Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Fantasy Football Projections 2021: New England Patriots

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 England Patriots.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

PlayerAtt.Comp.YardsTDINTRushYardsTDPoints
Mac Jones563.2366.14083.224.2212.6741.4128.31.04253.94
Jarrett Stidham17.410.4118.30.730.684.63.50.056.94

Mac Jones: While it would be unfair to compare any quarterback to Tom Brady, Jones (like Brady) makes up for a lack of elite arm strength and mobility with quick processing ability and accuracy. Not only did Jones beat out Cam Newton for the starting job, but he won't have to look other his shoulder (if he struggles) with Newton no longer on the roster.

RUNNING BACKS

PlayerAtt.YardsTDRec.YardsTDPoints
Damien Harris230.11058.55.7521.6170.20.9173.57
James White57.5221.41.2955.5464.32.8120.86
Rhamondre Stevenson98.9430.22.478.565.10.269.8
J.J. Taylor19.686.20.291.510.5012.16
Jakob Johnson0005.631.50.27.15
Brandon Bolden1.25.20.031.18.402.09

Damien Harris: In terms of usage, Harris has been a non-factor as a receiver (five receptions in 2020) and that may not change much with James White returning to Foxboro given his well-defined third-down role within the Patriots offense. With New England handing the keys to the franchise to Mac Jones, the fantasy outlook for Harris should improve as he won't have to worry about Cam Newton vulturing rushing touchdowns.

James White: With Tom Brady in Tampa, White set five-year lows in targets (62), touches (84), yards from scrimmage (496) and touchdowns (three). White benefits from the team moving on from Cam Newton as it should translate into fewer QB rush attempts and more running back targets.

Rhamondre Stevenson: Stevenson's strong play -- 30/216/5 rushing in three preseason games -- was one factor the Patriots were comfortable parting ways with Sony Michel. Even so, the fourth-round rookie out of Oklahoma will likely need an injury to either Harris and/or White to be a factor in fantasy this season.

WIDE RECEIVERS

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Jakobi Meyers64.9794.13.91.25.40.02135.92
Nelson Agholor50.8697.44000119.14
Kendrick Bourne36.7462.22.600080.17
N'Keal Harry27.9329.82.30.95.40.0261.39
Gunner Olszewski2.833.60.21.46.40.036.78

Jakobi Meyers: 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.

Nelson Agholor: Agholor set a career high in receiving yards (896) and tied a career high in touchdowns (eight) in his lone season in Las Vegas. While I expect Meyers to continue to perform as the team's WR1, it wouldn't surprise me if Agholor came close to duplicating his 2020 numbers.

TIGHT ENDS

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Jonnu Smith47.1554.63.83.529.80.18105.87
Hunter Henry47.6529.43.600098.34
Devin Asiasi4.750.40.40009.79

Jonnu Smith: One year after investing a pair of Day 2 picks at the position, the Patriots double-dipped in the free-agent tight end market with Smith and Hunter Henry. Smith scored more touchdowns in 2020 (nine including a rushing score) than he did in his first three NFL seasons combined (eight). And while he set career highs in targets (65), receptions (41) and receiving yards (448), Smith likely frustrated his fantasy managers as he was held to 20 receiving yards or less in more than half of his games last season.

Hunter Henry: Missing multiple games in four consecutive seasons including all of 2018, Henry had 60 catches on 93 targets, both of which were career highs, for 613 yards and four touchdowns in 2020. Unfortunately for both Smith and Henry, however, their individual upside may cancel each other out.

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