NFL has been a thriller in the first two weeks of 2021, and a lot of the fantasy football world is on fire.
As the season starts taking shape, we start learning how the offseason changes will affect 2021 teams and how trends will differ from 2020. Case in point; in 2020, the New York Jets were the team to target for streaming tight ends in fantasy football. They gave up 12.2 fantasy points per game, yielding a total of 91 receptions, 1,105 yards, and 14 touchdowns to the position. In 2021, they have only given up 4.7 points per game to TEs in two games. The New York Jets have faced the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots so far. New England plays in 12 personnel (two TEs) 37% so far in 2021. With that example, let’s look at some interesting Week 3 stats and trends.
Los Angeles Chargers vs Kansas City Chiefs
- Through two weeks in 2021, Mike Williams (3 targets) and Keenan Allen (2 targets) are second and third in targets inside the 10-yard of the red zone.
- The Chargers are passing at 68.2% – third-most in the league so far.
- The Cleveland Browns (28 passes) and Baltimore Ravens (26 passes) threw less than 30 pass attempts against the Chiefs and still posted 30+ points due to their solid ground production.
- Kansas City is giving up 9.9 yards per reception, the second-highest to only the Detriot Lions so far.
Minnesota Vikings vs Seattle Seahawks
- Minnesota Vikings defense is continuing the trend from 2020 of giving up ~30 points a game
- The Vikings are giving up 71.43% RZ scoring so far, but only allowing a 26.09% third-down conversion which is second-fewest in the league.
- The Vikings and Seahawks are giving up 4.4+ yards per rush attempt while both are averaging 4.8+ yards per rush attempt as well.
- This game has an O/U of 55.5, tied with the two others in this article as the highest on the slate this week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Los Angeles Rams
- Tampa Bay leads the league in blitz percentage at 44.6% so far this year but only a pressure rate of 17.9% pressure rate which is middle of the pack rate.
- L.A. Rams allowed a 4.75% QB sack rate in 2020. So far they are at a 4.35% sack rate in 2021, which is eighth-lowest.
- So far, the Rams and Buccaneers rank 4th and 5th lowest, respectively, in yards per completion (YPC) – at 8.5 YPC and 8.9 YPC allowed, respectively.
- Slot receiver Copper Kupp has the highest YPC at 16.9 of any receivers in this game.
The highest targeted receiver within the 10-yard line is Arizona Cardinal’s AJ Green at four targets!!!
