This article is part of our College Football Fantasy Five series.
Even though there are no official college football games being played, it doesn't mean that we can't start preparing for the 2021 fantasy college football season. We're getting closer to the summer break portion in the off-season which is a slower news cycle, so I'm going to reveal my top five transfers for 2021.
Over the last couple of months, I've already touched on some other relevant topics:
2021 QB Newcomers
2021 RB Sleepers
2021 WR Sleepers
2021 TE Sleepers
Top 2022 NFL Draft Prospects
Even though these following players switched teams, I would consider them to be worthy targets for the upcoming 2021 college football fantasy season. Considering there was a record number of players entering the transfer portal this last year, it would be naïve to think that all of them put themselves in a better position on a new campus. I'm going to touch on each position with a bonus QB recommendation at the end.
5.) Grant Calcaterra, TE, SMU
Calcaterra just missed my 2021 TE Sleepers list, mostly due to some borderline elite options being available at the back-end of fantasy drafts and because he hasn't played significant snaps since 2018 with Oklahoma. During the 2019 season, he halted his football career due to concussions. It's been no secret this spring if you've followed my articles as I love the SMU offense as they have been one of the best in college football the last couple of years. Their TE last year, Kyle Granson, ranked second on the team with 536 receiving yards and is now with the Indianapolis Colts. If Calcaterra is truly healthy and ready to make an impact, he'll be a steal for fantasy owners this year. They do have a new QB in transfer Tanner Mordecai and he should have the pedigree to succeed in this offense.
4.) Jerreth Sterns, WR, Western Kentucky
The college football experiment involving all the Houston Baptist coaching staff and star players transferring to Western Kentucky will be fun to see. At the very least, it should result in some noteworthy fantasy production as the Hilltoppers play some bad defenses in Conference USA. This means that QB Bailey Zappe will also be viable in OC Zach Kittley's Air-Raid offense. In 2019, Sterns was fantastic in FCS with 106 catches for 867 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns.
3.) Eric Gray, RB, Oklahoma
I don't want to put the cart before the horse, but I have a good feeling that Gray will have an immediate impact in a Sooners uniform. While I believe he will start the season behind Kennedy Brooks on the depth chart, Oklahoma has always had a knack for sharing the ball in the backfield and then riding the hot hand as the season progresses. Gray was impressive in his last season with Tennessee while rushing for 772 yards on 157 carries (4.9 YPC) and four touchdowns while also adding 30 catches on 33 targets for another 254 yards and two touchdowns. That's far too much versatility for Oklahoma to leave on the bench, so I'm a big fan of Gray as we get deeper into the 2021 season.
2.) McKenzie Milton, QB, Florida State
I'm all in on the Milton narrative as it's just an unbelievable story with the kid coming back from a gruesome leg injury sustained in November of 2018 at UCF. His 2017 season with 4,037 yards and 45 total touchdowns in 13 games was just amazing production. I believe he has what it takes to hold off Jordan Travis, Chubba Purdy and Tate Rodemaker to win the job at Florida State. As I mentioned in my recommendation for transfer Andrew Parchment as a WR sleeper, the Seminoles are going to have to throw the ball early and often, so I like these players in what will be an underrated offense in 2021.
1.) Grant Gunnell, QB, Memphis
Having a piece of the Tigers offense for fantasy purposes should be a requirement as they turn out consistent production each and every year. Gunnell comes over from Arizona to replace Brady White and he should be the perfect fit with three years of eligibility remaining if he earns a waiver from the NCAA which is anticipated. He has a couple of elite-level receivers in WR Calvin Austin and TE Sean Dykes and will have the opportunity to reach high volumes of passing. While the wheels fell off at Arizona to finish the season, Gunnell showed some promise while completing nearly 70 percent of his passes and accumulating six total touchdowns against USC and Washington to begin his 2020 campaign. I do believe he'll be put in an environment to succeed at Memphis which bodes well for fantasy.