2016 Fantasy Football Rankings: Standard PPR


We're constantly updating out Fantasy Football rankings here at CBS Sports, but it's not often we take the time in this space to explain why. Throughout the preseason I'll update you on the risers and fallers in our rankings as well as one outlier per week. The outlier will be a player I like (or dislike) more than Dave and Jamey.

Risers

Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints
Current WR Rank: Dave Richard 51st/Jamey Eisenberg 49th/Heath Cummings 44th

It was one thing when Thomas was making circus catches in practice and getting praised by virtually everyone at camp. Now that we've seen it in an actual preseason game, I'm moving him up even more.

Thomas is the favorite to fill the Marques Colston role in this offense, and if he's successful that profiles as a solid No.3 wide receiver. There are certainly questions if he can do that with Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead and Coby Fleener ahead of in in the pecking order for targets. That's why I haven't fully moved him into the the No. 3 range, but he's trending in that direction.

Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants
Current QB Rank: Dave Richard: 10th/Jamey Eisenberg 8th/Heath Cummings 7th

Sometimes it's the movement of other players that cause me to reevaluate my ranking of quarterbacks. That happened this preseason with Manning and Sterling Shepard. Shepard is a talented rookie receiver who has received high praise at training camp. Manning already had one of the top three wide receivers in Fantasy Football, so if Shepard provides him with a legitimate No. 2, the sky is the limit.

For me, Manning moves to the top of a tier of quarterbacks that is well behind the top six, but according to ADP, he's being drafted after the likes of Tom Brady, Blake Bortles and Ben Roethlisberger. With two solid weapons in the passing game (maybe three if Victor Cruz is healthy), Manning can match the upside of those three QBs while providing a significantly higher floor.

Sammie Coates, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Current WR Rank: Dave Richard 41st/Jamey Eisenberg 43rd/Heath Cummings 41st

I wrote plenty about Coates earlier this week, but it bears repeating. Much like Michael Thomas, Coates is a camp star with an elite QB. The main difference is that there may not be anyone left in Pittsburgh to compete with Coates for targets outside of Antonio Brown. With Le'Veon Bell out for the first four games Coates has an opportunity to establish himself as a Fantasy No. 2 wide receiver. I would expect him to fall back to a No. 3 once Bell returns, but by that point he may be a mainstay in your lineup.

Others Rising: Arian Foster, Marvin Jones

Fallers

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Current QB Rank: Dave Richard 12th/Jamey Eisenberg 10th/Heath Cummings 8th

In an odd way, a lot of the same things that are bumping Sammie Coates up in the rankings are severely limiting Roethlisberger's upside. He's still being drafted as top-five quarterback, and I just can't see that.

Roethlisberger has one of the best receivers in the game, but after that the pickings are awfully slim. This is a quarterback who could threaten the top three if he actually played 16 games and had all of his weapons at his disposal. That is not the case at all. I've left him at No. 8 in my rankings for now, on the hope that Sammie Coates flashes more of the potential we've been hearing about from practice. If not, he'll be a borderline No. 1 QB.

Matt Forte, RB, New York Jets
Current RB Rank: Dave Richard 20th/Jamey Eisenberg 22nd/Heath Cummings 25th

The history of running backs changing teams this late in their careers is pretty checkered, as is the general history of running backs after 30. Both of those things had me skittish about Forte already, but reports that he's be splitting running duties with Bilal Powell and injury problems early in camp have lowered him even further.

In PPR leagues Forte still has a lot of potential, but even that is mitigated by the presence of Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker on the outside. In standard leagues it's difficult for me to see him putting up a large number of yards or touchdowns. Without that upside, and with the downside of an older back changing teams, I can't see drafting Forte in the top 24 backs.

Golden Tate, WR, Detroit Lions
Current WR Rank: Dave Richard 21st/Jamey Eisenberg 24th/Heath Cummings 31st

When Calvin Johnson announced his retirement, a lot of people were quick to cite Tate's performance in Johnson's absence. The problem with that was assuming the Lions wouldn't upgrade the rest of their receivers. Boy, did they. Marvin Jones was brought in as an outside/deep threat and quickly developed rapport with Matthew Stafford. The team also added Anquan Boldin, who is a threat to Tate's PPR value.

I don't necessarily buy the news that Jones will be the team's No. 1. That's because I don't think the team has a true No. 1. They have a very nice collection of weapons who complement each other very well. That's great for the team, and specifically Matthew Stafford, but it isn't great for Tate. He will still lead the team in targets and receptions but he won't have the yardage or touchdown production to make him a Fantasy No. 2 in standard leagues.

Others Falling: Ladarius Green, C.J. Prosise

Outlier

Latavius Murray, RB, Oakland Raiders
Current RB Rank: Dave Richard 13th/Jamey Eisenberg 14th/Heath Cummings 8th

Murray is a back who is falling into the late third round, so Dave and Jamey are certainly in line with public perception. I just think everyone is selling him short.

The Raiders have improved their offensive line and defense, which in theory should make the running game more efficient. Any improvement on Murray's 4.0 YPC and 6 TD would be huge assuming his volume stays the same. The only threat to that volume is rookie running back DeAndre Washington, who I think is better suited as a third down/scat back . Washington is still behind Taiwan Jones on the depth chart, so I see no reason to be concerned at this point.

Murray finished 10th among running backs in a down year largely because of volume. I could definitely see a situation where he loses 10-15 receptions, but I don't see any reason to believe he'll have less than 260 carries. It's also possible he'll have more if the Raiders' improvements lead to more fourth quarter drives with the lead. In that scenario, Murray has the chance to make a run at a top 5 season. At the very least he's the safest running back you can draft in his range.