Defining a must-have player in fantasy football, especially at the quarterback and tight end positions, is a fluid exercise.
Obviously, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are must-have players at their respective positions. But it’s never that simple come draft day. At worst, Mahomes is a second-round pick in most re-draft formats, while Kelce’s floor is an early third-rounder. Those are steep prices to pay, regardless of how great they are.
Draft value and overall potential are distinguishing factors when deciding who to target as a must-have player. With that in mind, here are my must-have quarterbacks and tight ends heading into the offseason.
Can you draft the perfect 2020 team? Try our Perfect Draft Game 
Must-Have Quarterbacks
Lamar Jackson (BAL): No. 4 QB Expert Consensus Ranking (ECR)
I’m taking a big chance listing Jackson as a must-have QB for next season. I suspect Jackson’s draft value will drop significantly after he only finished as the No. 10 quarterback last season.
However, if you had Jackson on your team, you know it wasn’t always a pretty ride. Jackson produced fewer than 20 fantasy points in six games last season before getting hot down the stretch.
There are a couple of reasons why Jackson struggled in his MVP follow-up season. First, he didn’t make the necessary strides as a passer. Jackson still struggles to throw outside the hash marks and down the sidelines. As always in the NFL, opposing defenses caught on to Jackson’s strengths and weaknesses. They took away the middle of the field and reduced his scrambling opportunities.
Second, Jackson’s supporting cast just wasn’t very good. Marquise Brown led the Ravens with 58 catches, 769 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns last season. The Ravens need to give Jackson a true No. 1 receiver. Someone like Allen Robinson II could do wonders for him. Baltimore’s offensive line also took a step back, especially after losing left tackle Ronnie Stanley to an ankle injury in November.
At only 24 years old, I still believe Jackson can get better as a passer. Last year, he went 17th overall, according to the FantasyPros ADP Consensus tool. I suspect Jackson will go between the fourth and fifth rounds in 2021 drafts. Don’t discount his high floor as a runner. If his weaponry improves, I’m targeting him.
Matthew Stafford (LAR): No. 13 QB ECR
Stafford is currently ranked as a high-end QB2 in re-draft leagues, but I’m not sure he’ll be the 13th quarterback off the board this summer. In fact, we likely won’t see anyone’s stock rise quite like Stafford’s.
Stafford leaves the pit of despair that is the Detroit Lions organization to join Sean McVay and a potent Los Angeles Rams offense. The Rams swapped Stafford for Jared Goff for two key reasons: Stafford is a better downfield passer, and he is more mobile than L.A.’s former first-overall pick.
The Rams became a horizontal passing game under Goff that lacked much explosiveness. Stafford should change that philosophy drastically. And while he’s not a huge threat with his legs, he’s much better at expanding the pocket and keeping plays alive with his legs than the statuesque Goff.
If nothing else, we’ll find out whether Stafford was a great player held down by a terrible organization or a good player who couldn’t elevate his team to the next level. I expect Stafford’s draft stock to improve as the offseason continues and wouldn’t be surprised if he winds up a top-1o quarterback in ADP.
If my strategy is to wait on quarterback (which it normally is), I can’t do much better than Stafford in his new digs in the Rounds 8-10 range.
Justin Herbert (LAC): No. 9 QB ECR
Justin Herbert was arguably the biggest surprise of the 2020 season, especially when you consider he was the consensus No. 3 QB in his own draft class.
Herbert finished his outstanding rookie season as the No. 9 fantasy QB. If he holds steady as the ninth quarterback drafted, I’ll be thrilled to get him there. However, I have a feeling drafters will only drive Herbert’s draft price up as the hype train leaves the station.
There’s a ton to like about Herbert’s arm talent, and he showed great poise in his first year despite having a below-average offensive line and coaching staff. He’s got a strong supporting cast headlined by Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler. And his play could be elevated by new offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, who comes from the Sean Payton coaching tree in New Orleans.
These are all reasons to love Herbert in 2021, but they’re also all reasons why his draft price may get too rich for my blood. If I can get him between Rounds 6-8, perfect. Any higher than that, and he might not be a member of this must-have list.
Must-Have Tight Ends
Dallas Goedert (PHI): No. 8 TE ECR
Finally, it’s time for Dallas Goedert to emerge as a star tight end. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for since 2019. Zach Ertz is as good as gone in Philadelphia, which means Goedert can finally get the target share he deserves.
However, I’m not just listing Goedert as a must-have tight end because of his situation. Goedert is a great player who has top-five potential at the position. In just 11 games, Goedert caught 46 of 65 targets for 524 yards and three touchdowns. He finished as the TE20, but he could’ve cracked the top 12 if not for injuries.
As the No. 8 tight end, I expect Goedert to be taken in Round 8 or Round 9 in most drafts. But I have a feeling he could be an afterthought in drafts this summer. I’m hoping that’s the case, as I’ll keep scooping him up at this price.
Logan Thomas (WSH): No. 17 TE ECR
I know it’s only February, but Logan Thomas’ current ranking is downright criminal. If it holds steady, Thomas will be an absolute steal.
Sure, fluky seasons from tight ends have happened plenty of times before. Yet I’m confident Thomas’ rise to TE7 last year was legitimate. At 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, the former quarterback’s athleticism is a nightmare matchup for opposing defenders. He caught 72 of his 110 targets for 670 yards and six touchdowns. He’s just scratching the surface.
Let’s also keep in mind who was throwing the ball to Thomas last season. Washington’s quarterback situation was one of the worst in the NFL. Whether it’s via free agency or the draft, an upgrade is coming.
I would rank Thomas as high as 11th among tight ends behind Robert Tonyan and Mike Gesicki. I’m not saying he’s a lock to be a top-five option at the position, but I love his chances of out-performing his current price tag.
Can you draft the perfect 2020 team? Try our Perfect Draft Game
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
Beyond our fantasy football content, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you prepare for your draft this season. From our free mock Draft Simulator – which allows you to mock draft against realistic opponents – to our Cheat Sheet Creator – that allows you to combine rankings from 100+ experts into one cheat sheet – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football draft season.
Matt Barbato is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Matt, check out his archive and follow him @RealMattBarbato.
