After recently highlighting wide receivers to target in 2021 fantasy football drafts, here are receivers to avoid when selecting your fantasy squad. While they all offer big-play upside, the risk doesn’t justify the high price.
The Average Draft Position (ADP) referenced is FantasyPros Consensus ADP for half-PPR leagues.
2021 Draft Kit: View printable cheat sheets, sleepers & mistakes to avoid 
Chase Claypool (PIT) – Overall ADP: #67 (WR28)
Of the 22 receivers with more fantasy points than Claypool in 2020, not one played a fewer percentage of their team’s snaps. Among all receivers with at least nine touchdowns, he had the lowest catch rate (56.5%) and fewest number of receptions (62). These numbers normally wouldn’t worry me too much because it was his rookie year, but it’s difficult to envision a world where Claypool’s workload increases in 2021.
Ben Roethlisberger threw for fewer than 260 yards per game last season for the first time since 2012. With JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson, Eric Ebron, and James Washington, the Steelers have more than enough mouths to feed. I’m fading Claypool in fantasy drafts this year.
Mike Evans (TB) – Overall ADP: #40 (WR14)
Chris Godwin (TB) – Overall ADP: #45 (WR17)
If the 2021 Buccaneers produce two top-15 fantasy WRs this season, I will go live on the social media platform of your choosing and eat a sock. In what world does this happen? The 2020 Bucs were 23rd in total plays run. They have an elite offensive line, a robust group of running backs, and a game-managing quarterback with close to 10 capable pass-catchers to feed. There will be games where Evans and Godwin boom, and one of them might finish as a top-12 receiver. But good luck guessing which one will succeed any given week. At their ADP, I am staying far away.
DJ Chark (JAC) – Overall ADP: #77 (WR32)
Chark is being drafted as if he’s the Jaguars’ WR1, but there’s an equal or greater chance he finishes the season as their WR3. Trevor Lawrence will need a security blanket. On a team without a stellar TE (sorry, Tim Tebow stans), those are bound to be sure-handed veteran Marvin Jones and versatile rookie running back Travis Etienne.
Laviska Shenault is also in the mix. DeAndre Hopkins, AJ Brown, Cooper Kupp, and Terry McLaurin were the only receivers who broke more tackles and had a higher YAC/R than Shenault in 2020. Among the receivers drafted near Chark that I’d rather select are Courtland Sutton, Tee Higgins, Robby Anderson, Brandin Cooks, Jarvis Landry, Jerry Jeudy, and Deebo Samuel.
Will Fuller (MIA) – Overall ADP: #85 (WR36)
Props to Miami for giving QB Tua Tagovailoa a stacked group of pass-catchers, but this is a situation where Dolphins fans and fantasy players are on starkly different sides. This offense is full of receiving options for a quarterback who threw 181.4 yards per game with a 52.5 QBR. Even if he improves in his second season, don’t expect enough passing numbers from Miami’s offense to make Fuller, DeVante Parker, Jaylen Waddle, and Mike Gesicki viable fantasy options. Although I’m not touching any of them, Fuller is here as the first one drafted of the group.
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TJ Horgan is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from TJ, check out his archive and follow him @tjhorgantv.
