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Top 200 Fantasy Football Ranks for 2016: PPR Leagues

Camps are opening up, kicking off the Fantasy season. Pre-camp top 200 hot off the presses.

There goes this year's top running back.
There goes this year's top running back.
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

As the girlfriend watches Stranger Things, and I sit here drinking, rounding out my pre-camp 200 fantasy rankings, I wonder who is using their time wisely… We gotta start somewhere, right? So check it out, my top 200 pre-camp-ok-not-exactly-pre-camp-but-close PPR ranks.

Better writers and analysts have already outlined how the tier system works, and I am a believer in tiers as you’ll see. These are PPR ranks, assuming QB, 2RB, 3WR, TE, Flex, DST rosters.

Pick

Player name

1

Antonio Brown

2

Odell Beckham

3

Julio Jones

I believe that there are not enough good starting running backs to go around, and so taking wide receivers this early is, in general, a bad idea. With all the question marks at the top of the running back position, and the list of RBs still available in the late 2nd round, I must concede that taking one of these 3 at the top of the draft is the way I’d play it.

4

Jamaal Charles

5

Todd Gurley

6

Ezekiel Elliott

7

Adrian Peterson

8

Lamar Miller

9

Le'Veon Bell

Whether its lack of do-it-all talent or a proper shift in how NFL backfields will work from here on out, even with the question marks some of these guys have, I’ll take my chances on potentially league-winning running backs. I believe in Jamaal Charles coming back from ACL surgery and remaining an exceptionally efficient focal point of Andy Reid’s offense. Even though, at the time this article is being published, Le’Veon Bell will be suspended for 4 games, his per-game potential keeps him a late-first-round-worthy-talent.

10

DeAndre Hopkins

11

AJ Green

12

Dez Bryant

13

Keenan Allen

14

TY Hilton

15

Rob Gronkowski

We take a quick break from running back to slot in a few wide receivers and Gronk here. There are just too many questions with the 2nd tier of running backs to pass on this group of guys that I think have a shot to finish in the middle of the WR1 ranks at the end of the year. Gronk only drops out of the first round because of the Brady suspension.

16

Eddie Lacy

17

Devonta Freeman

18

Thomas Rawls

19

David Johnson

20

Doug Martin

In a contract year on an offense that I expect to bounce back, despite an early Jordy injury, Lacey leads this group of backs. David Johnson has the potential to finish as the RB1 overall, but Arians’ love of Chris Johnson, and the small sample size for DJ, scares me just enough to push him below Rawls.

21

Jordy Nelson

22

Allen Robinson

23

Brandin Cooks

24

Alshon Jeffery

25

Demaryius Thomas

We’ll have to keep an eye on Jordy’s recent knee troubles, but I am ranking him like he’ll be ready for the start of the season. We’re getting in to some great value here at wide receiver. I’m comfortable pairing one of these guys with a receiver from the first tier to start WR, WR, or match one of these guys with my top RB target if I’m picking late in the 2nd round.

26

Carlos Hyde

27

Mark Ingram

28

LeSean McCoy

29

Matt Forte

30

Dion Lewis

31

Danny Woodhead

32

Latavius Murray

33

CJ Anderson

This group of rushers needs a few things to break right for them to finish inside the top 5 at running back, but it could happen. Hyde will likely play for a bad team, but will play for a coach that refuses to slow down the tempo regardless of game situation. Murray is by no means my favorite back, but we keep looking for who will replace him despite the Raiders doing little shore up the position this offseason.

34

Randall Cobb

35

Mike Evans

36

Sammy Watkins

37

Jarvis Landry

38

Amari Cooper

39

John Brown

40

Jeremy Maclin

41

Kelvin Benjamin

42

Michael Floyd

43

Brandon Marshall

44

Julian Edelman

45

Larry Fitzgerald

46

Eric Decker

We’ve got a nice group of receivers here, some with WR1 upside, some merely solid WR2s. I’m a little down on Evans, I’m a little high on John Brown, and after Marshall I’m not pleased if one of these guys is my first receiver. Even though there are some things that have to break right for these guys to really blow up, they’re all a good bet to finish no lower than WR24.

47

Ryan Matthews

48

Greg Olsen

49

Jordan Reed

50

Cam Newton

51

Russell Wilson

If you passed on running backs, Matthews gives you one last shot at a workhorse, lead-back role. Olsen’s track record barely edges Reed’s amazing talent and injury worries. And we see our league leading rushing QBs that are also turning in very fine passing numbers as they mature.

52

Tyler Lockett

53

Golden Tate

54

Emmanuel Sanders

55

Donte Moncrief

56

Doug Baldwin

The depth at wide receiver is a major factor in why I’ll still ‘reach’ for running backs despite a brutal 2015. I’m on the Matt Harmon-led bandwagon with Tyler Lockett, and admit that this may be too early for him. I’m worried that I am too high on Golden Tate and that Donte Moncrief becomes a TD monster in what I think will be a top 3-4 offense this year.

57

TJ Yeldon

58

Jonathan Stewart

59

Frank Gore

60

Jay Ajayi

61

Giovani Bernard

62

Duke Johnson

63

Isaiah Crowell

64

Jeremy Hill

I’ve gone back and watched TJ Yeldon’s rookie tape since the signing of Chris Ivory, and while I’ve loved Ivory since that razor-bladed rhino was rushing for the Saints, I think Yeldon is a truly outstanding talent that will end up winning the lion’s share of carries and making up for the TDs he missed out on last year once the 2016 season gets going. Stewart and Gore are no-brainer starting running backs that are falling (at least in MFL10s), making it easy to go wide receiver early.

The rest of this group has great potential, but seriously concerning questions entering the season. I’m happy with the bottom half of this tier as my flex, and if I have to pick my favorite to round out a receiver heavy start to the draft… I think it can work.

65

Michael Crabtree

66

Allen Hurns

67

Jordan Matthews

68

Willie Snead

69

Torrey Smith

70

Josh Gordon

71

Tavon Austin

We kick off my favorite WR3 tier here. The only guys that have a shot at a top 12 PPR points per game chance are Smith and Gordon. Otherwise, I’m ok with slotting anyone in this tier as my WR3 on an otherwise well-balanced team.

72

Aaron Rodgers

73

Drew Brees

74

Andrew Luck

75

Ben Roethlisberger

This whole tier is likely off the board at the end of the 6th round in most home leagues. If you believe in taking a QB a little early, of if one of these guys actually falls to this point come draft-time, I think you have to pull the trigger on the advantage that quarterback of this caliber can do for you.

76

Jeremy Langford

77

Ameer Abdullah

78

Melvin Gordon

79

Charles Sims

80

Matt Jones

81

DeMarco Murray

Each back in this little tier scares me, but they could all turn out to be exceptional values this late in a draft. If you’re building depth as you pass on quarterback and tight end, taking a shot on one of these runners could give you a game-changer at flex.

82

Coby Fleener

83

Delanie Walker

84

Travis Kelce

85

Tyler Eifert

86

Dwayne Allen

87

Ladarius Green

88

Gary Barnidge

Tight end is a bit of a conundrum. I can convince myself to draft or pass on anyone in this group, but I’ll be sad if I miss out on tight end at this point. If I have to cobble together a committee with any TE not mentioned so far, I feel like I’ve made a tiny huge mistake.

89

Marvin Jones

90

Dorial Green-Beckham

91

Stefon Diggs

92

Travis Benjamin

93

Kamar Aiken

We start with a couple of guys that could finish near the top of the WR2 tier, and end with a trio that could easily round out the top 24 receivers. Everyone here has more than enough talent and opportunity, but they haven’t shown that upside just yet.

94

Carson Palmer

95

Tony Romo

96

Tom Brady

97

Phillip Rivers

98

Eli Manning

99

Jameis Winston

100

Andy Dalton

101

Ryan Tannehill

Carson Palmer is probably a little low and Tannehill is likely a little high. With all the quality starters available at QB, unless you grab a guy you think can finish top 3, go ahead and draft some depth before you spend a roster spot on QB.

102

Kevin White

103

Corey Coleman

104

Antonio Gates

105

Martellus Bennett

106

Julius Thomas

107

Zach Ertz

108

Jason Witten

In a completely lazy move, I’m throwing in White and Coleman on top of my next tier of tight ends. I have no idea how to value these two wide receivers that have showed us nothing outside of great skills at the collegiate level.

These tight ends don’t have the highest upside, but they can all serve you well in a committee.

109

Justin Forsett

110

DeAngelo Williams

111

Arian Foster

112

Chris Ivory

113

LeGarrette Blount

114

Derrick Henry

115

Rashad Jennings

116

Tevin Coleman

We’re getting to the ‘ah, I don’t really know’ tiers here as we get towards the beginning of the back half of the draft. You’re just taking shots at this point or grabbing guys (like Williams and Coleman) that could have amazing value if there is an injury (or suspension) in front of them.

117

Mohamed Sanu

118

Vincent Jackson

119

DeVante Parker

120

DeSean Jackson

121

Markus Wheaton

122

Michael Thomas [Saints]

123

Sterling Shepard

124

Laquon Treadwell

I can tell myself a story about how I will start these guys in a tough bye week situation.

125

Marcus Mariota

126

Tyrod Taylor

127

Matthew Stafford

128

Matt Ryan

129

Blake Bortles

130

Kirk Cousins

131

Joe Flacco

132

Brock Osweiler

133

Ryan Fitzpatrick

134

Jay Cutler

I passed on quarterback, and I still feel fine taking 2 guys from this group for my QB spot.

135

Theo Riddick

136

James Starks

137

Darren Sproles

Desperate for a flex play with upside, this is PPR right? Ok, I’ll take a shot on ____________.

138

Mike Wallace

139

Chris Hogan

140

Phillip Dorsett

141

Terrance Williams

142

Rueben Randle

143

Robert Woods

Let me go ahead and get this guy on my roster, and then we’ll see how the first couple of weeks goes.

144

Karlos Williams

145

Devontae Booker

146

Jerick McKinnon

I guess I could take another shot at running back…

147

Charles Clay

148

Eric Ebron

149

Vance McDonald

150

Zach Miller

151

Kyle Rudolph

152

Clive Walford

153

Ben Watson

154

Cameron Brate

155

Larry Donnell

Crap, I missed out on tight end. Maybe one of these guys can catch 6 TDs for me?

156

Josh Doctson

157

Steve Smith

158

Devin Funchess

159

Jeff Janis

160

Davanta Adams

161

Ty Montgomery

If things break right, this guy could be good. Or, he is a receiver on the Packers.

162

Chris Johnson

163

CJ Spiller

164

Bilal Powell

165

Shane Vereen

166

Javorius Allen

167

DeAndre Washington

168

Darren McFadden

These guys play running back and are on an NFL roster, why not!

169

Derek Carr

170

Alex Smith

Waiting on QB paid off. I’ll worry about a long term starter once someone cuts Matt Ryan because they are frustrated.

171

Pierre Garcon

172

Sammie Coates

173

Breshad Perriman

174

Rishard Matthews

175

Will Fuller

176

Ted Ginn Jr.

177

Brandon LaFell

178

Jermaine Kearse

179

Bruce Ellington

Every one of these guys will catch a couple of touchdowns this year. Maybe, just maybe I’ll be desperate and take a chance on them the week that they finally get in the end zone.

180

Virgil Green

181

Richard Rodgers

182

Jared Cook

183

Austin Seferian-Jenkins

I waited too long to draft a tight end.

184

Teddy Bridgewater

185

Robert Griffin III

186

Blaine Gabbert

187

Colin Kaepernick

I waited too long to draft a quarterback.

188

JJ Nelson

189

Danny Amendola

190

Nelson Agholor

191

Kenny Britt

192

Brian Quick

193

Jaelen Strong

These guys are still on a roster, right? Whew, no drafting Dwayne Bowe for me this year!

194

Arizona Cardinals

195

Seattle Seahawks

196

Green Bay Packers

197

Minnesota Vikings

198

Carolina Panthers

199

Los Angeles Rams

200

Denver Broncos

You ran out of steam on your top 200 and decided to thrown in defenses, didn’t you? Didn’t you?!

… yes.