Fantasy WR PPR Rankings 2022: Best wide receivers, top sleepers & breakouts in fantasy football drafts

While there isn’t quite the same deviation between PPR and standard scoring when it comes to the wide receiver position, understanding how a player might perform in both leagues is crucial to your draft strategy. The top tier still features guys like Cooper Kupp, Justin Jefferson, and Ja’Marr Chase, who are still likely to be the best players in both formats. However, boom-or-bust receivers and late-round sleeper candidates could definitely see more variance when factoring in full-point or half-point reception scoring. Our 2022 fantasy WR PPR rankings highlight those players, as well as wideouts who might be in line for more consistent fantasy seasons.

Last season, Davante Adams finished as the No. 5 WR in standard league formats (221.3 points). In PPR formats, Adams finished as the No. 2 receiver (344.3 points) due to seeing an average of 10.6 targets per game (third in NFL) and commanding a 31.6-percent target share in the Packers offense. In formats that don’t reward receptions, it’s easy to see why he fell from second overall in scoring to fifth, and it’s possible he falls further this year on a new team with established target hogs Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow.

2022 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers | Top 200 | Superflex

On the flip side, Tee Higgins was up seven spots in standard compared to PPR. Hauling in just 74 passes (29th in NFL) while running with a deep Bengals WR corps, Higgins’ PPR ceiling was limited. Higgins made up for that with an average of 14.7 yards per catch (18th in NFL), maximizing his touches and leading to a better overall output in standard scoring formats.

In PPR formats specifically, target share and how pass-heavy an offense is can play a big part in a receiver’s overall output. Players who command a high target share are invaluable, regardless of their big-play ability. Route-running technicians who command volume are the most reliable in PPR, especially if they are explosive downfield receivers.

2022 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers | Top 200 | Superflex

However, there are players who are explosive downfield receivers who aren’t going to see a large number of receptions — Mike Williams, DK Metcalf, etc. Of course, they are still valuable to a roster, but not in the same way reception beasts like Diontae Johnson, Keenan Allen, and DJ Moore are. Even if these players don’t score as many overall points, they tend to be more consistent from week to week. Renfrow joined that group last year, and guys like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jamison Crowder, and Elijah Moore will look to break through this year in new or enhanced roles.

Heading into 2022, it’s also important to look for players who are set to see a lot more targets and receptions due to vacated targets from last year, such as Rondale Moore with DeAndre Hopkins suspended for six games and Christian Kirk in Jacksonville, Allen Lazard and Christian Watson with Davante Adams out of town, and everyone in Kansas City’s crowded receiving room with Tyreek Hill now in Miami. Guys like Tennessee’s Treylon Burks and Robert Woods, Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup, and Chicago’s Darnell Mooney are in similar spots.

There are also offenses that might be taking a step forward in passing volume and efficiency thanks to a variety of factors (new QB, new coaching staff, etc.). Denver, Indianapolis, and even Carolina stand out with improved QBs, and every team with a second-year signal-caller hopes for natural improvement. This should help a lot of wide receivers, including Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Michael Pittman, and Robbie Anderson.

Wide receiver is fantasy’s deepest position, and you can always find players later in drafts who are set to command a lot of targets. Just make sure to understand the format of your league before the draft and evaluate the difference between PPR and standard rankings.

We’ll be adjusting these WR PPR rankings and providing further analysis from now until Week 1, so check back frequently for updates. For full analysis of key WRs, click here.

2022 Fantasy WR PPR Rankings

Rankings are based on full-point PPR scoring