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Fantasy Football Rankings 2021: Rookie wide receivers and dynasty

By Drew DeLuca

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 13: Wide Receiver Ja'Marr Chase #1 of the LSU Tigers makes a catch over Cornerback A.J. Terrell #8 of the Clemson Tigers for a touchdown during the College Football Playoff National Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. LSU defeated Clemson 42 to 25. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 13: Wide Receiver Ja'Marr Chase #1 of the LSU Tigers makes a catch over Cornerback A.J. Terrell #8 of the Clemson Tigers for a touchdown during the College Football Playoff National Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. LSU defeated Clemson 42 to 25. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA: Wide Receiver Ja’Marr Chase #1 of the LSU Tigers hauls in a touchdown over Cornerback A.J. Terrell #8 of the Clemson Tigers during the College Football Playoff National Championship game on January 13, 2020. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA: Wide Receiver Ja’Marr Chase #1 of the LSU Tigers hauls in a touchdown over Cornerback A.J. Terrell #8 of the Clemson Tigers during the College Football Playoff National Championship game on January 13, 2020. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

2021 Fantasy Football Rookie WR1: Ja’Marr Chase

There’s no need to get cute: as great of a prospect as DeVonta Smith is, Ja’Marr Chase (6-0, 201 pounsa) is the consensus top wide receiver in this year’s draft for a multitude of reasons. We’ll start with the numbers: in 14 games in 2019, Chase caught 84 passes for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns.

He was unquestionably the best wide receiver on a team that featured Justin Jefferson and another potential 2021 first-rounder, Terrace Marshall Jr. Let that sink in.

Smith may have won the Heisman, but Chase took home the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver. A do-it-all receiver, Chase averaged 21.2 yards per reception in his college career, which is even more impressive given the volume he received and the level of competition he faced.

As impressive as his stat sheet looks, Chase’s film is even better. The LSU standout has exceptional speed, explosiveness, and is a fluid, natural receiver who’s capable of being a perennial Pro Bowler for years to come.

Unlike other wide receivers in our top eight, Chase can play the X, Z, and slot positions, and all at an extremely high level. Yes, the slot, too: Chase averaged a stellar 6.49 yards per route run from that spot in 2019.

There isn’t a single NFL team today that boasts a starting wide receiving corps that Chase couldn’t crack. He truly is a special talent, and we won’t be surprised if he becomes the best wide receiver in the NFL five years from now.

Next. 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Broncos, Bears trade into top 10. dark

We are starting to buy into the idea that Chase will go fifth overall to the Cincinnati Bengals, even with Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins in the fold: per Next Gen Stats, only the Buffalo Bills (88 percent) employed more personnel packages featuring three or more wide receivers than Cincy (82 percent). If the Bengals, Dolphins, and Lions inexplicably pass and leave a gift for the Carolina Panthers, a Chase/Joe Brady reunion might even get us excited about Sam Darnold! Maybe.

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