 2021

2021 Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft: 12 Teams, 9th 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.

+ 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, 9th Pick

1.09 - Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers

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. Through four NFL seasons, Jones has averaged at least 5.5 yards per carry in three of them. 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.

2.04 - Calvin Ridley, WR, Atlanta Falcons

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 is a top-four fantasy wide receiver in 2021 with Julio Jones in Tennessee.

3.09 - Amari Cooper, WR, Dallas Cowboys

More: Dallas Cowboys 2022 NFL Mock Draft Roundup

4.04 - Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Although he set a career low in yards per game (62.9), Evans exceeded the 1,000-yard mark -- now seven consecutive seasons to begin his career -- and set a career high with 13 scores. The Bucs have franchise tagged Chris Godwin and re-signed Antonio Brown, which could lead to more week-to-week inconsistency for all of the team's receivers. That said, there's tremendous upside with Evans as my WR3.

5.09 - Mike Davis, RB, Atlanta Falcons

Filling in for a mostly-injured Christian McCaffrey in 2020, Davis performed as a top-15 (half-PPR) fantasy running back last season. Limited competition for running back touches makes Davis a back-end RB2/flex option in 2021 with Arthur Smith taking over as Atlanta's head coach.

6.04 - Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals

While Murray played all 16 games, shoulder and leg injuries slowed him a bit down the stretch. Even so, he finished his sophomore campaign as fantasy's QB2 (and was QB1 after Week 16). When healthy, Murray scored more than 20 fantasy points and finished as a top-12 fantasy quarterback in 10 consecutive games to start the season. Heading into 2021, Murray will be a top-four option once again even if he hopes to run a little bit less.

7.09 - Laviska Shenault, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Shenault Jr. played only 10 snaps in Week 9 and then missed the following two games. Outside of those three games, the rookie had a minimum of three receptions in every game. Over the final five games of the season, he had 25 catches (on 36 targets) for 246 yards and four touchdowns and added six carries for 31 yards and he was the WR16 (PPR scoring) over that stretch.

More: 10 Undervalued Players in 2021 Fantasy Football Drafts

8.04 - Chase Edmonds, RB, Arizona Cardinals

The former fourth-round pick out of Fordham 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' workload will almost certainly exceed the 150 touches he had in 2020. This eighth-round draft-day cost seems priced fairly close to his floor, but there is plenty of upside as well.

More: Chase Edmonds 2021 Fantasy Football Outlook

9.09 - Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

Williams' 2020 numbers were a bit disappointing (48/756/5) and he finished as a top-36 (half-PPR) weekly wide receiver in only four of 15 weeks played last year. Before that, however, Williams scored double-digit touchdowns in 2018 and led the NFL in yards per reception (20.4) in 2019, his only 1,000-yard season. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi has said that he'd "bet on nice numbers coming from [Williams] on the stat sheet, that's for sure."

10.04 - Zack Moss, RB, Buffalo Bills

While I prefer Moss over Devin Singletary, a concern for both is that Josh Allen has 25 rushing touchdowns over the past three seasons. That said, there is some breakout potential for Moss if he's able to stay healthy.

More: NFL Predictions 2021: AFC East

11.09 - Tyler Higbee, TE, Los Angeles Rams

The fifth-year tight end saw a year-over-year dip in targets (60), receptions (44) and yards (521), but he did set a career high in touchdowns (five), though three were caught in one game. With Gerald Everett signing with Seattle and the team trading for Matthew Stafford, there is optimism for improved numbers from Higbee.

12.04 - Marquez Callaway, WR, New Orleans Saints

Callaway has generated some training camp buzz and has the potential to be the team's most productive receiver for as long as Michael Thomas (ankle) is out. Either way, he's an upside sleeper pick in the double-digit rounds.

Fun watching Marquez Callaway really take ownership of being the top dog at receiver right now. Playing with so much confidence.
— Luke Johnson (@ByLukeJohnson) August 6, 2021

13.09 - Rondale Moore, WR, Arizona Cardinals

The Cards will look to manufacture touches for their dynamic rookie. Playing only seven games over the past two collegiate seasons, Moore was uber-productive as a true freshman in 2018 (114/1258/12 receiving and 21/213/2 rushing). It's certainly possible that Moore performs as Arizona's second-best receiver.

14.04 - Rashaad Penny, RB, Seattle Seahawks

A surprise first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Penny has failed to live up to his draft pedigree. On relatively limited touches, however, Penny has been efficient -- 5.1 YPC and 9.3 Y/R -- and Carson's violent running style could lead to a missed game (or several). While it's become a cliche, Penny enters 2021 in the best shape of his life.

15.09 - Bills DST, Buffalo Bills

16.04 - Greg Zuerlein, K, Dallas Cowboys

- View Full Mock Draft Results

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2021 Fantasy Football Projections: Pittsburgh Steelers

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

Below you will find our 2021 fantasy football projections for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

Player	Att.	Comp.	Yards	TD	INT	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Ben Roethlisberger	604.8	390.1	4233.6	30.54	10.28	26.2	27.5	0.26	275.25
Mason Rudolph	42	25.9	281.4	1.95	0.95	4.4	5.5	0.02	17.83

Ben Roethlisberger: After re-signing JuJu Smith-Schuster to a one-year deal, Pittsburgh and Roethlisberger return one of the league's best wide receiver trios. In addition, only the one-win Jaguars (66.2%) threw it on a larger percentage of plays than the 12-win Steelers (65.48%) in 2020.

Not pushing the ball down the field the way he had in the past, Big Ben's 9.5 Y/C and 6.3 Y/A in 2020 were the lowest of his career (excluding a two-game 2019 season). Part of that was by design and The Athletic's Ed Bouchette highlights why those peripherals may be better in 2021.

Given that the Steelers used their first-round pick to draft Najee Harris, Alabama's all-time leading rusher, fantasy managers should expect a greater emphasis towards the run in 2021 even though Harris offers a three-down skill set that Roethlisberger could utilize in the passing game.

RUNNING BACKS

Player	Att.	Yards	TD	Rec.	Yards	TD	Points
Najee Harris	271.2	1166.2	8	53	408.6	2.6	247.58
Benny Snell	52.5	212.6	1.31	9.2	65.5	0.2	41.47
Anthony McFarland Jr.	39.4	161.5	0.85	6.7	51.9	0.3	31.59
Kalen Ballage	24.1	97.6	0.6	5.8	40.6	0.3	22.12
Derek Watt	1.1	3	0.02	1.2	9	0.1	2.52

Najee Harris: The all-time career rushing leader in Alabama history, Harris rushed for 1,466 yards and 26 touchdowns and added 43 receptions for 425 yards and four more scores last season. With few holes in his game, Harris will step in as a Week 1 workhorse. Given the team's propensity to feature its lead back, Harris has the chance to outperform his ADP.

Benny Snell: There is competition on the depth chart, but Snell -- or whichever back ultimately slides into the RB2 role -- would become a top waiver-wire add if Harris were to miss any time, especially given how the team historically features one back.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Diontae Johnson	88.8	973	6.9	3.3	14.9	0.02	184.71
Chase Claypool	69.3	952.7	7	10.9	35.4	0.87	180.68
JuJu Smith-Schuster	79	871.4	6.5	0	0	0	165.64
James Washington	24.1	336.4	3.3	0	0	0	65.49
Ray-Ray McCloud	15.4	151.3	0.4	4.4	33	0.09	29.07

Diontae Johnson: Tied with Davante Adams and Keenan Allen, no receiver had more games with double-digit targets than Johnson (10). The second-year receiver averaged only 10.5 Y/R, but he turned his 144 targets into 88 catches for 923 yards and five touchdowns. While he needs to cut down on the drops, Johnson should be one of the league's most-targeted wideouts in 2021 even though the team re-signed JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Chase Claypool: Claypool scored 11 touchdowns -- nine receiving and two rushing -- in the regular season and added two more receiving scores in the team's playoff loss to Cleveland. Re-signing JuJu Smith-Schuster to a one-year deal takes some steam out of Mapletron's upside in year two, but it wouldn't surprise me if he performed as the team's most productive wideout in 2021.

JuJu Smith-Schuster: After averaging 65.5 and 89.1 yards per game, respectively, in his first two seasons with the Steelers, Smith-Schuster has averaged 46.0 and 51.9 per game in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The Steelers re-signed Smith-Schuster to a one-year contract and he is a WR3 (both in fantasy and on his own team).

TIGHT ENDS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Points
Eric Ebron	45.3	467.3	3.9	92.78
Pat Freiermuth	16	164.8	0.9	29.88
Zach Gentry	2.1	22.6	0.1	3.91

Eric Ebron: In his first season with the Steelers, Ebron finished with 56 catches for 558 yards and five touchdowns. Given the team's talented trio of wide receivers and the likelihood that the Steelers run more often in 2021, Ebron's year-over-year numbers will likely dip.

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2021 Fantasy Football Non-PPR Mock Draft: 12 Teams, 7th 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.

+ 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.

Non-PPR Mock Draft: 12 Teams, 7th Pick

1.07 - Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys

The offense went off the tracks when Dak Prescott sustained his season-ending injury and the offensive line injuries further impacted Elliott's production. From Weeks 6 to 17, Zeke finished as a top-12 fantasy running only twice in 10 games after doing so three times in the team's first five games. Even if Tony Pollard earns a few more touches in 2021, Elliott should rank near the top of the league in workload. In fact, only three backs had more than six games last season with at least 20 touches -- Derrick Henry (14), Dalvin Cook (11) and Elliott (11).

2.06 - D.K. Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks

The sky is the limit for Metcalf, who is coming off a breakout sophomore campaign (83/1,303/10). Through Week 9, Russell Wilson and the Seahawks passing offense were unstoppable and Metcalf had more than 90 yards in seven of his first eight games. Through Week 9, only Tyreek Hill had scored more fantasy points than Metcalf.

3.07 - Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Football Team

4.06 - Amari Cooper, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Cooper finished 2020 with a career-high 92 receptions for 1,114 yards and five touchdowns. It was his third consecutive 1,000-yard season and Cooper has averaged 73.9 yards per game during his tenure with the Cowboys. This team's top trio of receivers (Metcalf, McLaurin and Cooper) are all ranked as technically ranked as WR1 (top 12) types in my non-PPR fantasy football wide receiver rankings.

More: Dallas Cowboys 2022 NFL Mock Draft Roundup

5.07 - Mike Davis, RB, Atlanta Falcons

Filling in for a mostly-injured Christian McCaffrey in 2020, Davis performed as fantasy's RB18 in standard-scoring formats last season. Limited competition for running back touches makes Davis a back-end RB2 in 2021 with Arthur Smith taking over as Atlanta's head coach.

6.06 - Chase Claypool, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Claypool scored 11 touchdowns -- nine receiving and two rushing -- in the regular season and added two more receiving scores in the team's playoff loss to Cleveland. Re-signing JuJu Smith-Schuster to a one-year deal puts a dent into Mapletron's upside in year two, but it wouldn't surprise me if he was the team's top-producing wideout in 2021.

More: NFL Predictions 2021: AFC North

7.07 - Trey Sermon, RB, San Francisco 49ers

Not only does Sermon have the highest draft pedigree (third round) among the team's running backs, but the Niners traded up to draft him. Given his frame, balance and vision, the team could look to make him their featured back sooner than later (as much as Kyle Shanahan will feature an individual back, that is).

8.06 - James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals

More: Chase Edmonds 2021 Fantasy Football Outlook

9.07 - Laviska Shenault, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

10.06 - Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Even though he played fewer than 50% of the team's offensive snaps in all but one game (Week 15, 90%), Pollard had at least eight touches in 10 of the team's final 12 games. 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 importantly, however, Pollard provides insurance if Elliott were to miss any time.

11.07 - Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In his first season in Tampa, Brady scored the eighth-most fantasy points and only three quarterbacks had more top-five weekly finishes than the future Hall-of-Famer. Brady's 40 touchdowns thrown were the second-most of his career and his 4,633 passing yards were a five-year high. Brady will have all of the team's starters and top pass-catchers back as he enters his age-44 season.

12.06 - Tyler Higbee, TE, Los Angeles Rams

The fifth-year tight end saw a year-over-year dip in targets (60), receptions (44) and yards (521), but he did set a career high in touchdowns (five). With Gerald Everett signing with Seattle and the team trading for Matthew Stafford, there is optimism for improved numbers from Higbee.

More: 10 Undervalued Players in 2021 Fantasy Football Drafts

13.07 - Irv Smith, TE, Minnesota Vikings

Smith missed three games last season, but the second-year tight end set career highs in YPG (28.1), Y/R (12.2) and touchdowns (five). With Kyle Rudolph no longer on the roster, the arrow is pointing up for the third-year tight end.

14.06 - Ravens DST, Baltimore Ravens

15.07 - Justin Tucker, K, Baltimore Ravens

16.06 - Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears

While Chicago's passing attack will never be confused for Kansas City's, we've seen how productive dual-threat rookie quarterbacks can be in fantasy football. Once he takes over the starting gig, the former Buckeye will be in the weekly streaming mix, at minimum.

- View Full Mock Draft Results

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2021 Fantasy Football Projections: New York Jets

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 York Jets.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

Player	Att.	Comp.	Yards	TD	INT	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Zach Wilson	521.3	331	3779.4	19.81	13.03	51.1	217.2	1.79	236.82
Mike White	36.2	22.4	253.4	1.3	0.94	3.3	6.9	0.07	14.57

Zach Wilson: Selected second overall in the 2021 draft, Wilson may be off the redraft radar outside of two-QB leagues, but his arm talent, mobility and improvisational skills could lead to some streaming potential as a rookie. In addition, Wilson may often find himself in a game script-positive situation for his weekly fantasy outlook. Meanwhile, Robert Saleh has described his preparation and study habits as being "light years ahead of normal rookies."

RUNNING BACKS

Player	Att.	Yards	TD	Rec.	Yards	TD	Points
Michael Carter	160	680	3.68	26.5	213.7	1.2	131.9
Tevin Coleman	133.3	553.2	2.87	19.4	153.2	0.8	102.36
Ty Johnson	57.8	251.4	1.27	9.4	72.6	0.3	46.52
La'Mical Perine	35.5	143.8	0.83	7.4	52.4	0.3	30.1

Michael Carter: The Jets figure to employ a running back by committee approach and that could frustrate fantasy managers that roster Carter, who should be the 1(a) of that RBBC. The rookie out of UNC averaged 8.0 YPC as a senior and finished his collegiate career with 82 receptions.

Tevin Coleman: 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.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Corey Davis	65.4	871.1	4.6	0	0	0	147.41
Elijah Moore	63.6	774.3	3.8	2.2	10.6	0.03	133.27
Jamison Crowder	47.7	536.4	2.6	1.1	5.1	0.01	93.66
Keelan Cole	37.6	473.9	2.4	0	0	0	80.59
Denzel Mims	16.6	242	1.6	0	0	0	42.1
Braxton Berrios	2.3	26.2	0.1	0	0	0	4.37

Corey Davis: Davis had a career-best season in 2020 (65/984/5, 15.1 Y/R). Transitioning to a new offense with a new coaching staff and a rookie quarterback, Davis may be the team's WR1, but it will likely be difficult to improve upon last year's success.

Elijah Moore: Mostly aligning in the slot at Mississippi, Moore, the 34th-overall pick this year, broke A.J. Brown's single-season reception record last season. It would make sense for the Jets to part ways with Jamison Crowder, but Moore has the potential to excel both inside and out.

Jamison Crowder: With the Jets drafting Moore, many expected to the Jets to part ways with Crowder, who has since taken a massive pay cut. In his two seasons with the Jets, Crowder has averaged a receiving line of 4.9/54.7/0.43 on 7.54 targets per game.

TIGHT ENDS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Points
Chris Herndon	27.4	302.5	1.7	54.15
Tyler Kroft	23	242	1.3	43.5
Ryan Griffin	4.4	44.4	0.2	7.84
Trevon Wesco	2.7	28.2	0.2	5.37

Chris Herndon: On a positive note, Herndon played a full 16-game season in 2020 after missing virtually all of 2019. That said, he was mostly a non-factor with an average receiving line of 1.9/17.9 and a total of three touchdowns.

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Saturday, August 28, 2021

2021 Fantasy Football Projections: Detroit Lions

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

Below you will find our 2021 fantasy football projections for the Detroit Lions.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

Player	Att.	Comp.	Yards	TD	INT	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Jared Goff	542.8	350.1	3935.3	20.08	13.03	43.1	81.9	2.59	235.4
Tim Boyle	37.7	23.4	260.1	1.24	0.79	4.3	4.7	0.09	14.79

Jared Goff: Traded to Detroit, Goff joins a less potent offense that will be more run-based in philosophy. Given that only the Houston Texans have a lower Vegas team wins total, it's certainly possible that game script will dictate more pass attempts than the new coaching staff would prefer. Over the past two seasons, Goff has failed to exceed a 3.6 TD%. In other words, even when he led the league in pass attempts (626) in 2019, he threw only 22 touchdowns.

RUNNING BACKS

Player	Att.	Yards	TD	Rec.	Yards	TD	Points
D'Andre Swift	185.5	816.2	6.96	57.9	461.5	2.3	212.28
Jamaal Williams	151	641.8	4.15	34.5	251.7	1.2	138.7
Jermar Jefferson	44.2	190.1	1.11	11.2	83.9	0.4	42.06
Jason Cabinda	1.1	4.2	0.03	0.9	6.3	0	1.68

D'Andre Swift: Swift was much more involved in the second half of the season as he finished his rookie campaign with 114/521/8 (4.6 YPC) rushing and 46/357/2 (7.8 Y/R) receiving. Swift had three-plus catches in 12 of 13 games. While I have him ranked as a mid-tier RB2, his ability as a receiver gives him the upside to crack the top-10 fantasy running backs in 2021, especially in full PPR formats.

Jamaal Williams: In his four NFL seasons, Williams has averaged 736.5 scrimmage yards, 155.5 touches and 30.5 receptions per season with the Packers. While he remains his team's RB2 (to D'Andre Swift instead of Aaron Jones), Williams should get 8-10 touches per game even with both Swift and Williams healthy.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Rush	Yards	TD	Points
Tyrell Williams	53.2	723.7	3.7	0	0	0	121.17
Breshad Perriman	43	667.1	3.3	2.2	12.1	0.04	109.46
Amon-Ra St. Brown	37.4	467.8	2.3	0	0	0	79.28
Quintez Cephus	29.9	356.6	1.8	0	0	0	61.41
Kalif Raymond	10.3	146.8	0.6	0	0	0	23.43
Victor Bolden	0.9	10.5	0.1	0	0	0	2.1

Tyrell Williams: Williams is a wideout that has had some success elsewhere that will play a heavy amount of snaps, by default. Williams broke out in 2016 (69/1,059/7), but he has hovered in the 651-728 yardage range since then excluding last season's injured campaign (shoulder).

Breshad Perriman: Injuries to Tampa's wide receivers allowed Perriman to close 2019 strong -- three 100-yard games and 25/506/5 over his final five games -- but those numbers were even better than his full-season numbers (12 games) as a Jet (30/505/3) in 2020. Perriman has missed multiple games in every season other than his rookie campaign (2016). The former first-rounder continues his tour around the league.

TIGHT ENDS

Player	Rec.	Yards	TD	Points
T.J. Hockenson	69.1	765.7	4.1	135.72
Darren Fells	19.6	199.3	1.2	36.93
Alize Mack	5.6	54.5	0.3	10.05

T.J. Hockenson: Hockenson basically doubled up his rookie production with 67 catches for 723 yards and six touchdowns. Given the turnover of the wide receiver corps, Hockenson could be forced into an even higher-volume role in 2021.

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2021 Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft: 12 Teams, 11th 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.

+ 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, 11th Pick

1.11 - Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers

2.02 - Calvin Ridley, WR, Atlanta Falcons

3.11 - Amari Cooper, WR, Dallas Cowboys

4.02 - Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Godwin finished a disappointing 2020 campaign with a receiving line of 65/840/7 as he averaged 25.2 fewer yards per game than in 2019. An assortment of injuries (four missed games) and the presence of Antonio Brown (7.75 targets per game) interfered with Godwin's consistency last season. That could be frustrating again in 2021, but he gives me three receivers inside my top-16 PPR fantasy football wide receivers as starters for this roster.

5.11 - Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens

Andrews missed a couple of games, but the third-year tight end led the team in YPG (50.1). The main concern with Andrews' outlook is that even if he gets the biggest slice of the pie, the team's passing offense averaged a league-low 171.2 yards per game in 2020.

More: NFL Predictions 2021: AFC North

6.02 - Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

Jacobs played 15 of 16 games, scored 12 touchdowns (compared to seven in 2019) and only Derrick Henry and Dalvin Cook had more touches than Jacobs (306) in 2020. The addition of Kenyan Drake to the backfield, however, should lead to fewer touches and especially fewer targets in 2021. While I'm not proactively targeting him in drafts, I think he's at least fairly valued here.

7.11 - Chase Edmonds, RB, Arizona Cardinals

The former fourth-round pick out of Fordham 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' workload will almost certainly exceed the 150 touches he had in 2020. Given Edmonds' RB3/flex ADP, his draft-day cost seems priced fairly close to his floor, but there is plenty of upside as well.

More: Chase Edmonds 2021 Fantasy Football Outlook

8.02 - Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers

The reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Herbert had at least 300 passing yards and/or multiple touchdowns in 13 of his 15 starts as a rookie. Even with a new coaching staff in place for the upcoming season, the second-year quarterback should benefit from a more normal offseason as he enters the season already entrenched as the starter. Not to mention, the offense should be more QB-friendly in 2021.

9.11 - James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals

Joining the Cardinals on a one-year deal, Conner will steal some early-down carries from Edmonds and could potentially be in a fairly even split. If he can stay healthy and earn a larger role, there is plenty of upside for Conner as well (as Edmonds).

10.02 - Darnell Mooney, WR, Chicago Bears

11.11 - Russell Gage, WR, Atlanta Falcons

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.

12.02 - J.D. McKissic, RB, Washington Football Team

McKissic ranked top three on the team in receptions (80), targets (110) and receiving yards (589) in 2020 and only Alvin Kamara (83) had more receptions among running backs. With a quarterback less likely to check down and Gibson's ability as a receiver (and potentially increased target share), there could be much fewer opportunities for McKissic in 2021.

13.11 - Rashaad Penny, RB, Seattle Seahawks

14.02 - Ravens DST, Baltimore Ravens

15.11 - Terrace Marshall, WR, Carolina Panthers

Over the past two seasons at LSU (including 2019 with Panthers OC Joe Brady), Marshall scored a total of 23 touchdowns. Injury concerns led to his slide to the bottom of Round 2, but he should start immediately in three-wide sets with D.J. Moore and Anderson and all three of Moore, Anderson and Curtis Samuel finished as top-25 PPR receivers in 2020.

16.02 - Greg Zuerlein, K, Dallas Cowboys

- View Full Mock Draft Results

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Tuesday, August 31, 2021

2021 Fantasy Football Projections: Minnesota Vikings

QUARTERBACKS

RUNNING BACKS

WIDE RECEIVERS

TIGHT ENDS

Monday, August 30, 2021

2021 Fantasy Football Non-PPR Mock Draft: 12 Teams, 10th Pick

Non-PPR Mock Draft: 12 Teams, 10th Pick

Sunday, August 29, 2021

2021 Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft: 12 Teams, 9th Pick

PPR Mock Draft: 12 Teams, 9th Pick

2021 Fantasy Football Projections: Pittsburgh Steelers

QUARTERBACKS

RUNNING BACKS

WIDE RECEIVERS

TIGHT ENDS

2021 Fantasy Football Non-PPR Mock Draft: 12 Teams, 7th Pick

Non-PPR Mock Draft: 12 Teams, 7th Pick

2021 Fantasy Football Projections: New York Jets

QUARTERBACKS

RUNNING BACKS

WIDE RECEIVERS

TIGHT ENDS

Saturday, August 28, 2021

2021 Fantasy Football Projections: Detroit Lions

QUARTERBACKS

RUNNING BACKS

WIDE RECEIVERS

TIGHT ENDS

2021 Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft: 12 Teams, 11th Pick

PPR Mock Draft: 12 Teams, 11th Pick

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