Note: This is a four part breakdown of the best sleeper players on every NFL team most likely to have a breakout season in 2021. Each part will contain eight players from the same AFC/NFC divisions.
Part three of the best sleeper player for every NFL team continues with the AFC and NFC South squads. This list will include the Texans, Colts, Jaguars, and Titans from the AFC and the Falcons, Panthers, Saints, and Buccaneers from the NFC. Eight players, one from each team, that will be listed in order of making the case for an outstanding season.
8. Jameis Winston, QB, New Orleans
Winston is most recently known for his famous ’30/30′ year, where he threw for 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. He signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2020, after the Buccaneers moved on to sign Tom Brady. Winston took the backup route much like Teddy Bridgewater did to Drew Brees, to hopefully become the successor after Brees retires. Bridgewater did not stay long enough to find that out, but now Winston has as Brees retired this past offseason.
However, the athletic Taysom Hill, has emerged as a potential starting quarterback as well for the franchise. Hill played in all 16 games last season for the Saints in some capacity, making him seem like a frontrunner for the spot. Winston only played in four games last season, but may fit the scheme of the offense better than Hill does.
Winston is a pocket passing quarterback that can be mobile if he needs to be in certain situations. Hill is a Swiss-army knife type of player that has played all across the offense except for offensive line. Reports have even came out mentioning that the Saints may not start Hill due to his athletic ability and wanting to keep him moving around the offense.
The biggest reason Winston is on this list is if he becomes the successor to Brees, how will he play? Before signing with New Orleans, he underwent LASIK eye surgery to help his vision. After the surgery he stated, ‘I can read license plates and read street signs now.’ The NFL has not seen a full season of fully capable Jameis Winston up to this point in a starting capacity since his surgery. If he is able to start, and his eyes were the roots of his problems in Tampa, then there may be a big year ahead for Winston and the Saints.
7. Brevin Jordan, TE, Houston
There is not much from the Houston Texans roster that will make anyone at the moment. Deshaun Watson is still up in the air if he will even play this season and if he does, does he play for the Texans? Who knows. The first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft for the Texans came in third round with a selection of Davis Mills. It seems like the franchise has doubts that Watson will play anyway.
Nevertheless, it was hard to find a player that may actually breakout on this team. There is Mark Ingram or Philip Lindsay who have chances but both had terrible seasons last year and are in a loaded running back room with no clear front-runner.
Brevin Jordan is a clear winner here. A fifth-round pick that was projected to be a second/third-round selection. In 30 collegiate games, Jordan racked up 105 catches for 1,358 yards and 13 touchdowns. Playing a full season in the NFL, 16 games, can prove to be fruitful for the rookie.
The main reason for choosing Jordan is the cloudiness around Watson playing for the Texans next season. In his dilemma off the field, he may not play, and even if he is allowed to play this season it may not be for Houston. If the first pick in the draft from Texans is the person to start at quarterback or Tyrod Taylor, the biggest choice will be the tight-end position. No Will Fuller, DeAndre Hopkins, or any other pass catching weapons. Brevin Jordan will be a significant piece of the offense if a new quarterback is at the helm to start the season.
6. Carson Wentz, QB, Indianapolis
Yes, Wentz was the leading quarterback in interceptions last season while only playing 12 games. Horrible, isn’t it? Personally, the Colts may have made the best trade for themselves as a team this offseason.
Phillip Rivers retired at the end of last season, leaving a gaping hole at the quarterback position after a trip to the playoffs. Many believed they would sign another ‘stop-gap’ quarterback or draft one and throw him into the fire. They end up trading for Carson Wentz, whose trade value was incredibly low after a 16 touchdown season and 15 interceptions to go along with that.
The Colts have a top-3 offensive line, a dynamic running back room, decent receivers that have a mix of veterans and young guys, along with a top-5 defense. Carson Wentz’s production should skyrocket based off that alone, but if that doesn’t help you believe it, surely the coach from his MVP-caliber season will do the trick.
5. DJ Chark Jr., WR, Jacksonville
This 2018 second-round product has never played a full season since entering the NFL. His closest to date is in 2019 when he played 15 games, where he racked up 1,008 yards, 73 catches, 13.8 yards per catch, and eight touchdowns. Jacksonville’s offensive has been abysmal for years, even when they went to the AFC Championship game with Blake Bortles. They have been known more for their defense in the past, which kept the team afloat.
Now a change has come to the great city of Jacksonville. A new coach that is seen as one of the best college football coaches ever by the name of Urban Meyer has come to town. Along with this past draft’s No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawerence and another first rounder in Travis Etienne. A decent haul for a team who is struggling to win even six games a season lately.
Chark is a proven No. 1 wide receiver for Jacksonville as he stands at 6-foot-4 and can make contested jump ball catches. Trevor Lawerence will have a guy from day one, barring injury, that will make him look amazing. Chark will also finally have a quarterback that can get him the ball in tight windows and on deep routes. The only problem is, Chark has to put together a fully healthy season to do this for the Jags.
4. Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay placed the franchise tag on Chris Godwin this past offseason after winning the Super Bowl, meaning that this guy has to be pretty important, right? Right. Godwin played in 12 regular season games and all four postseason games on the way to helping the Bucs secure a Super Bowl.
He only dropped 19 targets in the regular season of the 84 that were thrown his way. He had 840 yards, 12.9 yards per catch, 7 touchdowns, and 65 targets secured. In the post season, he received 32 targets and bringing in 16 of them with 232 yards, upping his yards per catch to 14.5, and taking one in for a touchdown.
In 2019, where he played in 14 games during the regular season he had 1,333 yards, nine touchdowns, and 15.5 yards per catch. Heading into his fifth season with Tampa Bay, his production may increase due to the potential free agency that he will ensue next offseason if he has a season of equal or greater value like this past one.
3. Julio Jones, WR, Tennessee
The most sought after player on the trade market, Jones was made available via trade this offseason by the Falcons. The Titans swooped in and grabbed him while on giving up two picks but also received one in return. After 10 seasons in Atlanta, the 32-year-old Jones get a chance to start over with a playoff team.
Jones saw action in only nine games last season since he dealt with a hamstring issue. He reeled in 51 catches for 771 yards, a 15.1 yards per catch, and three touchdowns. A healthy Julio Jones can still cause problems for the league, but that is the biggest question for him. Can he stay healthy while he is with Tennessee?
The Titans run a more play-action based offense with the emergence of Derrick Henry the past few years. However, the Titans did lose key offensive pieces such as Corey Davis and Jonnu Smith. Both of who were prime targets for Ryan Tannehill in the offense.
Another question for Julio Jones, is what role will he take within the Titans offense? A.J. Brown is surging up leaderboards and is a young receiver that shows flashes of a primary target. Will Jones slide into the No. 2 position or will he assume the No. 1 wide receiver on the Titans roster? If he takes the No. 1 position, this could delay the growth of A.J. Brown as a No. 1 choice. If takes the No. 2 spot, he could have a mediocre to good season. Nevertheless, Ryan Tannehill has two very capable targets on his hand and could make throws them even if he was blindfolded.
2. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina
The most hurtful part of the 2020 season for fantasy owners and fans included, became the injury-riddled season that Christian McCaffrey had to endure. McCaffrey played only three games the entire season after three consecutive seasons of playing 16 games. He went down with a high-ankle sprain early in the year that left him on IR and then came back to play late in the season before garnering a shoulder injury.
He managed to get 59 touches for 225 yards and five touchdowns. The Panthers surely missed him as they ranked 21st in offense in 2020 and 20th in rushing yards per game. In 2019, the Panthers ranked 19th in the NFL in offense and 13th in rushing yards per game. Mike Davis, the backup running back, filled in quite well for McCaffrey but the offense still managed to stall out throughout the season.
A healthy McCaffrey with a brand new quarterback in Sam Darnold after the Bridgewater trade, could prove to be successful. Last season was Matt Rhule’s first NFL Season as a head coach along with offensive coordinator Joe Brady. Both former college coaches but both known for their quick turnaround of programs and offenses.
McCaffrey has become better each season as he gets more touches as the years come along. He’s jumped from 117 touches to 219 and then to 287 in 2019 which is his best statistical year. He ran for 1,387 yards with 15 touchdowns that season and looked like a man on a mission in 2020 before injuries derailed him. A healthy McCaffrey may mean a scary offense with more mature coaches and a new quarterback.
1. Mike Davis, RB, Atlanta
Mike Davis, a fourth-round product from South Carolina has played for five teams since being drafted in 2015. He has shown flashes throughout his career of a stellar running back. He showed those flashes more than ever this past season for the Carolina Panthers.
He showed his versatility as a back with only 235 touches on the year but put up 1,015 yards with eight touchdowns. He has only one other season where he rushes the ball over 100 times and played in over 10 games. He has proven as a worthy backup but shown, with time, that he has the chance to break free as a starter.
Atlanta surely believes the same thing since they allowed Todd Gurley to walk in free agency and sign Davis to his best contract to date. Davis will be the apparent No. 1 in the Falcons running back room heading into 2021. A full season of carries and touches overall creates a chance for Davis to be a top-10 running back with the best chance of breaking out this season.
