X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Early-Season Fantasy Outliers to Forget?

Aaron Rodgers - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Targets, NFL Injury News

A lot has changed since Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season, especially in fantasy football. Rishi looks at the biggest outliers from the season opener and identifies major risers and fallers since then.

We are now five weeks into the 2021 NFL campaign. Teams are starting to stand out while others look like they should be jockeying for draft positions--already. The 2021 season has been off to a rousing start and Week 1 feels so far back in the rearview mirror.

Oftentimes, Week 1 is more of an experimental week where teams get a feel for their chemistry and shake off the rust. Therefore, some performances may not be reflective of what’s to come.

That certainly applies to this season where some players’ Week 1 performances now seem like an aberration. Let’s break down some players and headlines that seemingly fooled us into thinking what their fantasy stock was after Week 1.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Mike Evans Lays A Dud, Super Bowl Hangover?

Mike Evans was the odd man out in the shootout with the Cowboys in Week 1. The talented receiver laid a dud right off the bat with only three receptions for 24 yards on six targets while his teammates thrived.

That may have been a “shake off the rust” week as the 28-year-old has been on a tear ever since. He has produced at least 75 yards in the following four games while notching two contests with over 100 yards in that span. Evans is now showcasing why he’s a top receiver in the league once again and is back on pace for another 1,000-yard season. 

 

Ezekiel Elliott Runs Nowhere and Dak Prescott Keeps on Flinging

Referring to that same game, Cowboys QB Dak Prescott threw for a season-high 58 times and 403 yards while Zeke only rushed for 33 yards. Could that have been a sign that Zeke was on the decline and the Cowboys would have to rely on Dak to throw more after returning from injury?

Well apparently not, as the Cowboys have thankfully become more balanced since Week 1. Elliott has rushed for at least 71 yards in the last four games, while also posting over 100 rushing yards in the last two games.

Meanwhile, Prescott hasn’t thrown the pigskin more than 32 times in a single contest since Week 1 but has still posted respectable numbers. The Cowboys also haven’t lost since Week 1 and will look to continue rolling in a weak division (again).

 

Eli Mitchell Strikes Gold and Takes the League By Storm

Ah yes, Elijah Mitchell. The most popular fantasy pickup after Week 1. Who knew what would lie ahead for him after that Week 1 flash of talent. It was warranted since Raheem Mostert went down for the season and the rookie posted 19 carries for 104 yards and a score against the Lions. Nevertheless, Mitchell has been a huge fantasy bust since Week 1, as he has played only two games since then in which he posted no more than 43 yards in any contest. While he appears to have regained starter status over Trey Sermon, it’s safe to say the Elijah Mitchell hype train has long disappeared into the distance at this point.

 

Ty'Son Williams: Leader of the Baltimore Rushing Attack

With the Ravens unluckily hit by the injury bug in terms of their RB room, it seemed undrafted player Ty’Son Williams would be destined for the workhorse back role after a Week 1 in which he had nine rushes for 65 yards and a score. 

Nevertheless, after a Week 2 in which he posted 77 rush yards, Williams has disappeared into oblivion as he managed only 28 yards total after that while also needing to fend off former RB1s Latavius Murray, Le’Veon Bell, and Devonta Freeman, all of whom are on the Ravens now. 

 

Melvin Gordon A Mile Higher Than Javonte Williams

Managers knew rookie Javonte Williams was a threat to veteran Melvin Gordon III in the Broncos backfield heading into 2021. However, it seemed managers could breathe a (brief) sigh of relief after Gordon posted 11 carries for 101 yards and a score in Week 1 while Williams only had 45 rushing yards. 

Afterward, the numbers have been the same for both backs and reflective of a true committee approach. Both backs have received a similar number of carries and posted similar rushing numbers in the last four weeks. While it seemed Gordon may have had the upper hand after Week 1, it seems to be the opposite as both backs are chewing at each other’s fantasy values instead.

 

Aaron Rodgers Starts off Cold as the Tundra

After all the offseason drama surrounding the Packers, they started off 2021 by getting pummeled by... Jameis Winston and the Saints?! Yes, it holds true as the Saints routed Green Bay 38-3 in which the real question was whether Rodgers’ heart was still in Green Bay and what not.

Well, he did post a terrible 133 yards and two picks in that contest but that has been ancient history ever since because the generational QB has erased any doubts about his talents and commitment to the team by posting at least 245 yards in the following four contests with 10 touchdowns to only one pick. Looks like Green Bay is once again an NFC contender and Rodgers is as sharp as usual. 

 

Mark Ingram II Gallops His Way to RB1

The Houston Texans were a mess in the backfield (and as a team) heading into 2021, but it seemed veteran Mark Ingram II could be the leading back after a Week 1 performance that saw him get 26 carries for 85 yards and a score while Phillip Lindsay only had eight carries for 25 yards and David Johnson recorded three carries for 10 yards. 

Well, that was a false sense of hope for Ingram because he hasn’t posted more than 16 carries or 41 rushing yards in any contest after. Though he still paces the team in rushing yards, the weekly production has been nowhere near strong enough for fantasy.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Oneil Cruz16 mins ago

Homers In Win Over Rays
Dylan Moore21 mins ago

Homers In Win Wednesday
Luis Arraez26 mins ago

Homers, Steals A Base In Win On Wednesday
Michael Conforto5 hours ago

Homers, Scores Three Runs
Jace Jung5 hours ago

Hits Home Run No. 2 At Triple-A
Jon Singleton5 hours ago

Signs Minor-League Deal With Mets
Niko Goodrum5 hours ago

Signs Minor-League Deal With Mets
Nick Kurtz5 hours ago

Belts Third Home Run In Last Four Games
Shohei Ohtani6 hours ago

Blasts Walk-Off Home Run
Zac Veen6 hours ago

Triples, Collects Four RBI At Triple-A On Wednesday
Zac Gallen6 hours ago

Strikes Out 13
Luke Waddell6 hours ago

Swinging A Hot Bat At Triple-A
Chandler Simpson7 hours ago

With A Two-Run Triple, Stolen Base On Wednesday
Los Angeles Chargers7 hours ago

Chargers Sign Tight End Jordan Petaia
Austin Gomber8 hours ago

Scratched From Rehab Start With Shoulder Inflammation
Zack Wheeler8 hours ago

Records 10 Strikeouts
8 hours ago

Matthew Golden Making Pre-Draft Visit To Steelers
Cincinnati Bengals8 hours ago

Trey Hendrickson Not Looking For Short-Term Deal
Aroldis Chapman8 hours ago

Earns First Save Of The Season
Garrett Crochet8 hours ago

Works Eight Strong Innings
Tutu Atwell8 hours ago

Rams Plan To Give Tutu Atwell A Bigger Role In 2025
Rafael Devers8 hours ago

Finally Delivers At The Plate
Tampa Bay Buccaneers8 hours ago

Bucs Restructure Antoine Winfield's Deal To Free Up Cap Space
Xavier Edwards9 hours ago

Collects Four Hits
Pete Alonso9 hours ago

Comes Up Clutch
Jackson Merrill10 hours ago

Goes Deep After Inking Nine-Year Extension
Jrue Holiday10 hours ago

Won't Play Against Miami
New York Jets10 hours ago

Xavier Newman-Johnson Re-Signs With New York
Al Horford11 hours ago

Sidelined Versus Heat
Kristaps Porzingis11 hours ago

Ruled Out On Wednesday
Fred VanVleet11 hours ago

Out Versus Utah
Dean Wade11 hours ago

Sidelined On Wednesday
Trae Young12 hours ago

Expected To Suit Up On Wednesday
Joel Embiid12 hours ago

Will Undergo Arthroscopic Surgery On His Left Knee
Evgeni Malkin12 hours ago

Joins Penguins For Road Trip
Filip Chytil12 hours ago

Could Miss Rest Of Season
Declan Chisholm12 hours ago

Back In Action Against Rangers
Keaton Wallace12 hours ago

Sidelined Again On Wednesday
Samuel Girard12 hours ago

Exits Avalanche Lineup Wednesday
Joel Kiviranta13 hours ago

Returning Against Blackhawks
Eeli Tolvanen13 hours ago

Misses First Game Of The Season
Jaden Schwartz13 hours ago

Unavailable Against Canucks
14 hours ago

Kyle McCord Rising Up Draft Boards?
14 hours ago

Ashton Jeanty To Raiders Continues To Gain Steam
14 hours ago

Emeka Egbuka To Fall To Round 2?
Los Angeles Rams14 hours ago

Rob Havenstein Expected To Be Ready For Training Camp
Cleveland Browns16 hours ago

Mike Hall Likely To Miss Offseason Program After Having Knee Surgery
New England Patriots16 hours ago

Christian Barmore Expected To Be Ready For Offseason Workouts
16 hours ago

Saints Expected To Visit With Quinn Ewers
Jake Moody17 hours ago

49ers To Bring In Competition For Jake Moody
Pittsburgh Steelers17 hours ago

Steelers In Play To Draft A Running Back
Green Bay Packers19 hours ago

Packers Not Ruling Out Jaire Alexander Returning
Tennessee Titans19 hours ago

No. 1 Overall Pick Might Not Be For Sale
Kenny Pickett19 hours ago

Browns Feel Good About QB Situation, Kenny Pickett
Cleveland Browns19 hours ago

Browns Unlikely To Trade Up To No. 1 Overall For Cam Ward
Cincinnati Bengals19 hours ago

Bengals Still Working On Contract Extension With Trey Hendrickson
Dyami Brown20 hours ago

Jaguars Intrigued By Dyami Brown's Potential
Bennedict Mathurin20 hours ago

Iffy For Wednesday
Myles Turner21 hours ago

May Miss Another Game Wednesday
Al Horford21 hours ago

Considered Doubtful Wednesday
Jrue Holiday21 hours ago

Questionable For Wednesday's Game
Kristaps Porzingis21 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Wednesday
Jaylen Brown21 hours ago

Could Remain On The Shelf Wednesday
Cade Cunningham21 hours ago

Likely Out For Fifth Straight Game
Anthony Davis21 hours ago

Probable Wednesday
Evan Bouchard23 hours ago

Tallies Two Assists In Victory
Jake Guentzel23 hours ago

Tallies Goal, Assist In Victory
Kirill Marchenko23 hours ago

Scores Hat Trick On Tuesday
Tage Thompson23 hours ago

Stays Hot On The Scoresheet
Lane Hutson23 hours ago

Dishes Out Three Helpers In Overtime Victory
Alex Ovechkin23 hours ago

Tallies Two Points In Victory
Cameron Young1 day ago

A Player To Avoid At Valero Texas Open
Kurt Kitayama1 day ago

In Search Of Consistency At Valero Texas Open
Si Woo Kim1 day ago

Looking To Bounce Back At Valero Texas Open
Tom Hoge1 day ago

Looking To Build Off Strong Performance At The PLAYERS Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick1 day ago

Looking For Consistency At Valero Texas Open
Corey Conners1 day ago

Continues Strong Form Ahead Of Valero Texas Open
Patrick Cantlay1 day ago

Eyeing Victory At Valero Texas Open
Gary Woodland1 day ago

Showing Great Form Ahead Of Valero Texas Open
Akshay Bhatia1 day ago

Aiming For Repeat At Valero Texas Open
Alejandro Tosti1 day ago

A Volatile Choice At TPC San Antonio
Guerschon Yabusele1 day ago

Out Against Knicks
Karl-Anthony Towns1 day ago

Sits Out Tuesday's Game
Jevon Carter1 day ago

Ruled Out Tuesday
Dalen Terry1 day ago

Unavailable Against Raptors
Julian Phillips1 day ago

Out On Tuesday
Jimmy Snuggerud1 day ago

Ready For NHL Debut Tuesday
Jacob Trouba2 days ago

Set To Rejoin Ducks Lineup Tuesday
Troy Terry2 days ago

On Track To Play Tuesday
Jonathan Marchessault2 days ago

Remains Out Against Blue Jackets
Alex Laferriere2 days ago

Expected To Return On Tuesday
Luke Schenn2 days ago

A Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Dante Fabbro2 days ago

Returns Against Predators
Olli Määttä2 days ago

Olli Maatta A Game-Time Call On Tuesday
Jordan Spieth2 days ago

Needs To Find Consistency At TPC San Antonio
Jake Knapp2 days ago

Making First Appearance At Valero Texas Open
Michael Kim2 days ago

Looking To Find The Magic Again In San Antonio
Tommy Fleetwood2 days ago

Is Nearly A Must-Play At Valero Texas Open
Tony Finau2 days ago

Hoping For Better Approach Play In San Antonio
Eric Cole2 days ago

Trending In Right Direction Ahead Of Valero
Sam Stevens2 days ago

Enjoys Nice Result In Houston
PGA2 days ago

J.T. Poston Seeks To Contend At Valero Texas Open
Denny McCarthy2 days ago

Keeps Making Cuts But Needs To Make More Putts
Brian Harman2 days ago

Off To A Subpar 2025 So Far
Ryan Preece3 days ago

Has Three Straight Top-10 Finishes For First Time In His Career
NASCAR3 days ago

Bubba Wallace After Third-Place Finish At Martinsville: "What a Great Day"
Todd Gilliland3 days ago

Has Mistake-Free Day At Martinsville, Grabs Another Top-10 Finish
Brandon Moreno3 days ago

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Steve Erceg3 days ago

Losses Third Consecutive Fight
Drew Dober3 days ago

Gets Knocked Out At UFC Mexico City
Manuel Torres3 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Harry Hall3 days ago

Bounces Back In Houston Last Week
CJ Vergara3 days ago

Gets Submitted
Édgar Cháirez3 days ago

Edgar Chairez Gets Submission Win At UFC Mexico City
Vince Morales3 days ago

Drops Decision At UFC Mexico City
Raul Rosas Jr.3 days ago

Gets Decision Win At UFC Mexico City
Saimon Oliveira3 days ago

Still Winless In The UFC
David Martinez3 days ago

Wins His UFC Debut
Kevin Borjas3 days ago

Earns His First UFC Win
Ronaldo Rodríguez3 days ago

Ronaldo Rodriguez Suffers His First UFC Loss
Christopher Bell3 days ago

Powers His Way To A Second-Place Finish At Martinsville
Chase Elliott3 days ago

Strong Martinsville Performance Ends With A Top-Five Finish
Kyle Larson3 days ago

Collects A Top-Five Finish At Martinsville
William Byron3 days ago

Places 22nd After Struggles At Martinsville
Joey Logano3 days ago

Claims His First 2025 Top-10 Finish After Up-And-Down Performance
Tyler Reddick3 days ago

Fails To Place In The Top 10 At Martinsville
Denny Hamlin3 days ago

Silences Doubters After Crew-Chief Change
Ty Gibbs3 days ago

Earns Best 2025 Finish At Martinsville Despite Failing Cool Suit
Ross Chastain3 days ago

Has A Great Day At Martinsville
Chase Briscoe3 days ago

Has Solid Run At Martinsville
Erik Jones3 days ago

Disqualified At Martinsville For Weight Violation
Josh Berry4 days ago

Has Top-10 Upside At Martinsville
Joey Logano4 days ago

Don't Overlook Joey Logano This Weekend
Ryan Preece4 days ago

Could Get First Three-Race Top-10 Streak Of His Career
Chase Elliott4 days ago

Looking To Continue Great Runs At Martinsville
Christopher Bell4 days ago

Wins Pole At Martinsville, But Can He Stay Up There?
Ryan Blaney4 days ago

Fast In Practice But Skeptical About Car
Denny Hamlin4 days ago

New Crew Chief Has Terrible Martinsville Record
Steve Erceg6 days ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Brandon Moreno6 days ago

A Favorite At UFC Mexico City
Manuel Torres6 days ago

Set For Co-Main Event
Drew Dober6 days ago

An Underdog At UFC Mexico City
Joe Pyfer6 days ago

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Kelvin Gastelum6 days ago

Set For Middleweight Matchup
Vince Morales6 days ago

In Dire Need Of Victory
Raul Rosas Jr.6 days ago

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Saimon Oliveira6 days ago

Looks For His First UFC Win
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF