Top 200 Fantasy Football Ranks for 2016: PPR Leagues

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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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 6^th 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.