2021 Wide Receivers

The fantasy football community is eager to start molding the shape of the upcoming 2021 season. After looking at the 2021 Running Backs initially, I want to give a look back at the Wide Receivers and some initial thoughts for the position in the 2021 season.

To start, lets recap our position leaders in Targets and Touchdowns for 2020 as it may be helpful as we look forward towards our Wide Receivers of preference in 2021. Especially if we can compare previous years to see any trends. Again, keep in mind a players Ability, Availability, Opportunity, Consistency, Advantage/Upside and Matchup.

2020 Wide Receiver Top 25 Targets

Player	Targets	Receptions	Receiving Yards	Rushing Yards	Total Yards
Stefon Diggs	166	127	1,535	1	1,536
DeAndre Hopkins	160	115	1,407	1	1,408
Allen Robinson	151	102	1,250	-1	1,249
Davante Adams	149	115	1,374	0	1,374
Keenan Allen	147	100	992	-1	991
Diontae Johnson	144	88	923	15	938
Calvin Ridley	143	90	1,374	1	1,375
Robby Anderson	136	95	1,096	15	1,111
Tyreek Hill	135	87	1,276	123	1,399
Terry McLaurin	134	87	1,118	30	1,148
Tyler Lockett	132	100	1,054	0	1,054
Amari Cooper	130	92	1,114	14	1,128
Robert Woods	129	90	936	155	1,091
D.K. Metcalf	129	83	1,303	0	1,303
JuJu Smith-Schuster	128	97	831	0	831
Justin Jefferson	125	88	1,400	2	1,402
Cooper Kupp	124	92	974	33	1,007
Brandin Cooks	119	81	1,150	0	1,150
D.J. Moore	118	66	1,193	22	1,215
Marvin Jones	115	76	978	0	978
Jerry Jeudy	113	52	856	0	856
CeeDee Lamb	111	74	935	82	1,017
Tyler Boyd	110	79	841	49	890
Russell Gage	109	72	786	9	795
Mike Evans	109	70	1,006	0	1,006

Above are your Top 25 Wide Receivers in Targets for the 2020 NFL Season. If you can find a Wide Receiver that has some rushing yards along with their receiving yards, it just feels like sneaky additional yardage. At the very least it gives that player a slight edge with opportunity! Referencing some history with this Targets category Targets WR – 2019 Regular Season gives you some look at what we anticipated going into 2020. So using the history, below are some Wide Receivers that I would anticipate are in the mix of most Targets in the 2021 NFL Season:

2021 Wide Receiver Top 25 Targets Projections

2020 Wide Receiver Top 20 Touchdowns

Using the above yearly Touchdowns rankings I was looking from one year to the next to see how many of the previous years wide receivers made the following year list. As you follow the colors (Grey – 2015, Green – 2016, Red – 2017, Blue – 2018 and Grey – 2019) it helps to pick out who stayed on the list from the previous year. In 2016, 5 wide receivers from 2015 made it. In 2017, 6 wide receivers from 2016 made the Top 20 list. While in 2018, 7 wide receivers from 2017 made it. For 2019, 10 wide receivers from 2018 made the Top 20 list. In 2020, 10 wide receivers from 2019 made the list and they were joined by 5 rookie Wide Receivers (noted with the yellow block beside their name)!

Over the past few years it looks like the average of 8 players would be anticipated to make this list in the 2021 NFL Season. Sticking to averages I believe 3 rookie Wide Receivers would be on the list come end of season 2021. Referencing some history with the Touchdowns category Wide Receiver TDs – 2020 Outlook gives you some look at what we anticipated going into 2020 as well

2021 Wide Receiver Top 20 Touchdowns Projections

Sticking with the averages and picking 8 Wide Receivers to find themselves on the Top 20 Touchdown list at the end of the 2021 season again I would currently lean to the following players: AJ Brown, Tyreek Hill, Calvin Ridley, Stefon Diggs, Davante Adams, Chris Godwin, Justin Jefferson and Robert Woods. I think Tyler Lockett/D.K. Metcalf, Mike Evans, Diontae Johnson and CeeDee Lamb would be the next in line options if any of the first 8 get hurt or have a drop off this year.

Heading into 2021 you feel pretty good that the following Wide Receivers get back on this Top 20 list as well in 2021 (after not being there in 2020): DeAndre Hopkins, Amari Cooper, Allen Robinson and Mike Williams. The rookie Wide Receivers that I would anticipate to be here in 2021 would be both Ja’Marr Chase, DeVonta Smith and Terrace Marshall Jr.

2020 Wide Receiver Top 25 Receiving

Player	Targets	Receptions	Receiving Yards	Rushing Yards	Total Yards
Stefon Diggs	166	127	1,535	1	1,536
DeAndre Hopkins	160	115	1,407	1	1,408
Justin Jefferson	125	88	1,400	2	1,402
Davante Adams	149	115	1,374	0	1,374
Calvin Ridley	143	90	1,374	1	1,375
D.K. Metcalf	129	83	1,303	0	1,303
Tyreek Hill	135	87	1,276	123	1,399
Allen Robinson	151	102	1,250	-1	1,249
D.J. Moore	118	66	1,193	22	1,215
Brandin Cooks	119	81	1,150	0	1,150
Terry McLaurin	134	87	1,118	30	1,148
Amari Cooper	130	92	1,114	14	1,128
Robby Anderson	136	95	1,096	15	1,111
A.J. Brown	106	70	1,075	0	1,075
Tyler Lockett	132	100	1,054	0	1,054
Mike Evans	109	70	1,006	0	1,006
Keenan Allen	147	100	992	-1	991
Corey Davis	92	65	984	0	984
Marvin Jones	115	76	978	0	978
Cooper Kupp	124	92	974	33	1,007
Cole Beasley	107	82	967	0	967
Robert Woods	129	90	936	155	1,091
CeeDee Lamb	111	74	935	82	1,017
Adam Thielen	108	74	925	15	940
Diontae Johnson	144	88	923	15	938

The chart above is nice because so often we hear about the Receiving Leaders at the Wide Receiver position. Since over the years more often than not, the Wide Receivers just caught the football. That is certainly something to keep in mind but not the only thing. Depending on the type of league you have, carries and rushing yards could be very beneficial. Tyreek Hill and Robert Woods both added over 100 yards rushing to their yearly totals last year. These stats may not always be seen looking at Receiving Leaders each year at the Wide Receiver position.

2021 Wide Receivers

So who are the guys at the Wide Receiver position that I like for in the upcoming 2021 Fantasy Football Season? I still believe in Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins, Stefon Diggs and Tyreek Hill. I believe the rookies Ja’Marr Chase and DeVonta Smith will get theirs this year. I can see myself being lower than most on both Amari Cooper and Kenny Golladay but their values aren’t crashing by any means. Just keeping expectations realistic and in check for them. With recent news I am certainly cautious, but hopeful in regards to Davante Adams and Michael Thomas.

I think Chris Godwin is in a nice spot on a team that loves to throw the ball. It sounds like the Chargers will be getting the ball to Mike Williams plenty this season. To get a full idea of where the Wide Receivers are ranked initially and leading up to the beginning of the 2021 NFL season, click the link below.

2021 Wide Receivers Final Thoughts

We have a way to go until the 2021 Fantasy Football Season begins later this year. Although it is nice to start having the ranks at positions and overall thoughts come a little more into focus. Plenty will happen from now until then, so be flexible and look for the value when drafting your Wide Receivers this year. Don’t forget to consider Ability, Availability, Opportunity, Consistency, Advantage/Upside and Matchup. We are closer to the start of the 2021 Fantasy Football Season! Who has opportunity for Targets? Who will have the chance for Touchdowns? If you believe a player is in line for either, you know I would be interested in them!

Targets and TDs Fantasy Football

Find players that will have: Ability – Availability – Opportunity – Consistency – Advantage/Upside – Matchup

If your players are on an offensive team that can get many Targets and Touchdowns, you know I would be interested in them! Statistics courtesy of The Football Database , a great resource for your NFL players statistics. If you enjoyed the article please share it with others (via the social media links).

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Missed any recent posts?!, check them out below as you get your mind focused on fantasy football opportunities!

• 2021 Running Backs
• 2021 NFL Schedule
• 2021 Post NFL Draft
• 2021 NFL Draft
• Touchdowns (TDs) – 2020 Honorable Mention
• Touchdowns (TDs) – 2020 Regular Season
• Targets – 2020 Honorable Mention
• Targets – 2020 Regular Season

I hope everyone continues to stay safe and healthy! Enjoy the journey throughout the 2021 Fantasy Football Season!