2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers

Tyreek Hill missed four-and-a-half games in 2019, which is why he caught just 58 passes for 860 yards and seven touchdowns. Hill had a huge 2020 season by managing to stay on the field. There’s no reason for him to slow down this year.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 100 catches. 1,440 yards. 16 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 265.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 365.

The NFL installed a new rule today where all players will have to forfeit their paychecks if a game is postponed due to positive testing. Leonard Fournette, Cole Beasley and DeAndre Hopkins are some of the prominent players who have spoken out about this, even threatening to retire because the NFL is forcing its workforce to take an experimental, non-FDA approved medication that has not been tested for the long term. Hopkins will have to forfeit more than $20 million if he retires, so this is probably much ado about nothing, but it’s worth noting nonetheless.

DeAndre Hopkins was a PPR monster with a reception count in the 110s in his first year as a Cardinal. However, his touchdown count was the lowest since 2016, as Kyler Murray ran in one too many scores. Hopkins is a better option in PPR formats for this reason.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 125 catches. 1,600 yards. 13 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 263.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 388.

Stefon Diggs went from a mediocre quarterback in Kirk Cousins to a Pro Bowler in Josh Allen. The results were astonishing, as Diggs crossed the 120-catch barrier. He’ll continue to be a WR1 in 2021.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 130 catches. 1,640 yards. 12 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 261.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 391.

JULY 28 UPDATE: After vowing to never play for the Packers again, Aaron Rodgers has changed his mind. Rodgers has reported to the Packers, as Green Bay’s front office made a deal with him so that he can leave after this season. All of Green Bay’s skill-position players will get a huge bump.

Aaron Rodgers was out for blood this past year after his team drafted Jordan Love. This allowed Davante Adams to have his best year yet in 2020. Unfortunately for Adams, Rodgers is as good as gone, which will deplete his fantasy value.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 110 catches. 1,400 yards. 15 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 255.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 365.

Justin Jefferson was a monster in his rookie year, and to think, so many teams that needed receivers passed on him. Then again, even the Vikings had to be shocked what they got out of him. Jefferson is a ridiculous talent, though his upside is sometimes limited because the Vikings want to run the ball so much.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 95 catches. 1,550 yards. 12 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 237.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 332.

Calvin Ridley was better when Julio Jones was on the field, as he took advantage of No. 2 cornerbacks. He was inconsistent when Jones as absent, which was about half the year.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 96 catches. 1,490 yards. 12 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 232.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 362.

It could be argued that D.K. Metcalf is the best receiver in the NFL right now. If the Seahawks allow Russell Wilson to cook for a full year, Metcalf has the potential to be the top fantasy producer at the position.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 92 catches. 1,420 yards. 13 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 230.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 322.

Keenan Allen was a PPR monster with Justin Herbert as his quarterback. Herbert locked into Allen, who saw double-digit targets in 10 games. Allen should be in for a huge PPR campaign in 2021, especially with Hunter Henry gone.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 122 catches. 1,430 yards. 11 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 219.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 341.

AUG. 21 UPDATE: Adam Schefter said that Dak Prescott isn’t “fully back,” and he believes he may not be 100 percent “all season long.” Prescott is coming off an ankle injury, and he’s had issues with his shoulder as well. He’s being overdrafted, and if Schefter is correct, his play-makers are as well.

CeeDee Lamb came close to the 1,000-yard barrier as a rookie, which is impressive because he was able to work with Dak Prescott for only a handful of games. Lamb is set to explode in 2021, provided Prescott can stay healthy.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 94 catches. 1,310 yards. 12 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 213.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 307.

Mike Evans saw his yardage total drop with Tom Brady, but he also had a career-high touchdown number. This wasn’t a surprise because Brady didn’t have to throw in a deficit as much as Jameis Winston did.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 76 catches. 1,150 yards. 13 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 203.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 279.