2021 Fantasy Football: Preseason Fantasy Stock – Week 1




With preseason underway, there will be updates daily to this 2021 Fantasy Football Preseason Stock page. Games will be added as I watch them. Adjustments will be made on my 2021 Fantasy Football Rankings accordingly. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.



2021 Preseason Notes: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3
2021 Fantasy Football Stock Pages: Preseason Stock Week 1 | Preseason Stock Week 2 | Preseason Stock Week 3


2021 Fantasy Football Preseason Stock – Week 1




Texans at Packers

Devin Funchess, WR, Packers
Devin Funchess opted out of the 2020 season after playing just one game in 2019, but he looked good in the 2021 preseason opener. He made a great, diving catch in the first half and then a nice, 16-yard reception while dropping to the ground. Funchess ended up leading the team with six catches for 70 yards. Funchess has great fantasy potential this year if he starts across from Davante Adams in an Aaron Rodgers-run offense.

Phillip Lindsay, RB, Texans
In a surprise move, the Texans started Phillip Lindsay over David Johnson in the preseason opener. Lindsay rushed for 14 yards on five carries, while Johnson lost a yard on his only attempt. It’s unclear if this will be a trend moving forward, but I suppose we’ll have a better idea next week.

For more on this game, go to the 2021 NFL Preseason Fantasy Football Notes. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.




Jets at Giants

Corey Davis, WR, Jets
Corey Davis was Zach Wilson’s favorite receiver in the preseason opener. Wilson targeted Davis twice as often as any other player. Davis converted two of his four targets for 18 yards in about a quarter of work. If this game was any indication, Davis should have another solid year.

For more on this game, go to the 2021 NFL Preseason Fantasy Football Notes. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.




Chargers at Rams

Xavier Jones, RB, Rams
Xavier Jones displayed some nice cutting ability versus the Chargers, rushing for 21 yards on seven carries. He also caught two passes for six yards, and he did a nice job in pass protection.

Josh Palmer, WR, Chargers
Josh Palmer made some nice catches throughout the opening half of the preseason opener, ultimately hauling in six balls for 36 yards. The Chargers have needed a third wideout to go along with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, and Palmer appears to be the solution.

Larry Rountree, RB, Chargers
The Chargers are very high on sixth-round rookie running back Larry Rountree. He didn’t disappoint in this contest. He rushed for 63 yards on just eight carries, which featured a 25-yard burst where he made a great juke in the open field once making a good read to find a big running lane. Rountree then hit a gain of nearly 30 at the end where he carried a defender toward the end of the rush. Rountree is someone I’d like to roster toward the end of my fantasy draft.

For more on this game, go to the 2021 NFL Preseason Fantasy Football Notes. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.


Browns at Jaguars

Marvin Jones, WR, Jaguars
Marvin Jones led the Jaguar receivers in targets from Trevor Lawrence (4). D.J. Chark didn’t play, but it was apparent that Lawrence and Jones were clicking. Jones hauled in three of his four targets for 52 yards.

For more on this game, go to the 2021 NFL Preseason Fantasy Football Notes. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.





Saints at Ravens

Marquez Callaway, WR, Saints
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.

Taysom Hill, QB, Saints
Taysom Hill was given the initial opportunity in the preseason opener, and his first drive was a thing of beauty. It featured a great throw to Marquez Callaway while under pressure to convert a third down. Hill led the team into the red zone, where the drive concluded with a Latavius Murray lost fumble. However, things got much worse following the first possession. Hill threw an interception on what was a horrible throw wide of Ty Montgomery. Hill was lucky he tossed just one pick because Ravens cornerback Anthony Averett jumped the route on the next drive, but dropped the ball. Hill didn’t redeem himself; he took a big sack when he held the ball way too long.

For more on this game, go to the 2021 NFL Preseason Fantasy Football Notes. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.





Broncos at Vikings

K.J. Hamler, WR, Broncos
K.J. Hamler looks like a completely different receiver in his second year. The Vikings had no answer for him, as he hauled in two of his three targets for 108 yards. If Courtland Sutton continues to have issues with his knee, Hamler could be in for a strong 2021 campaign, especially if Drew Lock performs like he did in his preseason debut.

Javonte Williams, RB, Broncos
Javonte Williams enjoyed a spectacular post-draft offseason, and his NFL debut backed up what was written about him since May. Williams was stellar in his first-ever preseason game. His first carry featured a nice cutback that allowed him to pick up 10 yards. Williams then used a stiff-arm on his second rush to get to the edge and generate 13 yards. Williams ultimately broke a tackle to score a touchdown, but a hold negated it. Still, Williams was terrific in his four touches, which he turned into 28 yards. He’s going way too late in fantasy drafts.

For more on this game, go to the 2021 NFL Preseason Fantasy Football Notes. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.





Dolphins at Bears

Myles Gaskin, RB, Dolphins
Anyone who drafted Myles Gaskin should be very concerned right now. Malcolm Brown started and received most of the workload in the first quarter. He was given nine carries – which he turned into only eight yards – before Gaskin saw his second attempt. Gaskin then played with the backups in the second quarter. I don’t understand this running back rotation because Gaskin is far superior compared to the pedestrian Brown. Still, the Dolphins are the ones making the decision regarding these running backs, and Gaskin’s usage should be troubling for anyone who owns him.

For more on this game, go to the 2021 NFL Preseason Fantasy Football Notes. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.


Bills at Lions

Devin Singletary, RB, Bills
With Zack Moss hurt, Devin Singletary and Matt Breida shared the workload in the first half. Singletary looked good; he rushed for 42 yards on eight carries, and that doesn’t include a gain of about 12 that was negated by a hold. Singletary also caught a 6-yard touchdown. If Moss is out for a while, Singletary will be an intriguing pick in the middle rounds.

Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Lions
The Detroit announcers made it clear that the coaching staff was very impressed with Amon-Ra St. Brown. The rookie receiver would have converted on all three of his targets from Jared Goff if a 12-yard reception of his wasn’t negated by a hold. St. Brown finished with two catches for 12 yards. The announcers noted that Goff and St. Brown have nice timing with each other, and that was apparent in the preseason opener.

For more on this game, go to the 2021 NFL Preseason Fantasy Football Notes. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.


Redskins at Patriots

Jonnu Smith, TE, Patriots
Jonnu Smith looked good in his debut for the Patriots. He caught a single pass for 16 yards, but that was an impressive play in which he broke out of a tackle to get the first down. Smith was targeted twice, and while that’s a small sample size, it seems as though Cam Newton will rely on him and Hunter Henry throughout the season.

For more on this game, go to the 2021 NFL Preseason Fantasy Football Notes. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.


Steelers at Eagles

Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles
Zach Ertz led the Eagles in targets from Jalen Hurts in this game. He caught two of the three balls thrown to him for 20 yards. However, he dropped a pass on third down to stall the initial drive. There’s a reason why teams had no interest in trading for Ertz, so I wouldn’t expect him to have a big year. What he’ll do, however, is take opportunities away from Dallas Goedert.

Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles
Jalen Hurts’ best throw in his preseason debut was an accurate, 34-yard connection to Dallas Goedert in which he did a good job to avoid pressure. However, he skipped a pass to Jalen Reagor on his next attempt despite seeing no pressure in the pocket and having Reagor wide open for a medium gain. Hurts later missed Quez Watkins for a 98-yard touchdown. Hurts finished an underwhelming 3-of-7 for 54 yards, with one throw being tossed away as a result of pressure. Hurts’ accuracy desperately needs to improve after last year’s 52-percent completion result, and this game showed no evidence that this aspect has been upgraded.

For more on this game, go to the 2021 NFL Preseason Fantasy Football Notes. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.


2021 Preseason Notes: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3
2021 Fantasy Football Stock Pages: Preseason Stock Week 1 | Preseason Stock Week 2 | Preseason Stock Week 3

Be sure to check out my other 2021 Fantasy Football articles, which will include mock drafts, rankings, sleepers, busts, cheat sheets and other things.






More 2021 Fantasy Football Articles:
Fantasy Football Rankings

2021 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/1 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/8 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/5 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/5 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 6/9 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 6/9 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/9 (Walt)



2021 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
2021 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts - 9/3 (Walt)



2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/8 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/8 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Half-PPR - 9/8 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/8 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League - 9/8 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/8 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Rankings - 9/8 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/8 (Walt)

2021 Fantasy Football Articles:
2021 Fantasy Football Stock Report: OTAs, Training Camp - 9/6 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/6 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Busts - 8/31 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Value Picks - 8/31 (Walt)
2021 NFL Preseason Game Recaps - 8/30 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Preseason Games - 8/30 (Walt)
2021 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/12 (Walt)






2024 NFL Mock Draft - March 26


NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22


Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19


NFL Picks - Feb. 12