Tim Williams - AccuScore Analyst
read blog

In the last few weeks I’ve driven back and forth across the state of Virginia a total of five times. First I had to take my dad to the airport. Then I had to take my mom to the airport a few days later. Then I had to pick them both up. A day later I had to go back for a trip of my own. A day after I got back home from that trip, I took another trip across state to visit some friends. I’ve reached the point where I can’t stand to even see a sign of Interstate 64.

It’s not that I hate the driving, it’s just that I hate the interstate. It’s incredibly boring. There is no way to break up the trip, just a long 120 mile stretch of road each way. I feel the same way about fantasy football. I gave you my draft strategy for standard leagues, but playing in nothing but standard leagues feels like repeat trips across state using nothing but the interstate. That’s why I like Point Per Reception leagues.

For those of you who are new to the concept, PPR leagues are standard leagues, with the big difference being that you get points for each reception from your wide receivers, running backs, and tight ends. I know, sounds pretty simple. However, playing in a PPR league isn’t the “License Plate” game of fantasy sports. It involves more than just counting additional points. It changes the way you draft and value players. Let’s take a look at my positional strategies in a PPR league, along with the top receiving options for each position according to AccuScore simulations.

Wide Receivers

Wide receivers see the biggest changes in PPR leagues, for obvious reasons. A guy like Wes Welker, who led the league in receptions last year, will go a round earlier in PPR leagues, and can serve as a strong number one receiver, as opposed to a weaker number one/strong number two option in standard leagues. Welker leads wide receivers in receptions according to AccuScore simulations, with the following group making up the top 15 receivers by receptions:

1. Wes Welker

2. Andre Johnson

3. T.J. Houshmandzadeh

4. Reggie Wayne

5. Randy Moss

6. Marquis Colston

7. Larry Fitzgerald

8. Torry Holt

9. Brandon Marshall

10. Steve Smith

11. Anquan Boldin

12. Bobby Engram

13. Marvin Harrison

14. Derrick Mason

15. Chad Johnson

I traditionally like to target two types of players. The first type is the Wes Welker type, and that is a small, speedy guy who runs the short route, sees a lot of passes, but doesn’t put up as many touchdowns as a guy like Randy Moss or Terrell Owens. You can grab a guy like Bobby Engram in the eighth round. Engram only had six touchdowns last season, but caught 94 passes. That’s 24 more receptions than a deep threat like Plaxico Burress, who will go in the late third or early fourth round. Those extra 24 receptions in a PPR league make up the difference of four touchdowns, which would have left just a two touchdown difference between Burress and Engram last season.

The other type of guy I like to target is a receiver in a pass heavy offense. Welker tops my list this year because he fits both of these categories, but he is joined by Marquis Colston, Kevin Curtis, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Donald Driver, and Reggie Wayne, who all are a part of strong passing games. You can find some steals later in the draft with this strategy, such as Engram and Mason in the eighth round, or Bryant Johnson providing value in the 13^th round in the new Mike Martz offense in San Francisco.

Running Backs

LaDainian Tomlinson is still the cream of the crop, but he is no longer in a class by himself. Tomlinson shares the spotlight with guys like Brian Westbrook, who play a big role in the passing game in their offenses. Reggie Bush goes from a mid third rounder to a second round pick in a PPR league. Guys like Leon Washington and the not-so-good Adrian Peterson become fantasy options.

AccuScore projections have the following guys as the top ten receiving options out of the backfield:

1. Reggie Bush

2. Brian Westbrook

3. Steven Jackson

4. LaDainian Tomlinson

5. Joseph Addai

6. Ronnie Brown

7. Clinton Portis

8. Maurice Jones-Drew

9. Frank Gore

10. Larry Johnson

While running backs still provide value in this format, the list of guys who post a threat in both the run game and the passing game deserve a boost in a PPR format. You can grab Bush, Jones-Drew, and Brown in the late second or early third round, providing a solid number two running back if you take Tomlinson or Westbrook with your first pick. An interesting target at the end of the first round is Frank Gore, who should definitely see a value boost in PPR leagues in a Mike Martz offense.

Tight Ends 

In standard leagues I rarely take a tight end before the tenth round, just because the difference between the top tight end, and the 12^th ranked tight end is minimal, thanks to the talent surge at that position over the last few seasons. The added boost in PPR leagues would make me reconsider my stance for certain options.

I would consider an early pick on guys like Jason Witten, Kellen Winslow, Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez, and Chris Cooley, who are top receiving threats in their respective offenses. They are also the top five receiving tight ends according to AccuScore simulations. This group may only score around five to seven touchdowns, but these guys have the chance to put up 70-plus receptions, which, according to AccuScore projections, is over 20 more than a guy like Heath Miller, thus providing the equivalent of an extra three to four touchdowns.

This group also provides enough receptions in AccuScore simulations to place them in the top 24 wide receivers. Do you take Greg Jennings in the fourth round, projected for 73 receptions and nine touchdowns, or do you go with a guy like Witten, projected for 84 receptions and six touchdowns? You can get guys like Bobby Engram, Hines Ward, Derrick Mason, and Donald Driver after Jennings goes off the board, and all of those players are projected for similar or better numbers in AccuScore simulations. However, by the time they start flying off the board, the top tight ends may be gone, leaving a much bigger drop off in production than you would see from Jennings to Engram. 

Quarterbacks

In standard leagues I pass on quarterbacks in the early rounds, opting for a guy like Matt Hasselbeck over a stud like Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. The reasoning is that you have solid picks at running back and receiver in the first few rounds, while you can get an effective quarterback in rounds six through eight. In a PPR league, where wide receivers hold more value, there is no way I would take a quarterback before the sixth round. You can get Hasselbeck, Donovan McNabb, or solid sleeper options like Jay Cutler and Eli Manning in rounds six through eight, while loading up on guys like Brandon Marshall, Santonio Holmes, and Reggie Bush in the earlier rounds.

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (13)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

jimbo said:

I pick 10 and therefore 11 in our draft. I was thinking of taking the 2 best receivers on the board and then the 2 best runningbacks available then the best TE if Witten or Gates or Winslow are there and then the best quarterback if Brady,Manning, Brees, or Romo are there and then finishing up with rb's and receivers...Thoughts..Thanks

August 29, 2008

Timmy N said:

Tim, thanks for the article. I just drafted 12th (out of 12) in a ppr league. Wondering if you have any ideas/input on any things I should try to change through trades or free agency. The draft didn't go how I hoped, but it was ok. Reggie Bush Reggie Wayne Wes Welker Plaxico Burress Tony Gonzalez Matt Forte Derek Anderson Vikings D (we get a lot of D points) Chris Perry Javon Walker Vince Young Mark Clayton Antonio Bryant Nick Folk Bobby Engram Kenny Watson Any thoughts?

August 27, 2008

vrzz said:

Thank you for all the knowledge on PPR. I just completed my draft, what are your thoughts on my team? 1. Steven Jackson 2. Andre Johnson 3. Wes Welker 4. Calvin Johnson 5. Thomas Jones 6. Matt Forte 7. Julius Jones 8. David Garrard 9. Vernon Davis 10. Sidney Rice 11. Chris Johnson 12. Chris Brown 13. Green Bay 14. Matt Schaub 15. Kevin Boss 16. Robert Meachem 17. Josh Brown

August 26, 2008

twilliams said:

Dan, I would take Tomlinson first in any league. As for a first year keeper league, I would just make sure that a top runningback and a top wide receiver was drafted. You will be able to build on this with breakout receivers and runningbacks that you either draft in later rounds, or that you add via the waiver wire.

August 22, 2008

Dan N said:

In a PPR keeper league who would you suggest taking number one overall? and how would a first year PPR keeper league affect your RB and WR rankings?

August 22, 2008

twilliams said:

MT, My guess would be that Tomlinson, Westbrook, and AP would all go with the top picks. Even with the bad season Jackson had, I'd still take him. I credit a lot of that season to injuries all over the St. Louis offense, especially on the line. It's tough going back to a player after he ruins a season for you, but Jackson is a talented back, and worth the #4 pick. If you're in a PPR, and drafting 4th, then you need to consider taking a wide receiver with the second or third picks, or maybe both. That's about the time the remaining top options go off the board. As for runningbacks, I usually go for a top option, followed by an Earnest Graham or Reggie Bush type in the late 3rd, early 4th round. That being said, just go with the flow and see where the value drops. I did a mock PPR draft today and took Marion Barber with the 11th pick, then took wide receivers with my second, third, and fourth picks (Wayne, Welker, and Boldin), followed by Selvin Young in the 5th. That mock draft should be up on the site tomorrow.

August 21, 2008

twilliams said:

Eddie, I would definitely keep Bowe over Schaub and Mason. You will have an easier time getting Mason and Schaub in the draft than you would getting Bowe, and you can probably end up with a better QB than Schaub.

August 21, 2008

MT said:

I draft fourth in a PPR. I think it's too much to hope for Westbrook to fall. I'm figuring Tomlinson, AP and Westbrook are gone. I don't really map out strategy exceept for my first pick or two. I drafted SJackson and Jones-Drew last year with PPR in mind, and Jackson burned me with injuries and Jones-Drew dissapointed. I've never been one to take a WR so high. Are there any WRs you'd consider at 4 or roll the dice again with Jackson (holdout noted), Addai, Barber, Portis? I guess if one of those top three I mentioned fall, I'll take them. That being said, how would you rank the second tier? I'm never sure where to bring a top WR into the discussion either. Seems WRs are always deeper, and you can always fill it later without much dropoff.

August 21, 2008

EDDIE BOY said:

Thanks. I'm definitely keeping R Grant and R Williams, but now you've got me thinking about keeping D Mason or D Bowe instead of Schaub. I just don't like their QBs enough to keep either one of them. What do you think of them this year? Thank goodness Jackson signed today. Makes my decision that much easier.

August 21, 2008

twilliams said:

I think you should keep Williams and draft Jackson. With Grant, Jackson, and Williams, you will be set at running back. Brady is a solid player, but receivers and running backs are more important than QBs in a PPR league. I usually hold off on quarterbacks until later. See if you can get one of Brees/Romo, or someone from the Hasselbeck/Roethlisberger/Anderson/Palmer group. Worst case, you're fine with a guy like Jay Cutler, especially since you have a good backup in Schaub. I'd take Jackson, then load up on a few receivers before worrying about a QB.

August 21, 2008

Eddie Boy said:

I pick 3rd in my keeper PPR league and it looks as though 1 & 2 are going to be LT and Westbrook. That leaves me with a choice of Brady, SJackson, or Addai. AD, Barber, Jones-Drew, & RMoss are kept. If SJackson signs before my draft next week, I may go with him, but I don't know anymore. We start 1 qb, 2 rb, 3 wr, 1 te, and a flex. I'm keeping Schaub, Grant, and either Ricky Williams or Jason Campbell. Should I keep Williams and just draft Brady or should I keep Campbell and draft Jackson or Addai?

August 20, 2008

twilliams said:

I don't like mapping out a draft. When you do that you get too attached to the plan, and you miss out on value. For example, in one draft I had with a group of friends, I planned on taking a running back with the 4th pick in the first round, and a wide receiver late in the second. However, Larry Johnson dropped to me, and I had to take him there, even if that meant taking a wide receiver in the third. Obviously with three wide receivers and a PPR league you want to get as many top receiving options as you can, and as early as you can. Taking a running back is smart in the first, and it looks like you're focused on receivers with the following picks. I would stick with the best player available in the top rounds, and if it's close, go with the receiver.

August 07, 2008

gil said:

which is the better way to draft if im in the 5 position on a 14 team ppr with 1qb,2rb,3wr,1te. I think going like this: 1 round: rb 2 round: wr 3 round: wr 4 round: rb/qb/wr 5 round: rb/qb/wr 6 round: wr/te 7 round: wr/te and im in a hurry cus tomorrow is my draft, i hope u can help me thanks

August 07, 2008

Name

Title

Comment

Add Comment