If you’re someone transitioning from the old Standard format to PPR, we’re here to help your transition easier. Dan Harris is running down his Top 10 players who benefit the most from the PPR format. There’s a lot more volatility in standard formats, as it relies heavily on touchdowns, whereas PPR formats benefit those who move the chains. It obviously helps scoring touchdowns, but PPR will make your league less touchdown-dependent than ever.
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Cooper Kupp (WR – LAR)
It seemed like the Rams wanted to stretch the middle of the field with Kupp at times over the last couple years, though Jared Goff‘s inability to accurately throw the ball downfield hindered Kupp’s upside. Of the eight deep targets he saw in 2020, just one was catchable. Kupp’s not a burner by any means, but if he doesn’t have splash plays, he’s not going to be anything more than a boring PPR asset. There’s more to his game than what we’ve seen, and it’s possible that Matthew Stafford unlocks it. He should be treated as a safe, high-floor WR2.
Austin Ekeler (RB – LAC)
In eight full games with Justin Herbert under center last year, Ekeler saw 63 targets. Over a full 16-game season, that amounts to 126 targets. While I don’t expect him to get there, he’s one of just two running backs (Christian McCaffrey is the other) who I’m projecting for 100-plus targets in 2021. Targets are worth twice as much as carries, so even if Ekeler winds up getting just 12 carries per game, it’s not the end of the world. In fact, he can still finish as a borderline RB1 if he were to hit just 200 carries on the season. The new coaching staff obviously brings on some potential volatility, but there’s not much other talent on the roster at running back, so his role should be very safe.
Logan Thomas (TE – WAS)
Thomas’s skills were evident all season long, but he didn’t become a particularly fantasy-relevant tight end until Week 12. From that point on, he averaged nine targets, seven receptions, 60 yards receiving, and half a touchdown per game. Over the course of a full season, that would have made him the third-best tight end in fantasy in half-PPR leagues behind only Travis Kelce and Darren Waller. With Ryan Fitzpatrick under center, Washington should only become more pass-happy, which should portend good things for Thomas, especially if he continues his success in the red zone (his 16 receptions ranked second in the NFL among tight ends in 2020). Draft Thomas as a set-it-and-forget it option at a thin position.
