2021 draft kit: Rankings, cheat sheets, mock drafts, sleepers and analysis
Get everything you need to prepare for your fantasy football drafts here, including rankings and analysis….
This page will be updated with additional content and analysis throughout the summer, so please check back often.
The fantasy football season begins Thursday, Sept. 9, when the Dallas Cowboys take on the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Whether you play in a casual re-draft league or a more serious deep dynasty format, a traditional or a modified scoring format, with your friends and family or with your co-workers, we know that no two leagues are alike.
With that in mind, this will serve as a one-stop shop for all of our best material to ensure you make the best fantasy football picks you can in every draft you’re in: rankings and cheat sheets for PPR and non-PPR, mock drafts for various league types, sleepers and busts for this season and plenty of helpful information and tips from our expert team of fantasy football analysts.
Whether you have been doing this for years or are a fantasy first-timer, we have everything you need to help you draft a great team and start the season with a shot at a championship.
Below you’ll find all of our best content as we lead up to the start of the NFL season!
Fantasy football cheat sheets, mock drafts, projections
Cheat Sheet Central
A collection of downloadable, printable cheat sheets for the 2021 fantasy football season, including PPR, non-PPR and dynasty/keeper leagues. Perfect for your drafts.
Mock drafts: 10-team, PPR (May 18) | 10-team, 1/2 PPR (June 24) | 10-team, PPR (July 20) | 12-team, PPR (July 30)
2021 projections
Mike Clay’s projected output for players at every fantasy position, sortable by specific category.
Depth charts: Offense | Defense
PPR rankings
Non-PPR rankings
Dynasty rankings
Clay’s top 240
Clay’s top 80 rookies
IDP rankings
Clay, Cockcroft and McCormick: Top 50 DLs, LBs and DBs
Custom dollar value generator
Input your league’s scoring system and roster requirements to generate values for your fantasy football auction. Custom Dollar Value Generator
Fantasy football advice and analysis
Draft-Day Manifesto: 7 habits of highly effective drafters
Matthew Berry highlights the most common traits of successful fantasy managers on draft day.
Fantasy football draft sleepers, busts, breakouts for 2021
2021 versions of last year’s breakouts
Mike Clay compares this year’s top candidates to break out to those who did it in 2020.
Mike Clay’s Fantasy Football Playbook: How to draft and play like an expert
Whether you’re new to fantasy or a seasoned vet who plays in a dynasty league, there’s something here for you.
Which players will score more TDs in 2021?
Mike Clay utilizes his OTD metric to determine who will find the end zone more often.
In which leagues is a zero-RB strategy most viable?
You hear talk of taking this approach, but how successful are those who employ it?
Breaking down the most contentious backfield battles
Matt Bowen breaks down the backfields with the most competition for touches.
Backup RB rankings
Mike Clay ranks the top backups who could flourish if opportunity presents itself.
Will Ezekiel Elliott bounce back from his disappointing 2020?
Matt Bowen explains whether there is reason for optimism for the Cowboys’ star.
Preseason Shadow Report: WR upgrades and downgrades
Mike Clay highlights the easiest and toughest schedules for WRs this season.
Is Kyle Pitts the exception to the ‘Don’t draft rookie TEs’ rule?
Tristan H. Cockcroft delves into how history has treated rookie TEs and how to value the Falcons rookie.
Top 10 veteran wide receivers on new teams in 2021
Matt Bowen explains which wideouts in new places will benefit from new schemes.
Ranking the best 3-WR groups for fantasy football in 2021
Mike Clay breaks down which fantasy wideouts to upgrade or downgrade, based on frequency of teams’ 3-wide sets.
Is Jalen Hurts the next to use his legs to finish as a top-10 QB?
Hurts showed flashes as a rookie. Eric Karabell takes a closer look at Philadelphia’s versatile quarterback.
Why D/ST has become the mandatory final pick in fantasy football drafts
For years, most fantasy veterans have strongly recommended spending your final pick on a kicker. What has changed to suggest a different approach?
Should we be concerned about regression for Josh Allen in 2021?
Tristan H. Cockcroft details what to expect from the Bills’ quarterback after a breakout 2020.
The new reality for Odell Beckham Jr.’s fantasy value
What can fantasy managers expect from OBJ in 2021? Matt Bowen digs in.
How to approach Saquon Barkley in drafts entering summer
Stephania Bell examines how concerned fantasy managers should be about Barkley.
How Julio Jones trade affects Titans and Falcons
Mike Clay pores over the ramifications of Jones moving to the Titans.
Is Logan Thomas a one-hit wonder or a legit TE1?
Mike Clay explains whether Thomas can match his impressive production from last season.
Eric Karabell’s divisional storylines to watch
AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West
NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
Projecting top NFL rookie leaders in 10 key stat categories
Mike Clay projects the 2021 stats of first-year players.
Roundtable: Top rookies for dynasty formats
Roundtable: Top rookies for 2021 redraft leagues
Roundtable: Rookies who landed in unfavorable spots
Create, manage or join a league
Mock draft lobby
Practice makes perfect! Hop into a mock draft and prepare for the real thing against other ESPN Fantasy players.
Sign up for ESPN Fantasy Football
It’s free to play! Create or join a league with friends, customize your settings and battle all season for the top spot.
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