What We Learned in 2021: AFC East

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Buffalo Bills

• Gabriel Davis set an NFL record with four touchdowns in the greatest playoff game of the 21st century, setting off speculation of a huge 2022 breakout
• Josh Allen finished as the #1 fantasy quarterback for the second straight year
• The Bills finally gave Devin Singletary another shot and he was up to the task. Singletary could be a value in 2022 fantasy drafts
• Stefon Diggs' 2020 was a career year, not a new mean. He’s more boom/bust WR1 than elite WR1
• Dawson Knox made good on his opportunity by default after the Bills failed to add an upgrade at tight end, which muddled the fantasy picture of passing game options beyond Diggs

Heroes: Allen, Singletary, Knox, Playoff Gabriel Davis
Zeroes: Regular Season Gabriel Davis, Cole Beasley, Emmanuel Sanders, Zack Moss

You Might Have Missed: Knox scored twice two times in the regular season and once again in the playoffs. He’ll probably be underrated in 2022 drafts.

Biggest Offseason Questions: How big of a move will the team make at running back, Will the team bring back Emmanuel Sanders, add another formidable receiver, or make Davis a starter?

Bottom Line: Allen proved that he will support an elite fantasy offense for a long time to come. This is fertile fantasy soil.

Miami Dolphins

• Tua Tagovailoa wasn’t a failure, but his limitations showed more than his strengths. The Dolphins will reboot at head coach, leaving 2022 quarterback plans a large unknown
• The Dolphins running game is barren fantasy soil, but if you thought Duke Johnson Jr was good, the football gods winked at you
• Jaylen Waddle has potential, but we won’t see his peak until the offense and quarterback play comes around
• Devante Parker and Will Fuller continue to be the quintessential injury-prone players
• Tagovailoa isn’t the quarterback and the Dolphins aren’t the offense to bring out the best in Mike Gesicki

Heroes: Duke Johnson Jr, Jaylen Waddle
Zeroes: Tua Tagovailoa, Myles Gaskin. Devante Parker, Will Fuller, Mike Gesicki

You Might Have Missed: Only Mark Andrews and Travis Kelce got more targets than Gesicki in 2021.

Biggest Offseason Questions: Who will be the new head coach and offensive coordinator, Will the team add another quarterback via the draft/free agency/trade, Will the team try to keep Gesicki? If not, where does he land?

Bottom Line: Waddle might be a player, but these will be choppy fantasy waters next season and possibly beyond

New England Patriots

• Mac Jones was indeed the most pro-ready of the 2021 rookie quarterbacks, but he still looked like an overmatched rookie at times.
• Damien Harris was a huge success as the 1A and goal-line back on a winning team, but Rhamondre Stevenson had more juice and could be the more valuable back next season
• Jakobi Meyers was the closest this team had to a fantasy factor in the passing game. Fading the whole unit was the right call, save for a moderately helpful seven scores in seven weeks streak from Hunter Henry

Heroes: Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson, Hunter Henry
Zeroes: Jonnu Smith

You Might Have Missed: James White’s receiving back role was never filled after he caught six passes in each of the first two games. Early returns indicate that Mac Jones can feed a receiving back

Biggest Offseason Questions: Does White return? Will the Patriots invest even more at wide receiver and tight end after a 2022 spending spree? How much can Jones improve in year two?

Bottom Line: This blueprint is clear - this offense will produce live fantasy running back plays, but a passing game to be avoided.

New York Jets

• Zach Wilson struggled mightily, even compared to journeymen like Josh Johnson and Mike White, and the ghost of Joe Flacco. He didn’t look like a good fit in the offense in a very concerning first season
• Elijah Moore and Michael Carter both dealt with injuries, but overall looked like they are long term offensive pieces and could be fantasy factors, especially Moore
• Corey Davis never got in a real groove with Wilson despite a few flashes and ended the season hurt. Denzel Mims couldn’t get onto the field despite being a 2020 second-round pick. Jamison Crowder was outplayed by Braxton Berrios. Times were not good in the Jets wide receiver corps

Heroes: Elijah Moore, Michael Carter
Zeroes: Corey Davis, Zach Wilson

You Might Have Missed: The Jets had two running backs in the Top 20 in targets with Ty Johnson and Carter both getting 55.

Biggest Offseason Questions: How do they generate some momentum for Wilson? Will the team invest more at running back this offseason or give Carter a chance to emerge?

Bottom Line: Carter and Moore might have been the right running back and wide receiver, but Wilson looks like the wrong quarterback.