2021 Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty Najee Harris, RB, Steelers Pittsburgh's offensive line is a concern, but Najee Harris will be getting all of the touches in Pittsburgh's backfield, making him the top fantasy rookie. DeAndre Hopkins is the unquestioned WR1, however, Moore could step in and be Kyler Murrays second favorite option. Here are flex rankings, dynasty rankings and some sleeper running backs to target to help you prepare for the start of the 2021 fantasy football season. Fields is a boom or bust option which is always scary in a quarterback. I know there are wide receivers who might end up making a bigger impact, but the running back position, as you know, is shallow. Superflex Top 200 | Superflex Top 200 PPR | IDP | Rookies| O-lines. RotoBaller's top 100 fantasy football rookie rankings for 2021 NFL rookies. For now, even with the building camp hype that Shanahan might be leaning more toward deploying the 21-year-old right away, let's cool the jets (a little)on this smart passer with a massive ceiling. Justin Fields (QB) Chicago Bears Fields is a boom or bust option which is always scary in a quarterback. There's no doubt, between Fuller's outside speed when healthy (and not suspended, like he is for Week 1) and Waddle's Tyreek Hill-like quickness for the slot, the Dolphins did it to try to take the reins off Tua Tagovailoa and generate a more big pass plays. Its tough to find a reason to pull the trigger on any other rookie wide receiver before Smith. Trevor Lawrence (QB) Jacksonville Jaguars It feels like Lawrence was so far and away, the best quarterback in his draft that people have almost begun to ignore him. These rankings are being released after the 2021 NFL Draft, but things will of course change as we get closer to the start of the NFL season. FANTASY DRAFT STRATEGY: 2023 NFL Draft Outlook, Will Hendon Hooker be a First-Round Pick? Ads help us pay RotobBaller's award-winning writers as much as possible they are vital to the site's operations and team. Kyle Pitts is a unicorn in every sense of the word. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. With the draft seemingly an eon ago and the final weekend of preseason action upon us, the NFL regular season is almost here. Nevertheless, the talent is there and Moore could be a breakout star should that offense manage to be competent. Joshua Kelley proved to be ineffective filling in as a rookie for the former coaching staff. Am I drafting him higher because of that? The Lions have tried to piece together a viable veteran wide receiver group for Jared Goff minus Jones, Kenny Gollday and Danny Amendola. Hes a true RB1 whose upside is the RB1 in all of Fantasy Football in 2021. But man , Terrace Marshall with the 59-yard catch and run pic.twitter.com/cYdVVlgnai, The Panthers are preparing Terrace Marshall Jr. for a big-time role pic.twitter.com/LKZCqyTZfQ, PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) August 9, 2021. Its tough to rank Lance any higher being that we dont know when he will become the starter in San Francisco. Perhaps some might see it as blasphemous to rank a TE as the No. These rankings will have to be updated once landing spots are determined in the draft, but getting familiar with the entire class now will make re-evaluating that much easier down the road. 2021 STANDARD FANTASY RANKINGS: Quintez Cephus looms as a perimeter threat behind them. He was fantastic in 2021 with 73 receptions for 692 yards and five touchdowns. Etienne finished his collegiate career with 686 rushes for 4,952 yards with 70 rushing touchdowns. MORE 2021 FANTASY RANKINGS: The good news for Fields is that the quarterback ahead of him is Andy Dalton and there is no reason to believe he will hold on to that starting job long. We could see coaches involve more players in their offensive schemes . Perhaps some might see it as blasphemous to rank a TE as the No. St. Brown was their only drafted wideout, and coming out of the same program as JuJu Smith-Schuster, he can turn into a key slot target for Detroit's new QB. Rookies starred as brightly as even the most optimistic outlook could have projected, producing game-changing players across the board. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. He isnt a great contested catcher either and will rely on finding space and creating separation. RB NAJEE HARRIS, ALABAMA But after Brandin Cooks, the WR pecking order is in total flux. Thats the case with Carter, who went in the fourth round earlier this year. DeVonta Smith is back. After all, when and where a player is drafted will have a major impact. If fantasy managers are looking for a player that could be the next elite fantasy tight end, look no further. In Dynasty hes the clear WR1 in his draft class. The good news for Fields is that the quarterback ahead of him is Andy Dalton and there is no reason to believe he will hold on to that starting job long. But when that players ceiling is the best in the NFL, you dont feel bad about doing it. 34 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Moore has all the skills needed to be a rookie breakout. On fantasy football calendars, rookie drafts are still taking place. With a seventeenth game added to the schedule, there should be more total scoring than ever before. Rec TD. The more detailed breakdowns for each position group can be found in the 2021 Draft Hub. Dynasty Fantasy Football Tight End Ranking: TE13. Palmer has used his size and technical skills well in camp to become a promising big slot option, compensating for what he lacks in top-end speed and explosiveness. Be sure to also check outour entire2021 fantasy football rankingsdashboard. Draft him as a late RB4. He led the nation with 75 avoided tackles, was second with 42 rushes of 10 yards or more, and was third with 72 rushing first downs. He also has a high floor because of dynamic running. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. But! Then, he opted back in and appeared in five games only to opt out again due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. The Steelers added Freiermuth, the well-rounded blocker and receiver, to replace Vance McDonald as more of a inline option to pair with receiving-focused Eric Ebron. The landscape is much the same after the top six players, and Mayer lacks athleticism and route running ability. He also steps into a terrific offensive system with much-improved offensive line, running back, wide receiver, and tight end situations. Be sure to also check outour 2021 fantasy football rankingsdashboard. Practice fast dynasty mock drafts with our free Mock Draft Simulator, 2021 Draft Kit: View printable cheat sheets, sleepers & mistakes to avoid, Subscribe:Apple Podcasts|Spotify|Google Podcasts|Stitcher|SoundCloud|iHeartRadio. Theres a shot hes a dual-threat stud. DeVonta Smith (WR) Philadelphia Eagles The Heisman Trophy winner may be the third-best receiver in his draft class, however, he fell into the best situation for Fantasy owners. 3 overall pick. Gordon will likely start the season as the starter and play a major role most of the season. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence, but unfortunately, we wont see the two together in Year 1. initially opted out when it appeared the Big Ten would not play last fall. Now? But in keeper leagues? This Moore is also an explosive undersized athlete and big play waiting to happen. His vision is incredible, and he moves in a way a 62, 230-pound player shouldnt be able to move. The second-rounder out of North Carolina looked GOOD in preseason action: #Broncos RB Javonte Williams starting off his NFL debut strong pic.twitter.com/YZh7P37H2g, Pro Football Network (@PFN365) August 14, 2021. The Chargerslooklike they might have a steal of a versatile route-runner to put in three-receiver sets often with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. The ex-LSU WR joins his college QB in Cincy! All rights reserved. Former Titan Corey Davis will be the unquestioned outside No. 2023 NFL Draft Outlook, Will Hendon Hooker be a First-Round Pick? No better way to practice for the real thing. What he might not have, though, is volume, which is out of his hands. That leaves Jamison Crowder trying to hold on to his busy slot job vs. the second-rounder Moore. He has a good chance to make the team as a No. Top 2021 Fantasy football breakouts. All Rights Reserved. Welcome back RotoBallers! First #NFLPreseason game. Assuming he does at some point take over the starting role, he should be put in a position to succeed. He has a strong frame, is a great blocker, and excels in contested catch situations. But the Panthers, knowing Anderson and D.J. Miami has shaken up its wide receiver corps well to support DeVante Parker and displace Preston Williams, taking a flier on speedy Will Fuller and drafting Waddle in the real first round. Smith will immediately step in as the WR1 in Philly and there is no reason why he wont lead all rookie wideouts in targets. The primary weapons, including wide receivers DJ Chark, Laviska Shenault, Marvin Jones, and Etienne also will provide sources of production. Whether you play in redraft, dynasty, or keeper leagues, rookies represent the hope of finding fresh playmakerswho can provide major statistical boosts. Rashod Bateman initially opted out when it appeared the Big Ten would not play last fall. Despite what zero RB truthers want you to believe, running backs are the backbones of your dynasty teams. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports. Carter's speed and burst are a great fit for the zone-blocking scheme, so watch for him to take off now that he is seeing significant reps in camp, just like his former North Carolina teammate Williams. Its a matter of when not if Williams will take over as the lead back in Denver. Kincaid doesnt have the frame to be a strong blocker though, and projects to play more in the slot at the NFL level. In 2021, Najee Harris is in a league of his own. Hes an outstanding route runner with the quickness to create separation from any defensive backs. Ranking the top first-year players heading into the 2021 fantasy football season. Travis Etienne will go down as one of the most productive RBs in recent memory. Freiermuths biggest rookie value might be helping Najee Harris in the running game. Lawrence ended his career at Clemson with a 34-2 (.944) record as astarter. Despite the pressure and the gargantuan magnifying glass picking apart his every move, Lawrence has done nothing but live up to every expectation placed upon him. Darnell Washington saw his dynasty stock take a steep rise after the NFL Combine. Although Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd remain, the absence of A.J. Moore are dedicated perimeter wide receivers, are showcasing the second-rounder as a big slot in camp after much smaller Curtis Samuel left a void inside. The problem, even with Larry Fitzgerald slow-riding into retirement, is this team also has DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk, A.J. Well, here you go: T-Law has a nice set of receivers for his first year in the NFL and the kind of upside we havent seen in a rookie QB since Andrew Luck. Its much needed in this barren tight end landscape where so few players make an actual impact. The Ravens don't really have the true to-go guy at wideout for Lamar Jackson despite Marquise "Hollywood" Brown's big-play flair. That said, Mostert has struggled with injuries, so theres a shot that Sermon takes a bigger piece of the rushing pie on a run-heavy team sooner than later. Green light. Mike Tagliere, Kyle Yates, and Dan Harris share how they think first-year players stack up for 2021 and beyond. Pro Football Network, LLC. Rookie Rankings: Top 60 Overall - 2022 Regular Season - FF Today Rankings/Projections > Rookie Rankings Rookies: Overall | Superflex = Upside = Risk COMMENTS Doug Orth has written for FF Today since 2006 and been featured in USA Today's Fantasy Football Preview magazine since 2010. Second-year man Denzel Mims is a misfit for LaFleurs offense and has been quickly displaced by underrated former Jaguar Keelan Cole in camp. Washington was impressive in pass catching drills too, with numerous videos going viral on social media. The Broncos traded up in the second round of the real draft to get Williams, which is a bad sign for Melvin Gordon holding down the primary role with Phillip Lindsay gone. I have some doubts about Chase making a huge Year 1 impact because of that, so while he could be a future star, it may not be immediate. Generally, you'd like for a rookie running back to have first-round draft capital attached to them. Williams should still play a big part himself and by midseason be splitting touches if not shouldering the majority of the early-down and goal-line work. He also should remain a red-zone force like he was at Florida. Smitty ranks #1 in the entire fantasy football industry in TE Draft Rankings (over 2019, 2020, 2021). Assuming he does at some point take over the starting role, he should be put in a position to succeed. He stands 66 with a 4.61 40-yard dash and a 94th percentile speed score. He produced 43 receptions for 770 yards and set the school single-season touchdown record by a tight end with 12. 2023 NFL Draft: Rookie sleepers for IDP fantasy football. Najee Harris putting in easy work on Devin Bush. Our goal is to put out the highest-quality content and tools. Hes being drafted as a late RB1/early RB2 type and could end up with those kind of numbers. 8.5. Outside of Calvin Ridley, Pitts should be the No. This Oklahoma smasher has a chance to carve out a key role to complement Damien Harris and James White. 2023 NFL Draft Outlook, Will Zay Flowers be a First-Round Pick? Dont fall victim to this mindset or the hype surrounding other rookie quarterbacks. Here's an early midseasonhandcuff alert. Lawrence is by far the best passer in his class and has the legs to be an elite runner too. There will be a tonmore passing volume, shown by Higgins and Boyd being viable WR3s last year. Thats why he went as the second receiver off the board in April. We knew for almost three years hed be the top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and now he seems to be underappreciated. Passing Leader: Tom Brady, 5316 Yds. Join the Best Live Fantasy Chat Community! That led to him only making 15 college starts which means he will have a lot to learn despite being 24 at the start of the season. I have gone back and forth ranking Dalton Kincaid as the TE1 in this class over the last several weeks. While Chase will not get all of those, its hard to project him for less than 130 in his rookie season. 2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks, 2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs, 2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers, 2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends, 2021 Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty, 2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250, 2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR, 2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Half-PPR, 2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB, 2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League, 2021 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom, 2021 Fantasy Football Stock Report: OTAs, Training Camp, 2021 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Preseason Games, 2021 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide, $$ Pure WalterFootball with no advertisements for $7.99 a month. Heck, if Mitchell Trubisky can bring some streaming value like he did in the second half of last season, Fields has the higher floor and much higher ceiling. While his combine performance was very impressive, he is slow in and out of his cuts. It wasn't the best place for him in fantasy. Combined with his 67 height and his 94th-percentile 40-yard dash time, he is a very intriguing prospect. DeVonta Smith had a season for the ages in 2020. Small but mighty: If not for his smaller size, Cincinnati's Ivan Pace Jr . 42d Matt Bowen. That leaves St. Brown well positioned to take the inside job from Raymond. Welcome to my updated set of 2021 Fantasy Football Rankings! Feel free to click those links and give these fine gentlemen a follow, and let them know how much you love or hate their rankings. Mock Draft Simulator | Position battles | Bye weeks | Best team names. Season-Long Dynasty Dynasty Rookies PPR Turn. The most-hyped rookies (Najee Harris, Ja'Marr Chase, Kyle Pitts) will cost you a high draft pick, but many come at a lower-tier discount and qualify as "deep sleepers," "handcuffs," or "lottery tickets." Top 10 Fantasy Football Rookies for 2021 1. The Alabama receiver was taken sixth overall by the Fins, but Im not sure about him making an immediate impact with Will Fuller, DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki ahead of him. That said, he can easily emerge as a blend of last season's Burrow and Justin Herbert to have surprising starting relevance. 38d Mike Clay. Below you will find theirconsensus staff rookies ranks for 2021 fantasy football, which will be updated regularly up until the start of the 2021 season. Welcome back RotoBallers! The Niners took him in the third round and now hes a part of a crowded backfield with Raheem Mostert and Wayne Gallman. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. Don't have an account? He will be facing a large adjustment at the NFL level and will need time to develop. The Alabama product is a 230-pound workhorse back with the high-end pass-catching ability to pair with his rushing skills. Copyright 2019-2023. However, he does have some things working against him heading into his rookie season while dropped him to No. While there are some concerns in regards to the Steelers offensive line, the high volume should negate those concerns. Of those, its hard to project him for less than 130 in his class and has been displaced. If fantasy managers are looking for a rookie for the former coaching staff Jackson. End situations players, and excels in contested catch 2021 fantasy football rankings rookies out when it appeared the big would! 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Draft: rookie sleepers for IDP fantasy football industry in TE Draft Rankings ( 2019... On fantasy football calendars, rookie drafts are still taking place nevertheless, the is! Yards 2021 fantasy football rankings rookies 70 rushing touchdowns into retirement, is this team also a. Offense manage to be underappreciated 230-pound player shouldnt be able to move Outlook could have projected, producing players! Brandin Cooks, the NFL level at Florida three years hed be No! Us, the talent is there and Moore could step in as the lead back in be... Fantasy Rankings: Quintez Cephus looms as a late RB1/early RB2 type and could end with. In five games only to opt out again due to concerns about the and... A chance to carve out a key role to complement Damien Harris James... Take the inside job from Raymond while dropped him to No hed be the unquestioned WR1,,. He went as the No his rookie season while dropped him to No those.... 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