If you're like me, you love PPR (point per reception) leagues. They're just more fun, and you can argue that such scoring systems highlight a player's full skill set. Theo Riddick might not be the sexiest runner in the NFL, but a player who catches 80 passes (tied for the league lead at the position) should have more value than a RB38 ... that's what he finished in standard leagues a season ago. If you count his catches, which is the strength of his game, Riddick rises to the RB18. I'd also argue that players and not defenses/special teams should be rewarded points for return yards and touchdowns, but that's another conversation.
Anyway, we held our first PPR mock here at NFL Media this week, and I landed the number one overall selection. As you'll read, I'm pretty pleased with the results.
Round 1, Pick 1: Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers - I am on the record stating that Le'Veon Bell would be my No. 1 overall pick in standard scoring formats. In PPR however, Brown is the main man to draft. Over the last three seasons, he's averaged 180 targets, 125 receptions and 10 touchdowns. Brown also finished first in fantasy points among wide receivers in each of the last two years.
Round 2, Pick 20: Mark Ingram, RB, Saints - I'm a huge fan of Ingram, and he'd be going much higher in mock drafts if it weren't for his proneness to injuries. Last season, the Alabama product proved that he's not just a between-the-tackles back with no pass-catching skills. In fact, he hauled in 50 passes in 12 games. If he can stay on then field for 14-16 games, watch out, fantasy owners.
Round 3, Pick 21: Alshon Jeffery, WR, Bears - Motivation can be a powerful thing in sports. Jeffery will be playing with plenty this season as the Bears decided to franchise him rather than sign him to a long-term extension. As a result, he'll be singing for his supper. In the nine games he played last season, Jeffery averaged a solid 10.4 targets and just under 90 yards.
Round 4, Pick 40: Dion Lewis, RB, Patriots - Lewis is coming off a major knee reconstruction, but all signs point to his return for the start of the regular season. Before going down, the veteran put up 36 catches in seven games as the best running back in New England's rotation. I'm projecting Lewis to catch between 50-60 passes in 2016, which would put him in the RB2 conversation.
Round 5, Pick 41: Eric Decker, WR, Jets - I took Decker as a No. 2 wideout in a previous mock draft, and I didn't love it with the current question marks at the quarterback position in New York. In this mock though, I landed the veteran as a No. 3 receiver ... that's something I'm much more comfortable with until the Jets re-sign Ryan Fitzpatrick (or decide to give the reins to Geno Smith).
Round 6, Pick 60: Thomas Rawls, RB, Seahawks - I admit that I'm a little worried about Rawls, who is coming back from an injured ankle and might not even see preseason work. I'm not so worried about him that I wouldn't pick him in the sixth as a No. 3 fantasy runner. If he comes back and puts up numbers like he did last season, this could end up being one of the steals of this mock draft.
Round 7, Pick 61: Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Broncos - Sanders does not have the same fantasy luster with the prospect of Mark Sanchez leading the Broncos offense. Sanchez has yet to produce a 1,000-yard receiver at the NFL level. Still, I will take a chance on Sanders in this case because he's the fourth wideout on my roster. If I'm wrong about Sanchez, then Sanders could be a terrific steal.
Round 8, Pick 80: Jeremy Hill, RB, Bengals - Sure, Hill loses some of his luster in PPR leagues due to the presence of Giovani Bernard. But what if I told you that in what was considered a down campaign, Hill still finished just 10.9 fantasy points behind Bernard in PPR formats in 2015? And what if I also told you he would be the fourth running back on your roster? Sign me up, friends.
Round 9, Pick 81: DeVante Parker, WR, Dolphins - Parker is one of the more popular sleeper/breakout candidates in fantasy football, so I was pleased to grab him in the ninth round. I'll need him to meet or exceed expectations, even more so if Decker is catching passes from Geno Smith. Dolphins coach Adam Gase will get the most out of this talented wide receiver in his second pro season.
Round 10, Pick 100 Tom Brady, QB, Patriots - Here's where my strategy kicks in. After focusing on running backs and wideouts in the first nine rounds, I still landed Brady to be my quarterback once he comes back from a four-game suspension. I don't know about you, but I think 12 games of Brady is better than 16 games from most NFL quarterbacks ... and he'll be ticked off upon his return.
Round 11, Pick 101: Gary Barnidge, TE, Browns - Barnidge broke out last season with better than 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns. He also caught 79 passes and finished fourth in fantasy points among tight ends in PPR formats. He's also a huge WWE fan and an all-around good dude, and I think he's a steal. Regression could be an issue, but the Browns aren't exactly loaded at receiver either.
Round 12, Pick 120: Eli Manning, QB, Giants - Manning has become quite the fantasy bargain, but still no one talks about how he's put up his best two statistical seasons under new head coach and offensive guru Ben McAdoo. Remember, the G-Men are going to be even better on offense in 2016. Victor Cruz (knee) is on pace to return and rookie Sterling Shepard is already drawing rave reviews.
Round 13, Pick 121: Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers - Gates might be long in the tooth, but how has his value not improved after the Chargers lost Ladarius Green to the Steelers? He wouldn't be the first Hall-of-Fame caliber tight end to put up nice totals towards the end of his career either. Tony Gonzalez, anyone? If Barnidge were to take a step back in the stat sheets, Gates can fill in.
Round 14, Pick 140: Graham Gano, K, Panthers - Gano finished second in fantasy points among kickers last season, trailing only Stephen Gostkowski at the position. He's also a fantasy owner himself, so why not take him as a No. 1 kicker? I don't subscribe to the notion that kickers are irrelevant in fantasy football. A good one can help you win games during the season.
Round 15, Pick 141: Broncos defense - The last two picks in your fantasy football drafts will almost always be a kicker and a defense (in some order), so I grabbed the best unit in the league from a season ago. Denver's D has finished first or second in fantasy points at the position twice since 2012, and you'd have to expect another stellar campaign this season based on their talent level.
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on NFL.com and NFL Network and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Have a burning question on anything fantasy related? Tweet it to _**@MichaelFabiano**_ or send a question via **Facebook**!
