Dynasty Top-250 PPR Rankings

1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, CAR
2. Dalvin Cook, RB, MIN
3. Alvin Kamara, RB, NO
4. Najee Harris, RB, PIT
5. Justin Jefferson, WR, MIN
6. CeeDee Lamb, WR, DAL
7. Davante Adams, WR, GB
8. Kyle Pitts, TE, ATL
9. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, CIN
10. A.J. Brown, WR, TEN

Notes: The summit of everyone’s PPR rankings should be topped off by the guaranteed bell-cow tier. If not for the uncertainty surrounding Aaron Rodgers’ situation with the Green Bay brass, Adams would be the WR1. Jefferson, Lamb, Chase, and Brown are oozing with every bit of the same intangibles of their older counterparts, yet we still haven’t seen how high their ceilings extend. If the mistake is made in underappreciating Pitts, it may only take a handful of games before that error in judgement takes its toll. If Julio Jones is traded away, Pitts could set rookie TE standards that persist for decades.

• Tyreek Hill, WR, KC
• DK Metcalf, WR, SEA
• Cam Akers, RB, LAR
• D'Andre Swift, RB, DET
• J.K. Dobbins, RB, BAL
• Jonathan Taylor, RB, IND
• Calvin Ridley, WR, ATL
• Stefon Diggs, WR, BUF
• Saquon Barkley, RB, NYG
• Ezekiel Elliott, RB, DAL

Notes: The truly elite WR tier dries up very quickly. If you land a three-down RB at the top of your draft, a pairing to either Hill, Metcalf, Ridley, or Diggs would be optimal. Taylor is going to be great for Indianapolis. However, very little actually separates him from Akers, Swift, or Dobbins. A tradeoff from the RB target-frenzied Phillip Rivers to Carson Wentz — a QB desperately hoping to rehabilitate his reputation — should not be overlooked. Barkley and Elliott offer every bit of the upside of the 2020 draft RBs — perhaps in excess, but they’ve eaten a bit into the brief average expected shelf-life for NFL RBs. A bit more so on Elliott’s part, but he doesn’t carry Barkley’s potential for a degenerative knee condition related to his ‘20 ACL tear. That said, both are truly elite options who should quickly make their ‘20 seasons a distant memory.

• DeAndre Hopkins, WR, ARI
• Javonte Williams, RB, DEN
• Jerry Jeudy, WR, DEN
• Derrick Henry, RB, TEN
• Jaylen Waddle, WR, MIA
• Nick Chubb, RB, CLE
• Joe Mixon, RB, CIN
• George Kittle, TE, SF
• Travis Kelce, TE, KC
• Patrick Mahomes, QB, KC

Notes: A completely sound argument can be made to include Nuk inside the truly elite WR tier. It should not come as a surprise if Williams ends the 2021 season as Denver’s RB1. Judging from their questionable roster decision-history, it also wouldn’t be a surprise to see them extend the contract of Melvin Gordon III. I find it outrageous to see that Jeudy is being drafted after DeVonta Smith. Do not make that same mistake. Let’s not forget Smith required Jeudy and Waddle’s absences to become Alabama’s WR1. Jeudy, Waddle, McLaurin, Moore, and Aiyuk make up the second tier of young WR phenoms. Chubb saw some comforting receiving work last year that could hint at a big season. Mixon lands in an enviable spot within a loaded Cincinnati skill group, and a coaching staff desiring to keep him on the field. Kittle should thrive when Trey Lance takes over under center. Lance may have some accuracy issues on intermediate throws, but he is money on the short stuff — Kittle’s bread-and-butter.

• Darren Waller, TE, LV
• Terry McLaurin, WR, WAS
• D.J. Moore, WR, CAR
• David Montgomery, RB, CHI
• Antonio Gibson, RB, WAS
• Josh Allen, QB, BUF
• Brandon Aiyuk, WR, SF
• Michael Thomas, WR, NO
• Aaron Jones, RB, GB
• Kyler Murray, QB, ARI
• Dak Prescott, QB, DAL
• Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, KC
• Chris Godwin, WR, TB
• Allen Robinson II, WR, CHI
• Lamar Jackson, QB, BAL

Notes: With Justin Fields in town — not to mention the addition of Teven Jenkins, Montgomery will be in line for a significant boost. The same can be said for Gibson now that Fitzpatrick will be leading WFTs offense. My choice for Comeback POY is Thomas. Jameis Winston may be the better option to feed him with a massive season, but Taysom Hill made it a point to feature CantGuardMike last season. Another casualty of the Packers’ drama, Jones nearly falls outside the top-40 while Rodgers stops his feet. I want to get excited about CEH, but he is clearly a step down from all sans Zack Moss from all top RBs from the ‘20 class. If Prescott finishes out the ‘20 season healthy, he is neck-and-neck with Mahomes in competition for the QB1 title in fantasy.

• Diontae Johnson, WR, PIT
• Austin Ekeler, RB, LAC
• Chase Claypool, WR, PIT
• Kenny Golladay, WR, NYG
• T.J. Hockenson, TE, DET
• Tyler Lockett, WR, SEA
• Justin Herbert, QB, LAC
• Joe Burrow, QB, CIN
• DeVonta Smith, WR, PHI
• Keenan Allen, WR, LAC
• James Robinson, RB, JAX
• Mike Evans, WR, TB
• Amari Cooper, WR, DAL
• Travis Etienne, RB, JAX
• Courtland Sutton, WR, DEN

Notes: I don’t think Ekeler is getting nearly enough attention. A full season with Herbert could put an end to that issue. He is the rare type of RB that flips the bell-cow theory on its head. Golladay and Sutton are additional prime candidates for Comeback POY. Anyone who isn't excited about Herbert and Burrow may need to be checked for a pulse. Smith is Philadelphia’s first-round golden boy. Good luck with that. His ranking is simply based on opportunity, not upside. Lockett and Evans are a pair slipping far too much down draft boards. The value potential is staggering.

Another shocking discovery is seeing Ettiene being drafted ahead of Robinson. First of all, Carlos Hyde is a complete smokescreen. A complete non-factor. Put it to bed. Second, Robinson just submitted a season only ever approached once from an UDFA rookie in the history of the game (Arian Foster in 2010). I love Etienne’s future, I despise the landing spot. Urban Meyer has a long history of utilizing two-back systems. Count on seeing an evenly split timeshare between the two talented backs. If you reach for Etienne in the 30’s, Robinson will become a waking nightmare on your visions of glory.

• Kadarius Toney, WR, NYG
• Trey Sermon, RB, SF
• Tee Higgins, WR, CIN
• Russell Wilson, QB, SEA
• D.J. Chark Jr., WR, JAX
• Miles Sanders, RB, PHI
• Cooper Kupp, WR, LAR
• Trevor Lawrence, QB, JAX
• Michael Pittman Jr., WR, IND
• Rashod Bateman, WR, BAL
• Justin Fields, QB, CHI
• Josh Jacobs, RB, LV
• Deebo Samuel, WR, SF
• Kareem Hunt, RB, CLE
• Tyler Boyd, WR, CIN

Notes: DeVonta Smith may have been the first rookie WR addition to the NFC East from the ‘21 draft, but he should not be the one drawing your eye. Pitts, Chase, and Toney submitted the only complete examples of otherworldly Pro Day athleticism, molding the most recent draft — had Waddle been healthy enough to test, his testing would also have fallen into that elite group. So much so that the task of comparing those three to current, former players was a nearly impossible task for analysts. Toney provides Daniel Jones with the underneath, after-the-catch ability sorely lacking from the Giants. Should Raheem Mostert succumb to another injury, do not be surprised to see Sermon become the RB1 in The City by the Bay. After going three years without drafting a single RB, HC Kyle Shanahan snagged Sermon in the third, and Elijah Mitchell in the sixth. Expect to see the 49ers feature both in the 2022 season.

Do yourself a favor, underline Higgins, Chark, and Kupp as mid-round steals. The addition of Chase will only magnify, not deflate Higgins’ upside. The switch from Jared Goff to Matthew Stafford will result in career seasons for both Kupp and Robert Woods. And Chark will quickly emerge as the go-to WR1 for Lawrence. Be prepared for some growing pains as the Jaguars’ offense establishes an identity, but Chark will be peppered with his fill of the volume. Bateman should, in theory, allow the Ravens to open up their passing game. If he doesn’t claim the job outright, it’ll only take a loss or two from Andy Dalton before he is supplanted by Fields. He is always a passer-first, but offers game-changing speed when scrambling from the pocket. Did I mention he maintains his accuracy on throws 50-60 yards downfield?

• Robert Woods, WR, LAR
• Chris Carson, RB, SEA
• Michael Carter, RB, NYJ
• Julio Jones, WR, ATL
• Trey Lance, QB, SF
• Darnell Mooney, WR, CHI
• Deshaun Watson, QB, HOU
• Elijah Moore, WR, NYJ
• Curtis Samuel, WR, WAS
• Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB
• Jalen Reagor, WR, PHI
• Chase Edmonds, RB, ARI
• Denzel Mims, WR, NYJ
• Gabriel Davis, WR, BUF
• Adam Thielen, WR, MIN
• Mark Andrews, TE, BAL
• Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, JAX
• Marquise Brown, WR, BAL
• AJ Dillon, RB, GB
• Henry Ruggs III, WR, LV
• Dallas Goedert, TE, PHI
• Odell Beckham Jr., WR, CLE
• Zack Moss, RB, BUF
• Tua Tagovailoa, QB, MIA
• Darius Slayton, WR, NYG

Notes: It may seem as though Carter would have a direct path to volume, but he should not be confused as having the same tackle-breaking ability of the top-four RBs in the class. He wins with vision and maneuverability, but often goes down on first contact. La’Mical Perine is clearly the downhill option in the Jets’ backfield, and Tevin Coleman will play a considerable role, when healthy. It would actually be a boon to Jones’ value to see him traded to either San Francisco or Indianapolis. The addition of Pitts is a clear message the Falcons intend to redistribute a chunk of his volume. The writing is also on the wall for Jimmy Garoppolo. If he sticks around into the season, it’s only a matter of time before he is supplanted by Lance. One of my big sleepers this season is Mooney. Justin Fields has offered up countless examples of feeding 4.3-speed WRs with pinpoint accuracy on 20-plus throws.

Whenever an athlete earning a multi-million dollar contract is hit with allegations of sexual misconduct, I hesitate to give the accusations weight. As should the rest of the world until actual proof is brought to attention. Be that as it may, Watson is facing a public relations nightmare. Even drafting one of the NFLs most talented QBs in the seventh round is a risky venture at this point. Moore, Samuel, Reagor, Mims, Shenault, and Ruggs make up a salivating group of wideouts, oozing with potential. Samuel offers more than potential, he is going to eat this season, mark it down. We all know Edmonds is being handed a prime opportunity in Arizona, but the same can be intimated for Moss in Buffalo. Devin Singletary had his opportunity last season. He fell flat on his face. Moss is a big-time sleeper without any of the attention. Dillon is another falling into that category. He faded for most after GB re-signed Aaron Jones. Substantial mistake.

• Will Fuller V, WR, MIA
• Kenyan Drake, RB, LV
• Noah Fant, TE, DEN
• Ryan Tannehill, QB, TEN
• DeVante Parker, WR, MIA
• Brandin Cooks, WR, HOU
• Irv Smith Jr., TE, MIN
• Myles Gaskin, RB, MIA
• Corey Davis, WR, NYJ
• Jarvis Landry, WR, CLE
• David Johnson, RB, HOU
• Robby Anderson, WR, CAR
• Mike Davis, RB, ATL
• JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, PIT
• Logan Thomas, TE, WAS
• Jalen Hurts, QB, PHI
• Melvin Gordon III, RB, DEN
• Tony Pollard, RB, DAL
• Mike Williams, WR, LAC
• Cole Kmet, TE, CHI
• Matthew Stafford, QB, LAR
• Cole Beasley, WR, BUF
• Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, CAR
• Kirk Cousins, QB, MIN
• Mecole Hardman, WR, KC

Notes: If Drake somehow sees the passing game work from the slot envisioned/promised by the Las Vegas staff, he would become an intriguing asset. Whether you like it or not, Tannehill is a top-five QB for the ‘21 season. Both Gaskin and Davis survived the draft without any immediate competition for carries. The ‘22 RB class will be a serious risk to their thrones, but both are set for featured work until further notice. Smith-Schuster’s opportunities in the Pittsburgh offense already dried up with the emergence of Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool last year. The addition of Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth makes even a 10th-round selection of JuJu highly questionable. Hurts may end up being overdrafted but, in theory, he combines with Tannehill, Stafford, and Cousins to offer up the traditional option to garner value by waiting at QB.

• Rondale Moore, WR, ARI
• Tom Brady, QB, TB
• Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, DET
• Jakobi Meyers, WR, NE
• Ronald Jones II, RB, TB
• Jonnu Smith, TE, NE
• Dyami Brown, WR, WAS
• Damien Harris, RB, NE
• Baker Mayfield, QB, CLE
• Adam Trautman, TE, NO
• KJ Hamler, WR, DEN
• Christian Kirk, WR, ARI
• Mike Gesicki, TE, MIA
• Sam Darnold, QB, CAR
• D'Wayne Eskridge, WR, SEA
• Michael Gallup, WR, DAL
• Matt Ryan, QB, ATL
• Jamison Crowder, WR, NYJ
• Leonard Fournette, RB, TB
• Robert Tonyan, TE, GB
• Evan Engram, TE, NYG
• Raheem Mostert, RB, SF
• Pat Freiermuth, TE, PIT
• Alexander Mattison, RB, MIN
• T.Y. Hilton, WR, IND

Notes: Unlike Moore, St. Brown and (Dyami) Brown have a clear path to ‘21 volume. Both (undeservedly) fell in the draft, but landed with teams offering available target shares. I don’t care how much money they paid to lure in Smith and Hunter Henry, Cam Newton is not a QB where I place my trust. Instead, look for value from Trautman or Gesicki. New York stuck a fork in Darnold far too soon. He deserved better. In Carolina, he has it. Engram’s days as the featured receiving option are done. He looks much more like the third-or-fourth option from his Ole Miss days than the superstar from his NYG rookie season. If Mostert can remain on the field, he offers plenty of value in the teens.

• Nyheim Hines, RB, IND
• Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, NE
• Rashaad Penny, RB, SEA
• Tutu Atwell, WR, LAR
• Marvin Jones Jr., WR, JAX
• James Conner, RB, ARI
• Hunter Henry, TE, NE
• Quintez Cephus, WR, DET
• Jameis Winston, QB, NO
• Anthony Schwartz, WR, CLE
• Gus Edwards, RB, BAL
• Austin Hooper, TE, CLE
• Darrell Henderson, RB, LAR
• Breshad Perriman, WR, DET
• Chuba Hubbard, RB, CAR
• N'Keal Harry, WR, NE
• Zach Wilson, QB, NYJ
• Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, CLE
• Daniel Jones, QB, NYG
• Amari Rodgers, WR, GB
• Kenneth Gainwell, RB, PHI
• Mo Alie-Cox, TE, IND
• Sterling Shepard, WR, NYG
• Carson Wentz, QB, IND
• Jordan Love, QB, GB

Notes: Watch out for Stevenson. He offers Josh McDaniels a player in the vein of LeGarrette Blount. Just don’t count on Stevenson aiding the Patriots to a pair of Super Bowl victories with their QB room. However, Stevenson pairing with a mobile QB was one of my pre-draft keys to unlocking his full potential. With Jones in Jacksonville, Cephus will have every opportunity to claim a starting role with the Lions. The Browns sorely lacked the speed to draw attention opposite Odell Beckham Jr. last season. They certainly fill that need with Schwartz. I know it’s not something Christian McCaffery owners want to hear, but relinquishing some of his carry volume to Hubbard would be in the best interest to his career longevity. The shine on Harry’s star has completely been removed. One season in a starting role receiving targets from Newton will do that. Just don’t be surprised if Harry emerges with value down the road when Mac Jones takes over the offense.

I know, I know, tons of folks out there just love the 17-year-old portrait of Wilson. His arm isn’t bad either. Just make sure you temper those expectations. As much as I like Alijah Vera-Tucker, the NYJ O-line is still going to be terrible. And Wilson will be receiving on-the-job instruction in dealing with a relatively new concept: (constant) pressure. It would not surprise me in the slightest if he ends Year 1 throwing twice as many INTs as TDs. If Aaron Rodgers sticks in Green Bay, Amari Rodgers could be intriguing. He lacks the vertical speed, but does offer some other quality intangibles. This is still likely a bit high for Gainwell. However, his receiving ability is certainly polarizing. I simply love Alie-Cox! If he manages to pull away from the Indy TE group, watch out! The stars should be aligning for Jordan Love. But it sure does sound as though his own coaching staff feels he is a long way off from seeing the field. Not the greatest of endorsements.

• Van Jefferson, WR, LAR
• Tyron Johnson, WR, LAC
• La'Mical Perine, RB, NYJ
• Mac Jones, QB, NE
• J.D. McKissic, RB, WAS
• Andy Isabella, WR, ARI
• Elijah Mitchell, RB, SF
• Javian Hawkins, RB, ATL
• Tyler Johnson, WR, TB
• Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, DEN
• Marcus Mariota, QB, LV
• Brycen Hopkins, TE, LAR
• Derek Carr, QB, LV
• Devin Singletary, RB, BUF
• Antonio Brown, WR, TB
• Larry Rountree III, RB, LAC
• Ben Roethlisberger, QB, PIT
• Jamaal Williams, RB, DET
• Cam Newton, QB, NE
• Tylan Wallace, WR, BAL
• Jared Goff, QB, DET
• Rob Gronkowski, TE, TB
• John Brown, WR, LV
• Zach Ertz, TE, PHI
• Taysom Hill, QB, NO

Notes: If Jefferson is able to hold off Tutu Atwell for a starting role — which I think he will, he will offer the Rams everything they wanted out of Josh Reynolds, and with an upgrade at QB. It’s all up to Mike Williams. If he breaks out, Johnson’s value will take a hit. If not, Tyron could emerge as a star for the Chargers. As I’ve already stated, the O-line is the limiting factor in New York for Perine. Mac Jones offers an accurate arm that you simply cannot coach into a QB. He’s just unable to target receivers beyond 40 air yards with his noodle arm. Short of a Newton injury, expect to wait awhile for Jones to see the field. I am not expecting McKissic to see anything close to the volume he received last season. That said, he is clearly only an Antonio Gibson injury away from a featured role.

Mitchell’s time to showcase his elite athleticism will come in 2022. Since Atlanta failed to address their RB depth, both Hawkins and Caleb Huntley could become late-round gems. Okwuegbunam was an efficiency machine with his opportunities last season. He also packs along a history of production at Missouri. Mariota appeared outstanding during his lone start last season. I was truly shocked a team didn’t reach a deal with the Raiders for his services. However, one of the teams that could have used him the most (Denver) happens to be an inter-division rival. When Wallace walks onto an NFL field for the first time, he will already do so as one of the top run-blocking WRs in the game. That may not be a fantasy stat, but the option to add a forgotten rookie wideout this late with the potential to see significant playing time is rare. Hill would make his ranking look ridiculous if he were to claim the starting role. I feel Winston will have the optimal path to the job, but Hill should still be owned across formats until we know for sure.

• Parris Campbell, WR, IND
• Dez Fitzpatrick, WR, TEN
• Eric Ebron, TE, PIT
• Gerald Everett, TE, SEA
• Josh Palmer, WR, LAC
• O.J. Howard, TE, TB
• Hunter Long, TE, MIA
• Russell Gage, WR, ATL
• Salvon Ahmed, RB, MIA
• Kylin Hill, RB, GB
• Khalil Herbert, RB, CHI
• Sammy Watkins, WR, BAL
• Tim Patrick, WR, DEN
• Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, GB
• Harrison Bryant, TE, CLE
• Cornell Powell, WR, KC
• Kene Nwangwu, RB, MIN
• Hunter Renfrow, WR, LV
• Jared Cook, TE, LAC
• Jaelon Darden, WR, TB
• Shi Smith, WR, CAR
• Greg Ward, WR, PHI
• Tarik Cohen, RB, CHI
• Marquez Stevenson, WR, BUF
• Latavius Murray, RB, NO

Notes: After the top-200, it’s truly a role of the dice. Campbell immediately stands out. Elite athleticism, plenty of available targets. If he remains healthy, he could finally tap into the potential the Colts envisioned. Speaking of opportunities, Fitzpatrick could actually find himself as the second option in the passing game. Sorry, Josh Reynolds truthers, he is not the answer. We have a list of solid TE options with Ebron, Everett, Howard, and Cook. With the addition of Pat Freiermuth, expect to see Ebron’s role open up to focus less on run blocking, and more on the passing game. Everett is finally going to be featured. He is far more talented than most realize. Howard will likely need to wait for Gronk to hang up his cleats before becoming a TE1, but he definitely possesses every bit of that potential.

While I wasn’t very high on Palmer, landing with LAC and Herbert definitely peaks my interest. I was the opposite on Powell, a player I feel was sorely overlooked. He offers the type of ability that could place him on the fast-track toward a starting role with the NFLs premier offense. Should the Miami staff end up moving on from Mike Gesicki — which I consider a longshot, Long is another guy brimming with potential inside a loaded (overlooked) offense. Hill, Herbert, and Nwangwu all have the odds stacked against them toward seeing a carry share that would matter. Darden, Smith, and Stevenson, on the other hand, will just need to bide their time before they make anticipated contributions on their explosive offenses that their history of production, well above average athleticism asserts.

• Jermar Jefferson, RB, DET
• Nico Collins, WR, HOU
• Tre'Quan Smith, WR, NO
• Darrel Williams, RB, KC
• Racey McMath, WR, TEN
• Chris Evans, RB, CIN
• Kellen Mond, QB, MIN
• David Njoku, TE, CLE
• Brevin Jordan, TE, HOU
• Kawaan Baker, WR, NO
• Tamorrion Terry, WR, SEA
• Tyler Higbee, TE, LAR
• Tommy Tremble, TE, CAR
• Jerick McKinnon, RB, KC
• Caleb Huntley, RB, ATL
• Ihmir Smith-Marsette, WR, MIN
• Seth Williams, WR, DEN
• Kylen Granson, TE, IND
• James White, RB, NE
• Phillip Lindsay, RB, HOU
• Tevin Coleman, RB, NYJ
• James Washington, WR, PIT
• Nelson Agholor, WR, NE
• Demetric Felton, WR, CLE
• Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, WAS

Notes: I was floored to see the Texans draft Collins in the third. I knew a team would bite on his athleticism but, without anything resembling a history of actual receiving production, Houston is simply gambling everything will just perfectly come together. No thanks. Two guys that deserved to have been selected before Collins are Baker and Terry. Baker comes from a Group of Five conference, but offers comparable athleticism that’s paired with multiple seasons of promising production. Yes, he wasn’t drafted until the seventh round, but he landed with a Saints’ team searching for receiving talent. Terry fell out of the draft due to injury, potentially character concerns. Regarding the knee injury, it didn’t stop him from running in the 4.4’s at his Pro Day. If he went undrafted due to his character, I consider that entirely hypocritical based on the second chances handed out to others. Granson is an elite athlete, especially at TE. He’s a ways off from seeing the field, but you could do far worse with your last-round dart.