This will likely be the only set of non-PPR rankings I publish before the season, but the 2017 Rotoworld Fantasy Football Draft Guide offers constantly updated rankings in all scoring formats with statistical projections and tiers from Rich Hribar. It is a comprehensive resource to get yourself up to speed on fantasy stats, facts, and notes, and decide before your draft who you’ll be targeting and avoiding.
Because non-PPR leagues are so driven by fickle touchdowns, these rankings favor players with strong touchdown-scoring resumes and/or avenues toward experiencing 2017 touchdown-scoring spikes.
1. David Johnson (RB1) – Johnson has scored 25 all-purpose touchdowns in 21 career starts.
2. Le’Veon Bell (RB2) – Le’Veon has scored 15 all-purpose touchdowns over his last 21 starts.
3. Antonio Brown (WR1) – Double-digit TDs 3 straight years with WR1, WR1, WR3 finishes.
4. Melvin Gordon (RB3) – Workhorse in good offense. 3rd in NFL in RZ carries (50) last season.
5. Julio Jones (WR2) – Top-10 WR in 4 of last 5 years. New OC vows to increase Julio’s RZ targets.
6. Odell Beckham (WR3) – Moved down two slots after high ankle sprain in 2nd preseason game.
7. Jordy Nelson (WR4) – We can worry about his age, but he’s still Aaron Rodgers’ No. 1 receiver.
8. Mike Evans (WR5) – Including college, has scored 12 TDs in 3 of last 4 football-playing seasons.
9. A.J. Green (WR6) – Double-digit TDs in 3 of last 5 seasons. WR1 overall before injury last year.
10. Michael Thomas (WR7) – Last year’s non-PPR WR9 should ascend further post-Brandin Cooks.
11. LeSean McCoy (RB4) – Getting cold feet with Bills prioritizing building for future over present.
12. DeMarco Murray (RB5) – Last year’s overall RB4 has elite line play & dual-threat quarterback.
13. Devonta Freeman (RB6) – Tied for 3rd in NFL in RZ carries & led Falcons in RZ targets in 2016.
14. Rob Gronkowski (TE1) – One of small handful of players with 15+ TDs in range of outcomes.
15. Dez Bryant (WR8) – Cowboys will be throwing more this year. NFL’s premier TD-scoring WR.
16. Jay Ajayi (RB7) – Missed 2+ weeks of camp with concussion. Concerning interior OL situation.
17. Todd Gurley (RB8) – Confidence level rising with Rams showing some preseason promise.
18. Jordan Howard (RB9) – Risky second-round pick on bad team with uncertain pass-game usage.
19. Doug Baldwin (WR9) – Including playoffs, has scored 22 touchdowns over his last 28 games.
20. Isaiah Crowell (RB10) – High-floor running back pick with questionable ceiling on the Browns.
21. Leonard Fournette (RB11) – Big bellcow potential. Has battled foot injuries for a full year now.
22. Amari Cooper (WR10) – Safe bet for WR2 production at worst with 3rd-year leap possibilities.
23. T.Y. Hilton (WR11) – Andrew Luck’s health a big concern. If no Luck, falls to fringe WR3 play.
24. Larry Fitzgerald (WR12) – So grossly undervalued you can get him 4th/5th round every time.
25. Demaryius Thomas (WR13) – One of this year’s highest-floor WRs. Bubble screens are back.
26. Terrelle Pryor (WR14) – Top-5 overall WR ceiling in Redskins’ hyper-efficient passing offense.
27. Brandin Cooks (WR15) – By all accounts, ripping up camp. High ceiling if he clicks with Brady.
28. Dalvin Cook (RB12) – True every-down RB this preseason. 4th-softest run-defense schedule.
29. Lamar Miller (RB13) – Disappointed in 2016 bellcow role. Texans want to scale back his volume.
30. Mark Ingram (RB14) – The RB9 in non-PPR per-game scoring in ’15. Last year’s overall RB10.
31. Carlos Hyde (RB15) – Has run away with 49ers RB job. Contract year in Shanahan’s scheme.
32. Marshawn Lynch (RB16) – Littered with red flags but TD upside hard to ignore in non-PPR.
33. Allen Robinson (WR16) – Led NFL in TD catches (14) in ’15. In contract year after rough ’16.
34. Alshon Jeffery (WR17) – Jordan Matthews deal helps, locking in Alshon as clear top target.
35. Martavis Bryant (WR18) – On track for full reinstatement. Has 16 TDs in 23 career games.
36. Keenan Allen (WR19) – Snake-bitten WR has 116/1,217/8 receiving line over last 16 games.
37. DeAndre Hopkins (WR20) – Has 7 TDs over his last 25 games with continued QB concerns.
38. Aaron Rodgers (QB1) – The overall QB1 scorer in 4 of last 8 years. Added Martellus Bennett.
39. Ezekiel Elliott (RB17) – Ineligible to play until Week 8. Let someone else draft in first 3 rounds.
40. Travis Kelce (TE2) – Averaged 90.6 yards/game w/o Maclin in ’16. Hasn’t been big TD scorer.
41. Tyreek Hill (WR21) – 12 TDs despite only 85 offensive touches as a rookie. Lighting up camp.
42. Kelvin Benjamin (WR22) – Offers double-digit TD upside. A perfect target in non-PPR drafts.
43. Jordan Reed (TE3) – On active/PUP with toe sprain but all signs point to return before Week 1.
44. Tom Brady (QB2) – Last year’s overall QB3 in fantasy points/game adds Cooks, healthy Gronk.
45. Michael Crabtree (WR23) – Has 36 red-zone targets to Amari Cooper’s 20 the past two years.
46. Joe Mixon (RB18) – Only matter of time before he takes over, but at some risk of slow start.
47. Greg Olsen (TE4) – Effectively Cam’s No. 1 WR. Top-six fantasy tight end in 5 straight years.
48. Golden Tate (WR24) – Preferable in PPR but TD window has opened w/ Anquan Boldin gone.
49. Davante Adams (WR25) – Primed for TD regression with Cobb healthy, Martellus at tight end.
50. Christian McCaffrey (RB19) -- Flashy open-field playmaker with uncertain red-zone role.
51. Adrian Peterson (RB20) – Old but high TD ceiling.
52. Stefon Diggs (WR26) - Already elite route runner.
53. Emmanuel Sanders (WR27) – Better with Siemian.
54. Jarvis Landry (WR28) – Doesn’t score enough TDs.
55. Jamison Crowder (WR29) - Led WAS in RZ targets.
56. Spencer Ware (RB21) -- Pushed by Kareem Hunt.
57. Sammy Watkins (WR30) – Still mostly a fade for me, but LAR offense making some progress.
58. Drew Brees (QB3) – Has 10 games indoors with just one potential bad-weather game on slate.
59. Brandon Marshall (WR31) – How much does Marshall have left? How much does Eli have left?
60. Jimmy Graham (TE5) – Top-4 fantasy TE 5 of last 6 years. Further removed from knee injury.
61. Ty Montgomery (RB22) -- Has had discouraging August with fumbles and lower-leg injuries.
62. Darren McFadden (RB23) – Averaged 20.8 touches per game in 11 starts for Cowboys in 2015.
63. Doug Martin (RB24) – Suspended until Week 4. Has clearly been Bucs best RB in preseason.
64. Pierre Garcon (WR32) – Volume-driven fantasy pick seems likely to struggle to score TDs.
65. Julian Edelman (WR33) – Averages 8.8 targets/game with Gronk active; 11.6 without Gronk.
66. Willie Snead (WR34) – Safe-floor pick has scored just 7 touchdowns through 30 career starts.
67. Jeremy Maclin (WR35) – Ravens have led NFL in pass attempts two straight years. Their WR1.
68. DeVante Parker (WR36) – Flashed big-play chemistry with Jay Cutler in 2nd preseason game.
69. Kyle Rudolph (TE6) – Led all NFL tight ends in targets (132) & red-zone targets (24) last year.
70. Tyler Eifert (TE7) – Quintessential non-PPR tight end has scored 18 TDs over his last 21 games.
71. DeSean Jackson (WR37) – High-volatility fantasy investment trades spikes with weekly duds.
72. C.J. Anderson (RB25) – I’ve warmed up to Anderson some, but situation around him is poor.
73. Tevin Coleman (RB26) – 12 TDs on 238 career touches. League winner if Freeman goes down.
74. Danny Woodhead (RB27) – Has been top-25 non-PPR back in each of his last 3 healthy years.
75. Ameer Abdullah (RB28) – Breakout candidate needs to win RZ role over Lions bigger backs.
76. Mike Gillislee (RB29) -- Finally back in practice after hamstring woes but usage/role unclear.
77. Rex Burkhead (RB30) – Burkhead has looked like the Patriots’ feature back this preseason.
78. Eric Decker (WR38) – Top-30 fantasy WR in four straight years before injury-ruined 2016.
79. Tyrell Williams (WR39) – Mike Williams’ injury locks in Tyrell as Chargers vertical/RAC WR.
80. LeGarrette Blount (RB31) -- Preseason faller has looked out of place in Eagles offense.
81. Randall Cobb (WR40) – Has stunk last two years, but cheap way to get Rodgers exposure.
82. Cameron Meredith (WR41) – Emerged as Bears best WR last year. Continued QB concerns.
83. Derrick Henry (RB32) – Tantalizing fantasy pick needs severe DeMarco Murray injury to hit.
84. Bilal Powell (RB33) – Horrendous offense limits Powell’s upside, but volume should be there.
85. Donte Moncrief (WR42) – 12 TDs in last 15 starts with Luck. Like all Colts, needs Luck healthy.
86. Russell Wilson (QB4) – Major positive-regression candidate after injury-plagued ’16 season.
87. Delanie Walker (TE8) – With Mariota at QB, has finished 6th & 4th among TEs in RZ targets.
88. Martellus Bennett (TE9) – Top-10 fantasy TE in 3 of last 4 years now gets Aaron Rodgers.
89. Kareem Hunt (RB34) – Made big move in Chiefs’ 2nd preseason game. Pushing S. Ware.
90. Corey Davis (WR43) – Missing time with hamstring strain. Highest ceiling among Titans WRs.
91. Kenny Britt (WR44) – Topped 1,000 yards with Case Keenum & Jared Goff at quarterback.
92. Zach Ertz (TE10) – Jordan Matthews trade helps. Ertz now Wentz’s top middle-field target.
93. Jonathan Stewart (RB35) – Will maintain big role. Probable favorite for Panthers GL carries.
94. Terrance West (RB36) – Favorite to lead Ravens in carries with Kenneth Dixon out for year.
95. Jacquizz Rodgers (RB37) – Will be Bucs lead runner in Weeks 1-3 (@ MIA, vs. CHI, @ MIN).
96. Paul Perkins (RB38) – Penciled in as Giants lead RB. Having quiet training camp/preseason.
97. Thomas Rawls (RB39) – Beating out Eddie Lacy. Led NFL in yards/carry when healthy in ’15.
98. Frank Gore (RB40) – Turbin, Mack real threats to his usage. C Ryan Kelly out til midseason.
99. Adam Thielen (WR45) – Vikings top WR in yards/target and QB rating when thrown to in ’16.
100. Ted Ginn (WR46) – Running ahead of Snead in 2-WR sets. Smart priority late-round pick.
101. Cam Newton (QB5) – Bet he regresses positively after career-worst year. Overall QB1 upside.
102. Matt Ryan (QB6) -- Will regress after career year but still high-floor QB1 with top-5 ceiling.
103. Marcus Mariota (QB7) – Last year’s overall QB4 through Week 12 has major WR upgrades.
104. John Brown (WR49) – WR21 overall in 2015 non-PPR scoring has continued health concerns.
105. Rob Kelley (RB41) – JAG early-down grinder maintains lead, for now, on Samaje Perine.
106. Eddie Lacy (RB42) – Losing job to Rawls. Trains with P90X, not an NFL workout regimen.
107. Tyler Lockett (WR47) – Failed breakout candidate’s ADP is 7+ rounds lower than last year.
108. Mike Wallace (WR48) – Has finished as a top-30 non-PPR receiver in 7-of-8 NFL seasons.
109. Theo Riddick (RB43) – Severely depressed value in non-PPR, but remains viable flex option.
110. Marvin Jones (WR50) – Continued emergence of Kenny Golladay is a concern for Jones.
111. Corey Coleman (WR51) – Can he put it together? DeShone Kizer throws a great deep ball.
112. Kirk Cousins (QB8) – Top-8 fantasy QB in consecutive years due for positive-TD regression.
113. Andrew Luck (QB9) – Increasing concern he’ll miss multiple games to begin 2017 season.
114. Ben Roethlisberger (QB10) – Averages 60.9 more passing yds/game when Martavis plays.
115. Dak Prescott (QB11) – Expect significant volume spike as Cowboys regress, Zeke sits out.
116. Derek Carr (QB12) – Highly favorable Weeks 1-3 schedule: at Titans, vs. Jets, at Redskins.
117. Jameis Winston (QB13) – Expect climb in efficiency, but Bucs are run-committed offense.
118. Eric Ebron (TE11) – Including college, Ebron has never scored more than 5 TDs in a season.
119. Hunter Henry (TE12) – Antonio Gates’ continued presence hurts Henry’s breakout chances.
120. Jack Doyle (TE13) – Efficient possession target led all tight ends in catch rate (78.7%) in ’16.
121. Rishard Matthews (WR52) – Likely to open season as a starter due to Corey Davis’ injury.
122. J.J. Nelson (WR53) – 4.28 speedster has 19.3 YPR average and 8 TDs through 2 NFL seasons.
123. Josh Doctson (WR54) – Finally overcame hamstring woes to play in 2nd preseason game.
124. Sterling Shepard (WR55) – Giants addition of Brandon Marshall limits Shepard to role player.
125. Philip Rivers (QB14) – Great weapons. Plays KC, NYG, NE, JAX, DEN twice in 6 of first 9 games.
126. Andy Dalton (QB15) – Mouthwatering weapons. Unideal start versus BAL, HOU in Weeks 1-2.
127. Matthew Stafford (QB16) – Safe-floor late-round QB lacks ceiling of passers ranked over him.
128. Carson Palmer (QB17) – Bounce-back candidate had 19:9 TD/INT ratio in Weeks 8-17 last yr.
129. Jamaal Williams (RB44) – Second in line for Packers RB work should Ty Montgomery falter.
130. Samaje Perine (RB45) – Rebounded from disastrous preseason opener with good 2nd game.
131. Jonathan Williams (RB46) – Karlos Williams, Gillislee both had standalone value as Bills RB2.
132. Kevin White (WR56) – Probable bust, but White did average 9.0 targets per game last year.
133. Chris Carson (RB47) -- Seventh-round rookie has been Seahawks best back this preseason.
134. Kenny Golladay (WR57) – T.J. Jones hamstring pull should vault Golladay onto first team.
135. Eli Manning (QB18) – Can upgraded weapons save him? Eli looked washed up last season.
136. Carson Wentz (QB19) – High-volume QB as rookie needs new weapons to spike efficiency.
137. Zay Jones (WR58) -- Rookie starter in Bills offense that could become dysfunctional quickly.
138. Coby Fleener (TE14) – Will light flip on in year two with Saints? Still has an ideal TE situation.
139. James White (RB48) – Limited non-PPR value as passing-game back, but playing for NE helps.
140. Darren Sproles (RB49) – Likely to play highest snap percentage among Eagles RBs this year.
141. C.J. Prosise (RB50) – Seahawks seem to view him as niche back, not feature RB contender.
142. Giovani Bernard (RB51) – Bengals best stylistic complement to Mixon. Low non-PPR ceiling.
143. Jason Witten (TE15) – DAL pass volume will rise. Should have positive TD regression coming.
144. Austin Hooper (TE16) – Breakout candidate in great offense coming off efficient rookie year.
145. Duke Johnson (RB52) – Ran WR routes in CLE preseason opener. Maintains low TD ceiling.
146. Devin Funchess (WR59) – Locked in w/ Panthers 1st team. Has 10 TDs on 59 career catches.
147. Robert Turbin (RB53) – Efficient RZ producer last year looks headed for increased 2017 role.
148. Tyrod Taylor (QB20) – Took big hit with Sammy Watkins trade. Job security now in doubt?
149. Jordan Matthews (WR60) – Early-season chemistry a concern after training camp trade.
150. Josh Gordon (WR61) – Worthy of a late-round dart throw in pre-September fantasy drafts.
