3 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers to Target in PPR, Fade in Standard Leagues (2025)

Kevin's 3 fantasy football wide receivers to target in PPR leagues but avoid in standard scoring. His top PPR pass-catching targets, including Zay Flowers and more.

For fantasy football, many scoring formats exist, like standard, which was the preferred scoring system from fantasy football’s inception. Then, half-PPR and full-PPR took over as the most popular formats, and that continues today. With many different archetypes of wide receivers in the NFL, some lend themselves to being better values in full-PPR leagues rather than standard leagues, which do not count receptions in their scoring.

Full-PPR totals the reception as one point typically, while standard only counts the yards and touchdowns. Some of the receivers we’ll profile here in this article score much better in formats that count the reception, thanks to their target-earning and volume-earning capabilities. Some of them may not fare so well in standard formats, as knocking off the reception from their scoring hampers them greatly.

Let’s take a look at some wide receivers to prioritize in PPR formats, but who are considered assets that can be faded in standard fantasy leagues. As a note, all ADP comes from right here at RotoBaller.

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Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens | WR21

Zay Flowers took what he did in 2023 and worked further downfield to improve substantially across the board. From his targets per route run (19.9 to 23.8 percent) to his yards per route (1.64 to 2.25), to extending his 8.8-yard aDOT to 10.6 yards in 2024, Flowers went from “we might actually have something here” to “this feels like a true breakout.”

Between the 20-yard lines, that was Flowers’ zone in 2024, and with the problems the Ravens have had trying to get wide receivers to stick in their system, Flowers feels like one that has truly bloomed – pun intended. There’s no doubt that the Ravens missed Flowers during the postseason. I mean, they had to pull Anthony Miller out of mothballs to try and replicate that in the playoffs. Not great!

Flowers is pretty insulated for his particular skill set when looking at the Ravens’ roster. They added DeAndre Hopkins in free agency, but he’s definitely at the tail end of his career. Rashod Bateman is a fine enough receiver, but what he does to add to an offense is vastly different from what Flowers does. Bateman carried a high 15.2-yard aDOT last season and only earned 67 targets and caught 45 balls, but put up nine touchdowns. Still, not exactly a target-earning profile here.

Baltimore only added a sixth-round receiver on offense, LaJohntay Wester, but besides Hopkins and Wester, the offense is pretty much the same heading into 2025. Mark Andrews’ huge target-earning days seem behind him; the same is true for Hopkins. Bateman is more of a deep threat wide receiver and less of somebody who can earn consistent volume. I’d venture to say that Flowers stands alone as the best target-earning pass-catcher on the Ravens’ roster, so there’s plenty of PPR upside moving forward, thanks to some pieces of the offense getting older, making Flowers’ target-earning an essential piece of the Ravens’ offense.

Lamar Jackson being on this list is even more absurd when comparing his average depth of target to QBs in the same vicinity

Testament to Rashod Bateman, Zay Flowers, the whole crew - especially Todd Monken - cooking in Baltimore https://t.co/MpRxWrGNN5 pic.twitter.com/uKqWkykzr0

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) June 9, 2025

For his fantasy value, Flowers feels perfectly serviceable and a value at a fifth-round ADP as Lamar Jackson’s top receiving option. After this season, the comfortability (or lack thereof) of Flowers coming into the 2024 season feels much firmer and stable heading into 2025. With a PPR profile that still has room to grow, the lack of touchdown upside that drives a receiver’s value in standard makes him a less desirable pick in that format.

Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | WR23

Chris Godwin produced a career-best per-game pace in just seven games in 2024 before a dislocated ankle ended his 2024 campaign. The good thing is that we won’t have to worry about how he will assimilate into the Buccaneers’ offense, because despite being a free agent entering March, he signed a long-term deal to stay with the Buccaneers.

The 2023 season saw Godwin playing out wide for most of his snaps for the first time since his second season. It didn’t end up well, and Godwin had one of his worst seasons as a pro. Last season, Godwin returned to his home in the slot and put up a career-high pace in YPRR (2.36) and TPRR (24.6 percent). Let’s not forget Mike Evans eats very well in this offense too, plus young pass-catchers like Jalen McMillan and rookie first-round pick Emeka Egbuka, but Godwin is the clear second target for Baker Mayfield as long as he’s healthy.

Despite Liam Coen being gone and off to Jacksonville to assume head coaching duties there, the continuity from the last couple of seasons remains as a point of emphasis from head coach Todd Bowles. Last season’s passing game coordinator, Josh Grizzard, was promoted to offensive coordinator with Coen’s departure. Grizzard will have plenty of comfort and familiarity with Mayfield and all the weapons in Tampa, including Godwin.

Godwin clocks in as a high-end WR3 in 12-team leagues and should lead the Buccaneers in receptions for 2025. Evans is mainly a deep ball, contested catch receiver, so that leaves Godwin with shorter aDOT receptions that he can rack up in this offense. That doesn’t lend itself as much fantasy goodness in standard as he does in PPR formats. If he can keep the seven-game pace going from last season in this high-flying Tampa offense, he can be a WR1 again in 2025, even without Coen, and a PPR monster yet again in 2025.

Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers | WR38

We’re going to find out some vital information very quickly about whether Jauan Jennings’ 2024 was an aberration. How this receiving corps shakes out even from Week 1 will determine the fates of the many pass-catching options in San Francisco. Will Ricky Pearsall be a slot-only player? Will Brandon Aiyuk be ready for Week 1? Who will get some of the schemed touches in the offense now that Deebo Samuel Sr. is in Washington?

Last season, Jennings was 14th among all wide receivers with at least 150 routes with a 2.26 YPRR and was 14th in TPRR (25.7 percent) as well, earning a target on over 25% of his routes. He wasn’t just “third and Jauan,” he was also first and second as well. Jennings (77 receptions) was just one reception behind Kittle (78) for the team lead last season, so pairing the efficiency with volume in what will likely be an offense with more passing volume should benefit the PPR stylings of Jennings.

In 6 games with Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, George Kittle, and Brock Purdy on the field together:

Pearsall: 9.6 FPG / 17.6% first-read target share

Kittle: 14.2 FPG / 19.8% first-read target share

Jennings: 13.5 FPG / 31.3% first-read target share

Seems pretty simple!

— Ryan Heath (@RyanJ_Heath) March 26, 2025

Little fanfare was given to Jennings when he received a two-year contract last May, and that will keep him in San Francisco through this upcoming season. Jennings was a seldom-used third receiver for the 49ers who just kind of blended into the background in previous seasons, but unlike many receivers before him who have gotten paid and their production falls off, Jennings turned in by far his best season as a pro after getting some financial security.

Jennings is a fun redraft value with some ambiguity reflected in his mid-round ADP. Thanks to his efficiency last season, the price is absolutely right to see if Jennings can take his 2024 season and give that a worthy encore in the upcoming season. Jennings feels more like a PPR receiver rather than a standard format option, as Jennings will rack up receptions on critical downs and arguably be the best target and volume-earning option for quarterback Brock Purdy and the 49ers in 2025.

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