While the 2021 NFL season is still months away, it is never too early to prepare for the fantasy season. Whether it’s research, mock drafts, or going with your gut, everyone has a way to prepare for their fantasy drafts. However, this isn’t another article to help you prepare for the fantasy season. Today, I am going to give three bold fantasy predictions for the New England Patriots in 2021.
All stats are base on PPR scoring.
Be sure to check out all of Fanelli’s Fantasy Predictions.
Rhamondre Stevenson leads the Team in Rushing Yards
Every year, the Patriots backfield is a mess for fantasy owners. However, the one name everyone seems to like the most this year is Damien Harris. Last season, Harris led the team with 691 rushing yards, roughly 100 more than Cam Newton. However, Harris was inconsistent game-to-game on the ground as he had four games with over 72 rushing yards but had five with under 60. Furthermore, Harris missed six games with two different injuries. During the draft, the Patriots spent a fourth-round on the former Oklahoma star Stevenson. In his 19 games at Oklahoma, Stevenson averaged 7.2 yards per rushing attempt and scored 13 touchdowns. Meanwhile, reports say Sony Michel’s roster spot is at risk. If Harris struggles to stay healthy, expect Stevenson to lead the team in rushing.
Jonnu Smith Finishes as a Top-10 Tight End
In the offseason, the Patriots spent over $100 million to improve their passing game. The top addition was the former Tennessee Titans tight end. Last season, Smith had a career year with 41 catches on 65 targets for 448 yards and eight touchdowns. Furthermore, his eight touchdowns finished tied for 15th in the league and fourth among tight ends. After Julian Edelman’s retirement, the Patriots have a hole at slot receiver. However, expect Smith to play most of his snaps at that position despite limited work there in Tennessee. Many believe the Patriots signed Hunter Henry to play as the traditional in-line tight end role, with Smith playing more of a mismatch move offensive weapon. Prepare for Smith to have a breakout season and finish as a top-10 tight end.
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Cam Newton Starts All 17 Games
Despite using their first-round pick on Mac Jones, don’t expect the Patriots to rush the rookie out on the field. There are only two ways Jones gets on the field: if the Patriots aren’t winning games or if Newton struggles. Given what happened last season, it would come as no surprise to see Newton benched at some point this season. However, when Newton was healthy last season, he was a productive fantasy quarterback, scoring 17.5 or more fantasy points in over half of his games. Unlike last year, Newton will have a complete offseason to prepare and several new weapons around him. Not only will Newton start all 17 games this season, but he will finish as a top-15 quarterback.
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