There are many strategies people use to draft their fantasy football teams. Zero running back, robust running back, anchor tight end, positional stacks, etc. All of those strategies are great, but they all have one thing in common. They all revolve around finding players that will outperform their ADP (average draft position). Last year, players like Stefon Diggs and Darren Waller were picked in the middle rounds, but according to ESPN data, were on more than 20% of championship rosters on the ESPN fantasy platform.
A couple of contributors to The League Winner have joined forces Avengers-style to pick out some players that we think will outperform their ADP and be “league winners” in fantasy drafts for you. If you enjoy this, check back over the next couple of days as we break down our league winners at each position.
Matt Alquiza @AlquizaFFB: Lamar Jackson
Following his 2019 MVP campaign, Lamar Jackson disappointed fantasy football managers in 2020 finishing as the QB10. Jackson is going in drafts as the fourth overall quarterback (per Sleeper ADP) in 2021, but his ceiling is the overall QB1.
Jackson is the prototypical superstar fantasy quarterback. In two seasons as the full-time starter, Jackson has rushed for over 1,000 yards and accounted for seven touchdowns on the ground. If you played Jackson as a running back in fantasy football and solely received points for his rushing stats, he would have finished as the RB19, ahead of David Johnson, D’Andre Swift, Miles Sanders, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
Obviously, all of the questions surrounding Jackson revolve around his passing acumen. NFL experts are split on Jackson’s passing ability, but they all agree that his lack of weapons in the passing game has stunted his ability to show off his skills.
Enter Sammy Watkins and Rashod Bateman.
Pairing those two wide receivers with speedster Hollywood Brown and Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews will give Jackson the best arsenal of weapons he’s had in his young career. Look for Jackson to improve his passing stats while mimicking his rushing stats from the last two years and finish as a top-three quarterback in fantasy this year.
Jesse Moeller @JMoeller05: Justin Fields
Justin Fields was my QB1 going into the NFL draft due to the unique skill set he offers for fantasy football. Fields going to the Bears, a team with established skill players, allows him to step right in and succeed. The presence of Allen Robinson is a boost for Fields as he has a natural alpha in the passing game. No matter what you think of David Montgomery, he has been a productive NFL player early in his career.
Giving quarterbacks good players allows them to prosper early and often. What sets Fields apart from the pack is his rushing talent. He has Lamar Jackson speed and is a more talented passer at this stage of his career. Justin Fields has a massive Konami upside that can pay off immediately. He will be a Top-12 quarterback when it is all said and done.
Keith James @HighonSports28: Jalen Hurts
Jalen Hurts will be on many league-winning rosters this year. His ability to run combined with his 94th overall ADP (Round 7 in 12 team leagues) per Underdog is the perfect combination for winning squads.
Reports have come out that the Eagles are planning to build the offense to Hurts’ strengths, and that only raises his ceiling for fantasy football. The offense should be much better as well, as the offensive line will finally be healthy, and the team added Devonta Smith in the 2021 NFL Draft. Combine that with Hurts’ rushing ability as well and the sky is the limit.
Hurts is still being slept on, but with an expected improvement in his passing combined with his ability to run, you should get him now while he is being undervalued.
Jeremy Shulman @FF_Rebel: Matthew Stafford
Mired in Detroit for his entire career, Matthew Stafford was nothing short of spectacular. Stafford’s 2020 season is a great illustration of this point, so let’s briefly dive in.
Last year with an aging Adrian Peterson leading the rushing attack, a mediocre (though young and improving) offensive line, and an utter lack of weapons in the receiving game after Kenny Golladay’s injury-riddled campaign, Stafford still managed to post average QB stats across the board. What is most telling for me, however, is that he is credited with four game-winning drives per Pro Football Reference. The Detroit Lions only won five games last season, proving that Stafford literally put the team on his back and willed them to victory time and again.
Thankfully, the Los Angeles Rams do not have an offensive weapons problem. In fact, Head Coach Sean McVay’s scheme has been so good, it has made perennially average quarterback Jared Goff look very good. With a net-neutral rushing attack (given the loss of Cam Akers) and a vastly improved group of passing game weapons compared to the Lions, Stafford should flirt with 40 touchdown passes.
Stafford’s efficiency and big-play rate should rise, especially with much better offensive line play and play-calling than he saw in Detroit. With the opportunity to supplement some of the running game with short passes, Stafford could easily become a yardage monster yet again at the position.
