Fantasy Football 2017: Players who move up rankings in PPR leagues

Sporting News

19 August 2017 at 8:41 am

Fantasy Football 2017: Players who move up rankings in PPR leagues

In fantasy football, the war between PPR leagues and non-PPR leagues wages each year among owners with no true clear winner of which league is better. But if you’re in a PPR league, you know it can still be difficult to find a variety of rankings that can help you prepare your 2017 draft strategy.

In PPR leagues, a running back, wide receiver, tight end (even quarterbacks, but we won’t go there) get either 0.5 or one point per reception. One of the biggest misunderstandings in PPR is determining the value of players whose value jumps tremendously in this type of league. You’d think that the player with the most receptions automatically becomes one of the top guys in the league, but realistically, he’s not.

One point per reception can make a difference, but as it pertains to the overall season, it doesn’t necessarily mean a player like Jarvis Landry goes from top-30 into the top-10. He’s definitely more valuable than in standard leagues, but if he's still only going to score four touchdowns, there's still a cap on just how much he can move up. In 0.5 point per reception leagues, the difference amounts to even less.

Even still, there are running backs, wide receivers and tight ends in PPR leagues whom you should note on your cheat sheet as risers in the rankings.

2017 Fantasy Football: Risers in PPR rankings

Top PPR Guys

RBs: Bilal Powell, Jets; Theo Riddick, Lions; Danny Woodhead, Ravens

Even with notorious pass-catching back Matt Forte playing 14 games, Powell managed to grab the fourth-most receptions among RBs (58) last year. With Powell expected to be the lead back now, his role will be expanded even more in the passing game. ... In 2015, Woodhead and Riddick were Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in targets and receptions among RBs. Woodhead, now with Baltimore and recovering from an ACL tear, will be inserted into a similar pass-heavy offense. Riddick declined with 27 fewer receptions in '16, but it was still sixth best among RBs. Depending on the use of Ameer Abdullah, Riddick should be a dependable guy in PPR leagues.

WRs: Jarvis Landry, Dolphins; Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals; Julian Edelman, Patriots; Golden Tate, Lions

Landry is the poster-child of PPR wide receivers, racking up 94 receptions on 132 targets, third-highest catch rate among WRs with over 115 targets, but Fitzgerald, Edelman and Tate could give him a run for his money. ... Fitzgerald led the league with 107 receptions last year, making him a top-10 WR in PPR leagues. In non-PPR, he finished No. 17. ... Edelman and Tate both had over 90 receptions, but only three and four TDs, respectively, which means a spike in value in PPR but still not the overall top value you might expect.

TE: Kyle Rudolph, Vikings

Rudolph won’t get you 1,000 yards receiving or make flashy plays, but he’ll get receptions. He had the most targets (132) and the fourth-most receptions (83) among TEs last season. The Vikings will most likely continue throwing to Rudolph often, so even if his touchdowns go down, he can be a key contributor at this thin position.

Fantasy Football 2017: Breakout PPR Draft Targets

RBs: Ty Montgomery, Packers; Duke Johnson, Browns; Dalvin Cook, Vikings; Christian McCaffrey, Panthers

A converted wide receiver, Montgomery is an easy RB option with high pass-catching value. ... With a weak QB situation in Cleveland, Johnson has taken advantage of two straight years full of check-downs and screens to finish top-10 in receptions among RBs. However, he would be a deep option with Isaiah Crowell handling most of the rushing duties this year. ... McCaffrey led the nation in all-purpose yards (211.6) as a premier rusher and pass-catcher out the backfield at Stanford. He's expected to have a similar role in Carolina. ... Cook is a sneaky good pass-catcher In 13 games at Florida State last year, he caught 33 passes for 488 yards. His QB Sam Bradford plays a conservative passing style that should benefit him.

WRs: Cole Beasley, Cowboys; Stefon Diggs/Adam Thielen, Vikings; Jamison Crowder, Redskins; Pierre Garcon, 49ers; Jordan Matthews, Bills

Dak Prescott threw the 98 footballs at Beasley last year and he caught 75 of them for a 76-percent catch rate that was second highest in the NFL. Beasley didn’t find the end zone much, but he racked up the receptions and became Prescott’s favorite target, making him more valuable in PPR. ... Diggs and Thielen are both PPR machines. Bradford finished with the highest completion percentage in NFL history, mostly thanks to a ton of short passes to both receivers. ... Crowder, Garcon and Matthews become viable WR2s in PPR.

TEs: Zach Ertz, Eagles; Jason Witten, Cowboys

Ertz has one of the widest point differences from PPR to non-PPR since he lacks in scoring touchdowns. He is the only TE in the top 10 with four touchdowns or less, but he didn’t get over 1,000 yards. Add in PPR, and he nearly becomes a top-five guy. ... The same applies to Witten, who just barely missed out in the top 10 in PPR, most notably due to his low three touchdowns.

Fantasy Football 2017: PPR Sleepers

RBs: Charles Sims, Buccaneers; Chris Thompson, Redskins; James White, Patriots; Darren Sproles, Eagles

Sims became the premier pass-catcher out of the backfield on the Buccaneers, but an injury sidelined what was becoming a solid season. Before his injury, he was on pace for 51 receptions, which would’ve put him in the top 10. ... As backups, White had 60 receptions (third) and Thompson had 49 (12th). Both play in a heavy passing offense that utilize the running back. White's hold on the primary receiving back job could be threatened by a healthy Dion Lewis this year, though. ... Sproles is notorious for his big play-making ability as a receiver. Even though he was targeted fifth most among RBs last year, he’s still a streamer option who should be played only in certain matchups. At 34, Father Time will eventually catch up with him, too.

WRs: Corey Coleman, Browns; Zay Jones, Bills

There’s 132 receptions and 221 targets gone in Cleveland, and Coleman is the longest tenured receiver on the team. He’s a likely candidate to get a majority of those. ... Jones broke the FBS record with 399 receptions in college. As the No. 2 guy in Buffalo playing alongside an injury-prone Sammy Watkins, Jones may see a ton of targets his way.

TEs: Benjamin Watson, Ravens; C.J. Fiedorowicz, Texans

Watson was a top-10 tight end in 2015 as a member of the Saints. Now, a member of the Ravens, he has a good chance of being the starting TE to replace Dennis Pitta, who had the third-most targets (119) and most receptions (86) among TEs last year. It doesn't hurt that Baltimore had the most plays last year ... The Texans threw the ball 164 times to their tight ends last year, and it was split almost evenly between Fiedorowicz and Ryan Griffin. But Fiedorowicz really separated himself from Griffin in the latter part of the season. If he takes control of the TE game, he could rise in the ranks quickly in PPR.