As we continue our list of the top 101 fantasy football PPR players of 2017 we see three players who are in familiar situations.
When you boil it down, fantasy football is about one thing: predictions. How will a player function with a new team, new offensive coordinator and/or new quarterback? Will he be better in year two? Will he start to decline now that he's in his 30s? Successfully answering all of these questions are impossible. Yet, when a player finds himself in a familiar situation, it's easier to make a plausible prediction about his future success.
One way or another, all three of these players on the list today find themselves in very familiar situations. Using their past performances should help owners get an idea how they'll perform in 2017.
To be clear, the top 101 PPR players are for re-draft leagues only. Here's a look at players ranked No. 50-48:
Oct 2, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen (88) catches a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of their game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 48-33. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
50. Greg Olsen, TE – Carolina Panthers
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Panthers tight end Greg Olsen is constantly overlooked and undervalued in fantasy football. He's not as fast as Redskins tight end Jordan Reed. He's not as athletic as Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. He's not flashy. What he is, however, is consistent and reliable.
Since the Chicago Bears traded Olsen to the Panthers (For a third-round pick? Seriously, Chicago?), Olsen has not missed a regular season game in six straight seasons. He has five straight seasons with 100+ targets and three straight seasons with 1,000 receiving yards. He has been a top-five PPR tight end or better since 2014 and a top-seven PPR tight end or better since 2012.
The Panthers did add a couple of offensive weapons in Christian McCaffrey and Curtis Samuel in this year's NFL Draft so the offense won't look exactly as it did in 2016. Yet, I'm willing to bet Cam Newton will continue to use Olsen as his security blanket. Will Olsen ever be fantasy football's No.1 PPR tight end? Most likely not but he should make a run as a top-three tight end for the fourth straight season.
Dec 25, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) runs for a touchdown during the first half of the game against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
49. Tyreek Hill, WR – Kansas City Chiefs
This time last year Tyreek Hill did not garner any attention from fantasy football owners. The fifth-round rookie was merely another name in a long list of players owners wanted nothing to do with. Then the actual season played out. Despite only catching 61 passes, Hill finished 2016 as the 25th PPR wide receiver. Hill was the definition of a "weapon" last year as he scored at least one touchdown as a receiver, running back, kick returner and punt returner.
Going into 2017, Hill moved up the depth chart as the team's No.1 wide receiver with the release of Jeremy Maclin. With Hill's promotion, he's virtually a lock for 100+ targets after seeing 83 a season ago. However due to his promotion, Hill will now see less time as a returner. According to Terez A. Paylor from The Kansas City Star, Hill will not be returning kickoffs and could see fewer punt return opportunities. Last season three of Hill's 12 touchdowns came on special teams.
More offensive touches and less special team touches for a player who isn't a polished wide receiver. There's reasons to love Hill this year, but there's also reasons to think he's being overvalued. Based on his electrifying play last year and his expected uptick in touches, he worth the gamble.
Oct 19, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garcon (88) scores on a 70 yard touchdown catch and run against the Tennessee Titans during the second half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
48. Pierre Garcon, WR – San Francisco 49ers
At first this might not look like a familiar situation for Pierre Garcon. He spent the last five years with the Washington Redskins and this is his first year with the San Francisco 49ers. The familiar part is not the team. Instead, it's the offense.
Garcon will be reuniting with his former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. Back in 2013 when Shanahan was running the Redskins offense, Garcon led the NFL in receptions (113) and finished with 1,346 receiving yards. He finished the season as the 11th PPR wide receiver. In case you didn't know, No. 1 wide receivers have a long history of succeeding in Shanahan's offense (You can see more evidence of that here).
Garcon is projected to be a target and reception monster in the 49ers offense. Is he the best wide receiver in the NFL? Not even close. Heck, he's not even top-10. However, his situation is one of the best in the NFL. Garcon is a player I'm heavily targeting this season. If I see him in the sixth round, I won't hesitate to take him. Depending on roster construction and draft-flow for certain leagues, I might even consider him at the end of the fifth round just to ensure I get him.
