DFS Alerts
D'Wayne Eskridge 2021 Fantasy Outlook
Per RotoGrinders NFL player projections, D’Wayne Eskridge is expected to be the fantasy WR98. He’s being drafted on Underdog Fantasy as WR87 at pick 194, compared to his RotoGrinders ranking of 225 as of July. We currently expect a 7% target share which amounts to a projection of 42 targets (Rank 104) and 312 receiving yards (Rank 102) during the 17 week fantasy season.
The Seahawks used a second round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft to take Eskridge, and we currently have him slotted in third on the depth chart at wide receiver. On an offense that is shaping up to be as good as Seattle’s is, that would normally lead to a decent amount of fantasy relevance. But the two guys in front of Eskridge, D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett (you might have heard of them), command so much of the volume in this offense that it leaves very few pieces of the pie for the other Seahawks pass-catchers. Throw in the fact that Eskridge has been on the sidelines to start training camp due to a toe injury, and it all leads to a guy who has a pretty bleak fantasy outlook as things stand right now.
Russell Wilson 2021 Fantasy Outlook
Per RotoGrinders NFL player projections, Russell Wilson is expected to be the fantasy QB10. He’s being drafted on Underdog Fantasy as QB6 at pick 75, compared to his RotoGrinders ranking of 99 as of July. We currently expect 4,472 passing yards (Rank 8) and 28 passing touchdowns (Rank 6) during the 17 week fantasy season. We also expect 199 yards rushing (Rank 15) with a 10% share of team rush attempts.
I suppose it is a testament to the quarterback position as a whole that Wilson finished 2020 with 4,212 yards (plus another 513 on the ground) and 40 TD’s (plus another 2 TD’s with his legs), yet was ‘just’ QB6. As you can see, we are projecting a little bit of regression in the touchdown department, which is a main driver in him only popping as QB10 this season. Personally, I am a little bit higher on him than that. And with a new offensive coordinator in town (Shane Waldron), I am extremely intrigued to see how he utilizes Wilson this season. The Seahawks scored the eighth most points per game (28.7) in 2020. Is it possible we see them eclipse 30 points per game in 2021?
Tyler Lockett 2021 Fantasy Outlook
Per RotoGrinders NFL player projections, Tyler Lockett is expected to be the fantasy WR14. He’s being drafted on Underdog Fantasy as WR19 at pick 40, compared to his RotoGrinders ranking of 34 as of July. We currently expect a 23% target share which amounts to a projection of 139 targets (Rank 15) and 1093 receiving yards (Rank 21) during the 17 week fantasy season.
Following his 100 receptions (on 132 targets), 1,054 yards, and 10 TD’s in 2020 that led to him being WR11, Lockett secured the bag this offseason by signing a four-year, $69 million contract extension. And based on his 2021 projections above—which don’t feel at all outlandish to me—I find it pretty wild how low the industry appears to be on him. Lockett is only 28 years old, so he still has plenty of good years ahead of him. If the value is there in your drafts—which it appears to be with Lockett—don’t be afraid to jump on it.
Chris Carson 2021 Fantasy Outlook
Per RotoGrinders NFL player projections, Chris Carson is expected to be the fantasy RB15. He’s being drafted on Underdog Fantasy as RB17 at pick 37, compared to his RotoGrinders ranking of 26 as of July. We currently expect 887 yards rushing during the first 17 weeks (Rank 20) with a 56% share of team carries. We also expect a 12% target share which amounts to a projection of 71 targets (Rank 12) and 410 receiving yards (Rank 15).
Carson’s rushing efficiency suffered in 2020. After averaging 82 yards per game on the ground in both 2018 and 2019, he only racked up 56.8 yards per game in 2020. He was able to make up for that a little bit though with increased volume in the passing game. Last season, he racked up 37 receptions (on 46 targets), 287 yards, and 4 TD’s in just 12 games, which is essentially what he did in 2019 but in 15 games (just 2 TD’s though). The 12% target share he amassed last season is precisely what we are projecting for this season, and the 56% share of team carries represents a slight increase (54.1% in 2020). The end result is a guy who projects to be RB15 and someone who is going a little later in drafts than he should be.
D.K. Metcalf 2021 Fantasy Outlook
Per RotoGrinders NFL player projections, D.K. Metcalf is expected to be the fantasy WR7. He’s being drafted on Underdog Fantasy as WR6 at pick 19, compared to his RotoGrinders ranking of 21 as of July. We currently expect a 25% target share which amounts to a projection of 155 targets (Rank 7) and 1,388 receiving yards (Rank 7) during the 17 week fantasy season.
With 83 receptions (on 129 targets), 1,303 yards, and 10 TD’s in 2020, DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf turned in a Top 5 WR performance in just his second season. Yeah, I’d say that didn’t take very long! The question is: can he repeat that performance in 2021? He does still have to share the spotlight some with Tyler Lockett, as both guys finished with a target share of roughly 24% last season. We have it shaded a little more towards Metcalf to open the 2021 season, which has him projecting to be the WR7.
DeSean Jackson 2021 Fantasy Outlook
Per RotoGrinders NFL player projections, DeSean Jackson is expected to be the fantasy WR88. He’s being drafted on Underdog Fantasy as WR90 at pick 200, compared to his RotoGrinders ranking of 193 as of July. We currently expect a 9% target share which amounts to a projection of 54 targets (Rank 92) and 458 receiving yards (Rank 87) during the 17 week fantasy season.
Pairing Jackson with Stafford sure seems like an ideal fit on paper, but our current projections at RotoGrinders still have Jackson as the fourth man on the depth chart behind Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, and Van Jefferson. Maybe Stafford and Jackson are able to catch lightning in a bottle (I’m guessing they will connect for at least a couple deep TD’s this season), but the reality is that it’s hard for me to envision Jackson leaving much of a mark as a fantasy football asset this season. It doesn’t help that he is getting drafted right about where we have him projected either.
Van Jefferson 2021 Fantasy Outlook
Per RotoGrinders NFL player projections, Van Jefferson is expected to be the fantasy WR81. He’s being drafted on Underdog Fantasy as WR84 at pick 190, compared to his RotoGrinders ranking of 170 as of July. We currently expect a 12% target share which amounts to a projection of 73 targets (Rank 81) and 504 receiving yards (Rank 84) during the 17 week fantasy season.
Jefferson will be competing with the newly acquired DeSean Jackson to fill the role of the departed Josh Reynolds (now in Tennessee). Yes, Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods are going to remain the primary targets for the Rams, but whoever ends up being the WR3 for them could still hold plenty of value with Matthew Stafford now at the helm. The 12% target share we are projecting for Jefferson is a healthy boost from the 6.9% he saw last season, and it will be interesting to see if the second-year player is able to capitalize on the new opportunity.
Xavier Jones 2021 Fantasy Outlook
Per RotoGrinders NFL player projections, Xavier Jones is expected to be the fantasy RB46. He’s being drafted on Underdog Fantasy as RB54 at pick 186, compared to his RotoGrinders ranking of 165 as of July. We currently expect 393 yards rushing during the first 17 weeks (Rank 48) with a 26% share of team carries. We also expect a 4% target share which amounts to a projection of 24 targets (Rank 53) and 146 receiving yards (Rank 50).
The season-ending injury to Cam Akers has Jones sitting as the Rams RB2 on our depth chart and a guy we can look to for value in the later rounds as a handcuff to Henderson. The second-year player out of SMU was a special-teams guy last season, but the injury to Akers and Malcolm Brown now being in Miami means there could be plenty of opportunity for Jones in the Rams backfield if he is able to earn that spot in camp.
Tyler Higbee 2021 Fantasy Outlook
Per RotoGrinders NFL player projections, Tyler Higbee is expected to be the fantasy TE11. He’s being drafted on Underdog Fantasy as TE8 at pick 98, compared to his RotoGrinders ranking of 127 as of July. We currently expect a 12% target share which amounts to a projection of 75 targets (Rank 12) and 554 receiving yards (Rank 12) during the 17 week fantasy season.
With Gerald Everett (11.3% target share in 2020) now in Seattle, it is all Higbee all the time at tight end for the Rams. As noted above, we are expecting a slight increase to the 11.7% target share he saw last year. And while that has him projecting to be a borderline Top 10 tight end this season, it seems as if the public is valuing him a little more than our projections are.
Matthew Stafford 2021 Fantasy Outlook
Per RotoGrinders NFL player projections, Matthew Stafford is expected to be the fantasy QB12. He’s being drafted on Underdog Fantasy as QB13 at pick 111, compared to his RotoGrinders ranking of 101 as of July. We currently expect 4,513 passing yards (Rank 7) and 29 passing touchdowns (Rank 4) during the 17 week fantasy season. We also expect 114 yards rushing (Rank 29) with a 8% share of team rush attempts.
The upgrade to Stafford from Jared Goff has resulted in the Rams projecting to be one of the better offenses in the league this season. And while that doesn’t mean that Stafford will find himself in the upper echelon of fantasy quarterbacks, I certainly wouldn’t be upset if he falls to me in drafts. If McVay lets Stafford sling it even more than we are projecting, there is plenty of upside for Stafford to be able to catapult himself into that list of Top 10 QB’s.
Robert Woods 2021 Fantasy Outlook
Per RotoGrinders NFL player projections, Robert Woods is expected to be the fantasy WR16. He’s being drafted on Underdog Fantasy as WR15 at pick 34, compared to his RotoGrinders ranking of 36 as of July. We currently expect a 23% target share which amounts to a projection of 142 targets (Rank 12) and 1040 receiving yards (Rank 23) during the 17 week fantasy season.
Our projections have Woods and teammate Cooper Kupp neck-and-neck when it comes to their fantasy outlook. The main difference is that Kupp appears to be undervalued while Woods appears to be properly valued. Still though, there is plenty of upside that Woods can tap into. This is a guy who had 1,219 receiving yards in 2018 and 1,134 in 2019. And this Matthew Stafford fella is not shy about slinging it downfield, which you didn’t really see much of out of Jared Goff last year. If Stafford and Woods connect on more than their fair share of deep balls, Woods could end up being a week-winner on several different occasions.
Cooper Kupp 2021 Fantasy Outlook
Per RotoGrinders NFL player projections, Cooper Kupp is expected to be the fantasy WR15. He’s being drafted on Underdog Fantasy as WR20 at pick 41, compared to his RotoGrinders ranking of 35 as of July. We currently expect a 23% target share which amounts to a projection of 143 targets (Rank 11) and 1087 receiving yards (Rank 22) during the 17 week fantasy season.
With Matthew Stafford at the helm instead of Jared Goff, Kupp is in line for a huge bounce-back season. In 2020, he was only able to find the endzone three times on his 124 targets. Anyone want to take the under on that this season? I didn’t think so! We have Kupp projected to be a Top 15 wide receiver in 2021, and it appears as if he is going a little later than that in drafts right now. I am all in on this Rams passing game this season, and Kupp is probably at the top of the list.
Darrell Henderson 2021 Fantasy Outlook
Per RotoGrinders NFL player projections, Darrell Henderson is expected to be the fantasy RB19. He’s being drafted on Underdog Fantasy as RB24 at pick 65, compared to his RotoGrinders ranking of 48 as of July. We currently expect 956 yards rushing during the first 17 weeks (Rank 15) with a 55% share of team carries. We also expect a 7% target share which amounts to a projection of 45 targets (Rank 28) and 289 receiving yards (Rank 24).
The season-ending injury for Cam Akers is an obvious benefit to Henderson, and it appears as if he still isn’t getting drafted high enough (although I suspect that is normalizing as more and more drafts happen). Remember, Malcolm Brown is now in Miami, which means Henderson is the last man standing from last season’s three-headed monster. Throw in the fact that this offense should be altogether better with Matthew Stafford at the helm, and there is clearly a lot to like when it comes to Henderson’s fantasy outlook.
Maxx Williams 2021 Fantasy Outlook
Per RotoGrinders NFL player projections, Maxx Williams is expected to be the fantasy TE37. He’s being drafted on Underdog Fantasy as TE46 at pick 312, compared to his RotoGrinders ranking of 251 as of July. We currently expect a 6% target share which amounts to a projection of 39 targets (Rank 39) and 235 receiving yards (Rank 41) during the 17 week fantasy season.
With Dan Arnold now in Carolina, Maxx has the chance to put a stranglehold on the tight end position for the Cardinals. And while that wouldn’t exactly equate to a ton of volume (e.g. Arnold had the seventh highest target share for the Cardinals last season at just 9.4%), it still appears that Maxx is worth a late round flier in drafts. As noted above, we are projecting just a 6% target share for him this season, which is well below what Arnold had last year. And yet, that still results in Maxx being drafted a little later than he should be, per our projections.
Christian Kirk 2021 Fantasy Outlook
Per RotoGrinders NFL player projections, Christian Kirk is expected to be the fantasy WR70. He’s being drafted on Underdog Fantasy as WR70 at pick 153, compared to his RotoGrinders ranking of 142 as of July. We currently expect a 14% target share which amounts to a projection of 87 targets (Rank 65) and 596 receiving yards (Rank 71) during the 17 week fantasy season.
Even with the possible/likely departure (retirement?) of Larry Fitzgerald, Kirk still finds himself with plenty of competition alongside DeAndre Hopkins. During the offseason, the Cardinals scooped up A.J. Green from the Bengals and also drafted Rondale Moore (Purdue). So despite having a 16.3% target share last season with the Cardinals, we are projecting a very slight decline in that department this season. The end result though is that Kirk is still being drafted right about where he should be, according to those projections. If he is able to scoot up to being Kyler’s preferred pass-catcher (behind Nuk, of course), I suppose there is still plenty of upside to Kirk’s fantasy outlook.