Too Early 2021 Draft Prospects with Fantasy Value

It’s not out of the question anymore to see rookies become impact players on multiple fantasy lineups in every league. Last year there were a slew rookies who ended up helping many owners finish with a strong playoff run. Just to name a few that came on late like Antonio Gibson, DeAndre Swift, and CeeDee Lamb. Obviously, they are overshadowed by players like Justin Herbert, Justin Jefferson, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire that were immediate impact players on their team. So, for you out there that either have a dynasty league where you have to keep certain young players or want to take a sneak peek for a little more knowledge as to when these youngsters should be picked. Here are my top 10 Rookies that will make big-time fantasy contributions next year.

1. Kyle Pitts TE, Florida

By far my favorite player of the draft who I think will immediately come in and make an offense much better. Pitts has comparisons already to both Travis Kelce and Darren Waller, we might want to slow down with these comparisons very early in the draft process but the way the Florida gator can move around lining up anywhere on the field like a wide receiver is truly special. Pitts has never shown a lack of effort when he is asked to block and that’s only going to continue to get better with NFL coaching. There are a limitless number of ways that you can use Pitts in an offense and I think it would be foolish if he were to escape from the top 10 in this upcoming draft. Whether Kyle Pitts is on a team next year with a struggling offense or a team that scored a lot of points last year like the Atlanta Falcons, he’s going to be a primary target. Just last year Pitts had 43 catches for 770 yards and 12 scores, with a remarkable yards per catch at almost 18 yards per game. The ceiling for Pitts is growing higher as we come closer to draft day. In my opinion, there is no reason to think that Pitts won’t be a top 5 fantasy tight end in 2021. 

2. Ja’Marr Chase WR, LSU 

Chase, unfortunately, did not get to repeat a historical 2019 season in 2020. In no way will this affect his value on this draft day. Chase was the main target in one of LSU’s best offenses in school history led by Joe Burrow. Chase outperformed Justin Jefferson who became an immediate dynamic threat in his rookie year in Minnesota. There is even a slight chance Chase reunites with his college teammate in Cincinnati. Bottom line is that wherever Chase ends up he’ll be an immediate factor on any roster. It is hard to imagine a fantasy season next season where Chase isn’t at least a wide receiver two or valuable flex play.

3. Jaylen Waddle WR, Alabama

Waddle who missed most of Alabama’s historic national championship run was still effective as it gets during the first few weeks of Nick Saban’s 2020 season. Waddle had 28 catches for 591 yards and 4 scores while averaging 21.1 yards per catch. There is no doubt that Waddle has elite flexibility to line up anywhere on the field and run past the secondary for huge scores. There remain questions about durability and making the more physical catches in the middle of the field. But, at 182 pounds he offers more size than his phenomenal counterpart Devonta Smith. Do not be surprised to see a team take a shot on Waddle before Smith because of his potential and the similarities he shows to some of the NFL’s best like Tyreek Hill. Waddle has been one of the best in college football for several years now. He is a proven champion and winner, the ability to score from anywhere on the field has fantasy stud written all over it.

4. Najee Harris RB, Alabama

 Harris, like a few of his teammates who will also be picked in the first round in April, just knows how to win. He had the option to go pro last year but returned to Tuscaloosa for one more season. Racking up 1,466 yards, catching 43 passes,  and scoring 30 total touchdowns in just 13 games. Harris has played against the highest competition for years now not just in the SEC but in practice each and everyday playing with the best program in college sports. Harris is a do-it-all, dirty-nosed running-back. He can play on every down at 230 pounds and has agility in the trenches that is nearly impossible to slow down. Most likely due to the extremely impressive draft class and decreasing value in his position, he will land at the end of the first round with a solid team. Harris will be a plug-and-play RB right away in any offense. His all-around game and knack for finding the end zone should make for a productive fantasy season especially in PPR leagues.

5. Devonta Smith WR, Alabama

Smith had one of the best postseason performances from a wide receiver ever during the Crimson Tide’s run in 2020. No matter what size he is playing at, having 12 receptions on 14 targets for 215 yards and three touchdowns in a National Championship game is nothing to sneeze at. The only thing that has decreased Smith’s value is his size. He is a bit smaller than the average top ten wide receiver prospect. But, what I think is important to remember here is that Smith should only get bigger when he is at the pro level, and there have been guys of smaller size like himself that still pan out. Smith is too talented to fall that far in this year's draft and the fact that people are already saying he is too small for the pro level doesn’t seem that fair considering he is a Heisman Trophy winner and a multiple-time national champion.

6. Trevor Lawerence QB, Clemson

Lawerence may be the best quarterback prospect that has entered the draft for some time now. Finally, after years of praise by pro scouts, Dabo Swinney’s next prodigy quarterback will soon be in the NFL. There still remains a small chance that Lawerence ends up anywhere besides Jacksonville and for that reason, he is a bit lower on this list. Even if Lawrence was taken by Urban Meyer the Jags have enough cap space and weapons for the Clemson product to have a solid rookie year. It may even work out better for Lawrence fantasy owners if he is in a Jaguars uniform trailing in games. The combination of DJ Chark and James Robinson leaves room for much optimism that Lawerence can make this offense average if not better in 2021.

7. Travis Etienne RB, Clemson

Etienne’s speed and athleticism are unmatched and will most likely earn him a first-round pick. After setting ACC records in his junior season it was a surprise too many to see Etienne return to school. That being said Etienne is the ideal modern-day back, and with the level of competition he was playing against there should be no doubt about him being a running back two or flex play by week 1 of 2021. One skill in Etienne’s game that I think is a bit underrated is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. His stats may have been down when comparing them to his junior season but in a shortened season where Trevor Lawerence was missing games due to the virus, they would not have gone on the run they did without Etienne’s play.

8. Rashod Bateman WR, MINN

 Bateman’s best collegiate season was as a sophomore in 2019. He tallied 60 receptions for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns for Minnesota in their incredible 11-2 year. Even though his junior season was disrupted due to the pandemic in 2020, Bateman still had 36 receptions for 472 yards and 2 scores to end his time as a Golden Gopher. Bateman is one of the most intriguing prospects of the draft. In two most likely scenarios where a talented roster reaches for him at the end of the first round or he falls to the early second where he will still be worth drafting and stashing for fantasy owners in hope of a breakout season. Bateman has all the tools to be a number one target in the NFL, this could be the steal of the draft in 2021. 

9. Javonte Williams RB, UNC 

Williams put on a show last year for the Tar Heels rushing for 1,140 yards with 19 touchdowns and averaged 7.3 yards per carry. He also caught 25 passes for 305 yards and three touchdowns, some scouts seem to love Williams and even have over the national champions Etienne and Harris who play on some of the best college football offenses ever. Williams has enough size to run through the middle of a defense. His ability to catch the ball as a checkdown and run through tacklers will have teams licking their chops. Williams can play on every down and is definitely forceful and aggressive enough to be effective in pass protection. 

10. Rondale Moore WR, Purdue

In most other years a prospect like Moore would have the chance to be the number one wide receiver taken. But, there is no doubt that playing 7 games in 2 seasons to finish his time at Purdue will scare some teams. Moore’s freshman season was spectacular, full of plays that led many to think he was becoming one of the superstars of college football. The way Moore runs after the catch is unbelievable for a wideout his size at just over 180 pounds. That is also probably why he has been plagued by injuries. Like Bateman expect Moore to be given a chance by a proven team at the end of the first round and if not he for sure won’t last long in the second. This is an explosive playmaker and there is no denying that. The way Moore can take the ball to the house while lining up anywhere on the field will make any offense more explosive from day 1. 

Writer

-By: Sam Kirk