Calvin Ridley (WR – ATL)
Overall ADP: #22 (WR6)

This one’s obvious, so we won’t spend much time here. Ridley’s the bonafide WR1 in Atlanta, and he’ll be catching passes from Matt Ryan in a surely revamped offense under new Head Coach Arthur Smith. Ridley’s floor and ceilings are both sky-high, don’t be surprised if he finishes the 2021 campaign as the fantasy WR1. 

DeAndre Hopkins (WR – ARI)
Overall ADP: #16 (WR4)

This is called “Must-Have” receivers, right? I promise this is the last shoo-in. Hopkins is going at pick 16 right now in half-PPR drafts, which is excellent value. Since 2012 (as far as FantasyPros stats go back), the only repeat WR1 has been Antonio Brown. Just because Diggs and Adams had a stronghold on the WR rankings last season doesn’t mean they’ll do it this year. In fact, it probably means someone else will wind up with that WR1 spot. Hopkins is a usual suspect to be right there. He’s an elite receiver in the prime of his career. He has impressive run-after-the-catch and red zone statistics, and his quarterback is only getting better. If you can pair Nuk with a first-round RB, you’re in great shape. 

Brandon Aiyuk / Deebo Samuel (WR – SF)
Overall ADP: #71, 84 (WR26, 33)

I’m pairing them because I think they’re both enticing picks at their ADP, and I’d be happy with whichever one falls to me. Aiyuk dominated the red zone as a rookie, and he was tied for the 9th-most targets inside the 10 (10) while only playing 12 games. Samuel was poised for a big year coming off an impressive rookie season but only played 5 full games last year due to injuries. Despite a truncated season, Samuel led the NFL in yards after the catch per reception last year, and it wasn’t a fluke. In 2019 he had the 2nd-most YAC/rec of all receivers. With these receivers’ special abilities with the football and close to the end zone, either one’s numbers could balloon this year. Aiyuk’s being drafted in the early sixth round, which is fair, but Samuel in the eighth is where I’m putting my money. 

Cooper Kupp (WR – LAR)
Overall ADP: #53 (WR20)

Kupp was the WR26 in 2020 and is currently being drafted as the WR20. I think this is an overreaction to Kupp buyers over-drafting him in 2020. He had 10 touchdowns in 2019. Those fell off a cliff last year to 3. Likely, he’ll fall somewhere in the middle this year, but with Matthew Stafford at the helm of the Rams’ offense, I’m expecting lofty improvement in Kupp’s stats.

Mecole Hardman (WR – KC)
Overall ADP: #164 (WR56)

Hardman is a must-have WR … *at his ADP.* The man set to receive the third-most targets from Patrick Mahomes this year is being drafted in the 13th round. The 2019 second-round pick has electric speed, and though his production thus far has been underwhelming, with Sammy Watkins gone, I’m willing to take a flier on Hardman as my WR5 or 6. 

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TJ Horgan is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from TJ, check out his archive and follow him @tjhorgantv.