Mecole Hardman Is A Waste Of A Pick in 2021 Fantasy Football
Mecole Hardman enters his third year with Kansas City. After spending two years as their primary return specialist, the Chiefs are relying on Hardman to take over the WR2 spot now that Sammy Watkins is gone. Like others here at Vendetta, I question if Hardman can be more than a gadget guy. When it comes to fantasy, I don’t trust Hardman to consistently produce.
Hardman finished as the WR61 in PPR-leagues. In 2020, he had 41 receptions, 560 yards and 4 touchdowns. We got a little preview as to what 2021 will look like for Hardman when Sammy Watkins missed five games last season. Hardman was thrust into the WR2 position and in those five games, he was pretty disappointing.
In the five weeks without Watkins, Hardman went for 13 receptions, 217 yards and one touchdown. On the surface those stats are ok but the game log tells a different story. Hardman had seven catches, 96 yards, one touchdown performance against the tire fire that was the 2020 New York Jets. Besides his week eight outburst, in the other four games, Hardman never saw more than three receptions including a one target, zero reception day against the Bills.
Unlike Watkins, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill are still on the Chiefs and have become elite players at their respective positions. As long as those two are on the field, why would Patrick Mahomes throw to anybody else. They both garner a high volume of targets and Travis Kelce may be the best pass catching tight end we have ever seen.
Kansas City should also have a decent run game with Clyde Edwards-Helaire and their retooled o-line. They brought in three elite offensive linemen in Orlando Brown, Joe Thuney and Austin Blythe. If Clyde can improve from his rookie year, their rushing attack will be much better in 2021.
I just don’t see it with Hardman. His speed makes him an elite special teams player and could prove to be useful in an occasional misdirection play or jet sweep. But when it comes to fantasy, do not even give Hardman a look. Target someone else.
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