The 2021 NFL card market has been on fire and that’s certainly not going to change once the season starts. With Donruss Elite and Gold Standard being released recently, we are finally getting the rookie class in their pro uniforms. With all eyes shifting to football, let’s go through the NFL’s skill positions and target some players who could see a spike in value once the season starts. Here are five QBs to watch in 2021.
Tua Tagavailoa, Miami Dolphins
Tua is in such a great spot this year. Before his hip injury, Tua was the locked in as the near-consensus number one pick. He had a decent year in 2020, but looked outright bad when compared to the other rookie QBs in Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert. Because of this, Tua cards are a fraction of the cost of Herbert and even Burrow.
Everything we’ve seen this offseason is pointing indicates he’s capable of an elite performance in 2021. Tua, now fully healthy, has a new arsenal of weapons in Will Fuller and sixth overall pick, Jaylen Waddle. The sky is the limit for Tua’s cards, and I would expect him to be around Burrow and Herbert prices shortly.
Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
I love Russell Wilson as an MVP candidate this year. He talked in-depth this offseason about his issues with the offense. The Seahawks listened and brought in the Rams’ passing game coordinator, Shane Waldron, to run the offense.
Tempo is the biggest thing that Seattle has stressed. If Russ is playing at a fast pace and slinging the ball, he could quickly become an MVP favorite. He was actually leading the MVP race last year before Pete Carroll took the air out of the ball. The Seahawks are going to try and keep Russ happy and the #LetRussCook movement will take off.
Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns
Baker Mayfield should have his most efficient year passing now that he is in his second year under head coach Kevin Stefanski. Mayfield is getting Odell Beckham back and will have a fully healthy arsenal of weapons. The Browns have one of the best top-to-bottom rosters in the NFL and this team is a legitimate Super Bowl contender. He could see an explosion in his cards if the Browns perform like they’re capable of.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott was putting up Mahomes-type numbers before a devastating ankle injury ended his season. He is currently dealing with a shoulder sprain, but it looks like he should be fine to start the season. Last year’s first round pick for the Cowboys, CeeDee Lamb, is generating a crazy amount of offseason hype. If Dak picks up where he left off last year, his cards could gp through the roof. It also helps playing for the Dallas Cowboys, who have such a huge hobby following.
Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
Tannehill has never had much hobby hype. He has no doubt been much better in Tennessee but has mainly gotten there through efficient passing. The Titans have one of the worst defenses in the league, and that means they could need to pass a lot more this year. That’s obviously in line with Tennessee’s thinking too, which is why they added Julio Jones. Tannehill could be a fantasy football monster this year, and some gaudy numbers can translate to hobby impact.
Quick Hitters
Here are a few more cheap, long-terms QBs that might be worth adding to your collection:
Dwayne Haskins, Pittsburgh Steelers: Big Ben isn’t going to play forever and Haskins is still young enough to deserve a second shot.
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers signed on for one more year, but he should be gone next season. Love’s prices shot up with rumors of Rodgers retirement, but have since come back down.
Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans?: Talent-wise, Watson is a top 5 QB in the league. If you’re comfortable risking his off-field situation, you will likely never see Watson cards this cheap.
Drew Lock, Denver Broncos: He has been bad, there’s no denying it. But his cards are also very cheap. The Broncos have one of the best skill groups in the league, so if he wins the job he has an opportunity to ball out.
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