I am just starting to draft non-best ball ppr leagues and decided to come out with my first two round rankings. My ADPs are a little bit different than most in the industry but I have to get the players I want. Let me know in Discord what you think and we can discuss.
First Round
WR Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals
The best fantasy player in the draft. Outside of injury there are no questions to be asked. The Bengals have a lousy defense and a top-notch pocket passer in Joe Burrow which gives him 2,000-yard and 20-plus TD potential.
RB Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
I have Barkley ranked as the top running back ahead of Bijan Robinson and Jamyr Gibbs. He has a great offensive line with absolutely nobody pushing him for carries. The only negative I see is that he had a huge workload last season but he has had a lot of injuries and doesn’t have the tread on his legs that most backs his age has.
RB Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
A bell cow running back and could easily finish as the top fantasy scorer so I can’t fault anyone for taking him at 2. I have him slightly behind Barkley just because I think RB Tyler Allgeier could take a few carries because he is a solid back. Also, the Falcons may want to showcase QB Michael Penix a little more in his second season.
WR CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
I have moved Lamb ahead of Justin Jefferson and isn’t because JJ is dealing with a hamstring injury. I think the Vikings have upgraded their offensive line and running back depth where they can run the football better. Also, they have more pieces in their receiving corps to throw to. As for Lamb, he is the main piece in an offense that should throw the football a ton. Dallas lacks a running game and I think their defense will struggle making the Cowboys play from behind. I look for Lamb to be the second highest scoring receiver behind Chase.
WR Justin Jefferson, Vikings
I’m not worried about Jefferson’s hamstring injury. I believe he will be more than ready opening day. He is lock for 100 receptions and over 1,500 yards receiving provided that he stays healthy. The only negatives he has is that he has a young QB and what should be an improved defense and running game.
RB Jamyr Gibbs, Lions
Gibbs might be the most dynamic running back and has no negatives to his game. A great pass catcher and would be my top back if it wasn’t for the fact that the Lions have RB David Montgomery. If for any reason Monty was to get injured before the start of the season, Gibbs shoots to 2 on my list.
WR Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars
I have shot Thomas up my draft boards to number 7. I think the Jaguars are going to be the poor man’s Bengals. A bad defense and an offense that will need to throw the football a ton. I expect him to finish with 1,500 yards and 10-plus touchdowns. Honestly, there is an outside chance that he could finish ahead of Jefferson and Lamb. I know the Jags added Travis Hunter and Dyami Brown but Thomas is the man.
WR Malik Nabers, Giants
I love Nabers and could make an argument to rank him ahead of Thomas. I chose Thomas because I like Lawrence over Wilson at QB and I think Thomas scores more touchdowns. Still,Nabers should be a 100 reception 1500-yard receiver and solidify himself as a first-round fantasy pick for years to come.
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions
ARSTB is a consistent as they come, just pen him in for 1,200 yards and double-digit touchdowns. He could have even bigger numbers if Detroit plays from behind more.
WR Drake London, Falcons
I know the Falcons want to run the ball as much as possible but London is such a big target. Penix targeted him constantly when he was the starter and should so again this season. I expect him to surpass 1,500 yards receiving.
RB Derrick Henry
Henry is coming off a 1900-yard rushing season with 18 total touchdowns. He is a freak of nature playing for a team that should score a bunch. A steady pick here.
RB Ashton Jeanty, Raiders
Jeanty has all the skills and is said to be a generational talent. He should get a ton of carries and have 1,500 plus all-purpose yards in his rookie season. I do worry that the Raiders have veteran Raheem Mostert and Sincere McCormick to take some touches away. Plus, if the Raiders aren’t playoff contenders it would make no sense to pound Jeanty into the ground at such a young age. I have to rank him behind the more proven Henry here.
Second Round
RB Bucky Irving, Buccaneers
Irving had 1,500 total yards last season on only 254 touches. He didn’t start to get big-time volume until after the midway point of the season. His touches should go up and production should too in a high-scoring offense. I think sky is the limit and that’s why I have him atop of round 2.
RB Chase Brown, Bengals
Another back who should get the majority of running back volume playing for a high-scoring offense. Brown is a PPR machine with no real downside. I can see picking him ahead of Irving as they are neck in neck.
TE Brock Bowers, Raiders
There is a lot of debate having a tight end ranked this high but he is the best tight end in fantasy football. He is the best receiving option on his team and he got an upgrade in QB Geno Smith. I realize they added Jeanty and a few receivers during the draft but if the Raiders want to win, they have to exploit the best matchup on the field and Bowers is it. He will give your team a huge advantage if he can have a 1,000-yard season as projected at this position.
WR Ladd McConkey, Chargers
I know the Chargers would love to run the ball in the Jim Harbough offense but QB Justin Herbert is an excellent passer. McConkey was the go-to guy and that will not change in his second season. He is an excellent route runner who is ALWAYS open. He could easily have 100 catches for 1,300 plus yards.
WR Nico Collins, Texans
I love Nico and I would rank him higher if he did not have the injury history. He would be a steal if he plays 15 games as he would break 100 catches and 1,300 yards.
WR Puka Nacua, Rams
Nacua could also be a steal but it is very unlikely that you will get to draft him this late as he has first round ADP. I can’t rank him higher because he tends to miss games and because the Rams added Davante Adams. Plus, I don’t know if I trust the health of QB Matt Stafford.
RB De’Von Achane
I love Achane as a player but I hate the fact that we have to rely heavily on his receiving ability. I know Alvin Kamara has done it for years but when you have to rely on receiving ability, there will be huge games and some dud games. Those dud games will cost you in the fantasy playoffs. Also, we have to rely on QB Tua Tagovailoa to stay healthy which makes you cringe every time he steps back to pass. Achane most likely won’t last this long in a draft so I won’t have many shares.
RB Christian McCaffrey
Another running back that I won’t have shares of is CMC. He is going in the first round now and I can’t draft him that high solely on injury history. That decision could come back to bite because when healthy CMC is dominant and can be a top fantasy scorer. I will just wait to play him in DFS.
RB Jonathan Tayor, Colts
Taylor is another back that seems to miss games every season. When on the field, he is dominant as he scores from anywhere on the field. If he were to stay healthy and get the receiving volume that he should, then the sky is the limit. Definitely worth the risk late in the second round.
WR A.J. Brown, Eagles
A great receiver and could also be higher if he were not to miss games. I think it is harder for him to score touchdowns because of Barkley and of the Tush Push used by Jalen Hurts. Still, he is as steady as they come and can pen him in for 1,000 plus yards.
RB Josh Jacobs, Packers
I like Josh Jacobs as a player and no I didn’t rank him this low because he is a Packer. I separate my fandom when it comes to fantasy football. I don’t have him higher because the Packers have a tough schedule vs. much better run defenses than he faced last year. Plus, the Packers drafted a receiver in the first and third rounds. I expect the passing game to flourish a bit more than the running game. He should still easily break 1,200 total yards and score double-digit touchdowns.
WR Garrett Wilson, Jets
Wilson is a stud and should get the volume. We just have to hope QB Justin Fields can get him the ball. If so, then Wilson would be a bargain and you can usually get him to start the third round. I would take him over any quarterback at this stage.
