July 10, 2016

Andrew looks at 5 players who are values in the standard fantasy football format and talks about why they should be avoided in PPR leagues.

In the fantasy football world, two statistical categories are valued over all others -- yards and touchdowns. Sure, how points are determined for those yards and touchdowns may vary from league to league. But outside of the most obscure scoring systems, virtually every league is going to award points for yards and touchdowns.

One category that many fantasy football players are often divided on, is receptions. Point-per-reception (PPR) scoring has become increasingly popular as the NFL has blossomed into a passing-dominant league since the turn of the century. Many leagues award one point per reception, while others award a half-point per reception. Standard leagues generally award no additional bonus points for receptions.

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Players To Target in Standard League Scoring

It's crucial to understand your league's scoring settings ahead of the draft, particularly in terms of PPR. Many players can gain a significant value bump in PPR leagues, while others should be faded completely. Let's take a closer look at some position players that are better suited for standard (non-PPR) scoring leagues.

Thomas Rawls, RB, Seattle Seahawks

Rawls burst onto the scene last season as an unheralded, undrafted rookie. He led the Seahawks with 830 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns, but he was an afterthought in the passing game (nine receptions in 13 games). Rawls is coming off a season-ending ankle injury, and Seattle expects rookie C.J. Prosise to handle the third-down, pass-catching duties this season.

Rawls is a good value as a high-end RB2 being drafted at 2.11 in standard leagues on Fantasy Football Calculator, but in PPR leagues, he is overvalued at his 3.12 ADP and he should be selected behind backs like Mark Ingram, Matt Forte and even Danny Woodhead due to Rawls' lack of involvement in the passing game.

Jeremy Hill, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

Like Rawls, Hill should be the primary ball carrier on first and second downs, as well as the goal-line back in the red zone. He's just not going to offer much in the passing game. Hill tallied 15 receptions in 16 games last season, and has just 42 overall in 32 career games. Fellow back for the Bengals, Giovani Bernard (49 receptions last season) is the change-of-pace/pass-catching specialist, and he makes for a nice PPR option.

Hill has more value in standard leagues where he is being selected at 5.05, thanks to his solid yardage totals and touchdown opportunities in the red zone. For me, he's in the same RB2 tier as Rawls, but at a much cheaper price. Hill's price drop from 5.05 to 6.06 in PPR leagues doesn't make up for his lack of involvement in the passing game.

Sammy Watkins, WR, Buffalo Bills

Watkins has certainly been productive in his first two NFL seasons, but he's also made the most out of his limited opportunities. The former Clemson star has 125 receptions (65 in 2014, 60 in 2015) in 29 career games. That's nothing to shake a stick at, but comparatively, Antonio Brown and Julio Jones each had 136 receptions last season alone.

Comparing Watkins to arguably the top two receivers in fantasy football may seem like a stretch, but Watkins lack of receptions is a detriment in PPR leagues -- 48 players had more than his 60 receptions last season. It's difficult to justify taking him at 3.11 in PPR leagues over Golden Tate and being valued closely to receivers like Brandin Cooks and Keenan Allen, who should all threaten 100 receptions in 2016.

John Brown, WR, Arizona Cardinals

While Watkins' targets are limited by the Bills' inconsistent offense, Brown finds himself in a different predicament, he's one of three very good receivers in the same offense, all vying for the same targets and receptions. Brown, along with nine-time Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald and former first-round pick Michael Floyd, are the top options for veteran quarterback Carson Palmer.

This is an ideal situation for the Cardinals on the field, but a headache for owners in fantasy circles. Brown had 1,003 yards on 65 receptions last season. With all three receivers returning in 2016, similar production and target distribution seems likely, which caps his upside in the PPR format.

Tyler Eifert, TE, Cincinnati Bengals

Another Bengal? You bet. Eifert had a breakout season in his third year in the NFL, finishing with 615 yards and 13 touchdowns on 52 receptions in only 13 games. For those scoring at home, that equates to one touchdown every four receptions. Eifert's season was truly a statistical wonder. His 13 touchdowns led all tight ends, two ahead of both Rob Gronkowski and Jordan Reed, yet his 52 receptions ranked 16th at the position.

If that doesn't scream "standard leagues only," nothing does. Eifert emerged as a premier red-zone threat, and he should remain so in 2016. The Bengals lost receivers Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu in free agency, so Eifert's receptions could increase, but not to the point that he becomes worth his 6.05 price tag in PPR leagues, but if he starts the season healthy, his touchdown total and position scarcity will make him worth his 6.02 price tag in Standard leagues.

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