We continue our fantasy football rankings of the top 101 PPR players with No. 98-96. What players will be on the list today?
Yesterday we saw an injury-prone tight end, an aging running back and a second-year wide receiver start off the list. Just like yesterday, I’ll be giving an explanation for my player rankings. Even if you disagree with some of my rankings (as I’m sure you will), you will at least understand why I slotted them there.
To be clear, the top 101 PPR players are for re-draft leagues only. Here’s a look at players ranked 98-96:
98. James White, RB – New England Patriots
I almost feel bad putting James White this low on the list, because the last time any of us saw the guy, he was balling in the Super Bowl. The problem for White is the Patriots have a plethora of dynamic running backs between him, Mike Gillislee, Rex Burkhead and Dion Lewis. With all of these capable optionss in the same backfield, it’ll be hard to predict White’s week-to-week production.
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Despite the crowded backfield, I do expect White to lead all New England running backs in receptions just like he did last year. He closed out the 2016 season with three-or-more receptions in eight-straight games and averaged four receptions per contest over the team’s final 13 games. His work in the passing game is the main reason he finished last year as the 26th PPR running back. Another reason I like White is he’s the most reliable Patriots running back as it stands today.
Gillislee is expected to be the team’s “big back” with LeGarrette Blount no longer with the team. Yet, he’s on his fourth team in five years, has 865 career rushing yards and only has two starts under his belt. Is there a chance he underwhelms in New England? Absolutely. Dion Lewis has a history with injuries and Rex Burkhead has never handled more than 91 offensive snaps in a season.
If any of these players get nicked up or doesn’t “do their job”, White is a player the coaching staff would have no problem giving extra touches to.
97. DeVante Parker, WR – Miami Dolphins
Last season, DeVante Parker finished as the 50th PPR receiver. Even though he should finish better than that in 2017, I don’t expect it to be by a dramatic margin.
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Over the last three seasons Jarvis Landry has averaged 136 targets and 96 receptions per season. He is fully expected to lead the team in both categories once again in 2017. Kenny Stills was first on the team in touchdown receptions in 2016 with nine. Parker did manage to finish ahead of Stills in every other category, but it wasn’t by much. Parker only had six targets, 14 receptions and 18 yards more than Stills. If fighting with these two for targets wasn’t bad enough, the team also went out and acquired receiving tight end Julius Thomas during the offseason.
Another issue for Parker is the Dolphins turned into a more run-oriented team in 2016 and leaned on Jay Ajayi a bunch. ESPN’s James Walker recently reported that head coach Adam Gase said Ajayi could see 350 carries in 2017. Even though I believe that’s highly improbable, it does appear the team intends to use him like a workhorse.
A run-heavy offense and plenty of mouths to feed in the passing game will limit Parker’s opportunities in 2017.
96. Jeremy Maclin, WR – Kansas City Chiefs
Jeremy Maclin enters his third season with the Chiefs and there’s not a lot of upside with him in their offense. The team’s quarterback, Alex Smith, has a very conservative playing style and has below-average arm strength by NFL standards. This doesn’t allow for Maclin to take advantage of his vertical speed down the field. It’s no coincidence his yards per reception average (YPR) during his two seasons in Kansas City both rank in the bottom-three of his career.
What we do like about Maclin is he is a capable NFL wide receiver with respectable hands. In 2015 he finished with 87 receptions, 1,088 yards and eight touchdowns. These stats were good enough to make him a top-15 PPR wide receiver. In 2016 he totaled 30 receptions, 376 yards and two touchdowns over the team’s first seven games. A groin injury forced him to exit their eighth game of the season and he would go on to miss the team’s next four games.
Next: Fantasy Football Rankings, Top 101 PPR Players: No. 101-99
If you took Maclin’s stats over his first seven games (before his injury) and averaged them out across 16 games, he would have finished with 69 receptions, 860 yards and five touchdowns. With the emergence of Tyreek Hill, I think a stat-line of 70-75 receptions, 825-900 yards and 4-6 touchdowns is reasonable for Maclin to obtain in 2017. He should be a viewed as a boring, low-end WR3.