Fantasy Football Rankings 2017, Top 101 PPR Players: No. 14-12
By Dan Thomas
As we continue our list of fantasy football’s top 101 PPR players of 2017 we come across two players who broke out last season.
Every year there are players who come out of nowhere and put up big numbers in fantasy football. Last season two of the three players on today’s list weren’t being drafted until the 10th round or later. This season, they are a threat to be drafted 10th overall.
Can they live up to the hype in 2017?
To be clear, the top 101 PPR players are for re-draft leagues only. Here’s a look at players ranked No. 14-12:
14. Michael Thomas, WR – New Orleans Saints
Last year Michael Thomas was the sixth wide receiver selected in the 2016 NFL Draft. Yet, that didn’t stop him from making a significant impact in the fantasy football world. As a rookie, Thomas finished last season as the seventh PPR wide receiver and the 13th overall player between running backs and wide receivers. Thomas led the Saints in targets (121), receptions (92), and touchdowns (9) while finishing second in receiving yards (1,137). Going into 2017 Thomas could out produce his numbers from a season ago.
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Back in March the Saints traded wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the New England Patriots. In back-to-back seasons Cooks led New Orleans in receiving yards while averaging 123 targets per season. With Cooks gone and the team only adding Ted Ginn Jr. to their wide receiver corps, Thomas should see an uptick in targets.
Drew Brees slinging 125+ passes in Thomas’ direction this season automatically makes him a WR1. Keep in mind the absence of Cooks means Thomas should see extra attention from opposing defenses. However, that shouldn’t stop owners from drafting Thomas early in the second round or even late in the first round.
13. Jay Ajayi, RB – Miami Dolphins
Almost a year ago it appeared Jay Ajayi‘s fantasy football stock took a major hit when Miami signed Arian Foster. Then in September, his stock dipped even further. Ajayi did not take kindly to his demotion and was becoming a distraction. The Dolphins elected to leave Ajayi home when the team flew to Seattle to take on the Seahawks in Week 1. Just when it looked like Ajayi’s fantasy season was on life support, Foster suffered an injury (big surprise).
A groin injury forced Foster out of Week 2’s game against the Patriots and he was not able to return until Week 6. That same week Ajayi had his coming out party. In Week 6 Ajayi rushed for 204 yards and two touchdowns in a victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers. And just like that, Foster was a thing of the past. Ajayi finished fourth in the NFL in rushing yards (1,272) and was the 11th PPR running back. Ajayi averaged 19 touches in 15 games last year but going into 2017, he should see even more.
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ESPN’s James Walker reported head coach Adam Gase believes Ajayi could see 350 carries if he manages to say healthy. Personally, I don’t believe Ajayi reaches 350 carries. However, with the team expected to expand Ajayi’s role in the passing-game, 350 touches are very doable. The only concern I have with Ajayi is the Dolphins offensive line.
The team traded away offensive tackle Branden Albert and bumped last year’s left guard Laremy Tunsil to left tackle. This shuffle to the offensive line leaves both of the Dolphins guard positions suspect for 2017. Plus, center Mike Pouncey missed 11 games last season with a hip injury and still isn’t 100 percent healthy. If Pouncey has a setback in his recovery or re-injures his hip, the interior of the Dolphins offensive line could collapse like cheap lawn furniture.
12. Jordy Nelson, WR – Green Bay Packers
This time last year Jordy Nelson was viewed as a player with some serious risk. He was coming off a torn ACL and recently turned 31 years old. Many owners didn’t know if Nelson was going to look like the player we saw in the past or if the injury made him lose a step. As we know now, Nelson didn’t miss a beat.
The Packers No.1 wide receiver finished with 97 receptions, 1,257 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was 2016’s No.2 PPR wide receiver. Back in 2014 Nelson was the No. 3 PPR wide receiver and if wasn’t for the injury he suffered in 2015, there’s a good chance Nelson would have been a top three-to-five PPR wide receiver in three straight seasons.
Next: Fantasy Football Rankings, Top 101 PPR Players: No. 17-15
Going into 2017 Nelson remains as the team’s No.1 wide receiver and based off of what I saw last season, I’m not overly concerned about his age (32). Nelson is now two years removed from his torn ACL and should be just as explosive as he was in 2016.