In this article, I take a look around the NFL and current ADPs to provide analysis on some fantasy football PPR sleepers for both running backs and wide receivers.

If you play in a PPR (points per reception) league, chances are you’re privy to the fact that the difference in rankings as compared to standard scoring is drastic. Certain players have their values heavily inflated with the addition of a point-per-reception, where as some others have theirs muted.

I recently wrapped up a few PPR mock drafts, and wanted to share some of my observations for potential PPR sleepers/value picks that you can target. Below I will dive into five NFL players that you should absolutely target within a PPR format.

 

2015 Fantasy Football Sleepers – PPR Leagues

Based on what I've been seeing in various mock drafts drafts, many of the NFL players listed here in this column are not being taken high enough. Even though they aren't later round guys, I believe they have relatively low ADPs compared to their potential upside in PPR leagues.

In general, it's time to prepare for you fantasy football drafts if you haven't done that already. Staying on top of preseason player analysis, analyzing current ADPs, identifying the 2015 risers/fallers, avoiding potential draft day busts, dissecting preseason team outlooks and identifying draft day sleepers should all be important components for your 2015 fantasy football draft strategy. Today I'm here to provide some insight on PPR wide receivers and running backs, to make sure that your PPR fantasy teams are prepared to win.

I’ve focused on these specific RBs and WRs because of their potential fantasy football draft day returns, compared to the draft investment to obtain these players and their current ADPs. My goal is to help you find some high-upside players that can provide significant fantasy value based on where they’re currently being drafted. Let's get to it.

 

Running Back Sleepers & Draft Values

C.J. Spiller – RB, New Orleans Saints 

Let’s get the most obvious guy out of the way first. The second C.J. Spiller left the Buffalo Bills for the New Orleans Saints, the ears of fantasy owners perked up. The Saints have been notorious for utilizing multiple running backs in a variety of ways, most recently seen with the likes of Mark Ingram and Pierre Thomas. With Ingram as the more traditional runner, Thomas often assumed the role of the pass-catching back. In 2013, (the last time Thomas played all 16 games) he managed to reel in 77 receptions for 513 yards. Now that Thomas is no longer on the roster, Spiller’s skill set should capitalize upon that role immediately.

Not only is Pierre Thomas no longer a member of the Saints, but fellow pass-catching running back Travaris Cadet is gone as well. Thomas and Cadet combined for 106 targets out of the backfield last season. As a comparison, 2014’s number one fantasy running back Le’Veon Bell finished the year with 105 targets. That just goes to show you how massive of a void there is to be filled, and Spiller is the perfect guy for the job. I know what you’re thinking - he’s currently recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery and has never been a guy to boast a clean bill of health. To that I say, no problem. His ADP was steadily on the rise, so the injury should actually bring him back to normal. I would target Spiller as a high-end RB2 in a PPR league, but just make sure to have a solid backup in case he re-injures himself.

 

Andre Ellington – RB, Arizona Cardinals 

The hate has officially gone too far on Andre Ellington. Even before the signing of Chris Johnson, Ellington was being pushed aside for the likes of Latavius Murray and Joique Bell. Don’t get me wrong, I like both of those guys in their own right - but Ellington is at least entrenched as the number one back on his team. Murray is an unproven commodity, and the Ameer Abdullah hype train is essentially running over Bell. To me, Ellington is still the safest play of the group.

Ellington’s 46 receptions over 12 games in 2014 might not seem like a whole lot, but that actually ranks as the sixth most amongst running backs last season. His projected reception total over the course of a full 16-game slate should give him an added boost as a solid RB2 in a PPR format. He will still need to stay healthy, as does quarterback Carson Palmer. It’s no secret that the Arizona offense was much more effective with Palmer under center. But as long as those two can stay on the field, the Cardinals should put up points. I would target Andre Ellington as a mid-level RB2 in PPR, just behind the likes of Justin Forsett and Frank Gore.

 

Wide Receiver Sleepers & Draft Values

Jeremy Maclin – WR, Kansas City Chiefs 

At last we’ve reached the first receiver on our list - you know, the position that’s actually tied to the concept of receptions. By now I’m sure you’ve heard the insane footnote about how the Kansas City Chiefs didn’t throw a single touchdown pass to a wide receiver last season. That should change now that they brought in former Philadelphia Eagle Jeremy Maclin.

Maclin reunites with his former head coach Andy Reid, a pairing that should bode well for quarterback Alex Smith. Smith isn’t known for his deep ball, but with reports that the Chiefs have been trying to open up the offense downfield Maclin should be the beneficiary. Even if he doesn’t match his recent success in Philly (he won’t), Maclin should be able to reel in catches with ease as he’s firmly entrenched as the team’s number one receiver. Smith will only have to share the ball with the likes of Jamaal Charles and Travis Kelce, so it’s not like Maclin will be short on targets. Normally I’d use recent statistics to strengthen my argument, but the offenses in Philly and Kansas City are so drastically different it would be a moot point. Instead, I can tell you that I would project roughly 90 receptions for Maclin, albeit with a much lower yardage total than we’re used to. You should feel confident in snagging him as a low-end WR2 in PPR.

 

Brandin Cooks – WR, New Orleans Saints 

Our second member of the New Orleans Saints is wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Cooks is not only a talented player, but also a guy who is a victim of circumstance. The Saints shipped out both fellow wide receiver Kenny Stills and tight end Jimmy Graham, leaving a gaping hole in the team’s receiving corps. That should yield in a massive uptick in targets for Cooks.

Cooks ended up missing six games last year, but with a clean bill of health in front of him he should be poised to break out in 2015. The departure of Graham and Stills leaves behind a whopping 209 targets to spread around in New Orleans. Obviously not all 209 of those targets are going to go directly to Cooks, but that’s not to say he won’t hoard a considerable sized chunk of them. He should get enough attention to justify being selected as a mid-level WR2 in PPR, and that’s exactly where I’d target him.

 

Amari Cooper – WR, Oakland Raiders

When was the last time an Oakland Raider made a list about players to target in a PPR league? Nevertheless, here we are talking about rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper. Cooper is regarded as the most “can’t miss” WR prospect in this year’s class and has the talent to back it up. The Raiders have utilized a rather ragtag batch of receivers over the years, so selecting Cooper with the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft should solidify a massive need for the team.

As far as fantasy is concerned, Cooper has virtually no competition in terms of targets. Unless you somehow believe Michael Crabtree’s career is about to be reinvigorated, Cooper should easily end the year as the team’s primary pass-catcher. The only thing you have to worry about is whether or not second year quarterback Derek Carr can actually get him the ball. Carr was serviceable enough last year, so I wouldn’t worry about that too much. This is by no means a star-studded offense, so I’m not advocating you go all-in on Amari Cooper as the savior of your fantasy team. Rather, I think you look at Cooper as a low-end WR2 in PPR formats with the upside for much more. Last year’s rookie class set the bar pretty high so it’ll be tough to match it. But if anyone is up to the task, it’s Amari Cooper.

 

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