PPR and Standard Specialists

This is a look at how player rank compares between standard and PPR leagues. The table at the bottom shows the player’s standard rank and their PPR boost – the amount of spots they rise or fall when switching to PPR. A positive boost means the player rises in PPR rankings. A negative boost means the player drops in PPR rankings. You can use this list to help you target players depending on your league settings. Of course, this data is already baked into your cheat sheet but it’s nice if you want a little extra homework.

But first, let’s start with our annual reminder that PPR does NOT mean WRs are more important than any other position. We’ve all heard it… “it’s PPR so I need to go heavy on WRs.” or “I need to pick a WR first.” PPR simply means that players that catch a lot of passes are more valuable than other players AT THE SAME POSITION that don’t catch a lot of passes.

It doesn’t matter whether you get one point per reception or one-hundred points per reception because everyone in your league gets the same one-hundred points. It’s all about how your WR compares to their WRs. This year, I’ve started hearing “TE premium” – leagues where TE’s get 1.5 PPR, but, as you know from above, that doesn’t make TE a premium position, it only makes high-volume TEs a premium over other TEs!

With that disclaimer out of the way, the biggest thing we can do with the information below is to smartly fill out our bench. RBs in the mid rounds are largely wasted positions – they’re players who have little chance of starting on their real team and little chance of starting on your fantasy team. But, you can find some RBs who are pass-catching specialists. They may never be your RB1, but when in a pinch for a flex spot, they can fill in and have a decent floor because of their PPR ability. Target those players in the mid and late rounds rather than your usual backup RBs.