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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
|
|
196
|
Green Bay Packers
|
197
|
|
198
|
|
199
|
|
200
|
|
You ran out of steam on your top 200 and decided to thrown in defenses, didn’t you? Didn’t you?!
… yes.