Players to Target in PPR Leagues (2021 Fantasy Football)

Commonplace or PPR scoring? Once you get right down to the nitty gritty, previous the variety of bench spots, flex positions, and league dimension, scoring sort is crucial factor of the league wherein you’re taking part in. In PPR leagues, operating backs who can catch are extremely prized and much more precious than in commonplace codecs. Guys who won’t in any other case be drafted (keep in mind Danny Woodhead and Duke Johnson?) all of the sudden have weekly worth. Which guys meet this standards and get a bump in PPR leagues? Properly, I’m glad you requested…

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Austin Ekeler (RB – LAC)
In case you appeared up gamers who match the subject of this text within the dictionary, you’d discover Ekeler’s image. Truly, you most likely wouldn’t discover something, as a result of a dictionary doesn’t outline complete sentences or matters, however I digress. Ekeler is a PPR phenom who seems to be poised for an additional massive season in 2021. Regardless of lacking six video games in 2020, Ekeler nonetheless grabbed 54 receptions, which might have been good for 86.4 had he performed the whole season. That’s only a step under the 92 passes he hauled within the season prior.

How essential are receptions to Ekeler’s fantasy worth? In commonplace leagues, Ekeler completed as RB35 in 2020 and RB7 in 2019. In PPR, these finishes had been RB26 and RB4 respectively. Ekeler’s share of PPR factors throughout the final two seasons from receptions is available in at a whopping 30.5. So long as he can keep on the sphere, he’s in an amazing state of affairs to soak up loads of passes from the ascending Justin Herbert.

Tarik Cohen (RB – CHI)
Although Cohen missed most of final season because of an ACL tear, his worth in PPR leagues shouldn’t be forgotten. Over the past two wholesome seasons that Cohen performed, he averaged a strong 75/591/4 receiving line, grabbing at the very least 70 balls in each seasons. Whereas Cohen was out final yr, David Montgomery picked up receiving duties out of the backfield and stuffed in admirably, although Cohen ought to be able to resume his normal position in Chicago’s offense. With out vital competitors for targets aside from Allen Robinson, anticipate Cohen to emerge as a favourite receiver for yet one more season.

JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR – PIT)
In case you’re studying this text, there’s an amazing probability you’re doing psychological somersaults about which Steelers WR is essentially the most precious headed into 2021. Belief me – you’re not alone. I occur to favor JuJu Smith-Schuster, particularly in PPR leagues the place his position as a high-volume slot receiver is extra precious. Final season, JJSS competed with Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool for targets, completed second to Johnson, however led the trio in receptions. His manufacturing was good for a WR22 end in commonplace leagues and a WR16 end in PPR leagues – a distinction of six spots.

Smith-Schuster went for 97 receptions, and within the two seasons wherein he’s performed all 16 video games, he’s averaged 104 receptions. Pittsburgh invested a first-round choose into Alabama standout Najee Harris, more likely to convey some stability to the pass-happy Steelers offense from a season in the past. That might show extremely useful for the high-volume slot receiver.

Allen Robinson (WR – CHI)
Robinson has averaged a strong 100 receptions throughout the final two seasons, doing so on over 150 targets in every marketing campaign and never dropping a single go within the course of. He’ll doubtless get the perfect quarterback play he’s ever had, and the Bears nonetheless function a receiving corps wherein A-Rob is comfortably the lead goal. He’s established himself as a real goal hog in current seasons and will get an infinite increase in PPR leagues due to it.

T.J. Hockenson (TE – DET)
Who will lead the Lions in receptions in 2021? Choosing from this newly fashioned group of misfits, your guess is pretty much as good as mine, however I’ll hazard a range – Hockenson. The second-year man completed fourth in TE receptions in 2020 behind Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, and Logan Thomas (sure, certainly one of these isn’t like the opposite). Hockenson ought to be in line for an expanded workload in his third yr. With Jared Goff underneath heart, Hockenson will get a quarterback with a penchant for focusing on TEs.

In a receiving corps that includes journeyman Breshad Perriman and Tyrell Williams recent off a season-ending damage, Hockenson has an actual probability to guide this workforce in receiving a la Darren Waller. Let’s not neglect what Waller did together with his position in 2020. He solely led all TEs in receptions (107) and totaled 1,196 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. No massive deal.

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Zachary Hanshew is a featured author at FantasyPros. For extra from Zachary, take a look at his archive and comply with him @zakthemonster.