Home » 2021 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings

2021 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings: Standard Scoring

Joe DiTullio

Publish Date: August 25, 2021

The 2021 NFL Draft is over, giving fans a clearer picture of rosters for the 2021 season. With that fantasy football rankings can be released. Here are the 2021 fantasy football standard scoring wide receiver rankings. (Note: These are best used for standard-scoring leagues and will be updated until the season starts)

For Position Rankings: Big Board QB RB WR TE D/ST K

1-10

1. Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers

For now it is assumed in this article that Aaron Rodgers will be back with the Packers for 2021. There is no reason other than Rodgers’ falling out with Green Bay to not rank Adams first on any list. He was the first ranked receiver in 2020 in just 14 games played. If Rodgers is on the Packers, Adams is in store for another big year as the 2021 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings number one.

2. Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs

Hill was the second-ranked receiver in just 15 games last season. Not that he took away from Hill’s productivity too much, but Sammy Watkins has also departed to join the Baltimore Ravens. Hill could see a few extra targets, but either way he will be productive.

3. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills

The top three players on this list finished in this order last year. Diggs exlpoded in his first year in Buffalo. With Josh Allen continuing to improve as a quarterback, Diggs should consistently put up good numbers over the next few seasons.

4. D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks

Metcalf averaged 11.8 points per game and ranked fifth in the league last season. His chemistry with Russell Wilson is growing and the Seahawks are starting to air the ball out more. Another top five fantasy season should be incoming for Metcalf.

5. DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals

Last season, Hopkins finished as the 10th best receiver. It was his first season with the Cardinals and rising star Kyler Murray. If Murray continues to improve Hopkins should move up the 2021 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings this year.

6. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

In 2020, Jefferson had an impressive season, especially given that he was a rookie. He finished as the sixth-ranked fantasy receiver, some more attention may be placed on him this year, but Jefferson is a top 10 value this season at receiver.

7. Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons

Ridley was the fourth-ranked fantasy receiver last year in just 15 games. He is a very talented receiver, but the Falcons also added Kyle Pitts. With the Falcons possibly losing Julio Jones, the rest of the offense could take a hit even with Pitts and Ridley.

8. A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans

In 14 games during the 2020 season, Brown averaged 12.7 fantasy points per game, which helped him rank ninth for receivers. Every year, he continues to put up better numbers. He and newly-acquired Julio Jones will have to fight for targets, but they both could be top 10 fantasy receivers next season.

9. Julio Jones, Tennessee Titans

Jones has just been traded to the Titans. His fantasy impact will likely be similar to what he would have done in Atlanta, but he will have to compete for touches with Derrick Henry and A.J. Brown. He averaged 10.6 points per game last season in nine games played. Had he played a full season he would have been in the top 10.

10. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers

With Justin Herbert playing better than many imagined, Allen had a great 2020 season where he ended up as the 18th-best receiver in just 14 games played. If Herbert takes a step forward and Allen can stay healthy for a full season, he will finish near the top 10.

11-20

11. Terry McLaurin, Washington Football Team

McLaurin did not have the best quarterback play last year, but he was able to overcome that and rank 23rd in 15 games played. With Ryan Fitzpatrick airing the ball out in 2021, he should see a massive jump in big plays, which is something he specializes in.

12. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With help from Tom Brady, Evans was the eighth-best fantasy receiver last year. Targets will be split more evenly this year with his teammates who weren’t fortunate enough to play all 16 games last season.

13. Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings

Thielen ranked seventh last season for receivers in 15 games played. Justin Jefferson is emerging though, which could take away more targets as time goes on.

14. Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears

Robinson has been a talented receiver without much help from a quarterback in his career. He still finished 12th in 2020, but the same issue remains unless the Bears start Justin Fields and he plays well.

15. Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks

One of the more efficient players in the league, Lockett benefitted from Russell Wilson airing the ball out more last year too. He ranked 11th and may only take a drop in the rankings now because the Seahawks may not let Wilson throw as much.

16. Robert Woods, Los Angeles Rams

Woods finished the season at 13 last year and has finished in that range consistently over the last few years. With Matthew Stafford joining the Rams, Woods shouldn’t have any problems finishing in this range again.

17. Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Can there be too many good pass-catchers on a team? Godwin is a great player who finished 30th last season because of injury. He’ll finish top 20 this year, as he displayed the ball can be spread around with 10.5 fantasy points per game last season.

18. Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys

Cooper’s production fell because Dak Prescott was injured last season. With Prescott back in the lineup, Cooper should return to form, but he will have to fight his own teammates for targets.

19. Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints

Thomas was hurt last year and the Saints suffered. Now he is coming back, but the quarterback situation is less than ideal with Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston battling over it. His talent will help him produce, but he might take a hit because of the quarterback situation. He has also complained about his situation and it looks like he may not want to be in New Orleans much longer.

20. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

Finishing as WR20 as a rookie isn’t a bad way to start a career, especially when Dak Prescott missed most of the season. Lamb will have a big 2021 season and will just have to fight for targets.

21-30

21. Kenny Golladay, New York Giants

This offseason Golladay decided to sign with the New York Giants after an injury-plagued final season in Detroit. While his traits are great, the quarterback situation is not, which pushes him down this list.

22. Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns

Beckham Jr. is one of the most talented receivers in the league. The problem with him are that he is coming off an injury and the Browns have a run-based offense. He likely won’t reach his fantasy potential in the Browns’ offense.

23. D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers

Moore was the 17th-ranked receiver last season and that was with him missing a game. The Panthers have yet to find him a quarterback who can really utilize his skills, as Sam Darnold would have to improve massively to really help Moore’s value.

24. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

Sutton tore his ACL last season and is returning from that all while never really putting together a full season. He also doesn’t have the best quarterback situation. When he is able to play, Sutton has shown to be capable of being a solid fantasy wide receiver.

25. Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers

In his rookie season, Claypool finished 14th. He has a chance to have another solid season in 2021, but may take a step backwards if the Steelers try to get some of their other receivers more involved. That along with Ben Roethlisberger‘s declining play could keep Claypool out of the top 20.

26. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams

Kupp had a down season by his standards in 2020 and was WR34. With Matt Stafford coming to town, he should be able to move up the rankings this year significantly.

27. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

Higgins only had a partial season with Joe Burrow last season and still ranked 28th. If Burrow is protected, Higgins should be the most valuable fantasy receiver.

28. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers

The 2020 season was a “down” one for Smith-Schuster, but he still finished as the 22nd-ranked receiver. He may take a slight hit with the offense having an aging quarterback and a bell-cow running back to lean on.

29. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals decided to reunite former college teammates in Chase and Joe Burrow. With how many times the Bengals project to throw the ball, Chase and the other receivers on the team should all be able to produce.

30. Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

In 12 games in 2020, Aiyuk ranked 33rd. The quarterback position not being figured out coul hurt him, but his ability to catch and be used as a gadget player will help his value.

31-40

31. Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers have three talented receivers. Johnson has had some rapport with Ben Roethlisberger and ranked 26th last season. He should fare similarly this season.

32. D.J. Chark, Jacksonville Jaguars

Chark ranked 48th in 13 games during 2020. With a full season and Trevor Lawrence in town, Chark should be back to form.

33. Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos

Jeudy has said that he wasn’t satisfied with his play as a rookie. He still was WR43. With him progressing this year Jeudy can make a significant jump in the rankings.

34. Brandin Cooks, Houston Texans

Someone has to catch passes for the Texans. Cooks ranked 16th last season in 15 games. The problem is that Deshaun Watson is likely not playing all season. Houston’s whole offense will not be great in 2021.

35. Curtis Samuel, Washington Football Team

Samuel decided to join his old college teammate, Terry McLaurin, in Washington. He ranked 25th last season in 15 games for the Panthers and could rank higher if Washington had a more stable quarterback.

36. Will Fuller, Miami Dolphins

Tua Tagovailoa wasn’t throwing many contested passes last season, so the Dolphins acquired some receivers that can separate. Fuller has great speed and will help Tagovailoa. He was on a tear last season before being sidelined with a PED suspension. He ranked 24th in just 11 games played.

37. Robby Anderson, Carolina Panthers

Last year Anderson reunited with his college coach. Now his former quarterback in Sam Darnold came to down. The two have some chemistry together and could be more productive in Carolina. He averaged 8.1 points per game last season, which is around what he should average this season.

38. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers find so many ways to get receivers involved and Samuel benefitted in the seven games he played, averaging 6.8 points per game, which should increase this year with some progression on his part.

39. Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals

Boyd, like most years, will rack up the catches and yards over the middle. He ranked 37th in fantasy points last season and that was only with Joe Burrow for part of the season. The ball will be spread around more, but Boyd will continue to carve defenses up over the middle.

40. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles have struggled at the wide receiver position the last few seasons. Jalen Hurts needs someone to throw to and Smith is both talented and familiar with him. They played together at Alabama and Smith’s route-running will help give Hurts some easy targets to throw to.