Five Star Recruits Entering the NFL in 2021
For several years, we have run a piece highlighting the former five-star recruits who are now entering the NFL. As a general draft strategy, I have always liked targeting players who were five star recruits in college. These prospects have been recognized as top players for a long time, and if they were high draft picks in the NFL, it shows that they were able to live up to high expectations in college - suggesting that they can also live up to expectations in the pros. For those that couldn’t hack it in college … well, those are the ideal late-round dart throws. Here is a list of the fantasy relevant former five star recruits, per 24/7 Sports, who are NFL rookies in 2021:
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars. This is news to no one unless you’ve been living under a rock. Lawrence was the #1 QB in his class and lived up to all expectations while at Clemson, parlaying his collegiate career into being the #1 pick in the draft.
Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Bengals. Heading into the 2019 college football season, it was teammate Justin Jefferson who was perceived to be the Tigers’ top receiving threat. But as the year progressed, it became more and more clear that Chase was the alpha. He finished his sophomore season with an otherworldly 84 receptions, 1780 yards, and 20 touchdowns during Joe Burrow’s Heisman-winning, national championship season with the Tigers. Bear in mind that teammate Justin Jefferson - who he is better than - just put up one of the best rookie seasons for an NFL rookie in history. The sky is truly the limit for Chase, especially now that he’s reunited with Burrow.
Justin Fields, QB, Bears. Fields was actually considered the 1B to Lawrence’s 1A in his draft class, but folks seemed to forget about that after he transferred from Georgia. He’s a very good player in his own right, and should get the opportunity to start sooner rather than later for Chicago.
Najee Harris, RB, Steelers. Despite starting his career in Tuscaloosa behind NFL talents like Josh Jacobs and Damien Harris, Najee Harris was able to finish his Alabama career with ALL of the school’s all-time rushing records. He has the distinction of leading all Alabama running backs with 3,843 yards rushing along with 46 rushing touchdowns. Quite impressive! He projects as a 3-down workhorse for the Steelers, a team which, like his alma mater, is historically known for its high-powered rushing attacks. Don’t hesitate to take him with a late first round pick.
Terrace Marshall, WR, Panthers. Kind of the forgotten man in the 2019 LSU offense, people seem to overlook that he would have set the LSU single-season touchdown record with 13, but for the fact that he was playing with Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, who also both broke the TD record at LSU that season (Chase had 20 and Jefferson had 18). Still, Marshall is a very good player himself, and has the ideal frame (6’3, 200+ pounds) that NFL teams covet. He will come at a very reasonable cost in your fantasy drafts this year, in the double digit rounds.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Lions. St. Brown had an early breakout age (18.9 - anything below 19 is elite), but for some reason was never quite able to be “the man” at USC. He did not have elite testing numbers, but falls into a great opportunity in Detroit to be the primary slot receiver on a team desperate for reliable pass-catchers. His primary competition for targets consists of T.J. Hockenson, Breshad Perriman, Tyrell Williams, and D’Andre Smith. I like his odds.
Davis Mills, QB, Texans. Mills’ time in college was marred by injury and COVID-19. He started only 14 games in college over three seasons. However, he showed promise. He had a 65.5% completion rate in college and impressed with a 4.58 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, showing a potential for rushing ability that was not really unleashed in college. With all of the certainty surrounding the Texans’ QB situation - it seems almost a foregone conclusion that Deshaun Watson will be gone - Mills may get the opportunity to make some starts this season.
And in case you are wondering about the five-star recruits who do not play fantasy-relevant positions, here is the list: Cowboys LB Micah Parsons; Broncos CB Patrick Surtain, LB Baron Browning, and S Caden Sterns; Jaguars CB Tyson Campbell, CB Shaun Wade, LB Dylan Moses, and OT Walker Littlle; Dolphins DE Jaelen Phillips; Raiders RT Alex Leatherwood; Chiefs OG Trey Smith; 49ers S Talanoa Hufanga; Vikings OG Wyatt Davis; and Browns DT Marvin Wilson and S Richard LeCounte.