Fantasy Football Guide 2021: NFC sleepers, targets, busts, strategies

Minnesota Vikings Fantasy Football Guide

Instead of telling you why I think Kirk Cousins is a good value, let me present to you this tweet. The only thing that’s changed since then is Cousins may miss a game or two if he gets put on the Covid-19 list. Unfortunately, Covid will still play a part in weekly roster decisions, so always have a contingency plan.

Dalvin Cook is a top-three fantasy running back. I explained why I’d take Alvin Kamara over him already. No need to run that back. If Cook were to miss time, Alexander Mattison would be a prime starter. But again, don’t draft both. The only way you can play Mattison is if something happened to Cook. If you’re going to draft a handcuff, make it a running back who you can play with your starters, not as a replacement. Simple math here, folks.

Minnesota’s receivers were not the most consistent bunch last year, though both finished as top-ten wide receivers in overall points. The decision I seem to keep coming back to you is to take Justin Jefferson or A.J. Brown in the third round. It’s really a tossup for me. Both are young, budding superstars on run-focused teams with competition for targets. I have no big preference. Like with Brown, I’d be fine with Jefferson as my third-round pick and WR1.

On the other hand, Adam Thielen worries me a bit. His stat-line was a bit more volatile than Jefferson’s. Some weeks he had 11 targets and 20+ points, other weeks he had four targets and 6ish points.

Thielen is better in best ball than at redrafts at his current price. Give me Cooper Kupp or D.J. Moore instead. After the Irv Smith Jr. news, there are no tight ends I’m eyeing, yet. I doubt this will finally be the season Chris Herndon breaks out. Tyler Conklin could be a name to watch down the line.