The fantasy football season is in full swing as this is the last weekend to draft your dream team. With the NFL season starting in just six days, more and more drafts are likely scheduled for the coming days.
Drafting teams is one of the most exciting times for fantasy owners, but also could be extremely stressful as well. Not knowing who to pick causes people some stressful times during the draft.
Every position in fantasy is as important as the other. However, the quarterback position will definitely score the most points during the season. Here are the top five quarterbacks in fantasy football for 2021.
1. Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes comes in once again as the best quarterback to grab in fantasy football. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback is projected to go early in the second round with an averge draft position (ADP) of 14.6, according to Sleeper.app.
Mahomes was unstoppable last year and there’s likely no reason why he can’t be again in 2021. The 25-year-old quarterback finished with 375.4 points last season in just 15 games which ranked as the fourth-best in fantasy football. He averaged 25.03 points per game including five games of over 30+ points. The former MVP also only had one game under 19 points last season.
The former Texas Tech star should pick up right where he left off in 2020. In a high-powered offense where the team throws 61 percent of the time, Mahomes is surely going to finish as one of the top quarterbacks.
Projection: 410.8
2. Josh Allen
Josh Allen comes in second on this list right behind former MVP Patrick Mahomes. Allen, a surprise breakout star in 2020, finds himself as not only one of the best fantasy football quarterbacks in the league but also in the NFL. The 25-year-old quarterback is going in the third round, around pick 33.
Allen was definitely one of the most surprising fantasy players all season long. The Buffalo Bills quarterback was being taken in the later rounds in 2020, but now finds himself as the second-best coming into the season. The former Wyoming product finished with 397.06 points (24.8 points per game) last season which was the most in fantasy football.
One of many positives about Allen’s game that fantasy owners love to see is his rushing. Last season, he had nine different games of at least six rushes. With the Bills passing the ball on 59 percent of their plays, the 6-foot-5 quarterback is expected to stay near the top of the league in fantasy in 2021.
Projection: 409.2
3. Kyler Murray
The former first overall pick comes in as the third-best quarterback in fantasy in 2021. Kyler Murray was fantastic during the first half of the 2020 season. The 24-year-old quarterback averaged 29.71 points per game through the first ten weeks. However, he only averaged 15.86 points per game during weeks 11-16.
A major reason for this regression was due to the shoulder injury that Murray sustained in their week 11 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. Nevertheless, the former Oklahoma star has had a full offseason to rest his shoulder and should be back to full health in 2021. Even despite his poor performance in the second half of the season, he still finished as the third-best quarterback in 2020 with 381.74 fantasy points.
Murray’s ability to escape the pocket and run makes him one of the best fantasy options in the game. Last season, he not only had 11 rushing touchdowns but also had 10 games of at least eight carries. The 5-foot-10 quarterback has the ability to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards this season making him a top player in fantasy football.
Projection: 407.8
4. Dak Prescott
This might come as a surprise to some but not to others, but Dak Prescott comes in next on this list. The Dallas Cowboys franchise quarterback is back after missing the last 11 games of the 2020 season. The former Mississippi State star suffered a gruesome ankle injury in week five. Additionally, Prescott suffered a shoulder strain in training camp limiting him all offseason.
However, the 6-foot-2 quarterback is back and ready to go for the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Last season, Prescott was one of the best fantasy options through the first five weeks of the season. In just 18 quarters in 2020, the former rookie of the year averaged 27.13 points per game including two performances over 35+ points.
Additionally, the 28-year-old star could rush and give fantasy owners some extra points. In his career, he has over 1,300 rush yards and 24 rush touchdowns. With Prescott back in this offense with playmakers like Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb, he is expected to be one of the top fantasy football quarterbacks in the league.
Projection: 370.1
5. Lamar Jackson
Lamar Jackson comes into the 2021 season with one of the most disappointing fantasy football seasons in recent years. Jackson was the number one quarterback coming into the 2020 season after scoring 412.68 points in 2019. However, he followed that up with just 331.78 points which ranked as the 10th best amongst other quarterbacks.
However, Jackson is still one of the most intriguing fantasy football quarterback options in the league due to his legs. The former Louisville star still rushed for 1,005 yards last season and seven touchdowns. He had nine games last season where he carried at least 10 times.
Nonetheless, the part of Jackson’s game that lacks is his throwing. In 2020, the 6-foot-2 quarterback only had five games above 200 passing yards. Despite this, his legs are what really carries his fantasy value. With the Baltimore Ravens adding weapons like rookie Rashod Bateman and veteran Sammy Watkins, this will likely make him a better fantasy option than he was in 2020.
Projection: 375.3
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