Notes

Welcome to my initial 2019 PPR draft rankings. For our position by position rankings, check out the 2019 Rankings page, complete with writeups on every player. I’ve excluded kickers and defenses from these rankings, as I always draft them in the final two rounds.

For now, I’ve left RB Ezekiel Elliott in his original pre-holdout spot. I wouldn’t fault you for moving RB Alvin Kamara ahead of him to avoid the headache, but I’m ultimately confident the Cowboys will work something out with their franchise running back.

in his original pre-holdout spot. I wouldn’t fault you for moving RB ahead of him to avoid the headache, but I’m ultimately confident the Cowboys will work something out with their franchise running back. My primary goal when picking towards the end of the first round would be to find a way to land either James Conner or Joe Mixon at running back, paired with one of either Michael Thomas , Tyreek Hill , Odell Beckham Jr. , or JuJu Smith-Schuster as your WR1. In some drafts, it may make more sense to pick one of the wide receivers first, while in other drafts you may need to take one of the running backs first. Don’t fall too in love with any of this group, they are all in the same tier and likely won’t disappoint. And if you miss out on both Conner and Mixon, a two wide receiver start from this group is appealing as well.

or at running back, paired with one of either , , , or as your WR1. In some drafts, it may make more sense to pick one of the wide receivers first, while in other drafts you may need to take one of the running backs first. Don’t fall too in love with any of this group, they are all in the same tier and likely won’t disappoint. And if you miss out on both Conner and Mixon, a two wide receiver start from this group is appealing as well. RB Todd Gurley may be too high for the risk he presents. But the thought of pairing him with RB David Johnson or one of the elite top four running backs is enticing. I’ve yet to pull the trigger on Gurley in drafts, however, so I wouldn’t fault anyone for passing on the headache.

may be too high for the risk he presents. But the thought of pairing him with RB or one of the elite top four running backs is enticing. I’ve yet to pull the trigger on Gurley in drafts, however, so I wouldn’t fault anyone for passing on the headache. Eventually, we will pass a point of no return on the Melvin Gordon holdout, and I’ll be forced to drop him further. For now, I’m dropping him to the bottom of tier two. It’s worth noting though that Gordon was a borderline tier one player before the holdout, and would immediately climb the rankings if a compromise is made with the Chargers.

holdout, and I’ll be forced to drop him further. For now, I’m dropping him to the bottom of tier two. It’s worth noting though that Gordon was a borderline tier one player before the holdout, and would immediately climb the rankings if a compromise is made with the Chargers. I’m pushing RB Aaron Jones up my ranks aggressively because I’ve been conducting the hype train all offseason, and he’s beginning to go earlier and earlier in drafts. Jones is certainly not without risk, as he’s had a history of MCL sprains. But I think Jones has big-time upside, and I just flat out like him more than the running backs going behind him. When in doubt, I’ll generally favor a running back over a receiver as well, putting him at the top of tier three.

up my ranks aggressively because I’ve been conducting the hype train all offseason, and he’s beginning to go earlier and earlier in drafts. Jones is certainly not without risk, as he’s had a history of MCL sprains. But I think Jones has big-time upside, and I just flat out like him more than the running backs going behind him. When in doubt, I’ll generally favor a running back over a receiver as well, putting him at the top of tier three. The release of RB Theo Riddick bumps RB Kerryon Johnson further up my ranks, as he looks primed for a bigger role with the more valuable passing game work squarely on his shoulders. He’s a great consolation prize for those who don’t reach on Aaron Jones.

bumps RB further up my ranks, as he looks primed for a bigger role with the more valuable passing game work squarely on his shoulders. He’s a great consolation prize for those who don’t reach on Aaron Jones. I’ll likely never draft QB Patrick Mahomes , so this rank is more of a place-holder than anything. I could see the appeal for him at 36 as the elite tiers have been exhausted, but my late-round quarterback tendencies will cause me to miss out on Mahomes in all leagues. I have no doubt that he will have a great season, however.

, so this rank is more of a place-holder than anything. I could see the appeal for him at 36 as the elite tiers have been exhausted, but my late-round quarterback tendencies will cause me to miss out on Mahomes in all leagues. I have no doubt that he will have a great season, however. Tier four is the last tier of relatively wart-free running backs. Past this point, you’ll have to deal with timeshares, a lack of pass-game work, and pass-catching backs that will never be a three-down option for their team.

I haven’t completely given up on RB Kenyan Drake due to a few weeks of RB Kalen Ballage hype, but it is concerning. Still, Drake was able to produce as an RB2 last year in a timeshare, and if he maintains his valuable pass-catching role he could still serve as a valuable floor play.

due to a few weeks of RB hype, but it is concerning. Still, Drake was able to produce as an RB2 last year in a timeshare, and if he maintains his valuable pass-catching role he could still serve as a valuable floor play. Tier six is where quarterbacks and tight ends realistically enter my radar. They get overshadowed by RB Darrell Henderson and RB Miles Sanders , who are certainly home run swings that could look like poor choices in retrospect. But the upside is undeniable, and the hype will likely grow with each preseason highlight. Make sure to be on top of the ADP for these two, and try not to reach too far to take them.

and RB , who are certainly home run swings that could look like poor choices in retrospect. But the upside is undeniable, and the hype will likely grow with each preseason highlight. Make sure to be on top of the ADP for these two, and try not to reach too far to take them. I love taking Will Fuller as my WR3 so far this year. He’s an injury risk, but as your third wideout, you aren’t depending on him either. There are enough value wideouts this year that you can fill out your roster with plenty of solid depth players to cover for his risk.

as my WR3 so far this year. He’s an injury risk, but as your third wideout, you aren’t depending on him either. There are enough value wideouts this year that you can fill out your roster with plenty of solid depth players to cover for his risk. WR A.J. Green could represent a huge value if he returns earlier than expected. I just know that betting on quick injury returns from Bengals players has burned me plenty of times before. You’ve been warned.

could represent a huge value if he returns earlier than expected. I just know that betting on quick injury returns from Bengals players has burned me plenty of times before. You’ve been warned. Wide Receivers Curtis Samuel and Keke Coutee are intriguing breakout candidates that I would like to come out of drafts with, but thus far in mocks, I’ve been beaten to the punch on them.

and are intriguing breakout candidates that I would like to come out of drafts with, but thus far in mocks, I’ve been beaten to the punch on them. If I can get QB Kyler Murray in the 8th rounds of drafts I will likely be pulling the trigger. He possesses a rare combination of passing volume and rushing volume upside. Plenty could go wrong, but we should be chasing breakout players at the quarterback position, as we can always fall back onto streaming if needed.

in the 8th rounds of drafts I will likely be pulling the trigger. He possesses a rare combination of passing volume and rushing volume upside. Plenty could go wrong, but we should be chasing breakout players at the quarterback position, as we can always fall back onto streaming if needed. Later in drafts, unless we’ve followed a zero running back strategy and need safe players at the position, we should be taking shots on running backs in elite offenses who could breakout with a bigger role. Players like running backs Ito Smith, Carlos Hyde, Damien Harris, Justin Jackson, Jamaal and Dexter Williams, Darwin Thompson, and D’Onta Foreman should be on your radar.

(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)