Tyler Johnson
Before the 2020 NFL Draft, I had Tyler Johnson as my 13th overall fantasy prospect. He ended up falling to the fifth round, and was the 161st overall player selected in the draft, by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The landing spot and draft capitol killed his stock for the 2020 season. But Johnson has some sneaky upside heading into 2021 and beyond.
Let’s start by saying that Chris Godwin will be an unrestricted free agent in 2021, and it’s very unclear if the Buccaneers will be able to keep him. If Godwin does walk, Johnson will at least move into a starting a role for Tampa, behind receivers Mike Evans and Antonio Brown. It’s also unclear if the Bucs will bring back Brown, who is also an unrestricted free agent next season. We’re looking at a scenario where Johnson could be the teams WR2, and while that’s not what I’m projecting to happen, it is in the realm of possibility.
It helps that Tom Brady loves Tyler Johnson and what he brings to the team. The FOX broadcast of Tampa Bay’s divisional round matchup against the Saints even mentioned this on the air. And Johnson fits what Brady is wanting to do at this point in his career. Someone who can catch anything thrown his way, and is one of the most reliable red zone threats on the team, even in 2020.
I loved Tyler Johnson’s tape coming into the 2020 draft, and grabbed him in the third round of almost every rookie draft I was in. Now that he has the path to be a fantasy weapon in 2021, I want to buy him everywhere I don’t already own him.
Jalen Reagor
Reagor was one of the most popular rookie wide receiver picks in 2020 rookie drafts, but disappointed with his final 2020 ranking. He finished 2020 as the WR89, averaging 7.9 points per game in PPR. The big story for Reagor last season was his injury’s, and his quarterback’s play. Reagor missed five games due to injury in 2020, and missed almost all of the Eagles training camp with an injury he suffered in camp. Those injury’s definitely stunted his learning of the NFL.
Then we have his quarterback play. Carson Wentz had the worst statistical season of his career in 2020, and really held back the offense as a whole. We loved Reagor’s landing spot in Philadelphia when he was drafted, because we thought he was going to a WR needy team, in an offense that would use him well. Sadly, the first part was right, but we were very wrong about the second part.
So why would Reagor be a buy right now? To put it simply, he may never be this cheap again. Reagor owners probably spent a mid-high first round pick on him, and may not be in a scenario where they can gamble on his future. That’s where we can swoop in and steal him at a value. New Eagles’ head coach Nick Sirianni helped the Colts’ be a fantastic offense in 2020, and should be able to get the best out of Reagor in 2021 and beyond. If Wentz does stay as the starter, I believe Sirianni can get the best out of him again. That just puts Reagor’s ceiling even higher.
Reagor was one of my favorite receivers in the 2020 class heading into the draft. I still believe in his raw talent, and his new head coach has the ability to make this Eagles offense better, which will make Reagor a better fantasy option.
Bryan Edwards
Bryan Edwards was my favorite player to target in the middle rounds of rookie drafts in 2020. A stud at South Carolina, Edwards showed everything you would want from a prospect heading into a draft. The major reason he fell to the third round of the NFL draft was because of an injury he suffered in the pre-draft process. He was a steal for the Las Vegas Raiders, and has a great ceiling both as an NFL player, and as a fantasy asset.
No one was expecting anything from Edwards last season, but it was still a little disappointing seeing his final numbers. He never had more than three targets in a game, and only found the endzone once, in week 17 against the Broncos.
The rookie Bryan Edwards hauls it in for the @Raiders TD. #RaiderNation
📺: #LVvsDEN on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/fohj8JnptQ pic.twitter.com/AlcT0yGDjy— NFL (@NFL) January 3, 2021
Even with Edwards small sample size, one stat sticks out. He averaged 17.5 yards per reception. When he was used by the Raiders, he was targeted down the field, and showed his biggest strength as an NFL receiver in his one-on-one play making ability. That’s a talent that will carry over into 2021.
Another factor here is that the Raiders #1 receiver in 2020 was Nelson Agholor, and he is a unrestricted free agent this offseason. If the Radiers decide not to resign him, or don’t sign another free agent receiver, Edwards becomes the teams’ number two receiver, most likely behind fellow rookie Henry Ruggs. This gives him his chance to prove himself in training camp to get more targets, and if he gets his fair share, he will be a fantasy stud.