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2008 Sample article. Check out our Subscriber-Online Football Homepage here.

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PPR Gold

by John Hansen
Publisher, FantasyGuru.com
August 12, 2998

My goal with this article is to bring to the surface some players who will have more value this year in PPR leagues than some people may expect, at all key positions.

Here we go.

Running Backs

• Frank Gore (SF) – Gore, who has shed some weight, appears to be in the best shape of his career this summer, and he looks like a more polished receiver. Yeah, the quarterback situation is a mess, but that could work in Gore’s favor. If Mike Martz can make Kevin Jones a fantasy STUD in a PPR league, which he did, imagine what he can do for Gore, a legit stud back?

• Willis McGahee (Bal) – I’m not in love with the guy, especially with his knee injury, but it’s Cam Cameron, the guy who was on the verge of creating a PPR juggernaut in 2007 in Ronnie Brown, and a man for whom LaDainian Tomlinson caught 100+ balls a few years ago. McGahee can catch it well enough, and he’ll have to, since the QBs aren’t going to lighting it up throwing to the wideouts this year.

• Maurice Jones-Drew (Jac) – Given the issues with C Brad Meester and their receiving corps, we could see MJD catching more passes this year, perhaps up 15% or more. I asked Jones-Drew last year why they didn’t throw to him more last year, and he gave a politically correct answer, saying something like he does what the team needs him to do. Well, they may need him to catch it more this year – and he’s more than capable.

• Selvin Young (Den) – No Ryan Torain is good, but I loved the savvy play Young exhibited last year, particularly picking up the blitz. That bodes well for his chances to catch a good number of balls this year. The main concern is Mike Pittman, a good receiver in his own right. But Pittman is getting way up there and might not be able to handle a large role. Still, Pittman is also on this list.

• DeAngelo Williams (Car) – He’s having a very good camp, and if he keeps this up, the team will have no choice but to get him the ball plenty. Jonathan Stewart’s a good receiver, but he’s a rookie with some injury issues (and a linger toe problem). Every time Williams get the ball, it seems, he does something really good with it. He may even be better off in a complementary role, as opposed to getting banged around for 20+ touches each week.

• Fred Jackson (Buf) – Starter Marshawn Lynch himself told me he expects Jackson to catch as many passes as he, so take notice. I also saw it with my own two eyes in a Bill OTA: Jackson looked like the co-starter for the 90 minutes I saw. Lynch is the guy, but Jackson will get his touches, mainly as a receiver.

• Chris Johnson (Ten) – The Titans didn’t draft him in the 1^st to be their starter, their guy who bangs it inside. They drafted him to be a deadly and versatile weapon, and so far that’s exactly what he looks like.

• Felix Jones (Dal) – He’s also been “as advertised,” and the Cowboys passed on some nice potential lead backs to take him (Rashard Mendenhall, for one), so that tells me they have designs on playing the most versatile back in this draft class plenty. They must love the idea of a two-headed monster in their backfield, with Jones being the movable chess piece keeping defenses up at night. I know I love the idea.

• Leon Washington (NYJ) – He looks great in camp, and he’s seemingly poised to finally see the field a little more. Thomas Jones really isn’t the best receiver at the position, since he lacks quickness, whereas Washington can be a deadly playmaker.

• Ray Rice (Bal) – He’s been the talk of Raven camp, and I’m not surprised at all. He could catch 40, even if McGahee is health (which he is not now). If McGahee is out? Forget about it; Rice could catch 50+.

• Lorenzo Booker (Phi) – Don’t fall asleep on this guy because he will have a role, and he will catch 35-40 passes this year, at least. That’s saying something, too, because Brian Westbrook is on this team. If BW is out, then Booker could average 3-4 catches a game, easy.

• Maurice Morris (Sea) – He’s expected to get plenty of playing time, and he’s a pretty decent receiver, so this one’s pretty east to figure out. In some way, shape, or form, Morris is going to be a nice guy to have around this year.

• Pierre Thomas (NO) – We saw what he could do if given the chance (12 catches in the season finale last year), so it’s an easy call to list him here as someone who could exceed expectations. I’d be really interested to see what they’d do if Reggie Bush went down because Aaron Stecker’s still on the roster and he’s pretty solid. Still, if Bush went down, I have to think Thomas would catch a couple of passes each week, and he’d be money if Deuce McAllister were out. The only problem with Thomas is his value could be negligible if both guys are healthy.

• Brian Leonard (Stl) – This one’s kind of a reach, but Leonard was severely underused in the passing game last year, so we could see him emerge as a guy who’ll catch 2-3 passes a game. Otherwise, why the heck did they draft such a versatile player?

• Michael Pittman (Den) – If Young sticks as the lead back, he’ll need be spelled often to stay fresh, and Pittman brings both power and versatility to the table, not to mention experience. If he can stay healthy, he could catch 40 balls here, even if he still looks like he’s running on a treadmill on the field.

• Chris Perry (Cin) – Another reach, but this guy was, in fact, PPR gold in 2005 (51 catches in less than a full season), and he hasn’t gotten hurt yet. I’m sure the Bengals would love him to be the dynamic weapon he was for them back then. Just in case he’s up for that, keep him on your radar.

• Jerome Harrison (Cle) – Finally, it would appear the Browns are ready to take advantage of his speed and versatility. He could fit in well here as a complement to Jamal Lewis and as a useful receiver.

• Steve Slaton (Hou) – Another long shot, but he’s a nice little player and he’s made an impact. It’s probably safe to assume the team will be using several backs this year as the starter, so they could use Slayton’s speed and versatility.

Wide Receivers

• Laveranues Coles (NYJ) – He’s usually a nice option in a PPR league, and given the addition of Brett Favre, he’s looking even better. Coles is a scrappy receiver who fights for the ball and hangs on to the tough catches. He’s not much of a deep threat, but he sure sounds like Donald Driver to me. 

• Bobby Engram (Sea) – He was 9^th in receptions for WRs last year, yet people seem to forget that already. When QB Matt Hasselbeck goes back to pass, especially when he’s in trouble, he looks for Engram, and Engram rarely lets him down, so expect 75+ receptions again this year.

• Donald Driver (GB) – Speaking of Driver, I’m not in love with him in a non-PPR league, but even with Brett Favre gone, Driver looks like a nice #3 receiver in a PPR format. Aaron Rodgers will need him catching those tough underneath passes.

• Derrick Mason (Bal) – Demetrius Williams was to cut into his playing time, but Williams is down again with an injury. Who knows what we can expect from Mark Clayton this year, and Todd Heap is always an injury risk. That leaves a true pro’s pro, Mason, as the guy who’ll catch most of the passes here.

• Isaac Bruce (Stl) – I know the quarterback situation is a mess, but they at least have three guys who are somewhat capable, and among the three, maybe they find someone who’s decent. If they do, Bruce is going to be a value as the #1 in Mike Martz’ offense, one he, of course, knows well.

• Nate Burleson (Sea) – Seattle won’t throw it nearly as much last year, but then again, they don’t have as many attractive targets to throw it to. Burleson is much more comfortable in the system this year, and he’s going to start, no matter what, because Engram will move to the slot if Deion Branch is ready to play. Look for about 65 grabs for Burleson this year.

• Reggie Brown (Phi) – I know him well because I have (unfortunately) drafted him a lot, but he’s actually decent in a PPR format. In his final four games last year, he averaged 5.5 catches a game. Over the course of a full season, that’s 88 grabs. So I have to think 65-70 are attainable. In a PPR, he’s a value pick, for sure.

• Patrick Crayton (Dal) – Terry Glenn is gone, and I don’t have much confidence in their young receivers. Granted, T.O. and Jason Witten command a ton of balls, but Tony Romo was 8^th in the league in pass attempts last year, and he completes a higher percentage of his passes (about 65%). Head coach Wade Phillips loves the precise route-running he's seen from Crayton in training camp, by the way.

• Ronald Curry (Oak) – He’s having a good camp, and Javon Walker is on shaky ground, to say the least. Curry is moving up our draft board, and in a PPR league, he’s very intriguing because he could be that big possession guy JeMarcus Russell needs. Don’t forget that Curry was 4^th in the NFL with 44 catches from Week Eleven through Seventeen in 2006. Over that period, he was the 31^st best fantasy wideout in a combined scoring system (44/475/1). In a PPR league, he was 16^th.

• Kevin Walter (Hou) – Walter does have a lot of competition in Houston this year, but from Weeks Five through Seventeen last year, he was actually 26^th in a PPR league with 55/689/4. He’s a damn good player, and his game sets up well for catching a lot of passes underneath and over the middle. He’s not getting any love at all in fantasy drafts, either.

• Jabar Gaffney (NE) – He’s always a nice option for depth in a PPR league, and he could be the #2 this year on the outside if he can beat out Chad Jackson. In his final seven games last year, Gaffney caught 28 passes, 4 a week, which is solid.

• Arnaz Battle (SF) – When you look at the 49er receiving corps, it’s safe to say it has issues. Bruce is a solid veteran, of course, and he knows the system, but he’s older than dirt. Battle may not be an ideal fit for Mike Martz’ offense because he doesn’t have great speed, but he’s a rock-solid slot receiver, so he could clean up catching passes here, dare I say similar to how Mike Furrey has the last two years. He’s a smart late, late pick in a PPR league.

• James Jones (GB) – He had a nice rookie year, but he did hit a wall. However, he’s had a strong camp, and he’s cemented his spot as the #3. He could catch about 40-45 balls.

Tight Ends

• Owen Daniels (Hou) – As many FantasyGuru.com readers know, this is my boy, but please note he was 6^th in the league at the TE position in receptions last year (63). He can be a solid underneath target for Matt Schaub, and he can run and make plays down the seam. You think he’ll be better off with a full year in the system and with Matt Schaub? Oh, yeah, he will.

• Chris Cooley (Was) – Cooley was actually ahead of Daniels in catches with 66, and while the Redskins added a pair of high draft picks at WR, it doesn’t look like Devin Thomas and Malcom Kelly are going to be able to offer immediate relief. So believe it when I say Cooley will once again be a huge part of their passing attack. In fact, under Jim Zorn and in the West Coast system, he could easily grab 70 balls if healthy.

• Zach Miller (Oak) – Incredibly, as a rookie, Miller caught 44 of the team’s 51 completions to the TE last year. The team was near the bottom in passes to its TEs, but Miller was #13 among TEs in pass targets (69). And in the final two games of the season, when QB JaMarcus Russell took most of the snaps, Miller was the #1 option on the team, with 16 targets leading to 11 receptions, 111 yards, and 1 TD. That projects to 88/888/8. 

• Tony Scheffler (Den) – Another one of my favorites, Scheffler had 2 catches going into Week Seven, yet he was 10^th in the league in receptions from the TE position with 49. I’m a little discouraged with his injuries and an apparent unwillingness by Mike Shanahan to let this guy rip, but an explosion could be coming for this athletic target, and Jay Cutler is his boy.

• Alge Crumpler (Ten) – We’ve been told that he’s starting to click well now with QB Vince Young in camp, and he’s looking like the security blanket for Young that he was for Michael Vick, which was expected. He’s been healthy, too, and he’s running well. If he can hold up, 60+ catches are easily within his reach.

• L.J. Smith (Phi) – He was a bum last year, but he also caught 111 passes from 2005-2006, so he can catch the rock in this offense. They desperately needed him last year, too, so if he can stay on the field, Smith could easily be a top-15 guy in a PPR format.

• Randy McMichael (Stl) – Under Al Saunders, McMichael could be a lot more active than people expect. Saunders does well with the TE, of course (see Tony Gonzalez and Chris Cooley), but you look at this team and it’s hard to imagine anyone truly commanding the ball in the passing game other than Torry Holt.

• Kevin Boss (NYG) – He’s unproven, but someone has to catch the ball at this position now that Jeremy Shockey is gone. Keep in mind that, despite missing two games last year, Shockey ranked 8^th in the league at the position in pass targets. Boss would be a nice option drafted late as a backup in a PPR league.

• Marcedes Lewis (Jac) – He’s come along slowly, and he doesn’t have great speed, but he caught 15 balls in his final 5 games, and the team should need him to step up, given the injuries they’re dealing with at receiver.

• Dustin Keller (NYJ) – I’m very intrigued by his potential, given his impressive showing so far in camp, his vertical and dynamic ability, and, of course, the addition of QB Brett Favre, who loves to throw to the TE. He’s just a rookie, and there are two veterans here (Chris Baker and Bubba Franks), but I would not be surprised at all if he was a surprise this year.

• Jeff King (Car) – He has some competition for playing time this year, namely from Dante Rosario, but he also managed to finish 14^th in the league in receptions at TE with 46, and that was with David Carr at QB, among others. The one problem, however, is that Jake Delhomme has some new toys in the passing game in Muhsin Muhammad and D.J. Hackett, or else King would be a little higher on the list.

• Desmond Clark (Chi) – Despite sharing time and the ball with Greg Olsen, Clark was actually 17^th at the position with 44 catches, and he will once again be active in 2008. After all, this team has a poor receiving corps, so they will throw to the TE a lot. I like Olsen as the upside guy, but Clark shouldn’t be forgotten in larger PPR leagues.

• Anthony Fasano (Mia) – He’s here for the simple reason that he’s likely the starter here, yet few people know that. When there’s a shaky QB situation, and there will be one in Miami, the TE is usually active.

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