Fantasy Football 2012: Top 10 Players Who Get a Boost in PPR Leagues

For the most part, the beneficiaries in PPR leagues are pass-catching RBs. These include third down or every-down backs that have the hands of a receiver to go along with the vision of an RB. Ray Rice and Arian Foster head up that category. 

For WRs and TEs, a PPR format generally works as an equalizer to get them to RB and QB-level fantasy production. They gain points against QBs and non-pass-catching RBs. However, PPR leagues boost the value of possession receivers and TEs, especially players who move the chains but may not be considered “big-play” receivers. 

Here are the 10 biggest beneficiaries from those two groups.

Wes Welker, WR

Welker is the quintessential quality PPR wideout. He has led the NFL in receptions two of the last three seasons, with totals of 122 in 2011 and 123 in 2009.

He’s a high-volume receiver with a historically low YPC, a result of catching all those quick slants from Tom Brady. For his career, Welker averages 11.1 YPC, with an above-average (for him) 2011 figure of 12.9.

As a comparison, Calvin Johnson has averaged 16 YPC over his career.

Welker set a career high for yards in 2011, with 1,569. However, his average yards-per-season with the Patriots (five seasons) is 1,221.

In 2012, he should be closer to that 1,200 mark, meaning more of his value will come from receptions again.

Matt Forte, RB

I caught some flak for placing Forte in the top five of my fantasy mock draft, but it should come as no surprise that Forte makes this list, as he is a major beneficiary in PPR formats.

Forte has averaged a solid 55 receptions a year in his four seasons in the NFL.

However, projected to a 16-game output, Forte would have had 69 catches in 2011. Forte played in only 12 games though because of an MCL sprain.

When Forte is in the lineup, he’s the focal point of the Bears attack, and that’s a good indicator of value for both standard and PPR formats.   

Darren Sproles, RB

Sproles is perhaps the player who gains the most in PPR formats.

He led all RBs with 86 receptions in 2011, his first season with the New Orleans Saints. He took over Reggie Bush's role in the Drew Brees-led passing attack and put up career-best numbers, scoring 10 total TDs.

Sproles had 59 receptions in 2010 with the Chargers, so the 86-reception outburst didn't come as too much of a surprise. He should be a lock for 50-plus again with the Saints in 2012. And if he gets another 111 targets from Brees, another 75-plus receptions wouldn’t be out of the question.

Brandon Pettigrew, TE

The Lions TE was the check-down option of choice for QB Matthew Stafford in 2011, catching 83 balls while amassing 777 yards receiving.

Unlike TD machines Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham, Pettigrew’s value depends much more on receptions in a PPR league. He was third in catches for TEs for the second consecutive season.

He was also the second-most targeted TE in 2011, with 126 passes thrown his way. Graham was first with 149 targets.

Ray Rice, RB

Ray Rice is a guy who could be considered a No. 1 pick for PPR leagues. In 2011, he tacked on to his rushing output with 76 receptions, the same amount as Giants WR Hakeem Nicks, and more than Nate Washington (74), Mike Wallace (72) and Jordy Nelson (68).

Rice was one of only two RBs (Darren Sproles) to be targeted in the passing game over 100 times (104).

Arian Foster, RB

Like Ray Rice, Arian Foster is one of the most valuable players in standard scoring, but the additional points from receptions help him more than most other backs as well.  

Foster caught 53 balls on 71 targets in 2011 while playing with three different QBs (Matt Schaub, Matt Leinart, T.J. Yates).

He played in only 13 team games because of a nagging hamstring issue. In 2012, if he can stay healthy, he’ll likely catch 60-plus balls as he did in 2010 (66).

Chris Johnson, RB

Johnson was the No. 16 back in standard scoring in 2011, but was No. 9 in PPR leagues. Of course, the boost came from his 57 receptions.

Johnson was on top of the fantasy universe in 2009, finishing as the top scorer in standard and PPR formats. However, he did not live up to expectations in 2010 or 2011.

Still, Johnson has all the skills you look for in a RB for PPR formats. He’s averaged about 50 catches a season in his four-year career and has been consistent in doing so, with a low of 43 and a high of 57 last season.  

Roddy White, WR

Roddy White gets a boost in PPR leagues, as he is usually among the league leaders in targets and receptions. And combining 2010 and 2011, White is first overall in both categories.

White has a combined 215 receptions on 360 targets in the past two seasons.

He’ll probably be close to 1,100 yards receiving, which is good but not elite for a fantasy receiver. Like Welker, White has a below-average YPC for an elite receiver. He averaged 13 YPC in 2011 and 12.1 in 2010.

However, he’ll be near the top in receptions once again, which will give him a boost in PPR leagues.  

LeSean McCoy, RB

McCoy was the league leader in TDs scored in 2011, with 20, and has clearly put himself in the elite class of all fantasy players.

For PPR formats, McCoy caught 48 balls the year after setting a career-best with 78 in 2010. The 30-reception dropoff is a lot, but he should land somewhere in between those two numbers in 2012.

Also, if DeSean Jackson is not with the team in 2012, McCoy could see a significant increase in targets from Michael Vick.

Reggie Bush, RB

Bush caught 88 balls for 742 yards in his rookie season of 2006 with New Orleans, but has yet to replicate that type of aerial success.

He has turned around his career with the Miami Dolphins, though, gaining 1,000 yards on the ground for the first time in his career.

And the potential for big receiving stats is still there. In 2011, Bush caught 43 balls.

As he gets more accustomed to his role of every-down-back in Miami in 2012, he could get a significantly bigger bump in PPR leagues.