2021 DSE Football Projections: Offense

The 2020 NFL season reminded me of a 17-week rubbernecking delay. Given most everyone’s NEED for sports, the fans’ tolerance for NFL shenanigans was quite high, but, really, how many heads rolling down the highway does it take before the NFL figures things out? And, yes, that was a rhetorical question because the season is over, and Goodell never did figure it out; I wish I could say I’m surprised, but well yeah, I’m not! All-in-all, though, this 2020 season was definitely the strangest NFL season I can remember. It wasn’t all from COVID – I mean, yes, COVID was part of it with the delayed games to the non-stop players on COVID protocols (and penalties for violations of the NFL COVID protocols), to maybe the single most idiotic $50k Christmas Day fine, and my personal favorite of the “tanking” hilarity of week 17. However, now that we’re officially in the playoffs – and my Cleveland Browns have ended an 18-year playoff drought – I figured it was time to make some, possibly, way-too-early 2021 projections.

About these projections: I used an age-weighted, 3-year average for all players based on DSE IDP League scoring to project the 2021 Rankings. For a full set of our scoring, check out our IDP League rules page. However, since I’m not posting the projected point totals, instead, I’ve broken down each category into various tiers. It is worth noting that all players within a tier are within a relatively similar projected point category – I used a +- variance of 2.5ppg for each tier. A link to the offense player article can be found here >> Defensive Players.

Quarterback

Yes, I am aware I listed the two 2020 MVP candidates in tier 2, Aaron Rodgers, and tier 3, Josh Allen; and, yes, I am aware the GOAT, Tom Brady, is in tier 6. But remember, these are Dynasty rankings, not re-draft, and while that can explain Rodgers and Brady, Allen only this season figured things out, and I’m not convinced he’ll repeat these numbers next season. I’m also aware Lamar “The Running Back” Jackson is ranked 16, and in tier 4 with likes of Caron Wentz and Cam Newton, which was again, on-purpose because let’s be real, Lamar has a lot to learn, and the hype train has left the station.

Rank	Player	Team	Pos	Tier
1	Dak Prescott	DAL	QB	1
2	Justin Herbert	LAC	QB	1
3	Patrick Mahomes	KC	QB	1
4	Joe Burrow	CIN	QB	1
5	Aaron Rodgers	GB	QB	2
6	Deshaun Watson	HOU	QB	2
7	Russell Wilson	SEA	QB	2
8	Kyler Murray	ARI	QB	3
9	Josh Allen	BUF	QB	3
10	Jared Goff	LAR	QB	3
11	Matthew Stafford	DET	QB	3
12	Kirk Cousins	MIN	QB	3
13	Ryan Tannehill	TEN	QB	3
14	Derek Carr	LV	QB	4
15	Nick Foles	CHI	QB	4
16	Lamar Jackson	BAL	QB	4
17	Tua Tagovailoa	MIA	QB	4
18	Carson Wentz	PHI	QB	4
19	Cam Newton	NE	QB	4
20	Mitchell Trubisky	CHI	QB	4
21	Baker Mayfield	CLE	QB	4
22	Matt Ryan	ATL	QB	4
23	Marcus Mariota	LV	QB	4
24	Daniel Jones	NYG	QB	4
25	Drew Lock	DEN	QB	4
26	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	QB	5
27	Ryan Fitzpatrick	MIA	QB	5
28	Andy Dalton	DAL	QB	5
29	Sam Darnold	NYJ	QB	5
30	Jimmy Garoppolo	SF	QB	5
31	Philip Rivers	IND	QB	5
32	Teddy Bridgewater	CAR	QB	5
33	Drew Brees	NO	QB	5
34	Tom Brady	TB	QB	6
35	Nick Mullens	SF	QB	6
36	Jameis Winston	NO	QB	6
37	Joe Flacco	NYJ	QB	6
38	Alex Smith	WAS	QB	6
39	Gardner Minshew	JAX	QB	6
40	John Wolford	LAR	QB	6

Running Back

Yes, I have Derrick Henry ranked in tier 3; I mean, let’s face it, he’s no spring chicken. Yes, I have Zeke ranked in tier 4, mostly due to his lack of a 2020 season. And yes, I’m a Browns fan, and I have Chubb and Hunt in tier 4, mainly due to the coaches’ inability to stick with Chubb as their full-time, go-to back.

It may also ruffle some feathers for some people to see Henry ranked 5th, but, well, that’s what I do, isn’t it – ruffle feathers and shake up people’s perceptions and expectations. Now I could be wrong, and Henry could put up yet another 2000 yard season, but with the way things change year-after-year, I’ll bet against those odds.

Rank	Player	Team	Pos	Tier
1	Christian McCaffrey	CAR	RB	1
2	Alvin Kamara	NO	RB	2
3	Dalvin Cook	MIN	RB	2
4	Jonathan Taylor	IND	RB	3
5	Derrick Henry	TEN	RB	3
6	James Robinson	JAX	RB	3
7	Austin Ekeler	LAC	RB	3
8	Aaron Jones	GB	RB	4
9	Ezekiel Elliott	DAL	RB	4
10	Antonio Gibson	WAS	RB,WR	4
11	D'Andre Swift	DET	RB	4
12	Nick Chubb	CLE	RB	4
13	Clyde Edwards-Helaire	KC	RB	4
14	Josh Jacobs	LV	RB	4
15	David Montgomery	CHI	RB	4
16	Joe Mixon	CIN	RB	4
17	Miles Sanders	PHI	RB	4
18	Saquon Barkley	NYG	RB	4
19	Kareem Hunt	CLE	RB	4
20	James Conner	PIT	RB	4
21	Leonard Fournette	TB	RB	4
22	Chris Carson	SEA	RB	5
23	J.K. Dobbins	BAL	RB	5
24	Todd Gurley	ATL	RB	5
25	Kenyan Drake	ARI	RB	5
26	Nyheim Hines	IND	RB	5
27	Myles Gaskin	MIA	RB	5
28	Melvin Gordon	DEN	RB	5
29	Ronald Jones	TB	RB	5
30	David Johnson	HOU	RB	5
31	Tony Pollard	DAL	RB	5
32	Devin Singletary	BUF	RB	5
33	Marlon Mack	IND	RB	5
34	Jamaal Williams	GB	RB	5
35	Chase Edmonds	ARI	RB	5
36	Jeffery Wilson	SF	RB	5
37	Cam Akers	LAR	RB	5
38	Boston Scott	PHI	RB	5
39	Tarik Cohen	CHI	RB	5
40	Zack Moss	BUF	RB	5
41	Sony Michel	NE	RB	6
42	James White	NE	RB	6
43	Darrynton Evans	TEN	RB	6
44	Phillip Lindsay	DEN	RB	6
45	Raheem Mostert	SF	RB	6
46	Kerryon Johnson	DET	RB	6
47	Mike Davis	CAR	RB	6
48	Le'Veon Bell	NYJ/KC	RB	6
49	Devonta Freeman	NYG	RB	6
50	J.D. McKissic	WAS	RB	6
51	Gus Edwards	BAL	RB	7
52	Alex Collins	SEA	RB	7
53	Duke Johnson	HOU	RB	7
54	Joshua Kelley	LAC	RB	7
55	Rex Burkhead	NE	RB	7
56	Jerick McKinnon	SF	RB	7
57	Latavius Murray	NO	RB	7
58	Darrell Henderson	LAR	RB	7
59	Reggie Bonnafon	CAR	RB	7
60	Kalen Ballage	NYJ/LAC	RB	7
61	La'Mical Perine	NYJ	RB	7
62	Jordan Howard	MIA/PHI	RB	7
63	Alexander Mattison	MIN	RB	7
64	Damien Harris	NE	RB	7
65	Giovani Bernard	CIN	RB	7
66	Justin Jackson	LAC	RB	7
67	Wayne Gallman	NYG	RB	7
68	Carlos Hyde	SEA	RB	7
69	Mark Ingram	BAL	RB	7
70	Travis Homer	SEA	RB	7
71	DeeJay Dallas	SEA	RB	7
72	Matt Breida	MIA	RB	7

Wide Receiver

For some, the biggest surprise may be Metcalf in tier 2. I’m a huge Metcalf fan, but Seattle’s offensive line needs work. While I am an adamant believer in not betting against Russel Wilson, especially when the game is on the line, the wholes in the o-line and lack of a true go-to every-down back make it hard to rank Metcalf higher than 6. Michael Thomas stock may fall this off-season if Brees does in-fact, retire, especially since the Saints don’t really have a viable QB on their roster – not to say Winston isn’t viable, but more to the point the Saints don’t seem to believe in him as a legit QB option. Mike Evans could also be in the same boat if Brady decides to hang-it up, finally, but outside the Tampa Bay winning the Superbowl this year, I have a sneaky suspicion we’ll see Brady again next season – at 44-years-old.

Rank	Player	Team	Pos	Tier
1	Justin Jefferson	MIN	WR	1
2	Davante Adams	GB	WR	1
3	Tyreek Hill	KC	WR	1
4	A.J. Brown	TEN	WR	2
5	CeeDee Lamb	DAL	WR	2
6	DK Metcalf	SEA	WR	2
7	Stefon Diggs	BUF	WR	2
8	Mike Evans	TB	WR	2
9	Michael Thomas	NO	WR	2
10	Chris Godwin	TB	WR	2
11	DeAndre Hopkins	ARI	WR	2
12	Calvin Ridley	ATL	WR	2
13	Amari Cooper	DAL	WR	2
14	Chase Claypool	PIT	WR	2
15	Brandon Aiyuk	SF	WR	2
16	Will Fuller	HOU	WR	2
17	Tyler Lockett	SEA	WR	2
18	Terry McLaurin	WAS	WR	2
19	D.J. Moore	CAR	WR	2
20	Keenan Allen	LAC	WR	2
21	Allen Robinson	CHI	WR	3
22	Cooper Kupp	LAR	WR	3
23	Tee Higgins	CIN	WR	3
24	Diontae Johnson	PIT	WR	3
25	Tyler Boyd	CIN	WR	3
26	Robert Woods	LAR	WR	3
27	Laviska Shenault	JAX	WR	3
28	JuJu Smith-Schuster	PIT	WR	3
29	Julio Jones	ATL	WR	3
30	Curtis Samuel	CAR	WR	3
31	Deebo Samuel	SF	WR	3
32	Corey Davis	TEN	WR	3
33	Kenny Golladay	DET	WR	3
34	Brandin Cooks	HOU	WR	3
35	Darnell Mooney	CHI	WR	3
36	Marquise Brown	BAL	WR	3
37	Mecole Hardman	KC	WR	4
38	Christian Kirk	ARI	WR	4
39	Jamison Crowder	NYJ	WR	4
40	D.J. Chark	JAX	WR	4
41	Sterling Shepard	NYG	WR	4
42	Darius Slayton	NYG	WR	4
43	Courtland Sutton	DEN	WR	4
44	Adam Thielen	MIN	WR	4
45	Jerry Jeudy	DEN	WR	4
46	Marvin Jones	DET	WR	4
47	Jarvis Landry	CLE	WR	4
48	Deonte Harris	NO	WR	4
49	Michael Gallup	DAL	WR	4
50	Preston Williams	MIA	WR	4
51	Travis Fulgham	PHI	WR	4
52	Odell Beckham	CLE	WR	4
53	DeVante Parker	MIA	WR	4
54	Jalen Reagor	PHI	WR	4
55	Antonio Brown	NE/TB	WR	4
56	Robby Anderson	CAR	WR	4
57	Gabriel Davis	BUF	WR	4
58	Donovan Peoples-Jones	CLE	WR	4
59	Chad Hansen	HOU	WR	4
60	Hunter Renfrow	LV	WR	4
61	Keke Coutee	HOU	WR	4
62	Mike Williams	LAC	WR	4
63	Cole Beasley	BUF	WR	4
64	Greg Ward	PHI	WR	4
65	Michael Pittman	IND	WR	5
66	Nelson Agholor	LV	WR	5
67	Steven Sims	WAS	WR	5
68	Jakeem Grant	MIA	WR	5
69	John Brown	BUF	WR	5
70	Devin Duvernay	BAL	WR	5
71	Jakobi Meyers	NE	WR	5
72	Henry Ruggs	LV	WR	5
73	Cordarrelle Patterson	CHI	WR	5
74	Zach Pascal	IND	WR	5
75	K.J. Hamler	DEN	WR	5
76	T.Y. Hilton	IND	WR	5
77	Russell Gage	ATL	WR	5
78	Denzel Mims	NYJ	WR	5
79	Parris Campbell	IND	WR	5
80	Sammy Watkins	KC	WR	5
81	Allen Lazard	GB	WR	5
82	Julian Edelman	NE	WR	5
83	Kendrick Bourne	SF	WR	5
84	Tyron Johnson	LAC	WR	5
85	Randall Cobb	HOU	WR	5
86	Keelan Cole	JAX	WR	5
87	Breshad Perriman	NYJ	WR	5
88	Marquez Callaway	NO	WR	5
89	Emmanuel Sanders	NO	WR	5
90	Adam Humphries	TEN	WR	5
91	Tre'Quan Smith	NO	WR	6
92	Anthony Miller	CHI	WR	6
93	Richie James	SF	WR	6
94	David Moore	SEA	WR	6
95	Lynn Bowden	MIA	RB,WR	6
96	Isaiah McKenzie	BUF	WR	6
97	Tim Patrick	DEN	WR	6
98	Dede Westbrook	JAX	WR	6
99	Marquez Valdes-Scantling	GB	WR	6
100	Tyrell Williams	LV	WR	6
101	James Washington	PIT	WR	6
102	Golden Tate	NYG	WR	6
103	Josh Reynolds	LAR	WR	7
104	Kalif Raymond	TEN	WR	7
105	Quintez Cephus	DET	WR	7
106	Albert Wilson	MIA	WR	7
107	Joe Reed	LAC	WR	7
108	Pharoh Cooper	CAR	WR	7
109	Gunner Olszewski	NE	WR	7
110	Rashard Higgins	CLE	WR	7
111	Scott Miller	TB	WR	7
112	Demarcus Robinson	KC	WR	7
113	Braxton Berrios	NYJ	WR	7
114	DeSean Jackson	PHI	WR	7
115	Chris Conley	JAX	WR	7
116	Alshon Jeffery	PHI	WR	7
117	N'Keal Harry	NE	WR	7
118	Isaiah Ford	MIA/NE	WR	7
119	John Ross	CIN	WR	7
120	Josh Gordon	SEA	WR	8
121	Willie Snead	BAL	WR	8
122	Lil'Jordan Humphrey	NO	WR	8
123	Damiere Byrd	NE	WR	8
124	Brandon Powell	ATL	WR	8
125	Ray-Ray McCloud	PIT	WR	8
126	Andre Roberts	BUF	WR	8
127	Collin Johnson	JAX	WR	8
128	Jaydon Mickens	TB	WR	8
129	Kelvin Harmon	WAS	WR	8
130	Auden Tate	CIN	WR	8
131	Tajae Sharpe	MIN/KC	WR	8
132	Quez Watkins	PHI	WR	8
133	Olamide Zaccheaus	ATL	WR	8
134	Marcus Johnson	IND	WR	8
135	Mohamed Sanu	SF/DET	WR	8
136	Kenny Stills	HOU	WR	8
137	Freddie Swain	SEA	WR	9
138	Diontae Spencer	DEN	WR	9
139	Ryan Switzer	CLE	WR	9
140	Tyrie Cleveland	DEN	WR	9
141	K.J. Osborn	MIN	WR	9
142	Rashard Davis	TEN	WR	9
143	Jalen Guyton	LAC	WR	9
144	Deontay Burnett	PHI	WR	9

Tight End

Tier 2, Austin Hooper, and TJ Hockenson, as tier 3, maybe the surprises on this list heading into 2021. Realistically, neither has a great QB situation with Hooper slightly ahead if you believe Baker can figure things out – but as a Browns fan, I’m not a believer!

Rank	Player	Team	Pos	Tier
1	George Kittle	SF	TE	1
2	Travis Kelce	KC	TE	1
3	Darren Waller	LV	TE	1
4	Mark Andrews	BAL	TE	2
5	Hunter Henry	LAC	TE	2
6	Evan Engram	NYG	TE	2
7	Austin Hooper	CLE	TE	2
8	T.J. Hockenson	DET	TE	3
9	Noah Fant	DEN	TE	3
10	Mike Gesicki	MIA	TE	3
11	Dallas Goedert	PHI	TE	3
12	Albert Okwuegbunam	DEN	TE	3
13	Zach Ertz	PHI	TE	3
14	Jonnu Smith	TEN	TE	4
15	Eric Ebron	PIT	TE	4
16	O.J. Howard	TB	TE	4
17	Tyler Higbee	LAR	TE	4
18	Irv Smith	MIN	TE	4
19	C.J. Uzomah	CIN	TE	4
20	Will Dissly	SEA	TE	4
21	Logan Thomas	WAS	TE	4
22	Robert Tonyan	GB	TE	4
23	Hayden Hurst	ATL	TE	5
24	Dan Arnold	ARI	TE	5
25	Jared Cook	NO	TE	5
26	Gerald Everett	LAR	TE	5
27	Rob Gronkowski	TB	TE	6
28	Dalton Schultz	DAL	TE	6
29	Jordan Reed	SF	TE	6
30	Dawson Knox	BUF	TE	6
31	Ricky Seals-Jones	KC	TE	6
32	Jesper Horsted	CHI	TE	6
33	Kaden Smith	NYG	TE	6
34	Tyler Eifert	JAX	TE	6
35	Matt Flanagan	JAX	TE	6
36	Jacob Hollister	SEA	TE	6
37	Harrison Bryant	CLE	TE	7
38	Trey Burton	IND	TE	7
39	Cole Kmet	CHI	TE	7
40	Jordan Akins	HOU	TE	7
41	David Njoku	CLE	TE	7
42	Anthony Firkser	TEN	TE	7
43	Donald Parham	LAC	TE	7
44	Kyle Rudolph	MIN	TE	7
45	Jack Doyle	IND	TE	7
46	Tommy Sweeney	BUF	TE	7
47	Cameron Brate	TB	TE	7
48	James O'Shaughnessy	JAX	TE	7
49	Jimmy Graham	CHI	TE	7
50	Foster Moreau	LV	TE	7
51	Nick Boyle	BAL	TE	7

Feel free to reach out to me via Twitter @drunkenangelz.