X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

2017 PPR Rankings Analysis - Wide Receivers

As NFL training camps kick into gear, we take a position-by-position look at the RotoBaller PPR player rankings to help prepare you for draft day.

Stop me if you've heard this before, but the NFL is a passing league. In 2006, just two teams averaged 250+ passing yards per game. Ten seasons later, nearly half of the league hit that mark (12 teams to be exact). As the league has evolved, so has fantasy football, and the wide receiver position has been the biggest benefactor. Gone are the days of the first round being dominated by running backs, and here to stay are elite WRs going in the top five and ten.

With that in mind, here are the top twelve PPR WRs as we near the start of the 2017 season.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

2017 PPR Rankings: Wide Receivers

1. Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

What is there left to say about this guy? The fiery former first-round pick has launched himself into superstardom with three consecutive monster seasons to start his career, posting 1300+ yards and double digit touchdowns in each of them. Scary part is there's absolutely no signs of slowing down either. The Giants addition of Brandon Marshall could actually open things up more for OBJ, who is as sure a thing as sure things come as part of a high-powered pass-first offense. He should be considered a top-five pick in all formats and is likely to improve upon his 13.5 yards per reception from last year. Although an argument can certainly be made for Brown at the top spot, you're splitting hairs when it comes to elite players such as these.

2. Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers

Speaking of sure things, Brown may as well be 1B to Beckham's 1A. The 4-time NFL All-Pro has been the definition of consistency, now coming off his third straight year as fantasy's top PPR wide receiver. Averaging a whopping 176 targets per year in that span, you'd be hard-pressed to find a receiver as integrated into his offense as Brown is in Pittsburgh. Often referred to as the best WR in football, Brown should have no problem hauling in another 100 catches, 1,200 yards, and double digit touchdowns. Much like OBJ, he's a top-five pick in all formats.

3. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On his way to one of fantasy's breakout seasons, Mike Evans asserted himself early and often in 2016. Tallying eight touchdowns in the first eight games, he averaged nearly 13 targets per game in the first half of the year. And though he finished as fantasy's #3 PPR WR, the targets (and thus the numbers) tapered off in the second half. The inconsistency is a small concern, but the presence of DeSean Jackson and rookie tight end O.J. Howard in Tampa Bay should also take away a good chunk targets. Evans will return WR1 value this year, but don't expect a repeat of 2016.

4. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons

No stranger to the first round, Julio enters yet another season with serious expectations. Many call 2016 a down year for him, due to just 83 receptions and 6 touchdown catches, but finishing as fantasy's #6 WR (in PPR leagues) is no down year. His 17.0 yards per reception was the highest since his rookie season, and he's the only receiver in football coming off a fourth straight season averaging 100+ yards per game (Antonio Brown only has two such seasons in his last four, for reference). You should feel more than comfortable taking him as the third WR off the board in the first half of the first round.

5. A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

On track for possibly the best year of his career, A.J. Green's season was cut short by a hamstring tear in the early goings of Week 11. He has since been fully cleared for all offseason activities and is a full go for 2017. When healthy, the former Georgia Bulldog was averaging a career best 96.4 yards per game and was on track for nearly 200 targets. The Bengals picked up Joe Mixon in this year's draft, but the lack of additional playmakers in their offense all but ensures another big workload for Green. Hamstrings are known to be nagging injuries, but fire him up as your WR1 and a potential first rounder.

6. Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers

The NFL's Comeback Player of the Year after missing all of 2015 due to a torn ACL, Nelson came back with a bang. Reasserting himself as Aaron Rodgers' #1 target in the high-powered Packers offense, he specifically put up elite numbers inside the 20, leading the league in red zone targets (35), red zone completions (22), and red zone touchdowns (11). Though it's unlikely he will replicate that kind of red zone success again, Nelson's current ADP 0f 1.12 is about right.

7. Amari Cooper, Oakland Raiders

The first true boom-or-bust WR on this list, Cooper's inconsistency in his first two seasons will keep some fantasy owners away, but his upside in a potentially budding Oakland offense makes his mid second round ADP worthwhile. There has never been any doubt of his talent level, but it has yet to come together in a full season for Alabama's all-time leading receiver. He's had 130 and 132 targets respectively to start his career, and he'd likely make owners happy if he could replicate his 83 reception mark from last year.

8. Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints

The stage is officially set for Drew Brees' new favorite toy. Thomas set the league ablaze in 2016 as he led the prolific New Orleans offense in targets, receptions, and touchdowns. Couple that with the departure of Brandin Cooks, who led the team in the only receiving stat that Thomas didn't lead in, yards, and there is very little standing in the way of Thomas nearing elite status. It's a lot to ask for of the second-year player, but he relished the opportunity in year one and should easily return WR1 value this year.

9. T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts

When you think about wideouts that get a bump for PPR, T.Y. Hilton is probably not a name that crosses your mind. However, maybe it's time to start thinking about the speedy sixth-year man as just that. Hilton has averaged just under 140 targets per season over the last four, and, outside of his rookie season, only fell shy of 82 receptions once when Andrew Luck has played the entire season. He is consistent, explosive, and the clear number one option for one of the league's best young QBs. Feel free to draft him in the second round as your top receiver.

10. Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks

Russell Wilson has thrown for more passes for more yards in each and every year since his rookie season in 2012 as the Seahawks offense has transformed from complimentary and run-heavy to well-oiled and balanced. And Doug Baldwin has been the single biggest benefactor. He, too, has racked up more receiving yards in every season since 2012, and 2016 was his crowning jewel thus far, totaling 94 receptions and 1,128 yards on the way to his first ever top-ten fantasy finish (for PPR WRs). You will see some week-to-week inconsistency and a probable drop off from his total numbers, but Baldwin is a borderline WR1/2 heading into 2017.

11. Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys

Remember the old days when Bryant was a top-tier fantasy WR putting up double-digit touchdowns on a regular basis? Well since then, the 6'2'' former All-American has been plagued by back-to-back injury-ridden seasons, and all the buzz in Dallas is centered around Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott. There's no doubt about his productivity when healthy, but his second-round ADP comes with obvious risk. This will be his first go-around in what is probably now a run-first offense, but Dez is almost a guarantee to return WR1 value if he can stay on the field.

12. DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans

Considered a first-rounder in most fantasy circles last season, Hopkins finished as just WR27 in PPR leagues and failed to pass 1,000 yards for the first time since 2013. His 51% catch percentage, 59.6 yards per game, and four total touchdowns just emphasizes what was a stark drop off after a monster 2015. The targets were there (151), but the QB play in Houston was lackluster at best. There is WR1 potential here, but it's tough to consider Hopkins as such until his QB play improves.

You can find the remainder of the full RotoBaller PPR player rankings HERE, which will be updated continuously throughout the preseason.

 

More 2017 Fantasy Football & ADP Analysis


Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Las Vegas Raiders6 hours ago

Raiders Agree To Three-Year Extension With Adam Butler
Kansas City Chiefs6 hours ago

Trey Smith Signs Franchise Tag
Tomoyuki Sugano7 hours ago

Strong Again, Strikes Out Five In Three Innings
Kyle Tucker7 hours ago

Hits First Cactus League Home Run
Clay Holmes7 hours ago

Strikes Out Eight In Grapefruit League Win
Matt Manning8 hours ago

Optioned To Triple-A Toledo
Chicago Bears8 hours ago

Bears Eyeing Drew Dalman
Erasmo Ramírez8 hours ago

Erasmo Ramirez Expected To Miss Extended Time
Cincinnati Bengals8 hours ago

Cody Ford Returning To Cincinnati
Aaron Rodgers8 hours ago

Seattle Expected To Pursue Aaron Rodgers
Atlanta Falcons9 hours ago

Jake Matthews Extended By Atlanta
Dallas Cowboys9 hours ago

Markquese Bell Back With Dallas
Gerrit Cole9 hours ago

Recommended For Tommy John Surgery, Awaiting Second Opinion
Jarrett Stidham9 hours ago

Staying On With Denver
Austin Hooper9 hours ago

Sticking With New England
New England Patriots10 hours ago

Harold Landry III Signs With New England
New York Jets10 hours ago

Jamien Sherwood Returning To New York
Ben Simmons10 hours ago

To Miss Road Trip
Justin Fields10 hours ago

Wants To Test The Market
Jabari Walker10 hours ago

Cleared For Sunday
DK Metcalf10 hours ago

Steelers Acquire DK Metcalf From Seattle
Luka Garza10 hours ago

Available On Sunday
Deni Avdija10 hours ago

Remains Out On Sunday
Josh Allen11 hours ago

Bills Reach Agreement On Record-Setting Deal
Rudy Gobert11 hours ago

To Play On Sunday
Gary Trent Jr.11 hours ago

Returning On Sunday
Dallas Goedert11 hours ago

Philadelphia Expecting Fourth-Round Pick For Dallas Goedert
Kyle Kuzma11 hours ago

Available On Sunday
Walker Kessler11 hours ago

Remains Out On Sunday
Davante Adams11 hours ago

Signing With Rams
Andre Drummond11 hours ago

Cleared For Sunday
Miami Dolphins11 hours ago

Miami Showing Interest In Joey Bosa
Sam Darnold12 hours ago

Steelers Looking Into Sam Darnold
Aaron Jones12 hours ago

Back With Minnesota
Jose Alvarado12 hours ago

Available Versus Memphis
Rudy Gobert12 hours ago

A Game-Time Decision On Sunday
CJ McCollum12 hours ago

Sitting Versus Memphis
Zion Williamson12 hours ago

Out On Sunday Night
Michael Grove13 hours ago

To Miss 2025 Season
Marcus Hogberg13 hours ago

Activated From Injured Reserve
Nicky Lopez13 hours ago

Reassigned To Minors
Connor Ingram13 hours ago

Re-Enters Player Assistance Program
Travis Jankowski13 hours ago

Optioned To Minors
Aaron Gordon13 hours ago

Doesn't Return To Sunday's Loss To OKC
Connor Hellebuyck13 hours ago

Taking On Hurricanes Sunday
Tommy Pham13 hours ago

Exits Early On Sunday
Nikola Jokić14 hours ago

Nikola Jokic's Elbow "Fine" After Loss To OKC
Dairon Blanco14 hours ago

To Play On Sunday
Frederik Andersen14 hours ago

Faces Jets Sunday
Daniil Tarasov14 hours ago

Starts Against Rangers Sunday
Luke Kunin14 hours ago

Set For Blue Jackets Debut Sunday
Dmitry Orlov14 hours ago

Out On Sunday
San Francisco 49ers14 hours ago

San Francisco Releases Maliek Collins
Detroit Lions15 hours ago

Detroit Letting Go Of Za'Darius Smith
Carlos Estévez16 hours ago

Carlos Estevez Could Make Spring Debut Late Next Week
Sandy Alcantara16 hours ago

Marlins Don't Have Innings Limit For Sandy Alcantara
Luis Rengifo16 hours ago

Now In Question For Opening Day
Jared Young16 hours ago

Austin Warren Optioned to Triple-A
Spencer Strider16 hours ago

Getting Close To Game Action
Jurickson Profar16 hours ago

Dealing With Bone Bruise
Triston Casas16 hours ago

Returns From Illness
Jeimer Candelario16 hours ago

Back In Cactus League Lineup
Rafael Devers16 hours ago

To Make Spring Debut On Wednesday
Grayson Rodriguez16 hours ago

Gets Cortisone Shot, Sidelined For At Least Seven Days
Amen Thompson17 hours ago

In A Walking Boot, Needs An MRI
LeBron James17 hours ago

Anticipated "To Miss At Least 1-2 Weeks"
Steven Stamkos21 hours ago

Nets Hat Trick On Saturday
Zach Hyman21 hours ago

Tallies Three Points In Victory
Dustin Wolf21 hours ago

Shuts The Door On Canadiens On Saturday
Valeri Nichushkin21 hours ago

Leads The Way On Saturday
Vitek Vanecek21 hours ago

Shines In Florida Debut
Roope Hintz21 hours ago

Exits Early On Saturday
Chase Elliott22 hours ago

Is Chase Elliott Worth Rostering At Phoenix This Week For DFS?
Joey Logano22 hours ago

Will Be A Top Contender To Win At Phoenix
Denny Hamlin22 hours ago

Is Difficult to Recommend As A DFS Option
Carson Hocevar22 hours ago

Is Not An Ideal Driver To Add To Phoenix DFS Lineups
Brad Keselowski23 hours ago

Is A Solid DFS Choice For Phoenix Lineups
Austin Cindric23 hours ago

Could Be Worth Using In Phoenix Tournament Lineups
Kyle Busch23 hours ago

Should Fantasy Players Roster Kyle Busch At Phoenix?
Michael McDowell23 hours ago

Is Michael McDowell Worth Rostering For Phoenix DFS Lineups?
Ty Gibbs23 hours ago

Is A DFS Recommendation Despite Inconsistent Track History At Phoenix
Austin Dillon24 hours ago

Is Austin Dillon Worth Rostering In DFS For Phoenix This Week?
Cole Custer24 hours ago

Is An Underrated DFS Value Pick For Phoenix Lineups
Tyler Reddick24 hours ago

DFS Value Likely Hinges On How Much He Leads
Chase Briscoe24 hours ago

Despite Strong Phoenix Record, Chase Briscoe Qualifies Inexplicably Poorly
NASCAR24 hours ago

Bubba Wallace's Phoenix Record Is Not Great
John Hunter Nemechek24 hours ago

Is Only A Cash-Game Consideration At Phoenix
Daniel Suarez24 hours ago

Seeks To Prove Himself At Phoenix After Embarrassing Austin Crash
Josh Berry24 hours ago

Could Run Well At Phoenix
Erik Jones24 hours ago

Qualifies Well At Phoenix But Rarely Finishes Well
Noah Gragson24 hours ago

The Most Underrated DFS Option
Shane Van Gisbergen24 hours ago

Likely Too Inexperienced To Run Well At Phoenix
Ricky Stenhouse Jr24 hours ago

. One Of The Weakest DFS Options
LeBron James1 day ago

Exits Saturday's Game Early With Groin Strain
Kristaps Porzingis1 day ago

To Miss Another Game
LeBron James1 day ago

Suiting Up Versus Boston
Jrue Holiday1 day ago

Returns On Saturday
Jakub Dobes2 days ago

Starts For Canadiens Saturday
Chris Kreider2 days ago

Returns To Action Saturday
Vitek Vanecek2 days ago

Ready For Panthers Debut Saturday
Jiri Kulich2 days ago

Misses Saturday's Contest Due To Illness
Carson Soucy2 days ago

Makes Rangers Debut Saturday
Cam York2 days ago

Sits Out Saturday's Game
Kevin Lankinen2 days ago

Stops 37 Shots On Friday
Mark Stone2 days ago

Tallies Goal, Two Helpers In Victory
Magomed Ankalaev3 days ago

Challenges For Light-Heavyweight Title At UFC 313
Alex Pereira3 days ago

Set For Fourth Title Defense
Rafael Fiziev3 days ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Justin Gaethje3 days ago

Set For A Rematch
Ignacio Bahamondes3 days ago

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Jalin Turner3 days ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Iasmin Lucindo3 days ago

Looks For Her Fifth Win In A Row
Amanda Lemos3 days ago

Looks To Return To Win Column At UFC 313
Mauricio Ruffy3 days ago

Returns To Action At UFC 313
King Green3 days ago

Opens Up UFC 313 Main Card
Sahith Theegala5 days ago

Looking To Keep Spark From Last Event Alive At Bay Hill
Robert MacIntyre5 days ago

An Interesting Play At Arnold Palmer Invitational
Max Homa5 days ago

Hoping His Course History At Bay Hill Can Help Turn Season Around
Tommy Fleetwood5 days ago

Looking To Get Back Into Good Graces At Bay Hill
Michael Kim5 days ago

One Of The Hottest Players In Golf Heading To Bay Hill
Xander Schauffele5 days ago

Making Long-Awaited Start Since Rib Injury At Bay Hill
Sepp Straka5 days ago

Needs Accuracy At Arnold Palmer Invitational
Collin Morikawa5 days ago

Looking For Better Form On And Around The Greens At Bay Hill
Justin Rose5 days ago

May Be Worth Avoiding This Week
Maverick McNealy5 days ago

Tries To Go One Step Further At Bay Hill
Shane Lowry5 days ago

Has Potential To Contend At Bay Hill
PGA5 days ago

Sungjae Im Trying To Snap Out Of Golfing Funk
Jacob Bridgeman5 days ago

Looking To Build Off Momentum At Arnold Palmer Invitational
Joe Highsmith5 days ago

Steps Up After Cognizant Classic Win
Max Greyserman5 days ago

Be Wary Of Max Greyserman At Bay Hill
Davis Thompson5 days ago

Very Iffy For Arnold Palmer Invitational
Tony Finau5 days ago

And Bay Hill Could Be A Battle
Cam Davis5 days ago

A Question Mark Heading To Arnold Palmer
Sam Burns5 days ago

Could Stick Around At Arnold Palmer
J.J. Spaun5 days ago

Could See Success At Bay Hill
PGA5 days ago

Byeong Hun An Seeks Answers And May Not Find Any
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Najee Harris - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Who Has the Most Fantasy Football Value to Gain and Lose in Free Agency

Free agency gets started later today with the legal tampering period. However, deals cannot be officially signed until Wednesday. Still, we won't have to wait long before news of future deals is reported. Not surprisingly, free agency can significantly impact fantasy football value. A good player can become a great one in the right system. […]


Luther Burden - College, NCAA, Draft, Prospects, CFB, Missouri

Best Fantasy Football Landing Spots for 2025 Rookie Wide Receivers: NFL Trades and Free Agency Impact

With the NFL Draft quickly approaching, the ramifications of where some of these players get selected will significantly impact their fantasy football value. In dynasty leagues, fantasy managers may not worry about landing spots as much because once you draft them in that kind of league, you have them for their entire career if you […]


Travis Hunter - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Draft Prospects, NFL Rookies

2025 NFL Mock Draft: Best Case Scenario for All 32 Teams

Predicting the first round of the NFL Draft is a futile exercise. The “best” mock drafts have a hit rate lower than Anthony Richardson's completion percentage, which probably explains why so many are floating about. Here, we won’t be trying to predict the future of the 2025 NFL Draft. Instead, we will be doing an […]


Chuba Hubbard - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Biggest Fantasy Football Running Back Breakouts: Top RBs to Target in 2025 Drafts

The 2024 fantasy football season is in the rearview mirror. While last year is in the past, it’s important to look back at the biggest busts, surprises, and storylines. Learning from the past is an excellent way to improve as a fantasy football player. Unfortunately, multiple big-name running backs busted in 2024 because of injury. […]


Caleb Williams - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

2025 Superflex Fantasy Football QB Sleepers: Best Late-Round Quarterbacks to Target

It is never too early to start looking ahead to 2025 fantasy football drafts. Whether you are participating in best ball formats this early in the offseason or just curious how fantasy drafts will go next season, you have come to the right place. RotoBaller will have you covered all offseason to get you ready […]


Jeremiah Smith - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

2025 Fantasy Football Devy Rankings: Top 10 College Prospects and Future NFL Stars

This time of year, the conversation about college football players mainly revolves around the NFL Combine and the upcoming NFL Draft. Our focus in the spring tends to be on players who'll soon be making their NFL debuts. But there are still a lot of talented players who'll remain in college in 2025. Whether you […]


Chris Godwin - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injuries, DFS

Is Chris Godwin A Free Agent? Which Teams Would Be The Best Fit? Fantasy Football Outlook

The NFL offseason is underway. We have already seen a few players on the move. Geno Smith and Deebo Samuel Sr. will be playing for new teams in 2025. With NFL free agency beginning this week, there are sure to be more moves coming. One such player is Chris Godwin. He is slated to test […]


Tank Bigsby - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire

Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Sneaky Running Backs with Workhorse Potential (2025)

Volume is the primary driver of running back scoring in fantasy football. There are a handful of RBs who can be highly efficient and, thus, score plenty of fantasy points, like the Miami Dolphins' De'Von Achane in 2023. But the majority of elite RB scorers get a ton of touches. Thus, predicting the backs who […]


Cam Ward - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

NFL Rookie Mock Draft And Deep Dive: 2025 Post-NFL Combine Fantasy Football 12-Team, Superflex/Two-QB

Dynasty fantasy football truly never sleeps. Thanks to the most dedicated fantasy managers out there, sites like RotoBaller can exist, always bringing you the latest up-to-date news about basically everything sports related, or in my case, telling you exactly who you should and shouldn't draft. Every year, consensus rankings for both rookies and startups are […]


Aaron Jones - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2025 NFL Running Back Free Agency Preview: Fantasy Football Impact and Player Outlooks

After suffering a fall from grace in perceived value in the early 2020s, running backs received a resurgence in 2024 due to the play of Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry. Both players demonstrated that elite running back play can still carry your team very far. In Barkley's case, that included a Super Bowl title. Barkley […]


Mark Andrews - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

2025 Fantasy Football TE Best Ball Rankings: Tight End Player Outlooks and Draft Strategy

While redraft fantasy football leagues are the most popular, best ball is quickly catching up. Casual players have come to love playing in best ball leagues, giving them a chance to scratch the offseason fantasy football itch. Much will change between today and the start of the regular season in six months. However, now is […]


Joe Mixon - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Best Dynasty Fantasy Football Buys: Aging Running Backs to Trade For Before the 2025 Season

Dynasty fantasy football leagues have this tendency to get all about the youth. You feel this constant pressure to get younger and younger, to hoard draft picks and build a team full of the NFL's newest players. Sometimes that approach is antithetical to the whole idea of winning a fantasy league, especially when everyone is doing […]


Brock Bowers - Fantasy Football Rankings, TE, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers

Dynasty Fantasy Football TE Rankings and 2025 Outlooks: Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, Sam LaPorta

The tight-end position is one of the trickiest to navigate, especially in dynasty fantasy football formats. It's small and top-heavy. Much of the scoring is volatile and influenced by touchdowns. The cream of the crop, however, can excel with or without touchdowns. A group of young tight ends, led by Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, and […]