James White (RB, NE) - Fantasy Football PPR Draft Values

4 years ago by Antonio Losada

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BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~65 Overall

CURRENT ADP: ~82+

ANALYSIS: Every year it is the same story. It never fails. It is turning in a 12-month-round event. Every year, I think James White will be properly valued, and I always find myself on the wrong side of things. We're talking PPR leagues here mostly (White's bread and butter), and White is basically a wide receiver disguised as a running back in those. White ranked sixth in targets (95) and receptions (72), and third in receiving yards (645) among rushers last season, and he's still getting drafted at the end of the seventh round (RB30) in most leagues...

Oh, by the way, did I mention that he finished the year as the RB20 without even reaching 70 rushing attempts? That's White for you in a nutshell. It will be hard for White to get more carries (PFF projects him to see 40 in 2020) but the targets and receptions clearly outweigh the rushing numbers. With a 76/58/485/2 (targets/receptions/receiving yards/TDs) projected line for next season, White is one of just six RBs expected to reach at least a 75/55/485/2 line over the year (the others being CMC, Kamara, Cook, Ekeler, and Cohen; no joke, that is).

Although not an incredible PPR scorer and far from an RB1, White is one of the most (if not the most) reliable and steady performers in the NFL. Just look at his outcomes from 2019. Not counting his Week 12 dud and his impossibly great performance in Week 13, he would have averaged 12.9 PPG never diverging by more than six PPR points from that mark. Consider White a lock to give you 12 PPR points each and every week with upside to getting into the 20s if everything clicks for him. I'd be confident paying a sixth-round pick for White as his ceiling is high because of his pass-catching abilities, to which you have to add the fact that he'll also be playing under QB Cam Newton this season so he shouldn't see a bump down in efficiency next year.