The Fantasy Football Schmucks: August 2021 PPR Top 100

Welcome to the August edition of The Fantasy Football Schmucks PPR Top 100. A lot has changed over the last month! Between injuries, COVID, and Aaron Rodgers coming back (oh yea we called it) every day we get something newsworthy that requires a ranking adjustment. So as the football season approaches, we will be adjusting these rankings all the way up until NFL Kickoff. As you read through these rankings, its important to remember that I’m not specifically telling you to draft these players where they are ranked. As you will find below, I have certain players ranked much higher than their current ADP. These rankings are based on full point PPR leagues, starting one QB, and rewarding 6 points per TD. Enjoy!

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1. Dalvin Cook: Surprise! Christian McCaffrey is not my top ranked fantasy player for 2021. Now while I fully expect Run CMC to finish as one of the top scoring players in the league, everything is setting up for Dalvin Cook to have a monster fantasy season in 2021. The Vikings spent free agency rebuilding their 27th ranked defense with the signings of Dalvin Tomlinson, Mackensie Alexander, Sheldon Richardson, and Patrick Peterson. Minnesota may have also gotten 2 big steals in the NFL Draft by landing LT Christian Darrisaw and G Wyatt Davis. While the jury is still out there to see how Darrisaw and Davis can adapt to the NFL level, they should be an immediate upgrade over what the Vikings had on the offensive line last season. So what does that all mean for Dalvin Cook? If Minnesota can get back to Mike Zimmer style football by running the ball and playing defense, the sky is the limit for Dalvin Cook to improve on his 1,900 total yards and 17 TD’s that he accumulated in just 14 games last season.
2. Christian McCaffrey: The 2019 fantasy football MVP was limited to just three games last season, totaling 374 yards and 6 TD’s. When the 2021 season kicks off, Run CMC will be playing with his “best” passing quarterback yet after the New York Jets traded Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers. As long as Sam Darnold isn’t seeing ghosts anymore, the Panthers offense could be very sneaky this season. While I fully expect McCaffrey to pick up where he left off, I don’t expect him to repeat his 116/1,005/4 receiving line from 2019 with Robby Anderson, D.J. Moore, and Terrace Marshall Jr commanding targets in the passing game this season.
3. Davante Adams: The Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaad Maaaaaaaaan is back! With the return of Aaron Rodgers, Adams should be viewed as a top-5 fantasy pick in most formats. Despite missing 2 1/2 games last season due to injury, Adams still finished as the WR1 in fantasy, putting up a ridiculous 115/1,374/18. Adams has scored double-digit TDs in 4 of the last 5 seasons and should once again be among the league leaders in receiving TDs.
4. Alvin Kamara: The Drew Brees-less era is here and one thing to monitor throughout training camp is the quarterback competition between Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston. From a fantasy perspective, “Famous Jameis” would be the preferred quarterback for Alvin Kamara and his passing game involvement. Following Drew Bree’s rib injury, Kamara only caught 21 passes in the final 8 games of the season, with a majority of those starts going to Taysom Hill. Kamara has yet to top 1,000 rushing yards in a season and his fantasy value relies heavily on his passing game volume and TD efficiency. If Jameis Winston wins the quarterback job, I would expect Kamara to come close to his 80 catch per year average. With Michael Thomas now expected to miss the first half of the season, Kamara could be a PPR monster right out of the gate.
5. Travis Kelce: An every week fantasy difference maker, Kelce is coming off a historic 105/1,416/11 season. Those ridiculous numbers would have finished Kelce as the overall WR4, and that’s coming from the TE spot! With Patrick Mahomes at QB, Kelce has also been as consistent as they come with at least 1,200 yards in 3 straight seasons. I’m not afraid of an age 32 drop off.
6. Derrick Henry: The “Big Dog” is coming off a monster 378/2,027/17 season and should once again be one of the first RBs taken in fantasy drafts this summer. The Titans lost a few key playmakers on offense this offseason with Corey Davis and Jonnu Smith leaving town. But the addition of Julio Jones should open things up even more for Henry on the ground. Expect another +300 touch, double digit TD season from the “Big Dog.”
7. Nick Chubb: My pick for the 2021 rushing title, Nick Chubb finished with a rushing stat of 190/1,067/12 in 12 appearances last season. Everyone will be stuck on the notion that Nick Chubb doesn’t catch passes and that Kareem Hunt will be there to vulture touches. All of those points are true. However, not only is Nick Chubb one of the most efficient RB’s in the NFL, he will also be playing behind one of the best offensive lines in the league. As for PPR leagues, Nick Chubb was one of the most consistent fantasy players when on the field. Topping double digit PPR points in 10 of 12 games last season, while averaging 17.3 PPG. Don’t overthink Chubb’s fantasy value.
8. Aaron Jones: Is the running back carousel finally over in Green Bay? The Packers let Jamaal Williams walk and made a huge four year, $48 million commitment to Aaron Jones this offseason. Now AJ Dillion and his monster calves are still lurking in the wings to steal touches, but Aaron Jones should still see plenty of opportunities in both the running and passing game. Throughout his four year career, Jones has been one of the most efficient runners in the league, with a career average of 5.2 YPC. With the return of Aaron Rodgers, I expect Jones to reach double-digit TDs yet again. Remember, Jones is two years removed from a 19 TD (RB2) season.
9. Ezekiel Elliot: Zeke is coming off a down season for which he only ran for 979 yards (career low 4.0 YPC) and 8 total TDs. A large chunk of the blame can go to the injury of Dak Prescott, as Zeke only scored two TDs down the stretch following Dak’s injury. With a healthy Dak under center, look for Zeke to return to his pro bowl form of over 1,200 rushing yards and double digit TDs.
10. Tyreek Hill: The “cheetah” is coming off a very productive 87/1,276/15 season, scoring double-digit PPR points in all but one game in 2020. In 2021, Hill will once again have the highest weekly ceilings among all wide receivers with Patrick Mahomes at Quarterback.
11. Stefon Diggs: We finally saw what Stefon Diggs was capable of in a pass first offense, his 127/1,535/8 (328.6) PPR points came in 3rd behind only Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill. With strong armed Josh Allen at quarterback, Diggs should once again be among the league leaders in targets and receptions.
12. Austin Ekeler: Fantasy football darling “Stunning Steve” Austin Ekeler was efficient when he was on the field last season, tallying 54 receptions, 933 total yards, and 3 TDs in 10 games. While he has never topped 600 yards on the ground, Ekeler could be in for a monster PPR season with former Saints OC Joe Lombardi joining the Chargers coaching staff. Lombardi had a hand in the success of a few running backs you might have heard of, such as Darren Sproles, Reggie Bush, and Alvin Kamara.
13. DeAndre Hopkins: Nuk Hopkins first season in the desert was a success, finishing as the WR4 with 115/1,407/6. The Cardinals went out and replaced aging veteran Larry Fitzgerald with aging veteran AJ Green this offseason. Still, Nuk should once again be heavily targeted in Kliff Kingsbury’s high powered passing attack. Expect Hopkins to return to scoring between 8-10 TDs.
14. Calvin Ridley: Goodbye Julio Jones, hello Kyle Pitts! When the 2021 season kicks off, Calvin Ridley will be taking over WR1 duties for the Atlanta Falcons. Ridley is coming off his best season yet, posting 90/1,374/9 in 15 games last season. While Atlanta’s new offense with Kyle Pitts remains to be seen, in 7 games without Julio last season, Ridley posted a respectable 50/765/3 on 79 targets. Ridley should be viewed as a legitimate WR1 in 2021 and should be one of the most heavily targeted WR’s this season, with around 140-160 targets.
15. A.J. Brown: In 14 games last season, Brown put together 70/1,075/11 on 106 targets, which seems like nothing when compared to the WRs who finished above him. While the addition of Julio Jones puts a damper on Browns potential massive target share, Julio’s presence should make it impossible to double-team AJB. With a regressing Tennessee defense, expect the Titan’s to be more pass happy in 2021.
16. D.K. Metcalf: Last year at this time, I predicted Metcalf to overtake Tyler Lockett as the Seahawks WR1. And boy, did Metcalf not disappoint! Metcalf is coming off a breakout 83/1,303/10 season. The big question lingering over Metcalf’s fantasy value this offseason, will Pete Carroll let Russ cook? After absolutely destroying Darius Slay in week 12, Metcalf cooled off down the stretch posting 30/360/3 over the final 6 games of the season.
17. Najee Harris: Since our July rankings, I’ve warmed up a lot on Najee Harris. There is definitely a lot to like, Harris was a stud at Alabama (2,690 yards and 39 total TDs over his junior & senior seasons.) Harris also has the size (6’2 230lbs) to handle a full NFL sized workload. However, my overall concern lies with the Steelers offensive line. Pittsburgh’s O-line was absolute trash last season, and the loss of David Decastro is a huge blow to what appears to be an even worse group of talent up front. That being said, Harris is going to be used a ton this season. While his YPC could leave a lot to be desired, Harris could be in line for 300-350 touches this season.
18. Antonio Gibson: Coming off an impressive rookie season, rushing for 795 yards and 11 TDs. Word coming out of camp is that The Football Team wants to get Gibson more involved in the passing game, after catching just 36 balls last season. If Gibson can lead the ground game and eat into J.D. Mckissic’s passing game volume, A-Gib could turn into a steal on draft day.
19. Saquon Barkley: Injuries have plagued the former Nittany Lion over the past few years, but Saquon is still one of the most talented running backs when he is healthy. And health will be a big focus this summer as Saquon works himself back from a season ending ACL tear that also included a mild MCL sprain and a partial tear of the meniscus. Yes, modern day medicine has done wonders for ACL tears, hell I was beating the drum for Adrian Peterson way back in 2012. But not every ACL rehab is the same, and I am stressing caution before moving Barkley up my rankings. When Saquon does return to the field this season though, the New York football Giants will look vastly different on offense. The additions of Kenny Golladay, John Ross, Kyle Rudolph, and Kadarius Toney should limit the stacked boxes Saquon experienced over his first three seasons. However, I don’t picture Barkley coming close to his career high of 91 receptions with the amount of receiver talent around him. Barkley was just activated off the PUP list, so expect him on the field in some capacity week 1.
20. Darren Waller: Was an absolute beast last season and proved that 2019 was no fluke , posting 107/1,196/9 on 146 targets! Waller should once again see plenty of volume as the most reliable pass catcher on the Raider’s offense.
21. Clyde Edwards-Helaire: CEH turned out to be a massive bust last season, thanks in part to the Chiefs horrible run blocking, splitting backfield work with Le’Veon Bell, and injuries down the stretch. CEH still quietly finished with 1,100 total yards and 5 TDs, but he did not live up to his 1st round ADP last summer. Going into 2021 fantasy drafts, CEH is currently a 3rd round value pick with league winning upside. Edwards-Helaire will have an improved offensive line in 2021, have less competition for RB touches, and happens to play on one of the most efficient offenses in the NFL. I expect CEH to have a lot better luck in goal line situations this season as well and will offer +10 TD upside. Not bad for someone going in the RB2 range.
22. Jonathan Taylor: JT was a fantasy football league winner, compiling 741 rushing yards and 8 total TD’s over the last 6 games of the 2020 season. With that being said, Jonathan Taylor is one of my prime bust candidates this season due to his limited passing game role behind Nyheim Hines, as well as the possibility of losing touches to the returning Marlon Mack. I love JT’s talent, but I just can’t trust the Colts coaching staff to consistently feed him touches. I just don’t see JT living up to his current 1st round ADP.
23. James Robinson: The waiver wire hero last season, Robinson had about as good as a season as an undrafted free agent could, totaling 1,414 yards and 10 total TDs, finishing as the overall RB7 in PPR. Robinson gets a massive upgrade in the rankings with the loss of Travis Etienne for the season. Robinson will still share work with Carlos Hyde (seriously don’t be afraid of him) but I view Robinson as a very solid RB2 with upside.
24. Keenan Allen: After being tagged as “injury prone” during his first few seasons, Keenan Allen missed his first game in over 3 years, playing in just 14 games last season. In those 14 games though, he was phenomenal with rookie sensation Justin Herbert, finishing with 100/992/8. Keenan Allen should once again be a target hog, and should be viewed as a WR1 in PPR leagues.
25. Cooper Kupp: Going way under-drafted right now, Kupp is coming off back-to-back +90 catch seasons with Jared Fricken Goff! Don’t forget, Kupp finished as the overall WR4 in 2019. Yes, Kupp is coming off a career low 3 TDs, but he should instantly become one of Matthew Stafford’s favorite targets in LA. With the massive improvement at QB, I’m projecting Kupp to finish with 95/1,200/11.
26. Justin Jefferson: All Justin Jefferson did last season was break the rookie WR record for receiving yards, finishing with 88 catches, 1,400 yards, and 7 TDs. I love Jefferson’s talent, but I see some regression coming based off of Minnesota’s improving defense and its run-first offense. I see Jefferson finishing around 75-85 catches, 1,200 yards, and 7-9 TDs.
27. Allen Robinson: What Allen Robinson has been able to do with crappy quarterbacks is a true test to how how great A-Rob has been through his 7 year career. A-Rob has topped +90 catches and over 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons. Hopefully this Andy Dalton show will be short lived and Justin Fields can come in and finally send Allen Robinson to the moon!
28. Terry McLaurin: Scary Terry should benefit massively with the addition of gunslinger Ryan Fitzmagic at quarterback. McLaurin is coming off a solid 87/1,118/4 season, even with the inaccurate Dwayne Haskins and Alex Smith passing the football. Ryan Fitzpatrick has been up and down throughout his career, but he has also been responsible for huge fantasy seasons from the likes of DaVante Parker and Brandon Marshall.
29. CeeDee Lamb: The CeeDee Lamb hype train is in full effect this summer as many are hoping for a second year leap from the former Oklahoma Sooner. Lamb finished a strong rookie season with 74/935/5 and was putting up solid WR2 numbers in PPR leagues through his first four games with Dak Prescott (21/309/2). Lamb has reportedly been lining up all over the formation this offseason and offers WR2 upside in Dallas’s high powered passing game.
30. Kyle Pitts: Everyone knows that rookie tight ends struggle adapting to the NFL, so its a good thing Kyle Pitts is not your prototypical tight end. Pitts is a 6’6 240lb offensive weapon who ran a 4.44 at his pro day. With the Falcons trading Julio Jones this offseason, Pitts will be walking into an ATL offense that has 213 targets available for the taking. I’m perfectly fine taking a shot at Pitts as early as the middle of round 3. I believe his upside is that high.
31. Robert Woods: Has seen at least 129 targets the past three seasons and has hit 90 receptions in back-to-back years. Moving on from Jared Goff to Matthew Stafford should do wonders for Woods and I would expect Woods to top his career high 6 TDs this season. Woods is locked in as one of my favorite WR2 plays this season.
32. Chris Carson: What’s keeping Chris Carson from jumping up higher on this list is his inability to play a full season. Through 4 seasons, Carson has played 4 games, 14 games, 15 games, and 12 games last season. We all know that Pete Carroll wants to run the ball, and prior to last season Carson put together back-to-back +1,000 yard/9 TD seasons. Carson is a solid RB2 with low end RB1 upside if he can stay healthy.
33. J.K. Dobbins: The former Ohio State Buckeye picked up some steam down the stretch last season, finishing his rookie season with 925 total yards, 9 TDs, while averaging a ridiculous 6.0 YPC. Dobbins is best viewed as an RB2 thanks to the presence of the “Gus Bus” and the Ravens commitment to RB by committee. There has been “coach talk” this summer about increasing Dobbins role in the passing game, which would be massive for Dobbins fantasy value.
34. D’Andre Swift: Showed flashes last season, averaging 4.6 YPC, 878 total yards, and 10 total TDs in his 13 appearances last season. Swifts fantasy value took a hit this offseason with the addition of Jamaal Williams, who is a larger back compared to Swift, as well as an established pass catcher. I personally feel many in the fantasy football community are overlooking the Jamaal Williams signing. Swift should still have plenty of receptions to hit value most weeks, but I don’t like his TD upside with Jared Goff at QB. Swift is currently dealing with a sore groin, continue to monitor throughout the preseason.
35. Amari Cooper: Started 2020 on a warpath, putting together a 37/401/1 stat line in his first 4 games with Dak Prescott last season. Cooper finished 2020 with a career high in catches (92) for 1,114 yards and 5 TDs. I still don’t believe the Cowboys defense will be that improved (lots of shootouts baby) and I feel like CeeDee Lamb is still a year away from overtaking Coop (if healthy) as the Cowboys WR1. Coopers return from ankle surgery is going to be one to monitor as the season nears, but if all signs point towards him being healthy by week 1, Cooper is going to be a great value pick in the late 3rd-4th rounds.
36. Tyler Lockett: As I predicted last year in these rankings, DK Metcalf overtook Lockett as the WR1 in Seattle. However, Lockett still finished as the overall WR8 with 100/1,054/10. Lockett’s current 5th/6th round ADP reflects Pete Carroll’s commitment to the run game as well as Lockett’s role fading down the stretch. While Lockett possesses week winning upside, he had 7 games where he didn’t even score double digits in PPR. That’s literally almost half a season where he scored under 10 points! Lockett is best suited as your WR2 and is a steal at his current 6th round ADP.
37. T.J. Hockenson: The 3rd year TE is coming off his best season yet, finishing with 67/723/6. Entering 2021, the Detroit Lions have HUGE questions marks in the passing game. With Matthew Stafford, Kenny Golladay, and Marvin Jones all gone. Enter Jared Goff, Breshad Perriman, and Tyrell Williams. Both Perriman and Williams have shown flashes in the past, but mainly in the deep passing game. Combine that with Jared Goff’s comfort level with short/intermediate passing routes, Hockenson could be on the verge of a massive breakout season.
38. George Kittle: Was bound to see some regression last season, but injuries played a big factor in his 48/634/2 stat line, while only playing in 8 games. Targets may be harder to come by though, with Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel both fully healthy, but Kittle should definitely top his career high 5 TDs. Kittle is a legit top-5 overall NFL talent, but I don’t love his situation this season.
39. David Montgomery: Talk about a league winner last season, David Montgomery was an absolute stud down the stretch, finishing with 824 total yards and 8 TDs over the last 6 games of the 2021 season. Mont’s 2021 fantasy value took a massive hit this offseason with the addition of passing game back Damien Williams to go a long with the pending return Tarik Cohen. I do not expect Mont to top 50 catches again this season.
40. Joe Mixon: One of my favorite debates on fantasy twitter! Every year I feel like I am not ranking Mixon low enough. Truth is, with the Nard Dog leaving for Tampa, Mixon should take over as a true workhorse in the Bengal’s backfield. Will he be able to have success though? I’m not banking on it. Mixon played in just 6 games last season, putting together a pathetic 3.6 YPC. Joe Burrow and the Bengals passing game will keep the offense fun to watch, but I don’t believe the Bengals did enough to improve the offensive line to justify Mixon’s 2nd round ADP. Let someone else make this mistake on draft day.
41. Patrick Mahomes: Will once again be one of the first quarterbacks taken in fantasy drafts this summer. Mahomes has thrown over +35 TDs and +4,700 yards in 2 of 3 seasons. While its great to have consistency at QB, I personally prefer to wait when drafting QBs. Mahomes finished as the QB3 last season, which was only 26 more points than Tom Brady, who finised as the overall QB7. And Brady was someone you could have drafted 5-7 rounds after Mahomes! Case in point, wait on QBs people!
42. Josh Allen: Coming off a breakout 4,544 passing yards, 421 rushing yards, and 45 total TD season. With the addition of Emmanuel Sanders to line up alongside Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley, you could argue that Allen has the best WR options in the NFL. Allen saw an increase of 111 passing attempts in 2020 and should once again be one of the most pass heaviest QBs in 2021.
43. Adam Thielen: Adam Thielen is becoming the forgotten man in Minnesota following Justin Jefferson’s break out in 2020. Thielen is also coming off a very good 2020 season, setting a career high in TDs (14). While I do expect some TD regression from Thielen this season, I don’t expect a huge amount of regression. Thielen has shown a strong chemistry with Kirky, especially in the redzone. I’m projecting around 70-80 catches, 1,000 yards, and 9-10 TDs.
44. Chris Godwin: I was spot on with my 2019 projection for Godwin, and it makes me even happier that I was spot on with his 2020 regression. Godwin was on my “do not draft” list last season as his ADP was just too damn high. This season, his ADP is dropping into the 4th-5th rounds, which is where he should be. With the endless options in the Bucs passing game, Godwin is just going to be too inconsistent for my liking.
45. Josh Jacobs: Coming off back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons, Jacobs lost a lot of fantasy value when the Raiders signed Kenyan Drake. Jacobs will remain the primary early down back and retain goal line duties as Kenyan Drake looks to be featured on 3rd downs.
46. Mike Davis: Stepping up for fantasy owners after Christian McCaffrey went down, Mike Davis put up his best Run CMC impression with 1,015 total yards, 59 receptions, and 8 total TDs. This offseason Mike Davis and his tree trunk like quads landed in Hotlanta, where the Falcons have over 300 running back touches up for grabs.
47. Jerry Jeudy: Showed flashes during his rookie season, catching 52 passes for 856 yards and 3 TDs. Jeudy’s rookie season could have been much more though, but the combination of Drew Lock being Drew Lock along with Jeudy’s 12 drops resulted in a so-so debut. Jeudy gets an upgrade in these rankings with Teddy 2 Gloves winning the QB job in Denver.
48. Julio Jones: Julio will be ditching Matty Ice for Ryan Tannehill in 2021. Julio gets a lot of grief for getting injured, but prior to only playing 9 games last season, Julio has played at least 14 games dating back to the 2013. Julio is 32 this season, and while his best days may be behind him, I picture Julio finishing with around 65-75 catches, 1,050 yards, and 6-8 TDs if he can stay healthy. *UPDATE* Julio is currently dealing with an undisclosed leg injury. Signs point to Julio being ready for week 1.
49. Diontae Johnson: Lead the Steelers with 144 targets last season, finishing with 88/923/7 in 15 games. The return of Juju as well as the emphasis on fixing the running game with Najee Harris could put a damper on Diontae’s target volume, especially in the short passing game. Still has WR2 upside in PPR leagues.
50. D.J. Moore: Coming off back-to-back +1,000 yard/4 TD seasons, D.J. “Moore of that please” is coming off a career high 18.1 YPC. Moore’s usage in the 3rd week of the preseason was very encouraging for his 2021 outlook.
51. Mike Evans: Has yet to finish with less than 1,000 receiving yards in each of his 7 NFL seasons. While his 70 receptions were lacking in PPR leagues, Evans made up for his lack of targets by scoring 13 times last season. With too many mouths to feed in the Tampa Bay offense, I would expect 55-65 catches, 1,000 yards, and 10-12 TDs for Big Mike.
52. Dak Prescott: Was on his way to having a career year (1,856 passing yards and 12 total TDs) prior to his week 5 ankle injury last season. All signs point to Dak making a full recovery by the time week 1 kicks off and Dak will once again be surrounded by a plethora of receiving options. With shootouts looking to be on the menu again in Big D, look for Dak to make a strong push to finish as a top-3 QB this season.
53. Kyler Murray: Finished as the QB5 last season, with just under 4,000 passing yards, 819 rushing yards, and 37 total TDs. Will the addition of AJ Green move Murray up into the top 3 QBs? I don’t believe so.
54. Mark Andrews: Last seasons 58/701/7 may be Andrews new ceiling as the Ravens added Rashod Bateman and Sammy Watkins to beef up the Ravens receiving core this offseason. *UPDATE* With both Bateman and Hollywood Brown dealing with injuries, Andrew’s could find himself with a nice target share to begin the season.
55. Robby Anderson: One of my favorite value picks in fantasy drafts, Robby Anderson is coming off a very productive 95/1,096/3 season with Teddy Bridgewater throwing the football. In 2021, Robby will reconnect with Sam Darnold whom he caught 88/1,353/11 during their time in New York. While this ranking is very aggressive based off Anderson’s current 9th round ADP, I view Robby Anderson as an every week WR2.
56. Myles Gaskin: After tallying 972 total yards, 5 total TDs, along with 41 receptions in 10 games last season, Gaskin seemed like a tremendous value on draft day. However, Gaskin appears locked in a 3-way committee alongside Malcolm Brown and Salvon Ahmed. Now I still believe Gaskin will lead the Dolphins backfield in touches, however The Gas Man is more of a backend RB2 with the shared workload.
57. Darrell Henderson: Cam Akers was expected to make a massive leap this season, but following Akers season-ending Achilles injury, Henderson is expected to handle 1A duties in a RBBC backfield. In 15 games last season, Henderson averaged 4.5 YPC with 783 total yards and 6 TDs. With the addition of Sony Michel, I’m expecting a RBBC in LA.
58. Javonte Williams: Should enter the 2021 season splitting carries with Melvin Gordon, but Williams should have every opportunity to carve out a larger roll in the Bronco’s backfield. At North Carolina, Williams ranked 6th in the nation with 1,140 yards (7.3 YPC), as well as scoring 19 TDs.
59. Miles Sanders: Missed four games last season, finishing with 1,064 total yards and 6 TDs. Having a mobile quarterback in Jalen Hurts is always a plus for running backs, but there has been talk of Sanders splitting work with Boston Scott. Personally not investing into the Eagles backfield in 2021.
60. Kareem Hunt: The Robin to Nick Chubb’s Batman, Kareem was the RB10 last season, finishing with 1,145 total yards and 11 TDs. With the monster season I’m expecting out of Chubb, view Hunt as a low-end RB2/flex in PPR leagues.
61. Chase Edmonds: For the 3rd year in a row, the Cardinals will enter the season with a new RB or RB’s atop the depth chart. Edmonds is expected to split work with newly acquired James Conner, with Conner expected to take over goal line work. Edmonds should be viewed as the back to own, with the possibility to take over the workhorse role if/when Conner gets hurt.
62. Corey Davis: Will take over the WR1 role for the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets! The New York Jets was a fantasy wasteland under Adam Gase, hopefully the arrivals of Mike LaFleur and Zach Wilson can provide a much needed boost to gang greens offense.
63. Odell Beckham Jr: Avoided the PUP list to start camp, OBJ lacks the volume and upside on the Brown’s run first offense. In 7 games last season, OBJ only had 23 receptions, 319 yards, and 4 total TDs. On name value alone, OBJ will probably be drafted in the WR2 range. But I view him as a WR3 entering this season.
64. Tee Higgins: The Bengals spent a high draft pick on Ja’Marr Chase this offseason, but Tee Higgins was the talk of OTA’s. Higgins is coming off a very productive 67/908/6 season, and that’s with Joe Burrow only starting 10 games. Higgins will have to compete for targets alongside Boyd and Chase, limiting his upside.
65. Ja’Marr Chase: Prior to opting out his junior year in 2020, Chase led the nation in receiving yards (1,780) and TDs (20) while catching passes from Cincinnati QB Joe Burrow. The Bengals already have established pass catchers in Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins, but the departure of AJ Green frees up 104 targets. Due to his already established rapport with Joe Burrow, as well as the Bengals pass-happy offense, Ja’Marr Chase could instantly return WR3 value.
66. Chase Claypool: Coming off a breakout 62/873/9, as well as scoring an additional two TDs in the Steelers Wildcard loss to the Browns. With the return of Juju Smith-Schuster, Claypool should be viewed as a boom or bust WR3.
67. Marquez Callaway: One month ago Callaway wasn’t even in the top-100, but that shows you how fast things change in the world of fantasy football. Callaway will enter the season as the Saints WR1 and should see tons of targets from LASIK vision Jameis Winston, who has shown he is willing to lock on WR’s throughout his career. Taking both Callaway and Michael Thomas could be a great way to capitalize on missing out on WR early in drafts.
68. Tyler Boyd: Cooled off down the stretch last season, after averaging 16 PPR points per game with Joe Burrow at QB. Should remain a solid WR3 option as he competes for targets in the Bengals passing attack.
69. Brandon Aiyuk: With Kittle and Deebo Samuel missing time last season, Aiyuk was able to see plenty of volume down the stretch, putting together 60/748/5 on 96 targets, as well as 2 rushing scores. With the 49ers receiving options currently healthy, I view Aiyuk as a low-end WR3 option entering 2021. Aiyuk would get a nice bump if Trey Lance was starting.
70. Jaylen Waddle: Has taken full advantage of training camp reps with both Will “I pulled a hamstring” Fuller and DeVante Parker sitting out. Waddle has reportedly impressed as an outside receiver and could also be used on screens and jet sweeps this season. Combine that with his chemistry with Tua and Fuller’s inability to stay healthy, I feel that the fantasy football community is way too low on Waddle.
71. Tom Brady: The GOAT finished as the overall QB7 last season, passing for 4,633 yards and 43 total TDs. The big question entering Tom Brady’s soon to be age 44 season is, “will father time finally catch up with the GOAT?” The good news for Brady is that the band will remain together for at least 1 more season. With weapons all over the field and another year to grasp Tampa’s offense, Brady could be looking at another monster season as he chases ring number 8.
72. Aaron Rodgers: The BAAAAAAAAD MAAAAAAAAAN is back for his “Last Dance” in Green Bay. The 2020 NFL MVP is coming off a QB3 finish and will once again be playing with a chip on his shoulder. Rodgers is coming off an absolute monster season, scoring 51 total TDs with just 5ints.
73. Russell Wilson: Last seasons QB4, Mr. Unlimited faded down the stretch as the Seahawks offense went from “let Russ cook” to “let Russ simmer.” Reports coming out of OTA’s is that the Seahawks offense will be more “up-tempo” this season, which would be welcoming news for the entire Seahawks passing game.
74. Lamar Jackson: Averaged a measly 183.8 passing yards per game last season, luckily Lamar is coming off back-to-back +1,000 yard rushing seasons. In 2021 Lamar “should” take a step forward as a passer with an improved receiving core featuring Hollywood Brown, Mark Andrews, Sammy Watkins, and rookie Rashod Bateman.
75. Justin Herbert: The 2020 Offensive ROY is coming off a record setting season, with 31 passing TDs (36 total) and 4,336 passing yards, finishing just 38 yards shy of Andrew Lucks rookie record. The Chargers are switching to a more up-tempo offense this season, which should play into Herbert’s strengths from his days at Oregon. A top-5 QB finish is definitely within reach.
76. Robert Tonyan: Was an absolute animal in the redzone last season, posting 52/586/11 finishing as the TE3. With Aaron Rodgers returning to Green Bay, Tonyan could flirt with top-5 numbers once again.
77. Logan Thomas: Broke out in 2020, with 72 receptions, 670 yards, and 6 TDs. Thomas should benefit a ton from Ryan Fitzpatrick’s gunslinger mentality.
78. Trey Sermon: Projected to take on the Tevin Coleman “lead back” role, the former Sooner should get plenty of opportunities on a run-heavy 49ers offense. Finding fantasy football consistency in this backfield could be a headache this season.
79. Raheem Mostert: Coming off a career low 5.0 YPC… seriously feed this man Shanahan! For now Mostert is locked in a RBBC with Trey Sermon. Mostert has potential to have monster weeks, but could be inconsistent like Sermon.
80. A.J. Dillon: Enters 2021 as the primary backup to Aaron Jones. Throughout his 4 year career, Aaron Jones has only played a full 16 game season once, missing a total of 10 games over that span. A.J. Dillon should be viewed as one of the top RB handcuffs in fantasy football, and has league winning upside if Aaron Jones were to miss extensive time.
81. Antonio Brown: AB finished with 45/483/4 in 8 regular season games with the Bucs, while also scoring 2 TDs in the postseason. Not going to lie, Brown is my favorite Bucs WR in redraft as he presents the best overall value. To begin the season, Brown should best be viewed as a WR3/4 with WR2 upside if something were to happen to Evans or Godwin.
82. Michael Gallup: Experienced a dip in production last season (59/843/5) but much of that can be attributed to the ascension of CeeDee Lamb, as well as the injury to Dak Prescott. Gallup enters a contract year and has reportedly been lining up both on the perimeter and in the slot, which could lead to more mismatches as well as a higher weekly floor. Keep an eye on Amari Cooper’s health as the season approaches.
83. Mike Williams: Big Mike Williams enters a contract year in 2021. Throughout his 4 year career, Williams has had some success, however he has never been able to put it all together in the same season. With former New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi taking over duties in LA, Williams is expected to play the X receiver spot (aka Michael Thomas role). Williams already has a 1,000 yard season and a 10 TD season under his belt. So if he can put it all together in 2021, he is going to be a huge steal on draft day.
84. Ryan Tannehill: Even with the Titans offense literally running through Derrick Henry, Tannehill was still able to set a career high with 40 total TDs (7 rushing) while finishing as the QB8 in fantasy last season. While I personally dislike the loss of Jonnu Smith, pairing Julio Jones with A.J. Brown is going to give defensive coordinators nightmares in 2021.
85. Matthew Stafford: The “staph infection” ditched the Motor City for the bright lights of Hollywood this offseason. A fresh start in LA could be exactly what Stafford needs, as the last time Stafford has eclipsed +30 TDs was way back in 2015. With the Rams, Stafford should benefit from Sean McVay’s play calling as well as the underrated receiving core of Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. I like Stafford as a low-end QB1 who could finish somewhere between QB5-QB9.
86. DeVonta Smith: The former Heisman winner set records all across the board, Alabama’s school record for catches (235), SEC records for receiving yards (3,965) & receiving TDs (46), and lead the nation in 2020 on receiving yards on screen plays (304). Smith is a big play waiting to happen and should have every opportunity to establish himself as the WR1 for the Eagles. *UPDATE* Smith is back on the practice field after suffering a sprained MCL.
87. Damien Harris: Currently expected to lead the Patriot’s backfield in touches, Harris could return decent RB2 weeks, but he’s going to kill your lineup on weeks that he doesn’t score due to his lack of passing game usage.
88. Leonard Fournette: Lombardi Lenny was unleashed during the Bucs Super Bowl run, tallying 448 total yards, 18 receptions, and 4 total TDs in 4 playoff appearances. The Bucs did bring in receiving back Giovani Bernard this offseason, and following week 1 of the preseason, the Bucs backfield seems like its heading towards a 3-way committee. Fournette is still my RB to own in the Bucs backfield.
89. Marvin Jones: Its not Laviska Shenault, its not D.J. Chark, its Marvin Jones who will be the WR1 for Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars this season. As seen during the first preseason game, Marvin Jones still has the talent to make contested catches downfield. Marvin Jones reuniting with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell should also give him a slight edge over the Jaguars young WR room. Currently dealing with an AC joint sprain, Jones will be ready for week 1.
90. Courtland Sutton: After tearing his ACL in week 2 of the 2020 season, Sutton appears to have made a full recovery. Sutton was taken in the 4th round in many fantasy drafts last summer and should be a value pick in 2021 based off his current ADP. Sutton is only 2 years removed from going 72/1,112/6 and could see an upgrade at QB this season with Teddy Bridgewater.
91. Kenny Golladay: The New York Giants suddenly have offensive weapons all over the field. With only one ball to go around, along with the big question mark of Danny Dimes, I view Golladay more as a WR3 option. I’m expecting Golladay to catch around 60-65 passes, flirt with 1,000 yards, and 5-7 TDs. *UPDATE* Kenny G has missed out on a ton of reps with Danny Dimes as heals from a pulled hamstring. Golladay is turning into a draft day fade.
92. Mecole Hardman: Currently slotted at the WR2 spot on the Chiefs depth chart, Mecole Hardman could finally have his opportunity to shine. In two seasons, Hardman has put up 67/1,098/10 on 103 targets while averaging 16.4 YPC. If given a full time role, Hardman could explode with Patrick Mahomes. Hardman is probably one long preseason catch away from shooting up fantasy draft boards.
93. Gus Edwards: The Ravens front office made it a point this offseason to bring back the “Gus Bus” on a 2 year $10 million contract extension. While Edwards will be in a committee with second year back J.K. Dobbins, the Gus Bus will have some stand alone value as a RB3 with upside in Baltimore’s run-heavy offense. Throughout his 3 year career, Edwards has averaged 5.2 YPC and is coming off a career high in yards (723) and TDs (6).
94. Zack Moss: There has been talk of Moss possibly taking over as the 1A in Buffalo’s backfield. Moss was pretty unimpressive in year one, totaling 576 yards and 5 TDs in 13 games last season. Continue to monitor throughout training camp.
95. Joe Burrow: The former #1 overall pick was off to a decent start in 2020 (2,688 yards & 16 TDs in 10 games) before tearing his ACL & MCL in week 11. Burrow was able to avoid the PUP to begin camp, although there has been reports of Burrow looking a little rusty. Which isn’t a huge concern this time of year. Many in fantasy circles have Burrow penciled in for a sophomore breakout as he will have some serious weapons at WR in Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, and former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase. It remains to be seen how both Burrow’s knee and the Bengals offensive line will hold up this season.
96. Brandin Cooks: I may avoid the Texans all-together this season depending on who’s playing QB, but Brandin Cooks could be a target monster on a team that will be chasing points every week.
97. Dallas Goedert: Dallas Goedert’s career high of 87 targets (2019) would see a really nice bump if Zach Ertz were traded. Zach Ertz remains on the roster however, which limits Goedert’s upside.
98. Juju Smith-Schuster: With the Steelers struggles in the running game last season, Juju soaked up a ton of underneath routes, finishing with 97/831/9. His 8.6 YPC in 2020 was a career low, but a possible move outside this season could open things up for Juju downfield.
99. Melvin Gordon: Fantasy stock took a major hit when the Broncos traded up in the second round of the NFL draft for Javonte Williams. Gordon’s best fantasy trait is his nose for the endzone, as he has scored at least 9 TDs in each of the past 5 seasons. Drafting William’s and parring him with Gordon a few rounds later is a great way to lock down the Broncos backfield.
100. Ronald Jones: Will once again be splitting work with Uncle/Lombardi Lenny. Rojo has less value in PPR leagues and would need an injury to Fournette to move up from his current RB3 status. I’m not buying Rojo as the back to own in Tampa.