2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers 41-60

JULY 24 UPDATE: Michael Thomas could miss multiple weeks of the regular season, according to Ian Rapoport. Thomas underwent surgery to repair ankle ligaments, which could keep him out in September. This hurts Taysom Hill as well, though Hill has a high floor because of his rushing ability.

Michael Thomas is arguably the best receiver in the NFL right now, but he was dragged down by Drew Brees’ injury as well as his own absences in 2020. Brees is gone, so Thomas will see fewer targets because Taysom Hill will scramble frequently.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 82 catches. 950 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 146.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 228.

AUG. 31 UPDATE: Jakobi Meyers, the No. 1 receiver on the Patriots, will benefit from Mac Jones being his quarterback. Each Newton scramble was a potential target removed from Meyers, and Jones obviously doesn’t run nearly as much as Newton.

AUG. 10 UPDATE: Jakobi Meyers has been the most consistent receiver in Patriots’ training camp, according to reports. New England spent big money on Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne this offseason, but Meyers has been stealing the show. Still, the Patriots are so run-heavy that it’s difficult to roster any receiver on this team in normal leagues.

Despite being stricken with terrible quarterbacking, Jakobi Meyers played well down the stretch. In his final four games, Meyers caught 21 passes for 271 yards. He’s proven he’s a legitimate No. 2 receiver in the NFL. The Patriots obtained some receivers this offseason, but Meyers is still the top target.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 78 catches. 980 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 144.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 222.

Marquise Brown broke 100 yards in the opener in 2020, and then that was it. Lamar Jackson didn’t have the pass protection to consistently locate Brown for big gains. Perhaps that’ll change in 2021 if the blocking unit remains healthy.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 65 catches. 920 yards. 7 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 144.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 209.

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.

Michael Gallup’s upside took a hit when Dak Prescott got hurt. Prescott is expected to be 100 percent, making Gallup a nice option, even as Dallas’ third receiver.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 66 catches. 1,080 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 144.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 210.

AUG. 2 UPDATE: DeVonta Smith will miss 2-3 weeks with an MCL injury. This isn’t the worst news, but any rookie needs as many snaps as possible.

The Eagles had a barren receiving corps entering the 2021 NFL Draft, so the ultra-talented DeVonta Smith has become the No. 1 by default. He has some chemistry already with Jalen Hurts, which is a plus.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 60 catches. 920 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 144.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 204.

JUNE 10 UPDATE: Elijah Moore has been the most impressive player by far at OTAs, per a report from Connor Hughes of the Athletic. This is far from the only rookie puff piece we’ll see this offseason, but Moore is a legitimate talent, and the Jets don’t have much at the position.

Elijah Moore is a speedy threat who could become Zach Wilson’s top receiver. I’m not a believer in Corey Davis, so Moore could be a big producer in New York.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 58 catches. 830 yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 143.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 201.

AUG. 15 UPDATE: 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.

K.J. Hamler made some big plays in his rookie year, but he’s just an inconsistent deep threat. He’ll be worth rostering if the Broncos trade for Aaron Rodgers.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 67 catches. 960 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 142.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 209.

Jarvis Landry caught fire at the end of the year, taking advantage of Odell Beckham’s absence. His 2021 outlook depends on Beckham’s health.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 80 catches. 1,000 yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 140.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 220.

AUG. 8 UPDATE: Darnell Mooney’s route running has been “on fire” during training camp, according to his head coach. With Anthony Miller gone, Mooney’s fantasy stock has risen lately.

Darnell “Mad Eye” Mooney had a solid rookie year with 61 catches for 631 yards and four touchdowns. It was capped off with an 11-catch Week 17. He’ll have nice upside if Justin Fields lives up to his potential.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 78 catches. 940 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 140.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 218.

Tyler Boyd was able to post some impressive numbers in 2020, thanks to Joe Burrow performing on a high level right away. Burrow’s status for 2021 is unknown, but if there’s good news, that’ll bump up Boyd’s stock despite the addition of Ja’Marr Chase.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 85 catches. 930 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 139.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 224.

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.

Josh Allen’s superior talent has made Cole Beasley into a strong fantasy producer. Beasley will still be a good option next year, especially if there are more injuries at the position.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 82 catches. 970 yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 137.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 219.

SEPT. 2 UPDATE: T.Y. Hilton will miss the first three weeks of the season at the very least, meaning Michael Pittman Jr. has a nice opportunity to establish himself as the No. 1 receiver. He’ll be a good value as long as Carson Wentz is healthy.

AUG. 12 UPDATE: There’s good news coming out of Indianapolis, as Carson Wentz is now “trending toward being available” for the season opener. We’ll see what happens, but this definitely makes me more bullish on all the Indianapolis players.

JULY 31 UPDATE: Carson Wentz is out indefinitely due to a foot injury he suffered Thursday. This might just be nothing, but Wentz could have a major issue as well. If you’re drafting this weekend, avoid Wentz, move Jonathan Taylor several spots, and downgrade all the Colts’ receiving threats by 2-3 rounds.

Michael Pittman Jr. became Philip Rivers’ No. 2 receiver in his rookie year, and at times, he was the top option. He caught 40 passes as a rookie, a figure that could increase by more than 50 percent in 2021.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 72 catches. 910 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 137.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 209.

I don’t quite trust Tua Tagovailoa as much as some of the other young quarterbacks, but he should be able to rebound off his brutal rookie campaign. That said, Tagovailoa has so many options at his disposal, including DeVante Parker, Will Fuller and Mike Gesicki, so it might take Jaylen Waddle a while to reach his potential.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 53 catches. 860 yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 136.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 189.

Sammy Watkins is gone, so one of Mecole Hardman or Demarcus Robinson will become the WR2 in Patrick Mahomes’ offense. There is huge upside here, obviously.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 68 catches. 890 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 135.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 203.

Mecole Hardman should get more opportunities next year with Sammy Watkins gone. Hardman could be Kansas City’s WR2 next year, but that would require him living up to his potential.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 59 catches. 890 yards. 6 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 135.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 194.

Robby Anderson had a great year with the Panthers in 2020. Curtis Samuel is gone, but that won’t matter too much as far as potentially increased targets are concerned because Christian McCaffrey will be returning from injury.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 80 catches. 1,030 yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 133.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 213.

AUG. 20 UPDATE: Bruce Arians told the media that Giovani Bernard will be a major part of the offense. This is bad news for the other Buccaneer runners in what is currently a very crowded backfield.

The Lions have nothing at receiver, so it’s possible that Amon-Ra St. Brown could emerge as the top receiver on the roster sometime soon.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 60 catches. 920 yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 132.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 192.

SEPT. 2 UPDATE: T.Y. Hilton has been placed on injured reserve, so he’ll miss at least the first three weeks of the season.

AUG. 12 UPDATE: There’s good news coming out of Indianapolis, as Carson Wentz is now “trending toward being available” for the season opener. We’ll see what happens, but this definitely makes me more bullish on all the Indianapolis players.

JULY 31 UPDATE: Carson Wentz is out indefinitely due to a foot injury he suffered Thursday. This might just be nothing, but Wentz could have a major issue as well. If you’re drafting this weekend, avoid Wentz, move Jonathan Taylor several spots, and downgrade all the Colts’ receiving threats by 2-3 rounds.

T.Y. Hilton and Philip Rivers didn’t click in the first half of their initial season together, but that changed in the final couple of months. Perhaps Hilton will have better luck with Carson Wentz in 2021.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 62 catches. 870 yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 132.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 194.

The Panthers finally figured out how to use Curtis Samuel last year. He caught 77 passes for 851 yards, and he also rushed for 200 yards, scoring five touchdowns in the process. We can assume the Redskins will treat Samuel similarly, but there’s no guarantee of that.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 70 catches. 900 yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 130.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 200.

AUG. 21 UPDATE: The best wide receiver in the Chiefs’ second preseason game was Byron Pringle, who snatched four of his five targets for 63 yards. With Mecole Hardman struggling, I believe Pringle will get a chance to be a big part of the offense this year.

Patrick Mahomes targeted Byron Pringle more than anyone else in minicamp. This is an interesting development because with Sammy Watkins gone, the No. 2 receiver job in a high-octane offense is wide open.

Projected 2021 Fantasy Stats: 55 catches. 680 yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2021 Fantasy Points: 129.
Projected 2021 PPR Fantasy Points: 186.