Fantasy Football 2012 Cheat Sheets, Draft Strategy Tips: PPR Leagues

For those of you still waiting for your PPR league draft, here are a couple of strategy points.

Why Running Early Is a Good Idea

Most fantasy leagues tend to have two running back positions, but various leagues will have either two or three starting receiver positions.

Now, let’s assume your league has a flex position.

While the depth at receiver is strong enough to support four receivers in your lineup, I still believe it’s a better option to roll with a solid running back in your flex position.

In leagues with two starting receivers, I err towards three running backs in the first three rounds unless I can get someone like Matthew Stafford, Drew Brees or Tom Brady in the second or Cam Newton in the third round.

Knowing I only have to fill two or three receiving spots makes this decision easier when I see receivers like the names below trending in Rounds 4 through 8.

4th Round ADPs

Greg Jennings

Victor Cruz

Jordy Nelson

Hakeem Nicks

5th Round ADPs

Dez Bryant

Percy Harvin

Antonio Brown

Marques Colston

Steve Smith

6th Round ADPs

Brandon Lloyd

Eric Decker

Mike Wallace

7th Round ADPs

DeSean Jackson

Demaryius Thomas

Jeremy Maclin

Dwayne Bowe

Torrey Smith

Vincent Jackson

8th Round ADPs

Stevie Johnson

Miles Austin

Reggie Wayne

Pierre Garcon

Clearly there is more than enough talent on the board to get two productive starters and still land a tight end in the fourth to sixth round from Antonio Gates, Aaron Hernandez, Vernon Davis or Jermichael Finley.

In leagues with three receivers, I still believe taking running backs early is the correct decision, but you may feel uncomfortable waiting until the fourth or fifth round before taking your first receiver.

This is understandable, and I can’t blame you for feeling a little insecure about holding off on your first receiver in three-receiver leagues.

How Do You Feel About The Depth Of Tight End and Quarterback?

This leads me to ask, how do you feel about the depth of quarterback and tight end on your draft board?

Knowing this will determine if you’re ok with the strategy I’ve laid out above in leagues with three receivers.

At tight end we have steady options like Brandon Pettigrew, Jason Witten (recovering from spleen injury), Jacob Tamme, Fred Davis and veteran Tony Gonzalez all going from Round 8 to 10.

If you fail to land one of the top five quarterbacks in the first three rounds and you take receivers after the fact, you're left with options like Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Tony Romo, Philip Rivers, Jay Cutler and Robert Griffin III from Rounds 7 through 10.

Personally, I’m fine with most of those options somewhere between Rounds 7 and 10, but if you're uneasy about taking those names, the strategy of opting for running in the first three rounds probably isn’t for you.

ADP comes courtesy of Fantasy Football Calculator.

2012 PPR League Cheat Sheets – Top 200 | Tier | Auction | By Position | All Cheat Sheets