A few of those peripheral players are seeing their stocks rise as fantastic fantasy football plays in those first few weeks of the NFL year. At the same time, others have underperformed their hype. Forward Hunter Henry has been one of the best performers. He always seems to dominate with his target share and production on the field. At the same time, Marvin Harrison Jr. has looked like a star, but his low catch rate is alarming. Quentin Johnston has finally hit his stride. On the flip side, J.K. Dobbins continues to be an efficient RB2/flex option for fantasy managers.
Hunter Henry’s Dominance
Hunter Henry has wasted little time in proving he’s a reliable fantasy football option this year. He’s caught a few more in the games he’s recorded two games of eight or more targets in. In each of those appearances, he gave you at least 10 fantasy points! We all knew from his Week 3 performance that he could do what he did on Sunday. Then he bedazzled the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense to the tune of 29 points.
Henry’s versatility allows him to work at different levels of the route tree. This skill is perhaps why he’s such a great asset for starting quarterback Drake Maye. He acts as a safety valve, a last-resort option in the middle of the field to give Maye a reliable dump-off option while he works against defenses. Henry’s talent and the opportunities he’s received this year have catapulted him into the top five TEs for fantasy scoring. He’s in good company with under-the-radar guys like Jake Ferguson and Juwan Johnson.
With that being said, as the season moves along, Henry will need to continue his level of production. His performance will be of utmost importance to his team and to fantasy owners who have invested in him. With continued chemistry with Maye and a soft schedule on the horizon, there is excitement about Henry’s ability to stay hot.
Emerging Talents
Beyond Henry, plenty of other new faces are rising shocks on the fantasy football scene. Marvin Harrison Jr. has become one of the most electrifying receivers. He surprised everyone with 18.1 points as he went off against the New Orleans Saints in Week 1. His performance has been dragged down by a nightmare catch rate. This season, on 27 targets, he has only converted 28% of them into catches.
Even in the face of these struggles, Harrison’s talent is impossible to ignore. He possesses the skills necessary to become a top receiver in the league if he can improve his efficiency and capitalize on opportunities. As he matures, fantasy managers will be watching him very closely. They’d like to believe that he can be that dependable option for them moving forward.
Quentin Johnston is another player gaining traction. Recently, he’s seen a big increase in volume. Of his 14 receptions this year, five have been for 20 yards-plus. Johnston is exceptional at creating yardage after the catch on short and intermediate throws. His deep-ball efficiency and long speed contribute to him being one of the biggest weapons in the NFL for the Los Angeles Chargers. As he gets more comfortable and adapts to the speed of the NFL, Johnston should develop into a key component to the Chargers’ offense.
Consistent Performers
Dobbins has been another star for this season’s Buckeyes. He’s been the model of efficiency, scoring 15.2 points on just 10.7 shots per game. Dobbins’ carries per game average is 13.7. He’s been on fire, scoring in each and every game he’s played this season! He’s great at converting them into high-scoring points. This has helped him become one of the best options in fantasy for managers looking for reliable production from their running backs.
Dobbins’s outstanding 2021 season only serves to highlight the impact and value of having a reliable, proven commodity in the backfield. As teams start to amend their offensive blueprints as the season progresses, Dobbins’s load could grow even more, which would only increase his fantasy worth.
Man, that tight end position sure is growing in talent! As we mentioned with players such as Jake Ferguson, Juwan Johnson, Tucker Kraft, and Hunter Henry, there’s no denying that TE3 is a realistic top five finish in fantasy scoring. This new wave of tight ends opens up a world of possibilities to fantasy managers that we’ve never seen before. So stay tuned as we follow their performance and promise!
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