As an avid fantasy footballer, I make a point to get Packers players on my teams each year. Some people go to great lengths to avoid bias in their drafts but for me fantasy football is about fun. What’s more fun than doing well in fantasy and in real life? Here’s my overview for Packers fantasy football for the 2021 season.

Take Aaron Jones & Davante Adams in the first round

Both of these two have average draft positions  (ADPs) toward the end of the first round/beginning of the second right now. I would expect that to go up as we get further away from Aaron Rodgers uncertainty and drafters start to take the two in the first round.

Jones is 13th on the ESPN list, behind running backs like Jonathan Taylor, Ezekiel Elliott, and Saquon Barkley. It’s an easy decision to take him over those three. Taylor is dealing with injuries to his QB and offensive line. Elliott is like 46 years old. Saquon is coming off a torn ACL and may not play much to start the season.

Right now, I’m buying into the strategy that Josh Norris has pitched on the Underdog Fantasy podcast for drafting this year to draft an “anchor” running back in the first or second round and then fill up on wide receivers. Ideally, you would grab Aaron Jones in the first round and then spend three of the next four rounds taking wide receivers. If Davante falls to you in the second, that’s great. If Jones is gone by your first-round pick and Davante is available, take him then.

If you’re in an auction draft, try to get both of these guys. The Packers will have a top 5 offense, you may as well get in on it.

Take Rodgers if you got Davante

I usually target a running quarterback. This year that means Josh Allen, Kyler Murray, and Lamar Jackson are at the top of my board. That said, the opportunity to stack Rodgers with Davante (effectively getting double points) may be too good to pass up. Especially, if Rodgers is significantly cheaper than those options.

Consider drafting Robert Tonyan

Tonyan’s ADP is as the ninth tight end. That seems about right. In Matt LaFleur’s offense, Tonyan will get a lot of opportunities for YAC and touchdowns by design. I wouldn’t expect him to finish as a top 3-5 scorer, but he should be fairly consistent like he was last year.

If Tonyan gets hurt, stay away from the Packers’ other tight ends until and unless one of them becomes the clear number one tight end. Marcedes Lewis is more of a blocker at this stage of his career. Dominique Dafney is more of a fullback/chess piece than a startable fantasy player. Josiah Deguara is coming off a bad injury and also seems like more of a chess piece. Jace Sternberger has the highest upside, but he hasn’t lived up to it so far in his career.

Take Marquez Valdes-Scantling in best ball drafts

In best ball leagues, you draft a squad and then each week the computer decides your final lineup based on which players scored the most.

In some weeks, MVS will go for 4/149 and a touchdown. Other weeks he’ll only have a few targets and no receptions. That’s the life of a player who runs mostly clear out routes, but it is maddening for fantasy owners.

If you get MVS in best ball, he’ll be added to your lineup during his great weeks but not his bad. You won’t have to try to figure out when he’s going to go off.

Stay away from the other wide receivers

I wouldn’t draft any other Packers wide receivers.

Allen Lazard is a great blocker and player but his career high for receiving yards in a season is under 500. He may be the fifth or sixth option on this year’s team.

Randall Cobb is a Rodgers favorite, but how much does he have left in the tank to pile up yards and touchdowns? And how much will Amari Rodgers take his snaps by the end of the season?

Juwann Winfrey is lighting up camp, but we haven’t seen much from him in the regular season.

Devin Funchess was a good player, about four years ago. He’s also a hybrid tight end/wide receiver playing in an offense that schemes players open for YAC opportunities. You don’t see many successful slow, jump ball wide receivers on Shanahan tree teams.

Go ahead and draft Crosby and the Packers defense

Crosby is a reliable scorer and has a ton of XP opportunities.

The Packers’ defense is sometimes bad, but at least it often gets a lot of sacks. Again, fantasy is about having fun. It’s fun to watch Darnell Savage get an interception and know it’s helping your fantasy team.

That said, if you can get kickers and defenses removed in your league that’s the best case scenario.

Mike Price is a lifelong Packers fan currently living in Utah. You can follow him on twitter at @themikeprice.

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