By Dan O’Shea
Before this year, I was never in a fantasy football league that counted points-per-reception (PPR), and when I drafted my team, I didn’t pay much attention to that category, thinking that if I drafted solid WRs, PPR would take care of itself.
That can be the case, but isn’t always the case. For example, the Ravens’ Torrey Smith is second in receiving yards with 556, but on only 27 receptions, which doesn’t even place him in the top 10 in PPR.
If you have a receiver with that many yards, you may feel you don’t need the extra points from PPR, but a weekly contest lost by two or three points might change your mind.
WR isn’t the only position to think about in a PPR league either. RBs who get involved in the passing game are obviously much more valuable in PPR leagues.
Of course, Week 6 is sort of late to think about all this. With that in mind, here are a few players still available in many leagues who might help you boost your PPR proficiency:
Julian Edelman, WR, NE: He didn’t have a great Week 5, when he only caught two passes, but had no fewer than seven catches in the four previous weeks, and has great rapport with QB Tom Brady, w key intangible worth researching in PPR leagues.
Kendall Wright, WR, TEN: Fellow WR Nate Washington gets more attention, but Wright leads his team in receptions and has had at least five in every game since Week 2.
Pierre Thomas, RB, NO: He’s been viewed more as a rusher, with fellow RB Darren Sproles getting more attention as a pass-catching back, but Thomas now has 28 receptions, two more than Sproles. Yet, Thomas is still available in more than 50% of Yahoo! leagues.
Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, ATL: He’s not the guy who will ram through a pile into the end zone from two yards out, but his elusiveness and speed make him a factor in the passing game. Currently on a bye week, but with starting RB Steven Jackson still hurt and fellow back-up Jason Snelling now dealing with a concussion, he could have value in Week 7.
Expert Wire
* Bleacher Report eyes replacements for Julio Jones, who led the league in receptions until a season-ending injury last week.
* CBSSports.com says sell high on the Jaguars’ Justin Blackmon.
* Fansided has some Week 6 waiver wire ideas.
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Dan O’Shea is our man in fantasyland. He welcomes your comments.
Posted on October 10, 2013