Top 11 Fantasy Football Players

Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson could have himself a giant day in Week 1. The Baltimore Ravens have been devastated by injuries lately, losing J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill to ACL tears before the year has even begun. Jackson may have to air the ball out a little more in his matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders and when the team runs, it might be more reliant on him. The Raiders were the 25th ranked defense in the league when it came to average yards allowed per game and Jackson should be able to methodically tear them apart.

Christian McCaffrey

It doesn’t get much better than this. Christian McCaffrey is making his return as the No. 1 ranked running back entering the 2021 season. He has proven to be a deadly threat in both the pass and run game for the Carolina Panthers, making his fantasy impact incredibly valuable. The Panthers line up against the New York Jets in their opening game, who were average, at best, as a defense last year. Zach Wilson opening up the passing game could also allow McCaffrey to get a little more open space in the rushing department, something he hasn’t seen in years.

Dalvin Cook

Dalvin Cook could be in store for a big game on the ground for the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are squaring off with the Cincinnati Bengals in this Week 1 affair. Cook is projected as the second-best fantasy running back in the league ahead of this season and is facing a Bengals defense that was completely unable to stop the run game during 2020. They allowed their opponents to average a whopping 148 rushing yards per game against them, something Cook will be able to exploit and get himself a huge game. Dalvin is also talented enough to be involved in the passing game just to pile onto his value. He’s a good pick for props if your NFL predictions reflect that the Vikings win here.

Calvin Ridley

The Atlanta Falcons could see their offense erupt when they face the Philadelphia Eagles. Calvin Ridley has moved up to the No. 1 receiver spot during the offseason after the team traded away Julio Jones. Ridley put together a 2020 season where he compiled 1,374 receiving yards and nine touchdowns alongside Jones. Kyle Pitts may end up taking some of his increased volume away in this opening matchup, but the upside is through the roof against an Eagles defense that has been mediocre against the pass in recent years.

DeAndre Hopkins

Hopkins is another player that should get the start and thrive in your fantasy teams this weekend. He is the top wideout for the Cardinals and is facing that Titans defense that was horrible against the pass in 2020. They allowed 277.4 average passing yards per game and are going to have a lot more to pay attention too than just Hopkins. He could end up having a very strong performance here.

Michael Pittman Jr.

Michael Pittman isn’t a name that many people are familiar with just yet as a fantasy star but that could change soon. He is coming into his sophomore season as a receiver for the Indianapolis Colts and is thrust into a perfect position to kick off 2021. T.Y. Hilton got injured during the offseason, leaving Pittman as the listed No. 1 receiver on the Colts depth chart ahead of their date with the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle was the 31st ranked defense in the league last season against the pass, and it doesn’t help that they lost Shaquem Griffin during the offseason either. Pittman has to work around an iffy quarterback situation, but this is an under-the-radar receiver with huge potential.

George Kittle

The people’s tight end, as he has been informally nicknamed, George Kittle is ready to make a splash. Kittle struggled with various injuries in 2020 and it caused him to miss multiple contests, though he enters this year healthy and ready. He squares off with the Detroit Lions in Week 1, a team that was 30th ranked when it came to passing defense in the league last season. Kittle’s insane combination of quickness and physicality will make him a nightmare to guard in this game.

Mark Andrews

The big tight end just got himself PAID. Mark Andrews just reached a multi-year agreement with the Baltimore Ravens and is prepared to come out and dominate straight from the start. With a lot of Baltimore’s offensive weapons injured already, Andrews remains one of the most consistent and viable threats in the passing game. The team faces off against the Raiders here, giving Andrews a beautiful chance to prove that he deserved this fat contract. If Jackson starts to air this football out, Andrews is going to be an integral part to their success.

Harrison Butker

Harrison Butker is the starting kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs and should be in store for a big outing in Week 1. The team is going up against the Cleveland Browns, an up-and-coming squad with a ton of offensive firepower to pull from. The Chiefs and Browns should make for a high-scoring matchup with both sides getting in a couple of solid blows. Butker should get tons of action on the field in both extra points and field goals.

Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams defense was arguably the best group in the league last year. They were first in total yards allowed per game with just 281.9, 20 yards shorter than the second-place team. They have Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey roaming the field and have a terrific matchup against Andy Dalton and the Chicago Bears. Dalton had a few horrible games last year with the Dallas Cowboys and could end up giving in to the pressure of fans wanting to see Justin Fields. Los Angeles is in for a great day.