The NFL is a gunslinger’s league nowadays. As a result, it seems as if there’s a bounty of productive receivers available every year no matter which format you play in. But who is among the cream of the crop for this coming season? Let’s rank the top five receivers for fantasy in 2021 across all formats.

5. D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks

If Flash and The Incredible Hulk had a baby, it would probably have an athletic build similar to D.K. Metcalf‘s. Metcalf possesses lightning speed matched with great route-running ability. He creates separation from his defenders with ease and makes tough catches in traffic. Metcalf’s 6’4″, 229-pound frame definitely doesn’t hurt his tuddy-catching cause at the NFL level either. The guy is an absolute unit.

With Tyler Lockett on his opposite side to take double teams out of the equation, I don’t see how opposing defenses can lock up Metcalf consistently in 2021. He’s an elite option at the position, so it would be great to get him late in the second round of your draft this year. Not to mention it would be sacrilegious to leave the man who made Budda Baker look like he runs with a piano on his back off of this list.

Playing with an elite quarterback under center in Russell Wilson (for now), Metcalf has a great chance to repeat the production we saw throughout his dominant 2020 campaign. The 23-year-old tallied 1303 receiving yards and ten touchdowns on 83 catches last season. If Wilson is traded, maybe we can discuss ousting Metcalf from this list. But until then, he makes the cut.

4. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills

Josh “Golden Arm” Allen has arrived, and Stefon Diggs is his plus-one.

Diggs was the third-best receiver in fantasy last season, and he popped off for your squad when it mattered most. Outside of his week 17 game against Miami in which he produced a modest 76 receiving yards on 7 catches, Diggs shined in the fantasy playoffs. He compiled over 400 receiving yards and four touchdowns over a three-game span and carried many of his owners through the playoff weeks.

With Josh Allen only seeming to be getting better and clearly clicking with Diggs on all cylinders, I see few reasons not to love Diggs in 2021. Cole Beasley draws a lot of attention from opposing defenses out of the slot. The three-headed running attack of Zack Moss, Devin Singletary, and Allen is more than enough to balance Buffalo’s offense. With a quality offensive line and a respectable defense, I see the Bills putting up a lot of points this coming season. You have to expect that Diggs is gonna get his during that process.

Though I understand the desire to lock up quality receivers in the early rounds of your drafts, I wouldn’t recommend going after Diggs until the second round at the earliest. As much as he lit it up in 2020, running backs are too important to pass on in the first round of both standard and PPR drafts. Though clearly an elite option at the position, Diggs falls just short of cracking the top three in my eyes. Target him in the second round.

3. DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals

In his first season in Arizona, DeAndre Hopkins put up pro-bowl numbers yet again. Though slightly limited by Kyler Murray‘s tendency to run the ball, Hopkins is a threat to light it up each and every week. He caught 115 passes for 1407 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2020.

With a year to develop chemistry with his young quarterback and get acclimated to Kliff Kingsbury’s offense now under his belt, I expect Hopkins’ touchdown production to increase this year. At this point in his career, what you see is what you get with Hopkins. It’s like clockwork. Opposing defenses focus on stopping him every week and he still puts up numbers. He’s a bona fide fantasy stud and another guy I’m looking to get in the second round of drafts this year.

2. Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but they don’t call him Cheetah because he’s slow. Tyreek Hill is the most productive speedster at the receiver position in the entire league. He also plays in the most potent offense. That right there is a recipe for success. Hill compiled 1276 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns on 87 catches last season. He was the second-most productive receiver in fantasy, and I expect him to be the same in 2021.

There are very few ways to stop the Chiefs’ offense from scoring through the air, and Tyreek Hill is the favorite target of Patrick Mahomes. What more do I even have to say? I wouldn’t hesitate to take Cheetah at the end of the first round of drafts this year, regardless of format.

1. Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers

Do you like touchdowns? Of course you do. Touchdowns win you fantasy matchups. Do you know who scores a lot of touchdowns? Davante Adams. I’m convinced that this man wakes up every morning wide open in the right corner of the end zone. The guy is a human touchdown factory. Following a 2020 season in which he posted 1374 receiving yards on 115 catches to go along with a ridiculous 18 receiving touchdowns, Adams is likely hitting the peak of his career.

At just 28 years of age with future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers throwing to him, there is no reason outside of potential injuries that Adams’ production should fall off this coming season. Rodgers will likely be playing with a chip on his shoulder once again throughout next season after being knocked out by Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in last year’s NFC championship game. With only Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling below Adams on the Packers’ depth chart, it’s hard to imagine that Rodgers will not be looking Adams’ way plenty yet again in 2021. Adams and Tyreek Hill are the only two receivers I would consider taking in the first round of drafts this year. But Adams sits alone atop this list of fantasy receivers to target in 2021.

When to Draft Receivers in 2021

Regardless of how many teams are in your league, I would do my best to wait until the second round to draft fantasy receivers in 2021. If you don’t play in a PPR league, I echo that sentiment tenfold. Running backs are much harder to come by in fantasy than receivers are, especially in standard formats. Prioritize the running back position first before taking a receiver if possible.

Grab two established receivers by the fourth or fifth round at the latest. Then, play the sleeper game. You only have to hit on one sleeper to play or trade your way to the top of your league. But you don’t want who your weekly starting receivers throughout the season will be riding on you hitting on your sleeper picks. That, my friends, is a recipe for failure. There’s betting on yourself, and there’s being a bonehead. Don’t be a bonehead. Grab one of these five receivers early on in your fantasy drafts in 2021.

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