Here is my list of the overall Top 100 fantasy players ahead of NFL training camp. Though list assumes standard scoring, the right-most column includes the following indicators for you to adjust the rankings accordingly:
PPR+ | These players have higher value in leagues that reward points per reception (PPR). |
PPR- | These players have less value in PPR leagues. |
TD+ | These players have touchdown scoring upside. |
TD- | These players do not have touchdown scoring upside. |
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These players are band-aid boys and either coming off a serious injury or historically injury prone. |
1. | David Johnson | RB1 | ARI | The most well-rounded back since Marshall Faulk, Johnson can do it all: run, catch, maybe even pass if the coaches let him. Bank on another season of 2,000+ total yards. | PPR+ TD+ |
2. | Le’Veon Bell | RB2 | PIT | Right behind DJ as an offensive centerpiece that gobbles up total yards. Averaged an insane 157.0 total yards-per-game in 2016. | PPR+ |
3. | Antonio Brown | WR1 | PIT | Four straight seasons of 100-plus catches and 1,200-plus receiving yards. Consistency at its finest. | PPR+ |
4. | Odell Beckham | WR2 | NYG | Giants did add some reinforcements to their receiving corps this offseason, but Beckham’s role as a target hog shouldn’t change. | |
5. | Ezekiel Elliott | RB3 | DAL | Freakish blend of size and speed, 2016’s leading rusher could move up or down these rankings depending on what sort of discipline the NFL hands him. | |
6. | Julio Jones | WR4 | ATL | Has averaged 1,624.3 receiving yards-per-game over the past three seasons, although injuries are starting to mount up. Would like to see more touchdowns. | TD-![]() |
7. | LeSean McCoy | RB4 | BUF | Should at least be able to replicate 2016’s 1,623 total yards and 14 touchdowns, with potential upside for more scores given the lack of a clear-cut goal-line back. | TD+![]() |
8. | Melvin Gordon | RB5 | LAC | If he can stay healthy, Gordon will be getting fed heavily both via the ground and air. There’s top 5 upside if that ends up being the case. | ![]() |
9. | A.J. Green | WR5 | CIN | Averaged 107.1 receiving yards over 9 healthy games in 2016. Green is the funnel through which the Bengals’ passing game flows. | PPR+ |
10. | Mike Evans | WR6 | TB | Has improved his catches and receiving yards each season since being drafted seventh overall in 2014, and has never finished a season with fewer than 1,000 receiving yards. | TD+ |
11. | Jordy Nelson | WR7 | GB | At 32 years old, Nelson, should have at least one more season in the tank as Green Bay’s WR1, and his statistical floor is fairly safe playing with Aaron Rodgers. | TD+ |
12. | Devonta Freeman | RB6 | ATL | The only NFL running back to post at least 1,000 rushing yards in each of the past two seasons, despite sharing time with Tevin Coleman. | PPR+ |
13. | Jay Ajayi | RB7 | MIA | Needs to prove last season’s 1,200+ rushing yards was not a fluke. More involvement in the passing game should help. | |
14. | T.Y. Hilton | WR8 | IND | The WR1 in an offense that will need to throw to win. Lack of touchdowns the only thing keeping Hilton from the upper tier of receivers. | TD- |
15. | Jordan Howard | RB8 | CHI | Last season’s second-leading rusher will have a huge target on his back in 2017. The Bears’ pass game will need to step it up to combat stacked defensive fronts. | PPR- |
16. | Dez Bryant | WR9 | DAL | Should be healthy entering this season. Only Rob Gronkowski has more career receiving touchdowns than Bryant since 2010. | TD+![]() |
17. | Michael Thomas | WR10 | NO | With more responsibility after Brandin Cooks‘ departure comes for defensive attention. I think Thomas has the talent to overcome it. | |
18. | Leonard Fournette | RB9 | JAX | Doesn’t quite have the supporting cast to be Ezekiel Elliott 2.0, but the 2017 4th overall draft pick should be fed consistently enough to be a top-10 fantasy running back. | |
19. | Amari Cooper | WR11 | OAK | I’m banking on 2017 being the season Cooper makes the jump from being a very good receiver to an elite one. | TD- |
20. | Lamar Miller | RB10 | HOU | Still projects as the bell-cow despite 2016’s disappointing numbers. Better quarterback play will be essential. | |
21. | DeMarco Murray | RB11 | TEN | Needs to continue his stellar play from last season in order to hold off Derrick Henry. Murray is just as likely to be usurped by Week 8 as he is to finish as a top-10 fantasy running back. | |
22. | Todd Gurley | RB12 | LAR | I can’t think of a less sexy early round pick given the Rams’ offensive woes. You just have to hang your hat on the fact there isn’t really anyone else to give the ball to. | PPR- |
23. | Doug Baldwin | WR12 | SEA | Another boring pick. Seattle’s pass game pecking order appears to be identical to last season’s though, with Baldwin on top. | |
24. | Rob Gronkowski | TE1 | NE | If healthy, Gronk will be a league winner. If not, you’ll tear out your hair in frustration. There’s no inbetween. | TD+![]() |
25. | DeAndre Hopkins | WR13 | HOU | Probably won’t repeat his 111 catches or 1,521 yards from 2015, but a return to the 1,210 he posted in 2014 should be reasonable. | |
26. | Demaryius Thomas | WR14 | DEN | Five straight seasons of at least 1,000 yards. Thomas should be able to make it six as long as the Broncos can maintain stable quarterback play. | |
27. | Allen Robinson | WR15 | JAX | Still the clear-cut WR1 in the offense despite a miserable 2016 campaign. Hopefulyl A-Rob can stay focused and his quarterback, Blake Bortles, can recapture some of that 2015 magic. | |
28. | Isaiah Crowell | RB13 | CLE | The Crow should be a solid second running back if the Browns can remain competitive this season as opposed to being blown out by half-time. | PPR- |
29. | Sammy Watkins | WR16 | BUF | Has undeniable upside, but the injuries have already piled up over just three short seasons. Watkins should be extra-motivated to stay on the field in a contract-year. | |
30. | Brandin Cooks | WR17 | NE | Goes from one offensive powerhouse (Saints) to another (Patriots), although this time the pecking order for targets is even more muddled. | |
31. | Aaron Rodgers | QB1 | GB | Probably the safest bet for 300 passing yards and 3 passing touchdowns each week. | |
32. | Alshon Jeffery | WR18 | PHI | Playing out a one-year prove-it deal, Jeffery ought to be motivated to secure his NFL future either in Philly or somewhere else. Must stay healthy. | ![]() |
33. | Tom Brady | QB2 | NE | Comes into 2017 with possibly the most stacked receiving corps since the Moss/Welker era. Brady will be 40 years old when the 2017 season begins. | |
34. | Joe Mixon | RB14 | CIN | Needs to win the Bengals’ starting RB job in camp to justify this rank. It would be an upset if that doesn’t happen. | |
35. | Marshawn Lynch | RB15 | OAK | Risky pick with substantial upside. Oakland’s offensive line and lack of running back depth are on Lynch’s side, but age and injury history are not. | PPR- |
36. | Travis Kelce | TE2 | KAN | Last season’s top fantasy tight end returns in 2017 with an elevated role in KC’s passing game following Jeremy Maclin‘s release. Coaches need to involve Kelce in the red zone more. | TD- |
37. | Davante Adams | WR19 | GB | Appears to have swiped the WR2 role right out from under teammate Randall Cobb, and has earned the trust of his quarterback in the process. | |
38. | Carlos Hyde | RB16 | SF | Coaching staff doesn’t seem sold on Hyde as their feature back, despite him just missing the 1,000 yard mark by 12 last season on a very bad team. | PPR- |
39. | Ty Montgomery | RB17 | GB | Mouthwatering upside in Green Bay’s high scoring offense. Montgomery needs to prove he can withstand the pounding a featured back takes. | PPR+ |
40. | Drew Brees | QB3 | NO | No other NFL quarterback has passed the 5,000 passing yard threshold in more seasons than Brees (4). The loss of Brandin Cooks hurts, but Brees always makes the most out of the assets he has. | |
41. | Terrelle Pryor | WR20 | WAS | Sky is the limit for Pryor now that he has Kirk Cousins slinging him the rock instead of the Cleveland carousel of RGIII, Cody Kessler, and Josh McCown. | |
42. | Keenan Allen | WR21 | LAC | The knee recovery has been going smoothly by all accounts, so Allen should slide back in as quarterback Philip River’s top receiving target, albeit within a crowded group. | PPR+![]() |
43. | Spencer Ware | RB18 | KAN | Will get another chance to be the lead dog after amassing 1,368 total yards on 2016. The leash may not be as long however, with third-round rookie Kareem Hunt added to the fold. | |
44. | C.J. Anderson | RB19 | DEN | Should at minimum be the head of the Denver running back committee. Fellow backs Devontae Booker and Jamaal Charles have too many question marks surrounding them. | |
45. | Jordan Reed | TE3 | WAS | As injury prone as they come, but has monstrous reception and touchdown upside as a top target in Washington’s offense. | PPR+ TD+ ![]() |
46. | Mark Ingram | RB20 | NO | Should get the first crack at starting duties despite the additions of Adrian Peterson and Alvin Kamara. Head coach Sean Payton does like to use all his backs though. | |
47. | Golden Tate | WR22 | DET | Boring yet consistent. Tate has at least 90 catches in three straight seasons. The addition of Kenny Golladay hurts Marvin Jones more than Tate. | PPR+ TD- |
48. | Tyreek Hill | WR23 | KAN | Essentially handed the Chiefs’ WR1 role following Jeremy Maclin‘s release, where the speedy Hill could either flounder or flourish. | |
49. | Christian McCaffrey | RB21 | CAR | The Panthers have historically not involved their backs in the pass game, but it would behoove Carolina to tailor their system to McCaffrey rather than the other way around. | PPR+ |
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