As we head into the final week of the preseason and look forward to the regular season, there is typically one thing on every football fan's mind. Who am I drafting in fantasy? Fantasy football has simply taken over the sport over the last few years as more and more people play it every year. The game continues to expand, and many of you reading this may have begun their research months ago. However, after some extensive research I am finally ready to reveal my fantasy football rankings heading into 2021. I've ordered these players in preference of who I would draft/would rather have on my team considering all aspects (injuries, surrounding talent, the player's talent, opportunity, etc.) and is ordered in terms of PPR (point per reception) scoring. Feel free to use this in all your drafts, or none of them, but without further adieu let's head on in.
Quarterbacks
These guys are always a weird position to draft. If you don't take one of the premier talents early, you typically wait for a guy in the 9-12 range and are happy about it. This year though, the position has a lot of premier talent, but quickly falls off after around number eight. Managers in superflex leagues should almost definitely take at least one QB in the top eight as without a top-end talent you will feel like you're playing catch up every single week.
Patrick Mahomes II - KC (Bye in Week 12)
Josh Allen - BUF (7)
Lamar Jackson - BAL (8)
Dak Prescott - DAL (7)
Kyler Murray - ARI (12)
Russell Wilson - SEA (9)
Aaron Rodgers - GB (13)
Justin Herbert - LAC (7)
Ryan Tannehill - TEN (13)
Matthew Stafford - LAR (11)
Tom Brady - TB (9)
Jalen Hurts - PHI (14)
Trevor Lawrence - JAC (7)
Matt Ryan - ATL (6)
Joe Burrow - CIN (10)
Kirk Cousins - MIN (7)
Baker Mayfield - CLE (13)
Carson Wentz - IND (14)
Ben Roethlisberger - PIT (7)
Ryan Fitzpatrick - WAS (9)
Justin Fields - CHI (10)
Derek Carr - OAK (8)
Tua Tagovailoa - MIA (14)
Daniel Jones - NYG (10)
Jared Goff - LAR (9)
Running Backs
Just like every other year, the running back position is extremely top heavy. With more and more teams favoring for running back committees rather than a single workhorse, the value for that workhorse has skyrocketed in fantasy. You should definitely leave the first two rounds with at least one running back, and ideally one in the top 10. If you don't, you'll end up having to trust a running back in the 20-25 range as a weekly starter which is certainly less than ideal. Fantasy managers should also see this as an opportunity to snag three top 20 running backs and use one as a trade chip later on in the season.
Christian McCaffrey - CAR (13)
Dalvin Cook - MIN (7)
Derrick Henry - TEN (13)
Ezekiel Elliott - DAL (7)
Alvin Kamara - NO (6)
Aaron Jones - GB (13)
Saquon Barkley - NYG (10)
Austin Ekeler - LAC (7)
Jonathan Taylor - IND (14)
Nick Chubb - CLE (13)
Joe Mixon - CIN (10)
Antonio Gibson - WAS (9)
D'Andre Swift - DET (9)
Najee Harris - PIT (7)
J.K. Dobbins - BAL (8)
James Robinson - JAC (7)
Clyde Edwards-Helaire - KC (12)
Chris Carson - SEA (9)
David Montgomery - CHI (10)
Miles Sanders - PHI (14)
Josh Jacobs - LV (8)
Mike Davis - ATL (6)
Myles Gaskin - MIA (14)
Darrell Henderson - LAR (11)
Damien Harris - NE (14)
Kareem Hunt - CLE (13)
Chase Edmonds - ARI (12)
Raheem Mostert - SF (6)
Melvin Gordon III - DEN (11)
James Conner - ARI (12)
Javonte Williams - DEN (11)
Michael Carter - NYJ (6)
Trey Sermon - SF (6)
Ronald Jones II - TB (9)
Jamaal Williams - DET (9)
Phillip Lindsay - HOU (10)
Leonard Fournette - TB (9)
Nyheim Hines - IND (14)
Kenyan Drake - LV (8)
Gus Edwards - BAL (8)
AJ Dillon - GB (13)
Tony Pollard - DAL (7)
Zack Moss - BUF (7)
David Johnson - HOU (10)
Devin Singletary - BUF (7)
Rashaad Penny - SEA (9)
Giovani Bernard - TB (9)
Darrel Williams - KC (12)
James White - NE (14)
J.D. McKissic - WAS (9)
Wide Receivers
The wide receivers in the NFL are so talented now that even late in the draft you feel like you are getting quality pass catchers. As you scroll down the list, you'll see plenty of guys who are capable WR2s in the 25-35 range. Unless you snag one of the top talents in the first few rounds, don't be scared to wait on WR while loading up at more top heavy positions like running back and tight end. There is simply so much talent, which combined with how pass heavy the NFL is, makes for great fantasy production.
Davante Adams - GB (13)
Tyreek Hill - KC (12)
Stefon Diggs - BUF (7)
DeAndre Hopkins - ARI (12)
Calvin Ridley - ATL (6)
D.K. Metcalf - SEA (9)
Justin Jefferson - MIN (7)
Keenan Allen - LAC (7)
Allen Robinson II - CHI (10)
A.J. Brown - TEN (13)
Terry McLaurin - WAS (9)
CeeDee Lamb - DAL (7)
Robert Woods - LAR (11)
Amari Cooper - DAL (7)
Mike Evans - TB (9)
Diontae Johnson - PIT (7)
Cooper Kupp - LAR (11)
D.J. Moore - CAR (13)
Chris Godwin - TB (9)
Julio Jones - TEN (13)
Adam Thielen - MIN (7)
Tyler Lockett - SEA (9)
Tee Higgins - CIN (10)
Odell Beckham Jr. - CLE (13)
Kenny Golladay - NYG (10)
Chase Claypool - PIT (7)
Brandon Aiyuk - SF (6)
Ja'Marr Chase - CIN (10)
JuJu Smith-Schuster - PIT (7)
Courtland Sutton - DEN (11)
Jerry Jeudy - DEN (11)
Robby Anderson - CAR (13)
D.J. Chark Jr. - JAC (7)
Deebo Samuel - SF (6)
Tyler Boyd - CIN (10)
Brandin Cooks - HOU (10)
Darnell Mooney - CHI (10)
DeVonta Smith - PHI (14)
Corey Davis - NYJ (6)
Antonio Brown - TB (9)
Will Fuller V - MIA (14)
Laviska Shenault Jr. - JAC (7)
Michael Thomas - NO (6)
Jaylen Waddle - MIA (14)
Jarvis Landry - CLE (13)
Marvin Jones Jr. - JAC (7)
Curtis Samuel - WAS (9)
Cole Beasley - BUF (7)
Michael Gallup - DAL (7)
Marquise Brown - BAL (8)
Tight Ends
Every year fantasy managers go into drafts saying one of two things, "I have to get a top three TE this year. I got burned without one." OR, "I'm just waiting on TE. There's a ton of sleepers." Funny thing is, both these statements are true. While the positional advantage you gain from drafting a guy like Travis Kelce in the first two rounds is tremendous, the ability to load up on other talent while taking a flier on a late round guy like Irv Smith Jr. also has its value. In between, there's a big gray area on notable names in weird situations that could also be worth drafting should you have enough faith in the player's talent.
Travis Kelce - KC (12)
Darren Waller - LV (8)
George Kittle - SF (6)
T.J. Hockenson - DET (9)
Kyle Pitts - ATL (6)
Mark Andrews - BAL (8)
Logan Thomas - WAS (9)
Noah Fant - DEN (11)
Robert Tonyan - GB (13)
Irv Smith Jr. - MIN (7)
Tyler Higbee - LAR (11)
Dallas Goedert - PHI (14)
Mike Gesicki - MIA (14)
Jonnu Smith - NE (14)
Evan Engram - NYG (10)
Hunter Henry - NE (14)
Rob Gronkowski - TB (9)
Cole Kmet - CHI (10)
Gerald Everett - SEA (9)
Adam Trautman - NO (6)