Must-Haves For PPR: Fantasy Football Draft Targets Include Darren Waller, Amon-Ra St. Brown, James Conner, more

August 29, 2023

Ellis gives his must-have fantasy football PPR league draft targets for 2023. Target these PPR studs and sleepers at wide receiver, tight end and running back.

Full-point PPR is a unique beast. Unlike its more popular younger brother, Half-PPR, receptions can truly make or break a player's fantasy football impact.

I believe one of the most overlooked aspects of PPR is finding volume on bad teams. These are unlikely to be the most popular names, but they are the ones that will finish the season and have your league wondering, “How the heck did they get there?”

My name is Ellis Johnson, and I have been writing for RotoBaller for almost five years. This will be my fourth year doing the Thursday Night previews, so be sure to check those out. Here are my Must-Have PPR Players for 2023.

Must-Have Wide Receivers for PPR

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

I know this is a "chalk" way to start this article, but there is no way I was writing this without him. Amon-Ra St. Brown has been incredible to start his career. Last year, despite missing time due to injury, he had five games over 20 fantasy points. For perspective, Tyreek Hill had six.

This is exactly what I mean about less attractive names that outproduce superstars in this format. The additional bonus is that his main competition for targets, Jameson Williams, is suspended for the first six games. Even when he returns, the highly drafted WR has yet to show he can stay healthy, further bolstering the case for ARSB. 

Lastly, his main competition for targets to start the year is two rookies in camp standout tight end Sam LaPorta and 12th overall pick Jahmyr Gibbs. Ironically, with the high draft selection of Gibbs and no real free-agent acquisitions, this defense looks like it will be among the worst in the league once again.

St. Brown is primed for an incredible season. I have him as my WR4 behind Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Cooper Kupp, respectively.

Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers

If you thought St. Brown was too obvious, here’s one for you. Romeo Doubs has been nothing but a camp hype machine since being drafted in the late fourth round in 2022. His praise has come from fellow players, coaches, Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers, and Jordan Love. 

At a glance, last season seemed to be disappointing. However, for his draft capital, Doubs had a very solid season. Believe it or not, Doubs out-targeted Christian Watson despite playing one fewer game. Additionally, the WR target leader, Allen Lazard, has moved to New York. With the additions of rookie receiver Jayden Reed and tight end Luke Musgrave, Doubs has a clear path to target volume.

The fantasy community has been quick to crown Watson as the defacto WR1 for this team. There is no denying that Watson is the superior athlete and possesses an unrivaled fantasy upside. However, Doubs could see a very consistent target share, making him a potential weekly PPR flex play that you can draft at pick 169. Nice.

Must-Have Running Backs for PPR

James Conner, Arizona Cardinals

Here we are reaching into the bargain bin. James Conner is like going to a thrift store and finding a two-year-old Ralph Lauren Polo that still has its tags on.

Over the last two seasons, Conner has averaged 17.2 and 15.4 fantasy points per game (PPG), respectively. Currently being drafted in between Cam Akers and J.K. Dobbins, he is an incredible value. For perspective, Dobbins only has 25 career receptions, and Akers had 13 receptions in 15 games last season. The mess that is the Cardinals seems to be the only reason pushing Conner down draft boards. As a result, this is where the value is in PPR.

Last year, Conner had three receptions in 10 of 12 full games played. More importantly, with Colt McCoy under center, Conner had 12 targets in the two games at the end of the season. Conner is the clear workhorse on a team that will often be playing from behind. He may not have a top-five upside, but he should be a weekly fringe RB1.

Must-Have Tight Ends for PPR

Darren Waller, New York Giants

Over the preseason, the buzz for Darren Waller has really picked up. After hearing all offseason that he was Daniel Jones’ favorite target, finally seeing it come to fruition seemed to catch the public’s attention.

Ever since Waller joined the Giants, it has sounded like the perfect match. Especially in PPR formats, it’s all about finding someone to help neutralize Travis Kelce. Since no one has the target share and touchdown upside he has, we have to look at who will have the most consistent target share.

One of the obvious answers is T.J. Hockenson, who was a target machine last season. However, with the addition of first-round WR Jordan Addison, his pace should regress. As for Mark Andrews, Waller finds himself in a similar situation. The team has loaded up on receiving weapons; however, both TEs are the top option.

Although we have seen an elite passing season from Lamar Jackson, Daniel Jones could surprise this season. In 2022, he was hindered by injuries to pass catchers, making his passing ability fly under the radar. If Waller plays the entire season, he should get the usage to potentially supplant Andrews behind Kelce. Considering he is going 12 spots behind Hockenson and five behind George Kittle, I’d be taking that shot every chance I get.

Thanks for reading my work. Be sure to check out my positional draft rankings as well. Good luck RotoBallers!

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