2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers for Week 3

Two weeks of the 2021 NFL season are now completed, giving us a little more information to go off of for the rest of the season. At the wide receiver position, we’ve seen a few guys like Cooper Kupp, Tyler Lockett, and CeeDee Lamb show that they could remain in WR1 territory for the entire season. Following some productive — and discouraging — performances from wide receivers in Week 2, below are my rankings at the wide receiver position entering Week 3.

Notable Omissions (Previous Rank):

Jarvis Landry (29), Amon-Ra St. Brown (70), Randall Cobb (72), Deonte Harris (75)

Notable additions

Quintez Cephus, A.J. Green, Cordarrelle Patterson, Donovan Peoples-Jones

Biggest Movers (Increase or Decrease from Previous Rank):

1. Marquez Callaway (-23)
2. Rondale Moore (+18)
3. Tim Patrick (+10)
4. Hunter Renfrow (+8)
5. Russell Gage (-7)

Notes for Week 3:

• I fell for the trap that is Marquez Callaway after seeing him ball out in the preseason. With Jameis Winston under center — plus, the fact that Michael Thomas and Tre’Quan Smith are out — I thought Callaway was poised to be the clear No. 1 wide receiver on the New Orleans. Instead, I have been hoodwinked, bamboozled, and led astray *Stephen A. Smith voice*. While Callaway or the other wideouts in New Orleans can hit their stride with Winston at some point, it’s best to avoid them until we see them perform consistently.
• I’ll admit that I was wrong about Rondale Moore during the offseason. Given the depth at wide receiver, I assumed that we were a year away from Moore showing off his playmaking ability. However, with the Arizona Cardinals running an air-raid offense under Kliff Kingsbury, and with Kyler Murray airing it out, the Cardinals can support 3-4 wide receivers in fantasy football. Moore is second in the NFL with 13.5 yards after the catch through the first two weeks, showing that Arizona wants to get him the ball and let him make plays in open space.
• Everyone was disputing whether or not you would want Tim Patrick or KJ Hamler on the Denver Broncos following the injury to Jerry Jeudy. While Courtland Sutton proved he’s a WR1 now, it was Patrick that showed he’s the clear No. 2 until Jeudy returns. Patrick is WR34 through the first two weeks while Hamler is WR92. Even though Teddy Bridgewater is fifth in the NFL in intended air yards per throw, Hamler is too dependent on a deep play to be relevant in fantasy football compared to Patrick being the better receiver.
• It’s time we all stop disrespecting Hunter Renfrow in fantasy football. As long as Derek Carr is playing at the level — or a similar level — as he is right now, then Renfrow is going to be a valuable commodity in PPR leagues. Renfrow has received 16 targets in the first two weeks (which he’s turned into 11 receptions for 127 yards) and he’s become Carr’s second-favorite option outside of Darren Waller. While Bryan Edwards and Henry Ruggs have higher ceilings, Renfrow provides a safe floor at the wide receiver position.
• What a mess the offense of the Atlanta Falcons has been to begin the season. Besides Calvin Ridley and Kyle Pitts, there aren’t any other players in the offense I’d be confident starting every week. Russell Gage in particular has been largely disappointing, as he’s contributed only five receptions for 28 yards in the first two games for the Falcons. Seeing that Atlanta held a visit for John Brown on Tuesday, it goes to show that the Falcons are not content with how their wideouts not named Ridley are performing.