NCAAB
Spread

WR Fantasy Football Rankings 2021: Top Wide Receiver Draft Picks

Last Updated: Jul 14, 2023

Nate Hamilton ranks his top WR fantasy football rankings heading into the 2021 season. Which wide receivers have the most value this season? Considering skills and system, Nate ranks 105 wideouts for 2021 fantasy football leagues.

WR Fantasy Football Rankings 2021: League Settings

  • Lineup: 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB/WR/TE Flex, 1 PK, 1 DT
  • 0.5 PPR scoring
    • 1 point per 10 Rush/Receiving yards
    • 4 pts Pass TD
    • -1 pt Interception
    • 6 points all other TDs

Sign up with DraftKings to play 2021 Fantasy Football. DraftKings offers a deposit bonus of up to $1,000 with your first deposit.

  • Sign up to claim DraftKings’ welcome promotion.
  • Learn more about DraftKings with our hands-on sportsbook review.

Check out the rest of Nate Hamilton’s fantasy previews for detailed tier breakdowns and positional rankings:

WR Fantasy Football Rankings 2021

RkTierPlayerPosTmByePosRkAuction $
11Stefon DiggsWRBUF7WR142
21Davante AdamsWRGB13WR240
31Justin JeffersonWRMIN7WR331
41Tyreek HillWRKC12WR441
51Calvin RidleyWRATL6WR537
61DeAndre HopkinsWRARI12WR635
72A.J. BrownWRTEN13WR732
82D.K. MetcalfWRSEA9WR832
92CeeDee LambWRDAL7WR922
102Keenan AllenWRLAC7WR1022
112Allen Robinson IIWRCHI10WR1124
122Terry McLaurinWRWAS9WR1227
132Chris GodwinWRTB9WR1318
143Julio JonesWRTEN13WR1418
153Amari CooperWRDAL7WR1518
163Robert WoodsWRLAR11WR1618
173Mike EvansWRTB9WR1717
183D.J. MooreWRCAR13WR1817
193Tyler LockettWRSEA9WR1917
204Cooper KuppWRLAR11WR2015
214Jerry JeudyWRDEN11WR2114
224Odell Beckham Jr.WRCLE13WR2216
234JuJu Smith-SchusterWRPIT7WR2312
244Adam ThielenWRMIN7WR2414
254Corey DavisWRNYJ6WR2511
264Kenny GolladayWRNYG10WR2616
274Diontae JohnsonWRPIT7WR2715
285Robby AndersonWRCAR13WR2810
295Tyler BoydWRCIN10WR299
305Jakobi MeyersWRNE14WR308
315Russell GageWRATL6WR3112
325Michael ThomasWRNO6WR329
335Will Fuller VWRMIA14WR339
345Cole BeasleyWRBUF7WR346
356Brandon AiyukWRSF6WR3512
366Tee HigginsWRCIN10WR3612
376DJ Chark Jr.WRJAC7WR379
386Brandin CooksWRHOU10WR386
396Courtland SuttonWRDEN11WR3912
406Chase ClaypoolWRPIT7WR4016
416Jarvis LandryWRCLE13WR415
426Curtis SamuelWRWAS9WR4210
436DeVonta SmithWRPHI14WR436
447Deebo SamuelWRSF6WR449
457Michael GallupWRDAL7WR455
467Darnell MooneyWRCHI10WR462
477Ja'Marr ChaseWRCIN10WR4712
487Mike WilliamsWRLAC7WR483
497John BrownWRLV8WR491
507Laviska Shenault Jr.WRJAC7WR505
517Antonio BrownWRTB9WR513
528Nelson AgholorWRNE14WR521
538Marquez CallawayWRNO6WR535
548Sammy WatkinsWRBAL8WR544
558DeVante ParkerWRMIA14WR554
568Sterling ShepardWRNYG10WR562
578Marvin Jones Jr.WRJAC7WR574
588Marquise BrownWRBAL8WR583
598Michael Pittman Jr.WRIND14WR593
608Jaylen WaddleWRMIA14WR602
618T.Y. HiltonWRIND14WR612
629Jalen ReagorWRPHI14WR622
639Mecole HardmanWRKC12WR633
649Henry Ruggs IIIWRLV8WR642
659Jamison CrowderWRNYJ6WR651
669Elijah MooreWRNYJ6WR662
679A.J. GreenWRARI12WR671
689Gabriel DavisWRBUF7WR680
699Rashod BatemanWRBAL8WR691
709Christian KirkWRARI12WR701
719Denzel MimsWRNYJ6WR711
7210Parris CampbellWRIND14WR721
7310Darius SlaytonWRNYG10WR731
7410Allen LazardWRGB13WR740
7510Emmanuel SandersWRBUF7WR750
7610Rondale MooreWRARI12WR760
7710Marquez Valdes-ScantlingWRGB13WR770
7810Tim PatrickWRDEN11WR780
7910Kendrick BourneWRNE14WR790
8010Tyrell WilliamsWRDET9WR800
8110Keke CouteeWRHOU10WR810
8210Josh ReynoldsWRTEN13WR820
8311Tre'Quan SmithWRNO6WR830
8411Bryan EdwardsWRLV8WR840
8511Amon-Ra St. BrownWRDET9WR850
8611N'Keal HarryWRNE14WR860
8711Terrace Marshall Jr.WRCAR13WR870
8811Randall CobbWRHOU10WR880
8911Anthony MillerWRCHI10WR890
9011Hunter RenfrowWRLV8WR900
9111KJ HamlerWRDEN11WR910
9211Van JeffersonWRLAR11WR920
9311DeSean JacksonWRLAR11WR930
9411James WashingtonWRPIT7WR940
9511Kadarius ToneyWRNYG10WR950
9611Preston WilliamsWRMIA14WR960
9712Amari RodgersWRGB13WR970
9812Rashard HigginsWRCLE13WR980
9912Zach PascalWRIND14WR990
10012Tyron JohnsonWRJAC7WR1000
10112Quintez CephusWRDET9WR1010
10212Travis FulghamWRPHI14WR1020
10312Scotty MillerWRTB9WR1030
10412Nico CollinsWRHOU10WR1040
10512Keelan Cole Sr.WRNYJ6WR1050

WR Fantasy Football Rankings: Tier Breakdown

Tier 1

These are the wide receivers who will give you guaranteed weekly production. They will be worth any draft pick you spend on them.

Aaron Rodgers is playing at least one more year with the Packers to maintain Davante Adams’ fantasy value. Justin Jefferson dominated in his rookie season, and I’m looking for him to have an even better year in a Vikings offense that has pretty much stayed the same. As for Calvin Ridley, he no longer has Julio Jones to hinder his numbers and should see a wealthy target share in 2021.

Tier 2

You’re still in the safe production zone with this group of wideouts. I’d be happy with any one of these wide receivers as my fantasy WR1.

A.J. Brown will have Julio Jones on the other side of the field in Tennessee which does hinder Brown’s ceiling, but not enough to drop him too far in rankings. CeeDee Lamb will be my favorite wide receiver in this tier to target in drafts, as I see him taking over as the WR1 in Dallas. Terry McLaurin has a lot going in his favor this season: A quarterback that has proven capable of providing top fantasy football numbers to his wide receivers, additional offensive weapons to take away some defensive pressure and a defense that will make quick work of opposing offenses.

Tier 3

Mike Evans, Julio Jones, Amari Cooper, Robert Woods and Tyler Lockett all have standalone value but are competing with WR teammates that are likely to post better numbers in 2021. The players in this tier would be amazing WR2 on your fantasy squads, so try your best to draft your WR1 before this is what you’re left with.

Evans tied for the fourth-most red zone targets in 2020 and will likely be a touchdown machine again as Tom Brady’s top target inside the 20. Jones will have to adjust to a different quarterback in 2021, but should have little trouble producing as the WR2 in an offense with one of the league’s best running backs. Lockett is consistently undervalued considering how consistent he is for fantasy. He may be toward the end of this tier, but he’s my favorite WR here.

Tier 4

There are plenty of names here that, not too long ago, were considered to be in the top-tier. The NFL changes quickly, but these wideouts still provide plenty of value.

Diontae Johnson and JuJu Smith-Schuster will see plenty of targets in what could be Ben Roethlisberger’s final season. If Kenny Golladay can stay healthy, he will be the top target for Daniel Jones in a pass-heavy Giants offense. Odell Beckham Jr. is looking healthy and expected to bounce back after his ACL tear in Week 7 of the 2020 season. Russell Gage benefits from the departure of Julio Jones and has WR2 upside in a favorable scheme. Michael Thomas is expected to miss time at the beginning of the season. There was already concern regarding the quality of his targets, but that’s become a secondary issue. Consider this a placeholder for Thomas until we find out more about his recovery time.

Tier 5

There are few wide receivers I like in this tier. In fact, I only see myself targeting two players in Tier 5.

Cole Beasley (if he plays in 2021) is vastly underrated given his target share in the Bills offense and what should be a positive regression in touchdowns for 2021. Curtis Samuel is by far my favorite late-round wide receiver to target in fantasy drafts. He fell into a dream landing spot with the Washington Football Team. Ryan Fitzpatrick will have plenty to offer to WFT’s receiving options. Samuel will benefit from Terry McLaurin stretching the field while he racks up targets from the slot. As mentioned earlier regarding McLaurin, Samuel will also benefit from the Washington Football Team defense. The rest of the names in this tier don’t do enough for me to advise drafting them.

Tier 6

There are more wide receivers I like in this tier. You are getting some amazing value considering the upside of this group of guys.

Robby Anderson, Tyler Boyd, Jerry Jeudy and Jarvis Landry all had more than 100 targets and fewer than 5 touchdowns in 2020. If they see similar target shares in 2021, they should also see an increase in touchdowns. Opportunity is king for fantasy football. The more you touch the ball, the better the chances of scoring. It’s a simple reason to like these options in 2021 fantasy drafts.

Will Fuller V was the WR4 in his last 9 games played. He had 45 receptions for 767 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns in that span. I’m expecting him to see plenty of targets in the Dolphins offense in 2021. Corey Davis has the opportunity to be the WR1 in the Jets offense this season. I’m expecting the Jets WRs to see volume with an underwhelming backfield and Zach Wilson at QB.

Click for dynasty WR 2021 fantasy football draft rankings.

Tier 7

There are many who are expecting a big year from Laviska Shenault Jr., and I can see why. He’s the best slot option for rookie QB Trevor Lawrence to target. The Jaguars vertical wideouts are sneaky good, which should open things up for Shenault and increase his opportunities in 2021.

Elsewhere, although I am a big believer in Devonta Smith’s talent, I’m just not sold on the Eagles passing attack in 2021. I have reservations regarding Jalen Hurts and his ability in making his wide receivers fantasy relevant. Regardless, Smith is a value in drafts considering his talent and potential upside. Sammy Watkins and Marquise Brown belong in the same tier because they will be sharing targets from Lamar Jackson, and it’s unclear who will be the fantasy WR to roster. Both are risky options as Watkins’ health is notoriously unstable and Brown hasn’t been consistent enough to solidify his WR1 status in the Ravens offense. Finally, I can see Michael Gallup benefiting from some open field as defenses will have their hands full with Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb and Ezekiel Elliott.

Tier 8

Definitely some interesting options in this tier. Antonio Brown will still be catching passes from Tom Brady in 2021, but he is the third (at best) go-to option. Mike Williams is your typical boom-or-bust wide receiver. T.Y. Hilton appears to be beyond his prime, but he could find new life with Carson Wentz at quarterback.

Darnell Mooney could be the best value in this tier. His route running is a thing of beauty. If Justin Fields takes over earlier in the season, I’d expect Mooney’s fantasy production to spike. As much as I like Nelson Agholor, his fantasy value takes a hit as a deep option in an offense with Cam Newton at quarterback. John Brown essentially replaces Agholor’s role in Las Vegas. Mecole Hardman has an opportunity to step up his production as the WR2 in a Patrick Mahomes-led offense.

Tier 9

We have officially entered the “late-round dart throw” tiers. There are still some potential weekly starters here.

Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton will compete for WR2-type targets with Kenny Golladay, the clear WR1 in that offense. Elijah Moore has the potential to catch fire as a rookie with Zach Wilson targeting him. A.J. Green still has some tread on his tires at age 33. Green was another wide receiver who had more than 100 targets and fewer than 5 touchdowns last season, which certainly makes him an interesting option in Arizona. Breshad Perriman is expected to be the WR1 for Jared Goff in Detroit. Say what you want, but getting any WR1 in an offense has its benefits, especially in double-digit rounds of fantasy drafts.

Tier 10

Kicking off tier 10 is Buffalo Bills wideout Gabriel Davis, who showed some consistency down the stretch of the 2020 season. He was targeted four or more times in 7 of his final 8 games. Davis also caught a touchdown in 5 of those 8 games. Allen Lazard, if healthy, is the likely WR2 in the Packers offense. He averaged more targets per game than Marquez Valdes-Scantling (4.6 for Lazard, 3.9 for Valdes-Scantling) in 2020. Tim Patrick was the most consistent option for the Denver Broncos last season. He scored the most fantasy points among Broncos wideouts and had just one fewer catch than Jerry Jeudy despite having 34 fewer targets. Tyrell Williams will have an opportunity as one of Jared Goff’s top targets in 2021. He missed the 2020 season due to a shoulder injury, but if he can remain healthy, he should see decent target numbers.

Tier 11 & 12

The final two tiers are true dart throws. Randall Cobb could find value in Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers. Kendrick Bourne could be a surprise asset in New England. N’Keal Harry could step up in his third year, especially if he gets his wish and is traded to a team that will give him volume. Outside of that, there really isn’t much to like about the bottom of the barrel choices here in 2021. Hopefully your draft is completed before you’re left with these names at wide receiver.

Author

Nate Hamilton

Nate Hamilton is a regular contributor to the fantasy football industry. He has produced content for some of the top fantasy football sites including FantasyPros, The Fantasy Footballers, Fantasy Data, FantraxHQ, and currently The Game Day! He is a co-author of Amazon's #1 Best Selling "The Fantasy Football Black Book" with Joe Pisapia. Nate is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA).

Related articles

Promotions

Get $1,500 in Bonus Bets

5 stars

Bet $5 & Get $150 in Bonus Bets or First Bet Safety Net

5 stars

Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets

5 stars

Get A Bonus Bet Up to $1,000

5 stars

Get $200 in Bonus Bets

5 stars

Get up to $250 2nd Chance Free Bet

5 stars

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, DC, IL, IN, LA, MD, MS, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY).

Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).

Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI).

All betting content on TheGameDay.com is exclusively intended for audience members 21 years and older who are permitted to gamble in legal states. The Game Day may earn revenue from site visitor referrals to betting services.

Responsible Gaming: Many sportsbooks offer ways to encourage responsible gaming, including the establishment of limits to deposits, spending, and time dedicated to betting.

The Game Day is a TGD Marketing Ltd. endeavor.