With so many promising, young NFL stars to take note of, including the new and promising 2021 rookie class, we have compiled the following fantasy football dynasty rankings by position.
Please keep in mind while perusing this ranking, the purpose is to focus on younger, fresher players who have many years of football ahead in their careers. These are the fantasy playmakers you want on your dynasty teams for multiple seasons to come.
Be sure to check here often as these dynasty rankings/players will be updated and expanded throughout the 2021 NFL offseason. Enjoy!
Related: Predicting fantasy football sleepers and breakouts for 2021.
Dynasty Quarterback Rankings
1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes is pure fantasy gold and has well-earned the top spot in this QB dynasty ranking. Over his three years as a starter, he’s scored 120 total touchdowns, while averaging 4,622 passing yards per season. He’s also one of the most careful quarterbacks in the league, having thrown only 23 interceptions in 1,652 passing attempts.
P.S. Don’t let his ill-fated Super Bowl LV performance sway you one bit. The Mahomes’ magic will return next fall. He might even play with a chip on his shoulder, which should terrify defenses.
2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen really broke out in 2020 and is now a coveted quarterback to own in dynasty leagues. His total yardage this past season was 4,965 of which 4,544 came from passing. Allen is excelling excellently in this category and his 37 passing touchdowns speak for themselves.
3. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott‘s dynasty QB value has skyrocketed since signing a record-breaking, four-year deal with Dallas. This means right out of the gate, Prescott will continue to work with the elite set of WRs that aided him in becoming the No. 1 ranked fantasy QB ahead of his terrible ankle injury he suffered in Week 5 last season.
Comfy with an offense and scheme he knows like the back of his hand, Prescott should keep delivering the fantasy goods in a major way for years to come.
4. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
Update: Deshaun Watson is being accused by over a dozen women of sexual assault and sexual misconduct in civil cases. No criminal charges have been filed against the reigning NFL passing champion. The situation is still ongoing. We will refrain from analyzing Watson in these rankings until more information comes out on the troubling allegations.
While Watson’s future with the Texans is up in the air, he is still an elite dual-threat talent at quarterback and one that belongs on dynasty rosters everywhere. After all, Watson is only 25-years-old heading into the 2021 fantasy season. He has plenty of quality play left and is coming from his best career yet when he completed 70.25 of his passes for a league-high, 4,823 yards and 33 touchdowns. Note that this came along with only seven interceptions.
As it stands, Watson wants to be traded. That’s okay, because he should remain a fantasy QB must-start no matter where he winds up. Even if it is back with Houston.
5. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray is a dependable fantasy QB1 more often than not. He’s flourishing as a starter and he can do any defense dirty through the air or on the ground. He last recorded 3,971 passing yards and 26 passing touchdowns. And on foot, Murray destroyed his defenders with 819 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He will remain a reliable, dual-threat quarterback to own in dynasty fantasy leagues for years to come.
6. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert dazzled brightly in his 2020 rookie debut and surprised many with a hefty average of 289 passing yards per game. He also connected with the end zone 36 total times, wow! This is just the beginning for Herbert who is both an NFL star and dynasty stud in the making.
Related: NFL Power Rankings – Team outlooks after 2021 NFL Draft
7. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
This No. 1 overall pick from 2020 was holding his own as a fantasy QB until he tore his ACL in Week 11. However, Joe Burrow should make a full recovery and return to continue his promising career in the NFL. This means many, many future fantasy points from Burrow, who is a reliable QB to build your dynasty around.
8. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson is going to continue earning his dynasty owners fantasy points with his dual-threat efforts. As a passer, he has 7,085 yards and 68 touchdowns accomplished in three years. On foot, Jackson has left many defenders in the dust, finding the end zone 19 times, while averaging 63.2 rushing yards per clash.
9. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville has an elite rookie quarterback who will start right out of the gate delivering fantasy points to whoever is lucky enough to secure him in their dynasty leagues.
During his three years at Clemson, Trevor Lawrence recorded 10,098 passing yards, 90 touchdowns, and had just 17 interceptions. On foot, he added another 943 yards and 18 touchdowns. He’s a keeper!
10. Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns
Baker Mayfield is stepping up his fantasy image and is a lower-round QB who could pay big dividends down the road. He’ll have a healthy Odell Beckham Jr. returning when the hope would be this pair finally starts hitting some home runs this year.
Look for Mayfield to continue to help his fantasy owners, coming fresh off of a respectable 26:8 touchdown-to-interception ratio. This is much improved from his previous seasons.
Read More: Cleveland Browns willing to trade Odell Beckham Jr., 3 potential destinations
11. Zach Wilson, New York Jets
As expected, the Jets selected their new face of the franchise in a QB who completed 73.5% of his passes for a total of 3,692 yards and 33 touchdowns at BYU. All the while, he averaged a mean 11 yards per attempt and tossed only three picks.
Mobile as well, Zach Wilson added another 10 touchdowns in rushing. He will be the guy racking up fantasy points in both passing and running as a dynasty QB who should have a very long shelf life.
12. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Those who target Tua Tagovailoa or currently have him rostered, have a rising star on their hands. Forget about Tagovailoa’s on and off rookie year and look for his fantasy stats to take a big leap in 2021 and beyond.
Joined by his former Alabama receiver Jaylen Waddle and other key playmakers, Tagovailoa should be a dependable fantasy QB come game day, more often than not.
13. Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers
I debated adding Sam Darnold to these dynasty rankings, but the general consensus is he belongs here as a QB who could really thrive in Carolina. Keep in mind that Darnold will only be 24-years-old when the 2021 season kicks off.
With no more Adam Gase clouding Darnold’s future, he is primed for excellent success working with Matt Rhule and Joe Brady. Reuniting with Robby Anderson and inheriting studs like Christian McCaffrey and D.J. Moore, Darnold comes with much future appeal.
14. Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers traded a big bounty to draft their mobile quarterback for future years to come. While this future dynasty stud may sit behind Jimmy Garoppolo at first, it is only a matter of time before Trey Lance will be contributing to your fantasy team in a big way.
He enters the NFL following a stellar 2019 season at North Dakota State when he threw for 2,786 yards, 28 touchdowns and zero interceptions. This accompanied a massive 1,100 rushing yards and 14 scores on the ground.
15. Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
Chicago made its move and traded up to get Justin Fields who last surprised by dominating Clemson in the CFP semifinal (49-28).
As for his regular-season college stats, Fields combined for 6,240 yards and 78 touchdowns, while committing only nine interceptions during his two years at Ohio State. He may take a backseat for a short while behind veteran Andy Dalton, but Fields is a must-own as a dynasty QB who has a fresh NFL career ahead.
Read More: Chicago Bears trade up for QB Justin Fields in 2021 NFL Draft
16. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
With Carson Wentz out of the picture in Philly, the starting job in 2021 should be Jalen Hurts‘ to lose. In a small rookie sampling while starting ahead of Wentz last year, Hurts proved to be a double-edged sword after racking up 354 rushing yards and three touchdowns in only four games. If he starts for the Eagles, look for more of the same as Hurts earns his fantasy owners points both through the air and on foot.
17. Mac Jones, New England Patriots
The Patriots didn’t have to do anything but wait for Mac Jones to fall right into their laps on draft night. Jones is a traditional passing quarterback who tallied 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns during his last year at Alabama.
What remains to be seen is when the Patriots will let him enter the field as a starter. Cam Newton is in the picture and a QB competition could be on the horizon. Either way, stash Jones since he’ll eventually wind up being the one in charge.
Related: NFL QB rankings – Post-draft update rearranges top 20, Lamar Jackson climbs the ranks
Dynasty Running Back Rankings:
1. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
Cook is a guy who when healthy, is like a tornado to stop in action. He’s got 4,936 total yards on the books that come with 36 touchdowns accomplished in 43 games. In dynasty, Cook offers a high reward/high risk price tag as an RB who has yet to play a full 16-game slate.
2. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
Chubb is a stud. He’s a 25-year-old RB who should produce at a high level for at least another handful of seasons. Even in a 2020 year that limited him to just 12 games (ankle injury), he bounced back and wound up averaging 101.4 total yards per contest. Chubb also scored 12 times and all of this came with him sharing the backfield with Kareem Hunt.
3. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Taylor has a fantastic future ahead and working with a seasoned quarterback in that of Carson Wentz in a fresh environment only enhances his outlook. Do what you can do to swing getting Taylor to your dynasty rosters. As a rookie, he averaged 77.9 rushing yards per game and scored 12 total times. He’s just getting started.
4. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Kamara is one of the best pass-catching PPR dynasty running backs in the business. In his four seasons, Kamara has averaged 55.7 rushing yards and 47 receiving yards per outing. This comes along with 58 career touchdowns.
However, with QB Drew Brees now retired, Kamara’s future lies in the hands of either Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston quarterbacking his team. Some may be hesitant to invest in Kamara, while others may throw caution to the wind and swoop in on a guy who falls perfectly into their hands come draft day.
5. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
Henry has been simply incredible for those who have owned him in dynasty leagues the past three seasons. His production has only gone up in this stretch with him last recording a hefty 2,141 scrimmage yards and 17 touchdowns in 2020.
So, one might ask why is Henry ranked here? We must keep in mind that this ankle breaker just turned 27, so ride him while he’s hot!
6. Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams
Fantasy owners of Akers in his rookie year got a bit duped at the beginning. However, the Rams finally their let their youngster roam free, giving us a great sampling of things to come. During a six-week stretch ending in postseason Week 19, Akers averaged 107.5 rushing yards per game, while he scored four times. He’s revved up as a dynasty star in the making — especially with a major upgrade at quarterback in that of the recently traded Matthew Stafford.
7. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers
Last year, McCaffrey was the No. 1 overall fantasy pick in the majority of drafts after producing league highs in touches (403), yards (2,392) and touchdowns (19) in 2019. Then thud. Lingering injuries held McCaffrey to only three games in 2020.
Those who draft this dual-threat back moving forward will hope he picks up where is left off. However, CMC has built up quite the mileage in the 51 games he’s played since 2017.
8. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Barkley is a stud when he’s healthy. At only 24 years of age, Barkley has a long fantasy career ahead if he can stay on the field. He’s rushed for 4.7 yards per attempt since his 2018 draft year, in addition to averaging nearly five receptions per game. In PPR formats, he’s fantasy gold.
Those joining start-up dynasty fantasy leagues for 2021 may see Barkley’s ADP falling slightly, due to that season-ending ACL injury he will be returning from. This makes for the perfect opportunity to vulture in and take advantage.
9. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
Now that Jones has re-signed with his home team, his dynasty value gets a boost. Jones should continue to thrive on a well-balanced Packers offense that won’t run him into the ground, but will allow enough touches that he remains a RB1-2 on a weekly basis.
Jones last averaged 104.2 yards per game, while scoring 11 combined touchdowns. He will lose some goal line work to A.J. Dillon, but at only 26-years-old, Jones should be a reliable dynasty fantasy staple moving forward.
10. J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens
Dobbins belongs on dynasty teams with the hope the Ravens eventually make him their work horse back. Even with splitting the backfield, Dobbins recorded 925 total yards and scored nine times in his 2020 rookie season. This was not too shabby.
11. David Montgomery, Chicago Bears
At the young age of 23, Montgomery continues to improve as a fantasy asset. In 2020, Montgomery beefed up his stats across the board, toting the rock at 4.3 yards per carry, while recording 1,508 total yards and and 10 touchdowns.
Even sharing the field at times with Damien Williams (new to Chicago), Montgomery is the Bears RB to target in dynasty drafts, as Chicago continues to operate a run-first offense.
12. Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team
A 2020 third-round pick, Gibson showed enough upside to be rostered in dynasty formats moving forward. He rushed for and average of 4.7 yards per carry and scored 11 TDs in 14 games. More stability at QB in Washington with the newly-signed Ryan Fitzpatrick should help Gibson evolve.
13. D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions
Swift was frustratingly drafted too high in 2020 only to be used sparingly (when not injured). Through 13 games, Swift averaged just 47.9 combined yards per game. Thankfully, he had 10 touchdowns.
Looking ahead, the Lions will take on a revamped look with a new coach and Jared Goff as a change at quarterback. It will be interesting to see how this impacts Swift from a fantasy standpoint. The talent is there and Swift is still worthy of a spot on dynasty rosters.
14. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
Najee Harris has a new home with the Steelers where he will be highly sought after by his fantasy drafters come draft day. Through his 2019-20 seasons at Alabama, he produced an amazing 3,419 total yards. He also led the entire NCAA in 2020 with 26 rushing touchdowns.
Coming in at a big 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, Harris will have a bright career ahead with his blend of power, ball-carrier vision and ability to take it to the house from anywhere on the field.
15. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
Fantasy owners have been at their wit’s end with Mixon on more than one occasion. And, while it seems like he has been in the league forever, Mixon will be only 25 years of age when the 2021 season starts.
With that said, the Bengals should stop messing around and bulk up their weak offensive line this offseason. Should this happen, Mixon will have the room to run the ball way more efficiently.
A healthy Joe Burrow back under center only helps Mixon’s fantasy value heading forward. It’s beyond time to Free Mixon!
16. Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles
Sanders’ overall yardage took a tumble back in his sophomore season (1,064 compared to 1,327 in 2019). The hope would be that the Eagles fully unleash Sanders as their trusted three-down back and that his fantasy stats improve.
Maybe a new coach and offensive scheme in Philly, will launch Sanders into RB1 territory starting in 2021.
17. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs
CEH was a huge bust for those who went all in on this over-hyped 2020 rookie. Some folks even drafted him No. 1 overall (insert eye-rolling emoji here). Moving on, CEH will hopefully rebound from his low-producing 2020 fantasy season.
Setting aside a wonky Super Bowl performance, when everything that could go wrong did, the Chiefs offense is one of the best in the league. So, we would have to hope this results in CEH becoming a valuable dynasty asset down the road.
18. Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars
This amazing Clemson back had a stellar four-year run after producing 6,107 scrimmage yards and 72 touchdowns. This is while he was carrying the ball at unreal 7.2 yards per attempt.
And, now he joins the Jaguars and James Robinson to combine for what could be one of the most powerful RB duos in the league. Etienne is a guy you definitely want on your dynasty roster since he will presumably take on the more dominant role between the two backs.
19. Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos
Williams is coming from an excellent 2020 season when he led the ACC with 19 rushing touchdowns. Note also that those touchdowns accompanied 1,140 yards rushed at an average of 7.3 yards per attempt. Williams was a dual-threat as well, adding 305 yards and three touchdowns through the air.
Since the Broncos went well out of their way to trade up to snag Williams, he will likely have a key role on offense sooner rather than later. Meanwhile, Melvin Gordon’s tenure in Denver might be limited.
20. James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars
Robinson was a sweet fantasy discovery last year when over 14 games, he averaged 101 total yards per clash and scored 10 times. However, the Jaguars somewhat surprisingly drafted college stud Travis Etienne to add to the mix.
Stay tuned as Robinson’s dynasty ranking may be subject to change as summer training camps play out and a pecking order between the two RBs becomes established.
Related: 2022 NFL mock draft – Top prospects in exciting 2022 draft class
Dynasty wide receiver rankings
1. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
This guy. You want him on your dynasty team. Diggs is in his prime and at 27, he should still have some phenomenal years ahead of him. Diggs simply thrived in his Bills’ debut, turning 127 catches into 1,535 yards and eight touchdowns. With Josh Allen headed for a massive contract extension, this pair could dominate for years to come.
2. Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs
Hill’s feats never cease to amaze. He’s coming off a career-best 15-touchdown season and he plays with the top quarterback in our fantasy football dynasty rankings. What could be any more ideal?
3. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Jefferson had a fabulous rookie season, making him a top-ranked dynasty receiver heading into 2021. Those who owned Jefferson last year reaped the fantasy rewards from his 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns he made his mark with.
4. DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks
DK Metcalf is worth a big spend in dynasty football. As a sophomore, he racked up the sixth-most receiving yards (1,303), along with 10 touchdowns. He’s established himself as Russell Wilson’s No. 1 target and he’ll continue to make those amazing big plays that fantasy owners gush over.
5. Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons
Ridley really made a leap in his third year and his stock should soar in dynasty drafts. He last produced 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns as the top WR in Atlanta. Even with the versatile Kyle Pitts entering the scene, Ridley should retain his dynasty value.
6. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
Coming from a decent, 1,112-yard, six-touchdown sophomore campaign in 2019, Sutton played only one 2020 game when he tore his ACL. He’ll be back though — perhaps a little under the radar — which might make him a cheaper grab in dynasty drafts.
Read More: Top 25 potential NFL free agents of 2021
7. A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans
Brown has been very consistent in his first two years. So far, he’s got 2,126 total yards and 19 touchdowns that he snuck in for his dynasty owners. These aren’t astronomical stats, but stable enough that he makes a dependable start every week. It’s worth monitoring, though, to see how this offense performs in 2021 after play-caller Arthur Smith left.
8. Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Johnson led the Steelers WRs with 144 targets. From this, he recorded 923 yards and found the end zone seven times. Hopefully, Johnson keeps evolving as a handy dynasty asset as Ben Roethlisberger’s career winds down.
Pittsburgh Steelers rumors: Ben Roethlisberger to return in 2021 on one condition
9. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
Lamb was extremely impressive as a rookie, posting 935 yards and five touchdowns in less than ideal team conditions. The return of Dak Prescott only boosts Lamb’s stock in fantasy football dynasty rankings.
Dallas Cowboys draft picks: Top options in a strong class, ideal 2021 NFL Draft targets
10. DJ Moore, Carolina Panthers
The hope for Moore moving forward is that he increases his trips to the end zone. So far in three seasons, he has scored only 10 touchdowns. However, he last impressed in 2020 with an average of 18.1 yards per catch and finished with 1,193 yards on the season.
Showcasing tons of upside, and only 23-years-old, Moore is worth rostering in all dynasty formats. The addition of Sam Darnold, who’s got a cannon of an arm, only helps.
11. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
Ja’Marr Chase opted out of 2020, but that doesn’t impact this newest Bengals WR in our dynasty fantasy rankings. He is reunited with his LSU QB, Joe Burrow, and ready to rock fantasy rosters everywhere. He last connected with Burrow for a whopping 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2019.
12. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
Don’t sleep on Higgins. As a rookie, Higgins logged in with 908 yards and six touchdowns. If Burrow had not been injured, Higgins’ fantasy output likely would have been higher.
Higgins may also benefit from the presence of the aforementioned Ja’marr Chase, who might be the guy drawing double coverage from defenses.
13. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
This 2020 Heisman winner makes a sweet addition to an Eagles’ wide receiver roster constantly plagued by injuries.
So, do not hesitate to draft DeVonta Smith who last caught a ridiculous 117 passes, resulting in 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns, whew! With that said, Smith should easily become Jalen Hurts‘ go-to guy downfield.
14. Terry McLaurin, Washington Football Team
As McLaurin enters his third year, he hopefully plays with only one quarterback in 2021. Right now, that is likely going to be Ryan Fitzpatrick who should boost McLaurin’s draft stock for 2021. Beyond that, McLaurin has a promising NFL career ahead, after averaging over 1,000 yards in his first two seasons. As such, McLaurin’s fantasy ceiling is high.
15. Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos
Jeudy impressed as a rookie averaging 16.5 yards per catch. While he might not be start-able each week in 2021, depending on how Denver’s quarterback situation plays out, he is worth a later-round pick in dynasty startup leagues. The hope would be Jeudy eventually fits the mold of a must-start WR after another year under his belt.
16. D.J. Chark, Jacksonville Jaguars
Chark has a new, shiny quarterback in the aforementioned Trevor Lawrence. Over time, this pair should build chemistry which will give Chark the opportunity to become a dynasty WR worth owning down the stretch.
Of course, this 24-year-old receiver needs to stay healthy to fully reward his fantasy owners. His best season came in 2019 when he posted 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns. We hope to see these numbers keep rising as Chark evolves in the NFL.
17. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
Despite playing in just six games in 2020, limited by an ankle injury, Jaylen Waddle was a no-brainer draft pick to pair up with his former Crimson Tide QB, Tua Tagovailoa in Miami.
Worth noting is that Waddle finished up last season ranking No. 1 in the SEC for his jaw-dropping 21.1 yards he averaged per reception. Big catches such as these equate to big fantasy rewards.
Dynasty tight end rankings
1. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
At 27 and coming from an injury-year, Kittle barely makes our cut as a “young star” to build a dynasty team around. But with the TE position so thin in general, get Kittle on your dynasty rosters while the going is hot. He’s produced solidly in fantasy with an average of 67.5 yards per game.
2. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
Kyle Pitts had a monster year in Florida, nabbing 43 catches for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns. This came in just eight games, folks!
Selected fourth overall by the Atlanta Falcons, Pitts should continue to shine. He will be the most-coveted tight end targeted in dynasty fantasy football for years to come.
3. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
We still love Andrews, and No. 3 seems right for him here. He’s a valuable fantasy producer who last recorded 58 receptions for 701 yards and seven touchdowns. Let’s hope that Jackson keeps him relevant from here on out.
4. Jonnu Smith, New England Patriots
Smith signed with the Patriots in free agency, and head coach Bill Belichick has made fantasy magic with tight ends before. While the Pats also signed Hunter Henry, the focus in dynasty should be on Smith. He has less wear and tear on him after just four years of playing in Tennessee.
He is a mere 25 years old, and a fresh start in New England keeps Smith within a top-five fantasy TE to roster in dynasty leagues.
Smith will begin his first season as a Patriot having scored eight touchdowns in 15 games with the Titans in 2020.
5. Noah Fant, Denver Broncos
Fant’s progressing well, and is worthy of a dynasty slot at TE for the time being. He’s averaged 617.5 yards per season, which is pretty solid. However, he’s only scored three times in each of his two years.
6. Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers
Let’s hope we are not promoting fool’s gold here. However, with this position so shallow, Tonyan is worth a later-round flier in dynasty after a season that saw him nail the end zone 11 times and post 586 yards. For now, he is still on Green Bay’s roster.