Innholdsfortegnelse for 2021 Fantasy Football i Athlon Sports Football Bundle

In 2021, things move and change at a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pace. Sports, once a respite from the chaos of modern life, are not exempt. Sports fandom has been rocked of late by a frenzied level of player movement, at both the pro and college levels. Change is life’s only constant, and that’s especially true in fantasy football. It hasn’t been all that long — 2018 to be exact — that the top two running backs in our preseason fantasy rankings were Todd Gurley II and Le’Veon Bell. Now? Those two names barely appear in this year’s magazine. Teams are constantly reinventing themselves through the phasing out of the old and the phasing in of the new, and fantasy owners are forced to keep pace or get left behind. But that’s what…

QUARTERBACKS 1. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars • Clemson This pick has been predestined since before the dawn of the 2019 college football season, if we’re being honest with ourselves; the only question was who would get it. The answer: Urban Meyer’s Jaguars. Jacksonville should be in a position to start Lawrence immediately, and he’s ready to make every throw. He provides a quality threat as a runner as well, which is great for a head coach who believes in the option as much as Meyer does. Lawrence could be in line to have the next great rookie quarterback season. 2. Trey Lance, 49ers • North Dakota State After the NFL media collectively adopted the notion that Mac Jones could be the pick at No. 3 overall, it was a nice surprise…

Every year the fantasy season takes what we think we know and stomps all over it. Last year, the recent history of wide receiver moves would tell us that DeAndre Hopkins and Stefon Diggs wouldn’t erupt in new locales, and much smarter fantasy writers than me were down on those players’ ADP prospects. Those two receivers destroyed everyone who faded them. That was hardly the only thing that blew up in our faces last year. Let’s learn from some of those moments, and work on refining our process. We can’t always predict everything, but we can listen to the moments that hit us in the face and try to learn from them. 1 You can never rest on your laurels at running back The 2019 season was easy. Of the…

CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY HT: 5-11 WT: 205 AGE: 25 CARIN. INA PANTHEIIS Injuries limited Mccaffrey to just three games in 2020 and crushed many a fantasy season. But those three weeks found McCaffrey finishing second, sixth and second among RBs in half-PPR scoring. For the season, he still scored nearly five more points per game than any other RB. That, of course, followed an even more dominant 2019 and came under a new coaching staff. It's a small sample, but McCaffrey has delivered big numbers when in charge of the backfield. 1 EFP:358.8 BYE WEEK:13 ATHLON’S TAKE McDlffrey·s efficient rushing and receiving plus total contrnl of backfield touches simply make him the easiest choice atop drafts. BYE WEEKS WEEK 6 Atlanta, New Orleans, N.Y. Jets, San Francisco WEEK 7 Buffalo, Dallas, Jacksonville, LA.…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS How will the offense look different under new head coach Arthur Smith? The offense under Smith will probably be more balanced than Atlanta has seen since the Kyle Shanahan days. Whereas former offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter obsessed over the passing game and struggled to mount much of a rushing attack, Smith knows the secret to getting the ball going in the air and on the ground. With 2021 first-round draft pick Kyle Pitts in tow next to Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley, Smith will have a lot of flexibility in the passing game. The rushing attack will go through free agent addition Mike Davis. You’re not going to see the Falcons abandon the run for…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS What are your expectations for new Panthers QB Sam Darnold? Darnold has never been a good fantasy quarterback, but he should be passable as a spot starter this season. The Panthers have surrounded him with more weapons than he’s ever had before, and there’s really no threat to his starting job. Expect a modest season of around 20 TDs and 3,500 passing yards. The TD number is never going to be much higher when Christian McCaffrey gobbles up so many of the scores on the ground. What kind of workload are you anticipating for McCaffrey this season? The Panthers love their bell cow and McCaffrey remains the most valuable Panther in fantasy terms by a…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Do you expect Baker Mayfield’s passing production (3,563 yards, 26 TDs) to be about the same, decline or increase in 2021? If you believe continuity will help Mayfield fix his consistency issues, a significant increase could be coming. For the first time in his four-year career, Mayfield keeps the same head coach and the same offensive system. The environment seems right for further ascension, too, as Mayfield has a great offensive line and loaded supporting cast. From Weeks 11-17 last year, Mayfield averaged 285 yards per game and had an 11:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Kevin Stefanski was clearly more aggressive with pass calls as Mayfield earned his trust. With more chances should come bigger fantasy numbers.…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS What are your expectations for Jared Goff in his first season with the Lions? Expect new offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn to try to fit the Lions’ offense to Goff, rather than the other way around. But he won’t be throwing to the same receivers Matthew Stafford had in Detroit, and Goff’s struggles with turnovers the last two seasons were cause for alarm. In Lynn’s one season as Buffalo’s OC (2016), the Bills ranked 31st in the NFL in pass attempts, so expect a more run-heavy attack in Detroit. Will D’Andre Swift see a heavy workload, or is this still more of a backfield-by-committee? Signing Jamaal Williams away from Green Bay likely means a shared workload…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS What are your expectations for Carson Wentz in his first season with the Colts? It’s probably too optimistic to expect Wentz to regain his All-Pro form from 2017, but he should thrive in head coach Frank Reich’s system, which calls for high-percentage passes being delivered on time and not taking too many risks. The Eagles allowed 15 more sacks than any other team, so Wentz will benefit from having a solid O-line providing time to make plays. A strong run game also lessens the load on the quarterback. Wentz has the talent around him to provide a Pro Bowl-caliber season. Will Jonathan Taylor see 300 touches or will he have to share more of the…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Derek Carr or Marcus Mariota — which Raiders quarterback starts more games in 2021? Barring an injury, this is Carr’s team. Mariota is the clear backup and potentially an attractive trade chip after he restructured his contract and shaved more than $7 million from his salary. Carr has clearly established himself under head coach Jon Gruden as the undisputed leader of the Raiders, throwing for more than 4,000 yards for a team-record three years in a row and finishing 2020 in the top 10 in the league in passer rating. How much will the addition of Kenyan Drake cut into Josh Jacobs’ workload? He has become the first Raiders running back to post two straight…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS What are your expectations for Tua Tagovailoa in his first full season as the starter? Tagovailoa showed flashes and was 6–3 as a starter while complemented by arguably the least impressive weaponry in the NFL and undermined at times by a green offensive line and offensive coordinator Chan Gailey. Now Gailey is gone, the offensive line should be better and Tagovailoa has legitimate speed threats in rookie Jaylen Waddle and veteran Will Fuller V. Tagovailoa seemed unsure of himself last season, but after a full offseason of strength training (something he didn’t have while rehabbing his hip), expect him to take more control. Is there a No. 1 option in this backfield or is it…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston – who finishes with the most fantasy points in 2021? The Saints are saying these two will compete for the starting quarterback job once training camp arrives, but Winston has to be the front-runner right now, and assuming he wins the job, the idea of Winston sneaking into the top-10 discussion as a fantasy quarterback is not too far-fetched. The great offensive line, elite skill position players and brilliant offensive play-caller are still in place. Winston is a good bet. Alvin Kamara or Michael Thomas — who records more receptions? Doubting a motivated Michael Thomas is a very bad idea. On the heels of turning in one of the best…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS What are your expectations for Jalen Hurts? The Eagles have clearly decided the offense belongs to Hurts in 2021, and he should have a season that features some highlights but also moments that create significant doubt about whether he is a full-time starting NFL quarterback. Hurts is a dynamic presence who runs well and can be an accurate thrower at times. But he completed only 52 percent of his 148 pass attempts last year, hardly impressive. Hurts is a hard worker and is coachable, but he has a mediocre stable of receivers and limited NFL experience, so it is unwise for fantasy owners to consider him their top quarterback. What kind of workload will Miles…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Will we see Russell Wilson “cook” in 2021, or will the Seahawks stay more grounded? The Seahawks have given Wilson a new air-minded offensive coordinator in Shane Waldron to keep him schematically happy, a new left guard in Gabe Jackson to cut down on those non-stop sacks and keep him healthy, and yet another electric deep threat in D’Wayne Eskridge to keep him flinging it downfield. These are signs of Seattle, and Wilson, pressing down hard on the offensive gas pedal and going down the runway time and time again. No Ground Chuck (Knox) for this Pete Carroll outfit. Tyler Lockett or DK Metcalf — which Seahawks wide receiver should be drafted first? No slight…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS How different will this offense look with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the controls? Entering his 17th NFL season and joining his ninth NFL team, Fitzpatrick has mastered the art of learning new offenses on the fly. The WFT knew exactly what it was getting when it signed him, and it’s more likely Fitzpatrick will adapt to the WFT offense than it to him. This, after all, is an offense that relied largely on Kyle Allen and Taylor Heinicke in 2020. All the WFT wants is for Fitzpatrick to run the same offense — only better. What kind of workload are you expecting for Antonio Gibson in his second season? Gibson was a model of efficiency (and…

1. Malik Willis QB Liberty 2. Breece Hall RB Iowa State 3. David Bell WR Purdue 4. Bijan Robinson RB Texas 5. Mohamed Ibrahim RB Minnesota 6. Matt Corral QB Ole Miss 7. Spencer Rattler QB Oklahoma 8. Sincere McCormick RB UTSA 9. Kayshon Boutte WR LSU 10. Dustin Crum QB Kent State 11. Khalil Shakir WR Boise State 12. Calvin Austin III WR Memphis 13. Leddie Brown RB West Virginia 14. Tank Bigsby RB Auburn 15. D.J. Uiagalelei QB Clemson 16. Bryce Young QB Alabama 17. Brennan Armstrong QB Virginia 18. Treylon Burks WR Arkansas 19. Jalen Tolbert WR South Alabama 20. Sam Howell QB North Carolina 21. Ronnie Rivers RB Fresno State 22. Kyren Williams RB Notre Dame 23. Isaiah Spiller RB Texas A&M 24. Marvin Mims WR…

1. Fresh Prince of Helaire 2. Kamara Chameleon 3. Ain’t No Waller-Back Girl 4. Working From Mahomes 5. In It Tua Win It 6. We Mayfield a Team This Year 7. Eat, Drink, and Be Murray 8. Hot Chuba Time Machine 9. Lawrence & Order 10. Josh Jacobs Jingleheimer Schmidt 11. Judge Jeudy 12. Wentz It Rains It Pours 13. No Hard Thielens 14. Moore Money Moore Problems 15. Hurts So Good 16. Sacks in the City 17. Forgetting Terrace Marshall 18. Can You Diggs It? 19. Beats by DeAndre 20. DJ Chark Doo-Doo Doo-Doo-Doo-Doo 21. AB CeeDee 22. Lamarvel Cinematic Universe 23. Kmet Me, Bro! 24. No Pain, No Gainwell 25. Mixon Match 26. Oh Saquon You See 27. Hasta Laviska, Baby! 28. Cam You Feel the Love Tonight?…

SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS $49.97 1 Year Print $24.97 1 Year Digital $59.97 1 Year Print+ Digital Combo amglifestylestore.com SUBSCRIBE TODAY!…

1. Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers 2. Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons 3 Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals 4. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars 5. Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars 6. DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles 7. Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos 8. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins 9. Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens 10. Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears 11. Rondale Moore, WR, Arizona Cardinals 12. Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, Carolina Panthers 13. Elijah Moore, WR, New York Jets 14. Michael Carter, RB, New York Jets 15. Trey Sermon, RB, San Francisco 49ers 16. Trey Lance, QB, San Francisco 49ers 17. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions 18. Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Philadelphia Eagles 19. Zach Wilson, QB, New York Jets 20. Dyami Brown, WR, Washington Football Team 21. Amari…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS J.K. Dobbins or Gus Edwards — which running back finishes with more carries in 2021? Dobbins. Granted, no running back is going to be a 25-carry bell cow in this offense, and quarterback Lamar Jackson is probably going to run the ball more than anyone else. The Ravens occasionally use both players in two-back sets, but Dobbins had 62 carries over the final five regular-season games to Edwards’ 50, and that trend should continue. Dobbins finished with nine touchdown runs, a Ravens rookie record, and scored at least once in all five regular-season games after returning from a midseason bout with COVID-19. Marquise Brown or Mark Andrews — who finishes with more fantasy points in…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Andy Dalton or Justin Fields — which quarterback starts more games in 2020? They’ll go with Dalton unless/until he plays himself out of the job. Fields is an extremely talented athlete, but he is not considered NFL-ready and could require a longer learning phase than some of his peers from the 2021 draft. Do not, however, discount the possibility of head coach/play-caller Matt Nagy choreographing a handful of plays designed specifically to utilize Fields’ skills, even if he isn’t the starter. After a strong finish to 2020, is this now David Montgomery’s backfield? It certainly should be after Montgomery’s performance. Behind a mediocre offensive line, Montgomery rushed for 1,070 yards, became a major player in…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Are Ezekiel Elliott’s workhorse (300 carries) days behind him? Elliott averaged 292 carries his first four seasons, and it would have been more if not for his six-game suspension in 2017. That dropped to 244 last season, a combination of his career-low 4.0 yards per carry average, Dak Prescott’s injury and the team playing from behind much of the season. Elliott does not look like the same back he once was, and with the team high on backup Tony Pollard, it is unlikely Elliott resumes a role as a workhorse. Should expectations for Dak Prescott be lowered coming off of a serious injury? Prescott insists his injured right ankle, which required two surgeries, will be…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Other than Davante Adams, will another Packers wide receiver have any fantasy relevance in 2021? There aren’t many Packers receivers who’ve risen from the dead the way Marquez Valdes-Scantling did last season, going from losing the No. 2 receiver job and falling out of favor late in 2019 to being the team’s biggest big-play provider. He remains inconsistent, though, so buyer beware. Allen Lazard, meanwhile, had an enormous game against New Orleans (146 yards) while Adams was sidelined, and had it not been for a core muscle injury, he might’ve been on his way to proving himself as a legit complementary threat. Should Robert Tonyan be viewed as a TE1? To be sure, playing with…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS What will this offense look like under firstyear head coach Urban Meyer? Unlike last season, the Jaguars won’t be as predictable on first and second down with run-exclusive plays. They will have quarterback Trevor Lawrence take advantage of roll-out passing plays and quick-strike bubble screens. Rookie running back Travis Etienne will be lined up in the slot and as an outside receiver. They will take advantage of more downfield strike plays involving wide receivers Marvin Jones Jr. and DJ Chark Jr. and expect for receivers Laviska Shenault Jr. and Collin Johnson to run mostly underneath routes to offset not having an effective pass-catching tight end. What are your expectations for Lawrence in 2021? Lawrence is…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS After a stellar debut, what are the expectations for Justin Herbert’s second season? Expectations for Herbert are sky-high with many tabbing him as an MVP candidate. Young QBs have flourished recently in their sophomore seasons, such as Kyler Murray in 2020, Lamar Jackson in 2019 and Patrick Mahomes in 2018. Herbert will probably continue that trend. Is Austin Ekeler still the Chargers RB to own in fantasy? Ekeler is definitely the Chargers running back to draft, despite coming off a down season. Ekeler averaged 126 total yards through the first three games of last season before a hamstring injury sidelined him for six weeks. Ekeler wasn’t at full strength when he returned, and that led…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Will Dalvin Cook get 300-plus carries again, or does Alexander Mattison eat more into his workload this season? I don’t think Cook will reach 300 carries again. He’s a year older and obviously way too valuable to risk overworking. Mattison’s carries will increase. But I also believe the Vikings won’t be able to resist tinkering with ways to get rookie Kene Nwangwu some touches. He’s 6'1", 213 pounds. He’s run a 4.29 40. And his ball security is solid. He was drafted in the fourth round for his kick-return ability, but I can see him getting some carries too. Justin Jefferson or Adam Thielen — which wide receiver finishes with the most fantasy points? I’d…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS What are your expectations for Saquon Barkley coming back from a torn ACL? It’s easy to say one of the expectations is he’ll be healthy for a full season, but that hasn’t happened since he was a rookie. If he is fully healthy, and all indications are his rehab has gone well, and can stay that way, there’s no reason to think he’s lost a step. That would mean pencil him in for his rookie totals of 1,300 rushing yards and maybe another 90 catches for 700 yards. The Giants do have more weapons in the passing game to take the pressure off him, but they won’t ease up on him when he comes back.…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Will Najee Harris receive the bulk of the carries right away? Considering this could be one of Ben Roethlisberger’s final years under center in Pittsburgh and all of the other needs the Steelers could have addressed with their first-round pick, Harris not only appears to be in position to take the bulk of the carries, but he also better be the one taking them. This shouldn’t be too big of an ask for Harris, either, as he barreled into and over SEC defenders for four seasons at Alabama and cleared 200 carries in each of the past two seasons. Which Steelers wide receiver should be targeted first in fantasy drafts? Even though his numbers dipped…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Should we expect any changes on offense from the defending Super Bowl champions? The Bucs’ offense should be better in several ways. To start with, Tom Brady has won a Super Bowl in that system and is familiar with his teammates. A greater emphasis on the running game and more play-action is likely. The arrival of Giovani Bernard means more receptions from the running back position. Will Ronald Jones II see more touches after breaking through in 2020 or will he have to share the workload? Jones will start training camp as RB1. But Leonard Fournette earned a chance to compete with him and find a bigger role in the offense after becoming Playoff Lenny…

WEEK 1 Thursday, Sept. 9 Dallas at Tampa Bay Sunday, Sept. 12 Philadelphia at Atlanta Pittsburgh at Buffalo N.Y. Jets at Carolina Minnesota at Cincinnati San Francisco at Detroit Jacksonville at Houston Seattle at Indianapolis Arizona at Tennessee L.A. Chargers at Washington Cleveland at Kansas City Miami at New England Green Bay at New Orleans Denver at N.Y. Giants Chicago at L.A. Rams Monday, Sept. 13 Baltimore at Las Vegas WEEK 2 Thursday, Sept. 16 N.Y. Giants at Washington Sunday, Sept. 19 New Orleans at Carolina Cincinnati at Chicago Houston at Cleveland L.A. Rams at Indianapolis Denver at Jacksonville Buffalo at Miami New England at N.Y. Jets San Francisco at Philadelphia Las Vegas at Pittsburgh Minnesota at Arizona Atlanta at Tampa Bay Dallas at L.A. Chargers Tennessee at Seattle Kansas…

The choice at No. 1 just might be the easiest call of Round 1. It’s still Christian McCaffrey. The only thing he did wrong last year was get hurt. Twice. The three weeks he did make it onto the field found him finishing second, sixth and second among running backs in half-PPR scoring. His “season” scoring average led the position by nearly five points. That, of course, followed a 2019 in which McCaffrey dominated the position across formats. And his usage indicates that the Panthers’ approach under head coach Matt Rhule/offensive coordinator Joe Brady isn’t that different than what it was previously. There will be plenty of opportunities to quibble and waffle in Round 1 (and beyond). But if I’m picking first, I’m locking in this fantasy stud. – MATT…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS How will the backfield touches be distributed? Considering the two main options offer vastly different skills and traits, it’s difficult to assume one back is going to get that many more touches over the other between Chase Edmonds and James Conner. It’s important to note that head coach Kliff Kingsbury has previously said he believes Edmonds can be the Cardinals’ bell cow if that’s how things were to shake out. But that was before Arizona signed Conner, the former Steelers’ starter, to a one-year deal. Both running backs will have substantial roles, whether it’s a 50-50 split or a 60-40 split tipping a little bit toward one over the other, which probably would be Edmonds…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Will Josh Allen repeat as a top-five fantasy QB? Absolutely. The seventh overall pick in the 2018 draft enters Year 4 with the same line, the same top three receivers, and most importantly, the same offensive coordinator for a fourth consecutive season in Brian Daboll. Daboll called 161 more pass plays than runs last season and isn’t slowing down. Allen threw for 4,544 yards and 37 touchdowns, and topping 5,000 and 50 are attainable goals for a player who is never satisfied and is just scratching his potential. Which Bills RB is the one to target? Devin Singletary and Zack Moss are 1 and 1a on Buffalo’s depth chart, with neither holding any distinct advantage…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS What are your expectations for Joe Burrow coming back from a serious knee injury? It may not look beautiful right away, but there’s no reason to believe Burrow will suffer any long-term effects from the knee injury that short-circuited his promising rookie campaign. The former No. 1 pick will be returning to an offense that should only help him build upon the solid numbers he posted in 2020. His TD numbers (13 in 10 games) are due to improve thanks to the arrival of Ja’Marr Chase and he’ll likely be much better protected thanks to the offseason addition of right tackle Riley Reiff and rookie Jackson Carman helping the team in the middle of the…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Teddy Bridgewater or Drew Lock — which QB starts more games in 2021? Bridgewater will start more games, though both will play. The Broncos’ posture this offseason was to bulk up their defense as a way to win games. For that to work – and it’s a huge gamble in a league where playoff teams score 25 points per week – the quarterback must take care of the ball. Bridgewater has a better track record in this respect than Lock, so with Vic Fangio looking to secure his job, I expect the veteran to get the nod in a close battle in training camp. How do you see the carries being distributed between Melvin Gordon…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS How different will this offense look if Deshaun Watson isn’t the quarterback? Without Watson, wide receiver Will Fuller V and tight end Darren Fells — two of the quarterback’s most reliable targets — the offense is going to take a huge step backward. Even if Tyrod Taylor stays healthy, he has two legitimate receivers, Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb, who missed a combined six games in his first season with the Texans. The running game should be improved with the additions of Phillip Lindsay and Mark Ingram II, but the passing game should go from one of the NFL’s best to one of its worst. How do you see the backfield touches being distributed? If…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS What kind of workload are you anticipating for Clyde Edwards-Helaire? Fair or not, more was expected last season from Edwards-Helaire, whose 1,100 yards from scrimmage were third in the NFL among rookie running backs behind Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor and Jacksonville’s James Robinson. CEH, who recorded five total TDs last season, will remain the primary back for the Chiefs. He could see his usage rate drop a bit with Darrel Williams’ emergence and the addition of Jerick McKinnon, but no player on the Chiefs’ roster may benefit more from the offensive line overhaul than CEH — certainly from a fantasy perspective. That net result of the improved offensive line should be more explosive plays and better…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS What are your expectations for Matthew Stafford in his first season with the Rams? Stafford’s numbers should rise. He joins a Rams offense that ranked 11th in yardage and has added receiving weapons to try to make sure that head coach Sean McVay’s and GM Les Snead’s decision to move on from Jared Goff and bet on Stafford succeeds. Will Cam Akers see the majority of the carries, or is this still a timeshare situation? Akers shook off injuries and the rest of the Rams’ running-back committee in 2020 to become the lead ball carrier they hoped their top draft pick would be, averaging 92.1 rushing yards in his last seven regular-season and playoff games.…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Cam Newton or Mac Jones — who starts more games in 2021? The Patriots are banking on the former league MVP to return to health and return to form. After a whirlwind season (he didn’t sign until July), a truncated training camp and a battle with COVID-19 (that had lingering effects), Newton is ready to roll. With a real offseason program and a true training camp, he will put up better passing numbers (yards, touchdowns) and could equal or better his rushing statistics (which included 12 TDs). As he did in Tuscaloosa, Jones will have to wait for his chance to be the guy. Is Damien Harris the running back to target in fantasy drafts?…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS What are your expectations for Zach Wilson? Don’t expect a ton. Yes, Wilson was the second overall pick in this year’s draft, but he faces a steep learning curve in the NFL. He played a weak schedule at BYU, though the offense he ran is similar to the Jets’ West Coast system. Still, when rookie quarterbacks thrive, they usually have lots of support — from the line to playmakers. Wilson doesn’t really have that, at least not yet. He will have plenty of rookie hiccups, though that doesn’t mean he’ll be a bust in the long run. Michael Carter or La’Mical Perine — who finishes with the most fantasy points? Have to go with Perine,…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS How much of Trey Lance should we expect to see this season? The 49ers have a playoff-contending roster and a capable incumbent QB in Jimmy Garoppolo. That means Lance will have to outperform Garoppolo while learning Kyle Shanahan’s complex offense after making just 17 starts and throwing 318 passes at North Dakota State. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the 49ers’ season mirrors that of the 2017 Chiefs, who gave rookie Patrick Mahomes just one start while allowing him to develop behind Alex Smith. Which 49ers running back is the one to target in fantasy drafts? Raheem Mostert figures to remain the team’s top option, but he shouldn’t be an early round pick. Mostert has…

FANTASY DEPTH CHART INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Is Derrick Henry a lock for 350-plus carries again? Yes. King Henry will reign in the Titans offense for as long as he continues to bulldoze his way through defenses. He’s the Vegas odds-on favorite to lead the league in carries for a third straight season, but he’s also probably the most likely to lead the league in rushing yards and rushing TDs for a third straight season, too. Henry is 27 and has a cleaner injury history than just about every other top back. And don’t forget — he split carries with DeMarco Murray until his third NFL season (286 combined carries in 2016 and ‘17) and with T.J. Yeldon until his junior year…

Quarterbacks 1. Malik Willis Liberty 2. Matt Corral Ole Miss 3. Spencer Rattler Oklahoma 4. Dustin Crum Kent State 5. D.J. Uiagalelei Clemson 6. Bryce Young Alabama 7. Brennan Armstrong Virginia 8. Sam Howell North Carolina 9. Desmond Ridder Cincinnati 10. C.J. Stroud Ohio State 11. Dorian Thompson-Robinson UCLA 12. Grayson McCall Coastal Carolina 13. Preston Hutchinson Eastern Michigan 14. Jake Haener Fresno State 15. Dillon Gabriel UCF 16. Carson Strong Nevada 17. D’Eriq King Miami (Fla.) 18. Max Duggan TCU 19. Malik Cunningham Louisville 20. Clayton Tune Houston 21. Tanner Mordecai SMU 22. Chevan Cordeiro Hawaii 23. Kedon Slovis USC 24. Emory Jones Florida 25. Bailey Zappe WKU 26. Sean Clifford Penn State 27. Keleb Eleby Western Michigan 28. Cornelious Brown IV Georgia State 29. Phil Jurkovec Boston College…