Here's the 5.0 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.
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 Melvin Gordon, Chargers
13. RB Devonta Freeman, Falcons
14. RB Christian McCaffrey, Panthers
15. WR Michael Thomas, Saints
16. RB Saquon Barkley, Giants
17. TE Rob Gronkowski, Patriots
18. WR Mike Evans, Buccaneers
19. WR Keenan Allen, Chargers
20. RB Dalvin Cook, Vikings
21. WR A.J. Green, Bengals
22. QB Aaron Rodgers, Packers
23. QB Deshaun Watson, Texans
24. WR Davante Adams, Packers
25. WR Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
26-50
26. QB Cam Newton, Panthers
27. TE Travis Kelce, Chiefs
28. RB Kenyan Drake, Dolphins
29. WR Adam Thielen, Vikings
30. WR Jarvis Landry, Browns
31. TE Zach Ertz, Eagles
32. WR T.Y. Hilton, Colts
33. QB Russell Wilson, Seahawks
34. WR Golden Tate, Lions
35. QB Tom Brady, Patriots
36. WR Tyreek Hill, Chiefs
37. RB LeSean McCoy, Bills
38. RB Joe Mixon, Bengals
39. RB Jordan Howard, Bears
40. WR Brandin Cooks, Rams
41. RB Derrick Henry, Titans
42. WR Amari Cooper, Raiders
43. WR Stefon Diggs, Vikings
44. RB Jay Ajayi, Eagles
45. QB Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
46. WR Doug Baldwin, Seahawks
47. QB Carson Wentz, Eagles
48. QB Matthew Stafford, Lions
49. WR Corey Davis, Titans
50. RB Jerick McKinnon, 49ers
51-75
51. RB Alex Collins, Ravens
52. QB Kirk Cousins, Vikings
53. RB Marshawn Lynch, Raiders
54. WR Allen Robinson, Bears
55. WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers
56. RB Lamar Miller, Texans
57. TE Evan Engram, Giants
58. WR Alshon Jeffery, Eagles
59. TE Jimmy Graham, Packers
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 Rashaad Penny, Seahwaks
76-100
76. RB Royce Freeman, Broncos
77. WR Marvin Jones, Lions
78. RB James White, Patriots
79. QB Marcus Mariota, Titans
80. WR Kelvin Benjamin, Bills
81. RB Sony Michel, 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 Sammy Watkins, Chiefs
97. WR Will Fuller, Texans
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 Julian Edelman, Patriots
107. RB Tarik Cohen, Bears
108. RB Marlon Mack, Colts
109. TE Jack Doyle, Colts
110. WR Marquise Goodwin, 49ers
111. WR Donte Moncrief, Jaguars
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. WR Cameron Meredith, Saints
137. RB Peyton Barber, Buccaneers
138. WR Christian Kirk, Cardinals
139. RB Frank Gore, Dolphins
140. RB Latavius Murray, Vikings
141. QB Tyrod Taylor, Browns
142. WR Torrey Smith, Panthers
143. QB Blake Bortles, Jaguars
144. WR D.J. Moore, Panthers
145. QB Sam Bradford, Cardinals
146. WR Keelan Cole, Jaguars
147. WR James Washington, Steelers
148. QB Andy Dalton, Bengals
149. QB Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins
150. RB Samaje Perine/Adrian Peterson, Redskins
150b. WR John Brown, Ravens
150c. WR Chris Godwin, Buccaneers
150d. WR Dede Westbrook, Jaguars
150e. WR Tyler Lockett, Seahawks
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.
