2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers 21-40

AUG. 5 UPDATE: Julio Jones has missed the past couple of practices with some sort of injury. It’s unclear if it’s serious or not, but Atlanta fans know this procedure all too well. With Jones getting close to his mid-30s, the injuries will continue to be more difficult to overcome.

JUNE 6 UPDATE: Julio Jones is far less appealing in Tennessee. Jones used to accumulate lots of garbage yardage in Atlanta, and he won’t do that as much in Tennessee because the Titans will be playing with a lead more often than the Falcons have in recent years.

Julio Jones turns 32 this offseason, but he should still have a couple of elite years remaining in the tank. Jones missed lots of action last year, but he had played 14-plus games every year before that since 2013.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 82 catches. 1,150 yards. 8 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 173.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 255.

AUG. 24 UPDATE: Marquez Callaway was the star of the second preseason game. He torched the Jaguars’ starting secondary, catching five passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns in less than a half of action. The scores were both deep receptions. The first was a 43-yarder in which he was being knocked down by rookie cornerback Tyson Campbell. The second, a 29-yard gain, was a one-handed grab after Callaway beat Shaq Griffin. With Michael Thomas out, and Jameis Winston likely to start, Callaway looks like a possible fantasy WR2.

AUG. 15 UPDATE: Marquez Callaway has generated lots of buzz with a great training camp, and he lived up to the hype in his preseason debut. He saw more targets than anyone catching passes from Hill (4), hauling in three of them for 60 yards. With Michael Thomas out for a long time, Callaway projects as a viable fantasy receiver.

AUG. 7 UPDATE: Marquez Callaway has been the top receiver in training camp, according to reports. With Michael Thomas out for a while and Tre’Quan Smith banged up, Callaway is looking like the clear No. 1 target in the Saints’ new offense.

With Michael Thomas out for a while, Marquez Callaway is looking like an appealing late-round flier.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 83 catches. 1,140 yards. 8 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 172.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 255.

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.

JULY 16 UPDATE: Amari Cooper will be “cutting it close” for training camp because he’s coming off ankle surgery, according to Mike Fisher of Sports Illustrated. This might be nothing, but it’s something that should be monitored in the coming weeks.

Amari Cooper’s fantasy season was a disaster last year because of Dak Prescott’s injury. Prescott figures to be 100 percent for the start of the season, so Prescott will be a high-end WR2.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 79 catches. 1,140 yards. 9 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 172.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 251.

It seemed like Adam Thielen would be the top receiver going forward with Stefon Diggs gone, but Justin Jefferson took over that role despite being a rookie. Still, Thielen was very productive in most games, scoring 14 touchdowns. His scoring will likely regress to the mean.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 85 catches. 1,070 yards. 9 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 171.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 256.

D.J. Chark made amazing strides in his second NFL season, catching 73 passes for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns. He struggled in 2020, but only because of his dubious quarterbacking situation, which will obviously improve in 2021.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 82 catches. 1,130 yards. 8 total TD.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 171.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 253.

AUG. 27 UPDATE: Kenny Golladay has yet to begin practicing since suffering a hamstring injury. Golladay was supposed to be out 2-3 weeks, but he’s been missing for nearly four weeks now. Soft-tissue injuries tend to linger, so Golladay is a risky pick at his ADP.

AUG. 3 UPDATE: Here we go again. Kenny Golladay suffered an injury during a disastrous Giants’ practice in which the entire team engaged in a brawl that had Daniel Jones trapped at the bottom of the pile. It’s unclear how severe Golladay’s leg malady is, but it’s a reminder that he played just five games last season.

Kenny Golladay posted 65 receptions for 1,190 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2019, but keep in mind that he played without Matthew Stafford for half the year. Stafford was mostly healthy in 2020, but Golladay wasn’t, as he played just a handful of games. Golladay is now in New York, where his production will depend on Daniel Jones’ development.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 76 catches. 1,120 yards. 8 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 170.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 246.

Tyler Lockett was an incredibly inconsistent option in 2020. He’d be better if the Seahawks allowed Russell Wilson to cook all year, but they closed his kitchen around the midway point of the season.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 88 catches. 1,140 yards. 9 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 168.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 256.

Cooper Kupp is the more consistent of the Rams receivers, as he’s usually good for five catches every week. His upside was blocked by Jared Goff, but he’ll be better with Matthew Stafford.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 96 catches. 1,100 yards. 8 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 168.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 264.

AUG. 23 UPDATE: Brandon Aiyuk didn’t have a strong performance against the Chargers. He caught just one of his three targets for three yards. He drew a holding penalty, but he was responsible for Jimmy Garoppolo’s interception. This is a small sample size, but I expected better play out of Aiyuk.

Brandon Aiyuk had an impressive rookie year considering that he was playing with a backup quarterback most of the time. Aiyuk seems poised for a breakout sophomore campaign.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 81 catches. 1,140 yards. 8 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 167.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 245.

AUG. 29 UPDATE: There’s a debate between Emmanuel Sanders and Gabriel Davis as far as who will be Buffalo’s third receiver. Considering the Bills have very little talent at tight end, we’ll see those two on the field together, along with Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley. Sanders saw more targets than Davis, 8-5, but Davis was the bigger producer. Davis, who is way more talented than Sanders right now, caught all five of his targets for 75 yards and a touchdown. Excluding the touchdown, his best play was when he juked a defender to pick up a gain of 22 yards. Sanders, conversely, snatched just four of his eight targets for only 27 yards. Sanders struggled with Drew Brees last year, so he’s not a very appealing fantasy option, unlike Davis, who is very high in my 2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers page.

Gabriel Davis showed some flashes as a rookie, but was the fourth receiver on the Buffalo roster when everyone was healthy. Davis is now the No. 3 target in the wake of John Brown’s departure, so he could have a big year.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 68 catches. 1,080 yards. 8 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 166.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 234.

Mike Williams had his best games when Keenan Allen was out of the lineup. Justin Herbert was so locked in on Allen and Austin Ekeler that he barely looked elsewhere unless the former was missing in action. That could begin to change as Herbert gains more experience.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 65 catches. 1,050 yards. 7 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 162.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 227.

AUG. 30 UPDATE: Ja’Marr Chase dropped Joe Burrow’s only pass in the exhibition finale. Chase’s brutal preseason comes to an end with a grand total of one reception and four drops. There’s been some chatter that he could lose reps to Auden Tate in the regular season. Burrow being unable to throw more than one pass in this contest doesn’t help matters.

AUG. 21 UPDATE: Ja’Marr Chase played the entire opening quarter against the Redskins. Unfortunately, he was dreadful. He saw three targets, and he dropped ALL of them. All three drops occurred on third down, and in two of the instances, he would have helped move the chains. To quote Redskins color analyst Joe Theismann, “Ja’Marr Chase had an opportunity to make a play, but just doesn’t hang on.” It’s too early to panic on Chase, but given Joe Burrow’s inability to remain healthy, as well as the struggles of the offensive line, the No. 5 overall pick from the 2021 NFL Draft isn’t looking very appealing in fantasy.

AUG. 4 UPDATE: Reports indicate that the Bengals’ offense is really struggling in training camp thus far. Joe Burrow has looked much worse than last year, which can’t be a surprise because he isn’t a full year removed from a brutal knee injury. Meanwhile, the offensive line has struggled despite the addition of Riley Reiff. This could just be some FUD from the media, but a hobbled Burrow getting poor blocking isn’t something unexpected.

Ja’Marr Chase’s production depends on Joe Burrow’s health. Burrow suffered a brutal knee injury last year, but he might be 100 percent early in the 2021 season. Burrow and Chase don’t have to develop any sort of chemistry, which is obviously a positive for Chase’s short-term prospects.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 70 catches. 1,030 yards. 7 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 160.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 230.

Odell Beckham Jr. missed half the year with a torn ACL. It was a shame, as he wasn’t around for Baker Mayfield’s best performances. With Mayfield evolving, Beckham should have his best year in Cleveland in 2021.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 84 catches. 1,180 yards. 7 total TD.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 160.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 244.

AUG. 4 UPDATE: Reports indicate that the Bengals’ offense is really struggling in training camp thus far. Joe Burrow has looked much worse than last year, which can’t be a surprise because he isn’t a full year removed from a brutal knee injury. Meanwhile, the offensive line has struggled despite the addition of Riley Reiff. This could just be some FUD from the media, but a hobbled Burrow getting poor blocking isn’t something unexpected.

Tee Higgins was having a monster rookie year until Joe Burrow got hurt. If Burrow can be 100 percent in 2021, Higgins could explode. Unfortunately, Burrow suffered a serious knee injury, so his 2021 status is unclear.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 83 catches. 1,080 yards. 7 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 160.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 243.

JUNE 14 UPDATE: The Jaguar coaches have been buzzing over Laviska Shenault, according to Hays Carlyon of 1010 XL. Shenault had a nice rookie year and possesses some amazing potential. He could make a big leap forward with Trevor Lawrence as his quarterback.

Laviska Shenault had some bright spots as a rookie despite playing with limited or terrible quarterbacks. Imagine how well he’ll do with Trevor Lawrence!

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 78 catches. 1,070 yards. 7 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 159.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 237.

Will Fuller has trouble staying on the field. He didn’t get hurt in 2020, but was popped for a PED suspension. Fuller is a huge producer when active, but you can’t rely on him playing 17 games. His quarterbacking situation won’t be as good in 2021 either.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 58 catches. 960 yards. 7 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 153.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 211.

D.J. Moore struggled with Teddy Bridgewater to start the 2020 season, but he eventually began clicking with his new quarterback and ultimately finished the year on a strong note. Moore will now have to gel with a new quarterback, Sam Darnold.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 70 catches. 1,130 yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 153.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 223.

Deebo Samuel had a lost 2020 campaign, as he played just seven games due to multiple injuries. He was productive when he played, so he should bounce back this year.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 78 catches. 1,080 yards. 7 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 150.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 228.

JULY 28 UPDATE: Aaron Rodgers has agreed to return to the Packers, so he will not be quarterbacking the Broncos this season. That said, Denver could still trade for Deshaun Watson, so all hope isn’t lost for these Bronco skill-position players.

Courtland Sutton made huge strides in his second year, but missed all but one game in 2020 with a torn ACL. Sutton’s production will go through the roof if the Broncos trade for Aaron Rodgers.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 71 catches. 1,020 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 148.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 219.

JuJu Smith-Schuster was the second receiver on the team last year, falling behind Diontae Johnson. With Ben Roethlisberger aging rapidly, Smith-Schuster’s production could take a hit in 2021.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 89 catches. 850 yards. 7 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 147.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 236.