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What's up RotoBallers. The NFL and fantasy football seasons are right around the corner, and will be kicking off in just a few short days. At this point, you're getting ready for your final fantasy football drafts or anxiously awaiting your first.
Today I will help you win. I'm here to discuss some PPR draft values and potential sleepers to target - players that may be get a sneaky amount of pass targets/receptions and fantasy football production for you.
We're trying to identify high-upside, low-cost players who will provide sneaky PPR value for your teams.
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2017 Fantasy Football Sleepers - PPR Leagues
I'm not afraid to use the word sleeper. There's nothing like drafting a middle or late round player that produces like a stud. Those are my sleepers, because other people are sleeping on them. Last year, players like Jordan Howard, Tyrell Williams, Terrelle Pryor and Tyreek Hill were later-round draft picks or waiver wire adds that came up huge for fantasy owners. Not everyone can be stud, but finding player who outperform their costs is key.
For those who haven't drafted yet, and play in PPR leagues, consider this a list of undervalued running backs, wide receivers and tight ends that can outperform their current ADPs and draft day prices.
Running Back Sleepers - PPR Draft Values
Giovani Bernard (RB, CIN)
With a current ADP around 150, Gio can be had for dirt cheap in your drafts. The Bengals backfield also features Jeremy Hill and Joe Mixon, but let's not forget that Gio has been the best running back on the Bengals for several years now. Even thought he's returning from a season-ending knee injury, signs point to him looking healthy. He will have his usual role as the third-down back, which means he'll be seeing plenty of targets and receptions every game. He offers a high floor, and week-to-week consistency, while offering upside for more in an offense that should be robust. Sprinkle in a few carries per game, and a few touchdowns, and you have yourself a potential PPR stud for a an extremely low draft day cost.
Theo Riddick (RB, DET)
Riddick will again return to his role as the third-down back for a strong Lions offense. Even though Ameer Abdullah is the featured running back on this team heading into the season, Riddick should not be a forgotten man in PPR leagues. Last year, Riddick hauled in 53 catches while Abdullah missed the season. And in 2015, he racked up a ridiculous 80 catches out of the backfield. With an ADP close to 100, he offers much more value than his draft day cost in PPR leagues. Once the later rounds of the draft come around, snag Riddick as a perfect bench player and an RB3 with upside for more.
Charles Sims (RB, TB)
Doug Martin is suspended for the first three games of the season, which mean Jacquizz Rodgers and Charles Sims will be seeing the running back touches. Rodgers was a great fill-in for the Bucs last year while Martin was out, but Sims has the ability to provide value for fantasy owners as well. In 2015, Sims finished as the 17th best running back in PPR scoring, and he's expected to be used as the third-down back regardless of whether Doug Martin is on the field. With an ADP around 210, he's pretty much an afterthought in fantasy drafts. But grab him in the later rounds as an upside play, on a team expected to score a lot of points this year.
Other PPR Running Back Options: James White (RB, NE) - ADP: 110, Shane Vereen (RB, NYG - ADP: 175), Dion Lewis (RB, NE) - ADP: 185
Wide Receiver Sleepers - PPR Draft Values
Adam Thielen (WR, MIN)
Let's start with the bottom line - Thielen is being undervalued in PPR drafts. Last year he emerged as a solid PPR option, and will be looking to build off that this year. With his move to the slot, Thielen should be seeing plenty of targets and receptions on a weekly basis. Last year he had games where he racked up 9, 11 and 15 targets - all of them coming in Week 12 or later. He clearly has chemistry with Sam Bradford, and should provide fantasy owners with a consistent weekly floor for PPR leagues. With an ADP around 105, Thielen has a chance to return big value in PPR leagues based on an extremely modest draft day cost. I will be targeting him in every league, and you should be too.
Zay Jones (WR, BUF)
Jones is in a great situation as a rookie wide receiver. He's probably the number one passing option on the team going into Week 1 given that Sammy Watkins was traded away, Anquan Boldin retired, and Jordan Matthews has been injured for most of the preseason. In college Zay was known for his route running, good hands, and heavy pass volume. He racked up 216 targets last year at Eastern Carolina, with very few drops, averaging 10.7 targets per game. Jones also set the NCAA Division 1 record with 158 catches. He's already showcased an eight-target game in the preseason, and it's not a stretch to think he can accumulate large target and reception totals. With an ADP of 132, he can be PPR gold.
Ted Ginn (WR, NO)
Two words: Drew and Brees. Ginn is a somewhat sneaky wide receiver pick this year, given that Michael Thomas and Willie Snead are also in the wide receiver picture. But Ginn is joining a prolific quarterback in a powerful offense. We've seen what Ginn is capable in the past, stretching the field for Cam Newton and providing explosive playmaking ability. He has been running with the first-team offense, getting involved in both the passing and running game. Brees will spread the ball around, and there are plenty of mouths to feed in New Orleans, but Ginn has an ADP around 150 making him a bargain. He's a perfect player to take a chance on later in drafts - if he emerges as a preferred option for Brees, he can obliterate his draft day cost.
Update 6 pm EDT: it's been reported that Willie Snead will be suspended for the first three games. Ginn should have even more value and a larger role on the offense while he's out.
Kenny Britt (WR, CLE)
Britt had a surprisingly strong season for fantasy owners last year, coming in as the 28th overall wide receiver. He racked up 111 targets, 1,000+ receiving yards, and five touchdowns on a horrible Rams offense. It's a stretch to expect that kind of volume this year, given the Carey Coleman will be the primary WR and the Browns aren't expected to have a great offense. But this is all about draft value, and Britt offers that with an ADP around 110. He's worth a pick in the later rounds of drafts to see how the situation unfolds in Cleveland. If he emerges as the preferred target for rookie DeShone Kizer, he can greatly exceed his draft day cost. Either way, Britt makes for a solid speculative pick in any PPR league.
Other PPR Wide Receiver Options: Rishard Matthews (WR, TEN - ADP: 123), Kendall Wright (WR, CHI - ADP: 200), Taylor Gabriel (WR, ATL - ADP: 170)
Tight Ends Sleepers - PPR Draft Values
Cameron Brate (TE, TB)
While the targets volume may not be there, Brate is on a strong offense and was a big red zone threat last year. He only played 66% of the snaps, but his eight touchdowns lead all tight ends (tied with Hunter Henry). With an ADP of 170, he's being drafted as the 18th tight end overall. Even with DeSean Jackson in the fold, he should improve on last year's numbers and return value that exceeds his draft day cost.
Jared Cook (TE, OAK)
While I'm not expecting a huge season here, I am very intrigued with his move to Oakland and joining the strong Raiders offense led by Derek Carr. There's not much to go off of here yet, but I could see Cook becoming a real weapon in the passing game and providing consistent TE1 value for fantasy owners. With an ADP at 169, he comes as a dirt cheap late-round flier that can surprise.
Zach Miller (TE, CHI)
It's not the sexiest pick, but Miller was pretty good in PPR leagues last year. Cam Meredith is out for the year, and rookie Dion Sims is more of a blocking tight end. Last year Miller had a streak of seven or more targets in 5-of-7 games, including totals of 7, 8, 9, 10 and 10. A combination of Kevin White and Kendall Wright should leave a decent amount targets to be absorbed by someone else, and Miller may just be that guy.
Other PPR Tight End Options: Jason Witten (TE, DAL - ADP: 145), Coby Fleener (TE, NO - ADP: 162)
More PPR Draft Targets
