There’s no better time of year than getting together with your friends and drafting your next fantasy football team. The trash-talking. The comradery. The boasting about your favorite picks. These and more are what it’s all about. It’s why we play fantasy football.
We also play for that ultimate prize. To win it all!
Most of us have long surpassed our glory days playing the game so we live vicariously through our fantasy football teams. The season-long journey to a championship in fantasy football is what now drives us. The wins and losses. The waiver wire stars. The fight to make the playoffs. The trade that puts you over the top. The endless grind to be the best in your league. The journey is what makes the end prize so much more special.
At League Winners, we want to see you raise that trophy. The purpose of this article is to try and identify a player at each position in line to carry you across the finish line. Players poised for big seasons that can make you a League Winner.
Quarterback
Matthew Stafford QB Los Angeles Rams
The Rams and Sean Mcvay pushed all the chips in this offseason, acquiring Matthew Stafford in a blockbuster trade – sending Jared Goff and two first round picks to the Detroit Lions. Offseason plans haven’t gone exactly according to plan for the Rams. In July, they lost running back Cam Akers for the season due to an Achilles injury. The loss of Akers could result in the Rams relying even more on their new star quarterback.
“I hope I’m getting better in this offense for…10 years” 🙌
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) August 24, 2021
Los Angeles added some intriguing weapons to the roster, joining proven fantasy contributors Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. They added deep threat veteran wide receiver DeSean Jackson. They also drafted another playmaker at wide receiver in Tutu Atwell, and a really interesting tight end prospect Jacob Harris.
Stafford is set up to have a huge season in 2021. Over the past decade (when healthy) he’s been a consistent mainstay as a top-12 quarterback for fantasy football purposes. A motivated Matthew Stafford on the best team he’s ever been on is a scary thought.
Matthew Stafford is my QB10 this year for redraft, and part of me feels like I’m too low. According to Sleeper’s latest August SuperFlex redraft data, Stafford is QB12 and being drafted 39.8 overall. In 12-team leagues, draft Matthew Stafford in the 4th round (or later) and profit.
Running Back
Austin Ekeler RB Los Angeles Chargers
Let’s stay in Los Angeles for our next League Winner, Austin Ekeler. It’s good to have Ekeler back and healthy this year after playing in only ten games last season. When on the field, Ekeler has demonstrated to be a PPR machine. The shifty lightning bolt is a key cog in the Chargers offense led by quarterback Justin Herbert.
Ekeler has amassed a whopping 146 receptions the last two years, in only 26 games played. He’s proven he can handle a workload and is one of the best weapons in the NFL out of the backfield as a receiver.
Newly added LB Mychal Kendricks gets beat by Austin Ekeler pic.twitter.com/t5FOfTSaR1
— Leo Luna (@LeoLuna93) August 19, 2021
In PPR scoring formats Ekeler’s ceiling remains near the roof. He’s already shown us what that ceiling looks like with a top five finish at the running back position in 2019. His floor is also insanely stable. Despite missing a total of eight games in 2020 and 2018, Ekeler still managed to finish inside the top-30 at the position.
Austin Ekeler is my RB6 this year in PPR. According to Sleeper’s latest August rankings he’s RB10. Austin Ekeler stands to be on a lot of championship rosters this fantasy football season.
Wide Receiver
Calvin Ridley WR Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons moved on from long time star Julio Jones in the offseason, paving the way for Calvin Ridley to claim his own stake at superstardom. Ridley and rookie phenom Kyle Pitts now make up Atlanta’s new power duo.
Calvin Ridley broke out in year three for the Falcons, amassing 90 receptions for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns in 2020. Good for a top five PPR finish. Ridley is a dangerous route runner with reliable hands who has become a security blanket for veteran quarterback Matt Ryan.
Calvin Ridley route running SHEESH 💀
(Via @AtlantaFalcons)pic.twitter.com/s5CzLJ8ZLd
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) August 19, 2021
The Falcons have questions overall on defense. They spent draft capital on the offensive side of the ball on two of their first three draft picks, and didn’t make any major moves in free agency on the defensive side of the ball. Why am I talking about the Falcons defense? Well, a turbulent defense can provide value for us in fantasy football leading to high scoring affairs. A delicious recipe for those riding the Calvin Ridley train this year.
According to Sleeper, Calvin Ridley is currently ranked WR7 for 2021. He’s my WR5 but the ceiling legitimately feels like he could end up WR1 overall. All the stars are aligned for Calvin Ridley in 2021. Ridley has league winning upside this fall.
Tight End
T.J. Hockenson TE Detroit Lions
T.J. Hockenson took significant strides for the Detroit Lions in 2020. Hockenson recorded over 100 targets and doubled his receptions and yardage outputs from year one to year two, establishing himself as a top-five producer at the tight end position.
TJ Hockenson is a stud. Dominate in year 3……
(Video: @Lions ) pic.twitter.com/8o5BXKQYtW
— Mike Archambeau #OnePride DetroitLionsVsEverybody (@archambeaum3) August 3, 2021
The Lions traded long-time franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford in the offseason for Jared Goff. While Goff is undoubtedly not the caliber of quarterback that Stafford is, he’s enjoyed a respectable career to date. A game manager who likes to target the middle of the field. This is where Mr. Hockenson comes in.
The Lions are thin at wide receiver. They brought in veteran Tyrell Williams to go with second-year wide receiver Quintez Cephus, and drafted Amon-Ra St. Brown in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Hockenson should be the focal point of the passing game in 2021.
Hockenson ADP is around 56.2 overall, according to sleeper PPR Redraft data. – TE6 overall. Look for Hockenson to easily outproduce those numbers. Volume is king in fantasy football, and T.J. Hockenson is about to be the beneficiary of it. We know about the big three of Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, and George Kittle. If you miss out on them don’t worry. T.J. Hockenson has league-winning upside in 2021 at the tight end position.
Keep a close eye on these players when drafting your teams this year. Players like these that I have provided with high ceilings have league winning upside. Drafting these players will give you that edge you need to get over the top this year.
