10 PPR Running Backs to Target in Your 2017 Fantasy Football Draft
Chris Thompson, Washington Redskins
Standard Running Back Rank: 52
PPR Running Back Rank: 45
Average Draft Position (PPR): 14.03 (RB63)
It seems crazy that a running back who finished 12th in receptions at his position in 2016 would still be on the board in the 14th round of your PPR draft, but that's exactly what Chris Thompson represents.
Sure, he's buried on Washington's depth chart behind incumbent starting running back Rob Kelley and rookie Samaje Perine, but after Thompson set career-highs in nearly every counting statistic last season en route to 705 total yards and 5 touchdowns, head coach Jay Gruden has promised him a cemented role in the offense, even calling Thompson the best third-down back in football.
Thompson finished as the RB28 in PPR formats last season, and yet he's being drafted in the same round as uninspiring choices like Shane Vereen and Robert Turbin. Relegated primarily to third downs, Thompson saw 62 targets in 2016 -- a 10.21% market share of Washington's passing offense.
His Reception NEP per target was 0.38, which came in above league-average (0.34) and was better than fellow PPR studs Theo Riddick, Darren Sproles, and Bilal Powell -- all of whom are going ahead of Thompson in drafts.
We project Thompson for 41.60 receptions and 324.79 yards through the air this season, to go with 261.19 on the ground, and 3.48 total touchdowns. And even if he doesn't far exceed those numbers, he's already being criminally undervalued in PPR league drafts.
