The Home of Fantasy Sports Analysis

Wide Receiver Rankings for 2021 Fantasy Football [Standard Scoring]

From running backs to wide receivers our fantasy experts are back to break down the wide receiver rankings for the upcoming 2021 season. Keep in mind these are indeed standard rankings. Players such as, DK Metcalf and Mike Evans (who was top four in touchdowns last season) receive a boost in this format. PPR ranks will follow in the upcoming months as we pump out more fantasy draft ranks here at Fantrax! Which analysts suggest a WR heavy approach in 2021? Find out below!


Say what?! Your fantasy football league wasn’t hosted on Fantrax last season? Unthinkable! Check out all the features Fantrax has to offer, and we think you’ll be singing a different tune for next season.


Meet the Rankers

Below are the analysts that will be breaking down our Non-PPR Wide Receiver Rankings. In the upcoming months, we will have updated PPR Scoring formats. In the meantime, we have four analysts from you to draw from. We’ve included their initials so that you know who is who in the rankings table, and also their Twitter handles, so you can give them a follow and let them know what you think of their wide receiver rankings.

Draft Strategy

JD – First thing you need to accept…wide receiver is the most inconsistent position in fantasy. Calvin Ridley, who finished last season as the No.4 receiver, had himself weeks with 4.2 FPTS, 2.6 FPTS, and even a 0 FPTS week. It’s simple, understand and accept that bust weeks will occur. The focus however needs to be on high target volume players. Touchdowns are difficult to project on a weekly basis, however, give yourself the best chance at multi-touchdown games with players in a position to see the ball thrown their way often. Don’t stress too much if you find yourself in a draft without one of the top-ranked players, there are gems to be found in the later rounds.

BK – The wide receiver position is where I try to find my value picks. I never reach for a WR because only the elite ones are consistent. The WR position is very matchup/game script-dependent after the Top 15. In my view, you’re more likely to win your league with solid RBs than you are without solid WRs. Be patient at this position. Don’t be afraid to live on the waiver wire, here.

JJ – It is entirely dependent on where I’m at in the draft on how I attack wide receiver. If I’m in the later-half of the draft, I’ll draft at least one stud wide receiver. Otherwise, I’ll wait until the third or fourth round, and then hammer the position throughout the rest of the draft. Late-round rookie wide receivers are my personal favorite sleeper targets.

MO – As JJ stated, depending on draft placement is key. I think it’s in our best interest not to get gung-ho on specific trends like 0 RB or 0 WR. Starting off with a top-five pick? A running back is probably the best choice but let’s not get cute and start taking an Austin Ekeler or Joe Mixon over a Tyreek Hill in the first round. Within the first six rounds I like to have at least three WR choices selected. I love to zig when others zag and make sure my WR3 and 4 are much more dominant than my opponents. A backup-RB in AJ Dillon has the same ADP as 2019 1,000-yard receivers in Courtland Sutton and DJ Chark. Give me the 1,000-yard WR every day of the week over the backup RB. I’ll take an upside rookie/sophomore RB with the next pick or two, thanks.

 

Breakouts

JD CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

CeeDee Lamb showed us the type of performances he can bring to the fantasy world in 2020, despite poor quarterback play with Dak Prescott sidelined. With little improvement to the defense, the Cowboys will certainly lean on Dak’s arm to stay competitive. Lamb is the No.2 passing option on a team that could be in the top 3 scoring offenses this season.

BK – Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s Calvin Ridley SZN!!! No running game. No Julio Jones. Matt Ryan will need to sling it to keep the Falcons competitive. Rookie tight end Kyle Pitts is the only competition for target share. Everything is shaping up for Calvin Ridley to be the guy in Atlanta, and I believe he’s talented enough to handle every team’s number one corner. He showed that last year while Julio missed games/snaps. I have Ridley ranked as my WR1 this year.

JJ- Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos

 

Busts

JD Marquise Brown, Baltimore Ravens

It’s tough to imagine a clear No.1 receiver on a good offense be called out as a bust. However, Marquise Brown’s outlook this season isn’t great. Having poorly performed for fantasy in the early part of 2020, the passing volume from Lamar Jackson just isn’t there to support a weekly fantasy-relevant Brown. This is a team that wants to run the ball, giving Brown a low weekly ceiling.

BK – Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers

Davante Adams is my WR21. He’s a Pro Bowl receiver, so I didn’t want to disrespect him too much. But it’s clear to me that Aaron Rodgers has no plans to play for Green Bay this year. That deflates Adams’ value. If he falls to you, take him. But certainly, don’t go looking for him. Jordan Love is going to be taking his lumps.

JJDavante Adams, Green Bay Packers

As it stands today, June 22, 2021, if Davante Adams is without Aaron Rodgers, he is an obvious bust selection. Adams is going inside the top three at the position. There is a difficult path for that end-of-season finish if Jordan Love or Blake Bortles is at quarterback. As good as Davante Adams is individually, there are too many questions for me to invest a first or second-round pick.

MOKenny Golladay, New York Giants

Kenny Golladay continues to fall down my wide receiver rankings. For one, he’s coming back from a hip injury from which he took a long time to progress from. Changing teams always has its challenges learning new playbooks and lastly, there are a ton of receiving options in New York. Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, Evan Engram, as well as rookie Kadarius Toney and not to mention the return of Saquon Barkley! There are just way too many mouths to feed to put up top-16 fantasy numbers. Major bust potential is looming.

2021 Consensus Wide Receiver Rankings

Cons. RnkPlayerTeamByeJDJJBKMO
1Tyreek HillKC121121
2Calvin RidleyATL66513
2Stefon DiggsBUF74335
4A.J. BrownTEN133277
5DeAndre HopkinsARI125646
6Davante AdamsGB1324212
7D.K. MetcalfSEA978124
8Justin JeffersonMIN787118
9Keenan AllenLAC71010510
10Michael ThomasNO6119612
11Mike EvansTB9141399
12Terry McLaurinWAS99121411
13Amari CooperDAL713111314
13Julio JonesATL61216815
15Allen Robinson IICHI1015151513
16Chris GodwinTB916181016
17Robert WoodsLAR1117141717
18D.J. MooreCAR1319171618
19CeeDee LambDAL718191821
20Adam ThielenMIN720212219
21Cooper KuppLAR1125202320
22Tyler LockettSEA923232422
23Ja'Marr ChaseCIN1024281926
24Kenny GolladayNYG1021223027
25Diontae JohnsonPIT722242929
26Courtland SuttonDEN1126293428
27D.J. Chark Jr.JAC730303523
28JuJu Smith-SchusterPIT734253130
29Chase ClaypoolPIT727313925
29Tee HigginsCIN1029273333
31Brandon AiyukSF628324024
32DeVonta SmithPHI1433352534
33Odell Beckham Jr.CLE1341392031
34Brandin CooksHOU1036333636
34Jarvis LandryCLE1331442640
36Jerry JeudyDEN1140263244
37Robby AndersonCAR1335364135
38Curtis SamuelWAS937452739
39Deebo SamuelSF632374238
40Antonio BrownTB945342846
41DeVante ParkerMIA747383742
42Will Fuller VMIA739464637
42Tyler BoydCIN1038424543
44Michael Pittman Jr.IND1443494932
45Marquise BrownBAL842414453
46Corey DavisNYJ661433841
47T.Y. HiltonIND1451404360
48Henry Ruggs IIILV857474745
48Jaylen WaddleMIA748484852
50Laviska Shenault Jr.JAC744535348
50Marvin Jones Jr.JAC749505049
52Michael GallupDAL746525250
53Nelson AgholorNE1458515158
54Mike WilliamsLAC750616147
55John BrownLV852606055
56Cole BeasleyBUF753555565
57Darnell MooneyCHI1059575759
58Parris CampbellIND1472545457
59Mecole HardmanKC1267565661
60Jalen ReagorPHI1460656554
60Terrace Marshall Jr.CAR1356626264
62Christian KirkARI1262686851
63Gabriel DavisBUF777595963
64Sterling ShepardNYG1054696968
65Jamison CrowderNYJ655707067
66Elijah MooreNYJ669646469
67Rashod BatemanBAL868727256
68Allen LazardGB1365717162
69Bryan EdwardsLV883636366
69Denzel MimsNYJ670676771
71Russell GageATL688585874
72Darius SlaytonNYG1063757576
73Rondale MooreARI1266767672
74Amon-Ra St. BrownDET975737370
74Breshad PerrimanDET964777773
76Josh ReynoldsTEN1380666681
77Marquez Valdes-ScantlingGB1371787875
78Emmanuel SandersBUF773797980
79Tim PatrickDEN1174818179
79A.J. GreenARI1276747491
81Jakobi MeyersNE1481808078
82Sammy WatkinsBAL879828282
83Kadarius ToneyNYG1086838377
84Preston WilliamsMIA778848484
85James WashingtonPIT782858586
86Tre'Quan SmithNO687868685
87Anthony MillerCHI1090888883
88KJ HamlerDEN1185898992
89Van JeffersonLAR1193909087
90Hunter RenfrowLV892919188
91Tyrell WilliamsDET991929290
92Randall CobbHOU1089939393
92DeSean JacksonLAR11848787999
94Keke CouteeHOU1094949495
95Quintez CephusDET9999959589
96Tyron JohnsonLAC798979798
97Rashard HigginsCLE1399999996
98N'Keal HarryNE1496100100100
99Zach PascalIND14959696999
100Kendrick BourneNE14979898999
101Keelan Cole Sr.NYJ699999999994
102Scotty MillerTB999999999997
103Amari RodgersGB13100999999999

Are you digging our wide receiver rankings? Then you probably want to take a peek at our Running Back Rankings.


Fantasy Leagues on Fantrax Fantasy Basketball

Fantrax was one of the fastest-growing fantasy sites of 2020, and we’re not letting our foot off the pedal now! With multi-team trades, designated commissioner/league managers, and drag/drop easy click methods, Fantrax is sure to excite the serious fantasy sports fan – sign up now for a free year at Fantrax.com.

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.