With the 2021 NFL Draft now behind us, some people are gearing up their big boards in anticipation of the Fantasy Football season. This year’s draft class was a strong one on the offensive side of the ball, so there will be plenty of value when it comes to rookies in fantasy this year.
Which rookies are set up best for success from the start? Here are five rookies you must target for your Fantasy Football team in 2021.
5. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence was the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, something that some analysts were expecting back to his high school days. He heads to a Jacksonville Jaguars team that needs stability at the quarterback position.
For fantasy football, Lawrence should offer plenty of upside. The Jaguars, despite making some improvements to their team, should be losing plenty, which is great for fantasy managers because it means they’ll be throwing a lot.
Lawrence has a strong supporting cast with Marvin Jones Jr. coming over in free agency, joining Laviska Shenault Jr., D.J. Chark Jr. and Collin Johnson. Travis Etienne, Lawrence’s running back at Clemson, was selected in the first round as well and makes for a dynamic pairing with undrafted rookie sensation, James Robinson.
As the only locked-in Day 1 starter for rookie quarterbacks, Lawrence makes for the safest bet among this year’s class in fantasy football.
4. Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, Carolina Panthers
Terrace Marshall Jr. could prove to be one of the biggest steals of this year’s draft class for the Carolina Panthers. Carolina nabbed him with the 59th overall selection and 10th wide receiver despite many projecting him to be a first-round pick.
Marshall right now is the third receiver on the depth chart, behind Robby Anderson and D.J. Moore, but his versatility to play any spot in the formation will get him heavily involved. His transition to the NFL will be easier than other receivers as he has experience playing with Panthers’ offensive coordinator, Joe Brady, from their time together at LSU.
While Sam Darnold is still a question mark at quarterback, he has never been surrounded by talent like this. Anderson will be a safety net of sorts for him as they played together with the Jets, but Marshall should quickly become a target favorite of his as well.
3. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Ja’Marr Chase was an absolute monster in 2019 at LSU, catching 84 passes for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns. His quarterback during that season? Current Bengals starter, Joe Burrow.
The two have undeniable chemistry, which will help Chase transition to the NFL. If they can recreate some of that magic, no one will be questioning this pick despite a need to help get Burrow some blocking.
While Chase will have some competition from Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd in the pecking order, he will get his fair share of chances. You don’t select a guy No. 3 overall, who played collegiately with the starting quarterback, and not put him in a position to shine.
2. DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles fans have been asking for a legitimate No. 1 receiver for a while now. Last season, they watched Justin Jefferson get passed over as the team selected Jalen Reagor. This year, they weren’t going to miss their chance, as they jumped the New York Giants, who were selecting No. 11, in a swap with the Dallas Cowboys for the No. 10 pick and chance to select the Heisman Trophy-winning, DeVonta Smith.
Smith lands higher on this list than Chase solely because he has a clearer path to a monster target share. There is very little in the way of competition for Smith. Travis Fulgham, a sixth-round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2019, was the leading receiver. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside has been a major disappointment as a second-round pick in 2019. Greg Ward, a converted college quarterback, was second among wide receivers on the team in yardage.
Smith also has some experience working with Jalen Hurts, as the two overlapped at Alabama for Smith’s first two seasons with the Crimson Tide.
1. Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
The No. 1 rookie to target in your fantasy football drafts this season is Pittsburgh Steelers running back, Najee Harris. Yes, there are questions about the Steelers’ offensive line and their commitment to the running game. But, there is no denying the skill that Harris brings to the table.
He is a true dual-threat running back, rushing for 1,466 yards and 26 touchdowns while reeling in 43 passes for 425 yards and another four scores in 2020. Given Alabama’s depth, he wasn’t overworked, so he comes into the NFL fresher than most.
Pittsburgh’s depth chart also offers little in the way of competition, as James Conner left as a free agent. Harris should assume the No. 1 spot as the bell cow in an offense that should rely less on Ben Roethlisberger’s arm and more on Harris’s legs this season.
