Effor

Here’s my second run through offensive rankings for point per reception (PPR) leagues.  As in my first run, keep in mind that I came up with these rankings based on how valuable I think players will be overall in PPR league scoring in 2009.  If you are in a “standard” scoring league these rankings will not be useful to you.  In fact they are worse than useless.  Let me say this again – if you are in a standard scoring league (non-PPR) these rankings suck. 

In my first run at the rankings last week, I ranked the top 20 RB’s, WR’s, and QB’s, and I’m going to expand that to the top 40 this time.   You should always check for new posts in the “Fantasy” category to find updated information.  I’m tired of getting emails and comments complaining that my info is wrong because it’s out of date when the reader hasn’t bothered to check for updates.

These rankings are based on projected stats from several fantasy sites, and in some cases simply a gut feeling.

For example, I’m not a Michael Turner fan, and I think a lot of his production in 2008 came from the easy schedule Atlanta had as a result of their horrible 4 win season in 2007.  Lot’s of running backs had great stats against Detroit, KC, St Louis, Oakland, Green Bay, and New Orleans.  But when Turner faced tougher rushing defenses like Chicago, Philly, and Minnesota, he didn’t do as well.

In 2009, Turner will be facing the Giants, Jets, Philly, Miami, Dallas, Washington, San Francisco, Chicago, and New England – all of whom finished in the top half of the NFL in rushing defense last year.  So I think his PPR fantasy point total at the end of 2009 will be a lower than it was in 2008.  Maybe not a lot lower, but I don’t think there’s anyway Turner will end the year with more points than he had last year – and he finished last year with exactly 8 more PPR fantasy points (270 total) than Tomlinson and Thomas Jones (262).

Another example is Brian Westbrook.  Westbrook finished as the number 8 RB in my PPR league last year, and he’ll probably finish among the top 10 running backs in PPR leagues again this year.  But I will not draft him unless he’s available in the 4th round.  Why?  Simply because you never know when he’s going to play.  Almost every week Westbrook is listed as “questionable” or “probable” and he’s a “game time decision”.

You simply don’t know if he’s going to play – or how much he’ll play – until the game starts.   And since you have to set your lineup before the game, you have to gamble each and every week on him.  I understand that certain players like Kellen Winslow, Reggie Bush, Frank Gore, and Marion Barber are high injury risks.  I can deal with that when I KNOW they are listed as “doubtful” because I know they most likely aren’t going to play – and if they do play they won’t be a big factor in the game.  But with Westbrook, you simply don’t have a fucking clue if he’s going to play.  So Westbrook takes a big hit in my rankings.

One other thing to note – this is NOT the order in which I think players will be drafted – or should be drafted.  Just because I think Reggie Bush will finish the year in the top 10 does not mean you should draft him there!   Bush (as of today) has an average ADP of 58 in NFL.com leagues, so most likely you can get him in the 4th or 5th round.

Getting round 1 value in round 4 or 5 is how you win.   So get ANOTHER top 10 ranked RB in round 1 instead and grab Bush in round 4 or 5.   Now you’ve got 2 top ranked running backs on your team while most everyone else has just one.  With just that 1 smart pick, you’ve tremendously increased your chances of winning your league!

With those explanations out of the way, here are my PPR rankings as of August 22nd.

Filed under: Fantasy, Sports Tagged: | 2009 fantasy ranking, Fantasy, Fantasy Football, fantasy rank, NFL, point per reception, ppr