Here's the 4.0 version of 11Alive Sports' Top 150 playmakers for the 2018 season (PPR leagues), with this countdown serving as an amalgamation of my positional rankings (listed here ... and here) and the composite overall rankings of various Web sites.
Caveat-wise, I don't anticipate the top 10 undergoing any substantive changes during the preseason, barring injury. However, if someone wants to draft Saquon Barkley over established superstars Todd Gurley, Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell, David Johnson, DeAndre Hopkins or Ezekiel Elliott ... then so be it.
It's a free country.
After all, rookies have claimed the last two NFL rushing titles (Zeke Elliott in 2016, Kareem Hunt in 2017), and Barkley certainly has the physical tools of a sustainable fantasy dynamo.
That said, from my perspective, it would still be foolish to bypass Gurley, Brown or Bell among the top three slots, even if tailbacks rarely post the most PPR points in back-to-back campaigns.
All three assets were genetically engineered for PPR scoring. So, don't let stubbornness stand in the way of no-brainer choices.
The running back rationale: We're absolutely splitting hairs between Bell (two-year average: 1,915 total yards, 10 TDs) and Gurley (2,093 yards, 19 TDs in 2017).
For Weeks 3-16 last season, Bell averaged six catches, 139 total yards and 0.9 touchdowns ... while Gurley owned absurd per-game tallies of four catches, 144 total yards and 1.2 TDs during that prolific span.
Spinning things forward, Gurley draws the seasonal edge, citing two reasons:
a) Bell might not be in 'football shape' for the first two weeks—similar to last year—if he waits until Labor Day to sign the franchise tag ($14.5 million).
b) The newly minted Gurley should get off to a fast start against the Raiders, Cardinals, Chargers (31st in rush defense last year), Vikings, Seahawks, Broncos, 49ers and Packers.
One last thing: Here's the updated PPR Spectacular after preseason Week 2.
With these two documents in hand, you should have no trouble dominating others with PPR drafts, while adhering to three prerequisites:
1) Do your homework before the draft, in terms of mock drafting at various slots.
2) Emphasize getting value at every turn.
3) TRY to implement the time-tested 4-2-1 strategy with PPR drafts, in terms of landing four high-end receivers, two targets-driven tailbacks and a high-caliber quarterback or tight end in the seven rounds (no discernible order of preference).
PPR: TOP 150 PLAYMAKING ASSETS
1-25
1. RB Todd Gurley, Rams
2. WR Antonio Brown, Steelers
3. RB Le'Veon Bell, Steelers
4. RB Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
5. RB David Johnson, Cardinals
6. WR DeAndre Hopkins, Texans
7. RB Kareem Hunt, Chiefs
8. RB Alvin Kamara, Saints
9. WR Odell Beckham Jr., Giants
10. RB Leonard Fournette, Jaguars
11. WR Julio Jones, Falcons
12. RB Devonta Freeman, Falcons
13. RB Melvin Gordon, Chargers
14. RB Saquon Barkley, Giants
15. TE Rob Gronkowski, Patriots
16. WR Michael Thomas, Saints
17. RB Christian McCaffrey, Panthers
18. WR Mike Evans, Buccaneers
19. WR Keenan Allen, Chargers
20. QB Aaron Rodgers, Packers
21. RB Dalvin Cook, Vikings
22. WR A.J. Green, Bengals
23. QB Deshaun Watson, Texans
24. WR Davante Adams, Packers
25. RB LeSean McCoy, Bills
26-50
26. WR Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
27. QB Cam Newton, Panthers
28. TE Travis Kelce, Chiefs
29. WR Adam Thielen, Vikings
30. WR Jarvis Landry, Browns
31. TE Zach Ertz, Eagles
32. RB Kenyan Drake, Dolphins
33. WR T.Y. Hilton, Colts
34. QB Russell Wilson, Seahawks
35. WR Golden Tate, Lions
36. QB Tom Brady, Patriots
37. WR Tyreek Hill, Chiefs
38. QB Carson Wentz, Eagles
39. RB Joe Mixon, Bengals
40. RB Jordan Howard, Bears
41. WR Brandin Cooks, Rams
42. QB Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
43. RB Derrick Henry, Titans
44. WR Amari Cooper, Raiders
45. WR Alshon Jeffery, Eagles
46. RB Jay Ajayi, Eagles
47. WR Stefon Diggs, Vikings
48. QB Matthew Stafford, Lions
49. WR Doug Baldwin, Seahawks
50. RB Jerick McKinnon, 49ers
51-75
51. TE Evan Engram, Giants
52. RB Alex Collins, Ravens
53. WR Corey Davis, Titans
54. TE Jimmy Graham, Packers
55. QB Kirk Cousins, Vikings
56. RB Marshawn Lynch, Raiders
57. WR Allen Robinson, Bears
58. WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers
59. RB Lamar Miller, Texans
60. QB Jared Goff, Rams
61. TE Greg Olsen, Panthers
62. WR Devin Funchess, Panthers
63. RB Tevin Coleman, Falcons
64. WR Demaryius Thomas, Broncos
65. RB Carlos Hyde, Browns
66. QB Philip Rivers, Chargers
67. RB Kerryon Johnson, Lions
68. QB Matt Ryan, Falcons
69. WR Michael Crabtree, Ravens
70. QB Drew Brees, Saints
71. RB Duke Johnson, Browns
72. RB Chris Thompson, Redskins
73. WR Pierre Garcon, 49ers
74. QB Andrew Luck, Colts
75. RB Sony Michel, Patriots
76-100
76. RB Rashaad Penny, Seahawks
77. WR Marvin Jones, Lions
78. RB Royce Freeman, Broncos
79. QB Marcus Mariota, Titans
80. WR Kelvin Benjamin, Bills
81. RB James White, Patriots
82. WR Robert Woods, Rams
83. QB Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers
84. TE Delanie Walker, Titans
85. WR Jamison Crowder, Redskins
86. RB Jamaal Williams, Packers
87. RB Mark Ingram, Saints
88. WR Robby Anderson, Jets
89. RB Ronald Jones, Buccaneers
90. WR Sterling Shepard, Giants
91. WR Chris Hogan, Patriots
92. TE Kyle Rudolph, Vikings
93. QB Alex Smith, Redskins
94. RB Dion Lewis, Titans
95. RB. Bilal Powell, Jets
96. WR Will Fuller, Texans
97. WR Sammy Watkins, Chiefs
98. WR Cooper Kupp, Rams
99. RB Nick Chubb, Browns
100. TE Trey Burton, Bears
101-125
101. QB Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
102. WR Jordy Nelson, Raiders
103. TE David Njoku, Browns
104. WR Mike Williams, Chargers
105. QB Dak Prescott, Cowboys
106. WR Marqise Lee, Jaguars
107. WR Julian Edelman, Patriots
108. RB Tarik Cohen, Bears
109. RB Marlon Mack, Colts
110. TE Jack Doyle, Colts
111. WR Marquise Goodwin, 49ers
112. WR Kenny Stills, Dolphins
113. QB Eli Manning, Giants
114. RB Theo Riddick, Lions
115. TE Cameron Brate, Buccaneers
116. QB Derek Carr, Raiders
117. RB Gio Bernard, Bengals
118. RB Nyheim Hines, Colts
119. RB Ty Montgomery, Packers
120. WR Allen Hurns, Cowboys
121. TE Austin Hooper, Falcons
122. WR Randall Cobb, Packers
123. WR Rishard Matthews, Titans
124. RB D'Onta Foreman, Texans
125. QB Jameis Winston, Buccaneers
126-150
126. WR Mohamed Sanu, Falcons
127. QB Case Keenum, Broncos
128. RB Devontae Booker, Broncos
129. TE George Kittle, 49ers
130. WR DeVante Parker, Dolphins
131. RB Corey Clement, Eagles
132. WR Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos
133. QB Mitchell Trubisky, Bears
134. WR Kenny Golladay, Lions
135. WR Calvin Ridley, Falcons
136. TE Hayden Hurst, Ravens
137. WR Cameron Meredith, Saints
138. RB Peyton Barber, Buccaneers
139. RB Frank Gore, Dolphins
140. RB Latavius Murray, Vikings
141. QB Tyrod Taylor, Browns
142. WR Christian Kirk, Cardinals
143. WR Torrey Smith, Panthers
144. QB Blake Bortles, Jaguars
145. WR D.J. Moore, Panthers
146. QB Sam Bradford, Cardinals
147. WR Tyler Lockett, Seahawks
148. WR James Washington, Steelers
149. QB Andy Dalton, Bengals
150. QB Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins
150b. RB Chris Warren, Raiders
150c. RB Samaje Perine/Adrian Peterson, Redskins
150d. WR John Brown, Ravens
Jay Clemons, the 2008 Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and 2015 Cynopsis Media award winner for "Sports Blog Of The Year," has previously served as the lead fantasy analyst for Sports Illustrated, FOX Sports South, Bleacher Report and Fanball.com.