2021 Fantasy Football Targets
The Yards Per Fantasy team got together to deliver “our guys.” These are players we are vehemently targeting in our drafts this year. We make a case for why you should be too. If you want to hear more from our team, be sure to join us on Discord! We’re talking fantasy every day and always willing to answer your questions!
Tyler Lockett, WR, Seahawks
The 2020 campaign was a tale of two seasons for the Seahawks offense. That was no different for wide receiver Tyler Lockett. He was the overall WR1 in PPR scoring from Weeks 1-8. That included two weeks as the top-scorer. But then he suffered a knee sprain and only had two more top-12 performances the rest of the way. Even still, Lockett finished the season as the WR12 on a per-game basis. He went over 1,000 yards and scored 10 touchdowns on 100 receptions.
With a new offensive coordinator, the pick of D’Wayne Eskridge in the second round, and free agency addition of Gerald Everett, all indications are the team wants to throw the ball more in 2021 than they did in the second half of last year. That would certainly benefit Lockett, who saw nearly 25-percent of the targets in 2020. The Seahawks have one of the most consolidated passing games in the league with little target competition outside of Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. Lockett presents a safe floor while a full season of “letting Russ cook” would surely unlock a clear path to another top-12 finish.
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Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington
After the WFT took Antonio Gibson in the 3rd round with 66th pick many people were wondering how Gibson would be used in the WFT offensive attack. Well now we know. Gibson exploded on the scene with 795 rushing yards, 11 rushing touchdowns, 36 catches, and 247 receiving yards. After annihilating the Cowboys on Thanksgiving day, Gibby was on his way to being a household name. Then, he hurt his toe. Between a turf toe and backup satellite back, JD McKissic, taking away passes limiting Gibsons upside in 2020. Gibson is now ready to explode in 2021.
Gibson runs a 4.4 forty, he is 6’2 and 220
Pounds. He is a perfectly constructed NFL do everything back. This year, he should receive more than 36 catches (60 easy) and if he is unleashed he very well could have CMC like top 5 production in 2021 and beyond. Gibson is still learning the RB position but all reports in the off-season are Gibby looks great, he is more comfortable in his RB role, and he will be on the field early and often. Gibson is a three down back and he will be WFT’s goal line back.
I am looking for Antonio Gibson to finish in the top 8 of all RB’s and he could easily finish higher. He is currently going in the 2nd round with an ADP of 27 and with such limited RB options after the third round, pair Gibby with your first round pick and watch him cash checks for your fantasy team. Straight cash homey!
Robby Anderson, WR, Panthers
I will not leave a draft without Robby Anderson at his current ADP. Anderson, entering his Age 28 season, exceeded expectations last season, turning 136 targets into 95 receptions, 1096 yards, and 3 touchdowns. With those statistics, Anderson finished as the WR 19 in PPR scoring.
Flash forward to the season, and Anderson has lost some major competition for targets. Curtis Samuel left for Washington, vacating almost 100 targets last season. Furthermore, Anderson has reunited with his first quarterback, Sam Darnold, who heavily targeted Anderson during their time together in New York. Now I get what you’re thinking with McCaffrey as his return will demands a large number of targets. However, Mike Davis commanded 70 targets while Anderson finished as the WR 19! Even if McCaffrey receives an additional 30 targets beyond Davis, there’s still plenty to go around.
As Anderson is currently being drafted as the WR 34, even if he takes a step back from last season, he likely finishes around this spot. So paying a WR 34 price tag for the absolute floor of Anderson? Count me in.
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 49ers
Brandon Aiyuk has been on my radar since the 49ers drafted him in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He had an exceptional rookie season in which he put up a 60-758-5 receiving stat line in just 12 games with a backup quarterback most of the year. He also added two touchdowns in the running game. Kyle Shanahan drafted the former ASU pass-catcher with the idea that he would be San Francisco’s WR1 for the future. The future is now. I’m adding Aiyuk to every fantasy roster that I can get him on and you should too!
J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ravens
As the 2021 season draws closer it’s time to start planting those flags. I am here to do just that, JK Dobbins is my guy in 2021. I believe that JK is in line for a good work load, even though Gus Edwards was resigned. Last season Dobbins finished the year as the lead back holding a 34 percent carry share from weeks 13-16. He also led the Ravens in carries inside the 20 with 14. Dobbins averaged 13.8 ppr points over that same four game span.
He was also very efficient all season with a 6.0 YPC average over his 15 games. I believe firmly he will be used on the goal line a lot this season as well, as he led the Ravens with five games in which he saw 100% of carries inside the five-yard line. With an increase in his rushing share this season, along with increased passing game work I see an RB1 finish in his future.
Chase Claypool, WR, Steelers
Chase Claypool has been my most drafted WR this offseason, and will continue to be a target as we approach September. He broke out as a rookie with 215 PPR points on 109 targets and 14.3 FPOE, despite the Steelers’ questionable decision to limit his snaps in the second half of the season to avoid hitting the “rookie wall”. We still saw glimpses of alpha upside with 4 games of 10 or more targets, and we should only expect his role to increase as a second year player coming off an efficient season. And think what you will about Ben Roethlisberger’s decline, but the Steelers could have 4 or 5 less pass attempts per game this year and still be league average. Last year’s WR23 finish is likely close to Claypool’s floor for 2021, making him an all-upside selection where he’s currently being drafted.
Austin Ekeler, RB, Chargers
Austin Ekeler is the guy I’m drafting everywhere in fantasy football leagues. Ekeler is a rare combination of explosive talent, shifty moves, and excellent hands. Coming into the 2021 season, Ekeler will have an improved offensive line with the addition of Pro Football Focus’s #1 ranked center Cory Linsley and 13th overall pick Rashawn Slater. Improving upon their league-worst offensive line is going to pay dividends for Austin Ekelers’s value. Last season he was relegated to 27 red zone touches (32nd amongst RBs) and a measly one goal-line carry. When you add in the fact that he also missed 6 games, one starts to wonder how good he could be with the deck not stacked against him.
That’s why he’s “my guy” this year, an improved o-line should increase his volume on the goal line, and Justin Herbert as his quarterback should increase his volume in the red zone as far as receiving. When on the field with Herbert he was averaging 7 targets a game, which over a 17 game schedule would have him on pace for 119 targets. Now Ekeler has already proven he can get 900 receiving yards, but this season I think he’s going to prove he’s durable enough to get 1,000 yards rushing. My ultimate hot take prediction for Ekeler is 1,000 yards rushing and receiving, lets get it.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Chiefs
CEH finished as the RB22 in PPR last season, ending the year with 1,100 total yards, while adding five touchdowns, catching 36 passes on 55 targets. Although he missed 3 games, and parts of a 4th, he finished third among rookie backs in yards. Despite the lack of TDs, he led the Chiefs running back group in red zone touches and the only other back with double-digit RZ touches was the aging, now UFA, Le’Veon Bell. Before adding Bell, only Zeke, Mixon, and King Henry had more RB touches than CEH. And if you take his stats from games he saw double digit touches over a 16 game span, he would’ve been RB15 in PPR. With an improved o-line, on debatably the most high powered offense in the league, with a full off-season, and the lack of talent behind him, I expect a bounce back year.
Cooper Kupp, WR, Rams
Do you remember 2019? It wasn’t too long ago… Well, that’s the season that Cooper Kupp finished at the fourth best fantasy wide receiver. After putting up over 1,160 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, Kupp finished THE WR4, and seventh in terms of fantasy points per game. And now, Kupp gets an upgrade at QB in Matthew Stafford – and there is a realistic scenario where Kupp is again a top 5 fantasy WR in 2021. There are not many WRs drafted in the fourth round of fantasy drafts, in the WR15 – WR20 range, with a legitimate path to a potential top five fantasy WR finish, but Kupp is easily one of them!
Nick Chubb, RB, Browns
A guy I can’t seem to leave a draft without this year is Nick Chubb. He’s currently going anywhere from 7-10 overall. I’ll take him as my RB1 all day. Seemingly everyone but me is worried about Hunt taking away production from him. But after Chubb came back from his injury he was the guy and Hunt almost was non-existent. The offensive line he runs behind is one of if not the best in the league. In the final 8 games of the season he averaged 91 yards and 16 rush attempts per game while also seeing an uptick in targets in the passing game. All that coupled with the fact he offers a safe floor and can break off an 80 yard touchdown run makes him someone I need to have in all my drafts. He’s “my guy” for this year!
