Fantasy Football Draft Targets: Derrick Henry, Deebo Samuel, Gus Edwards, David Montgomery

Fantasy football players know the type of scoring makes all the difference in which players you want to draft. In non-PPR leagues, fantasy players want to start running backs in their flex spots. Meanwhile, they want to start wide receivers in their flex spots in PPR leagues.

Furthermore, your league’s scoring type impacts which players you want to target in your fantasy football drafts. Some players are elite regardless of the scoring format, like Bijan Robinson and Ja’Marr Chase. However, other players can be outstanding in one format and average in another.

Let’s look at players I’m targeting in non-PPR leagues but fading in PPR leagues this year.

Players to Target in Non-PPR Leagues

Derrick Henry (RB – BAL)

2023 Non-PPR Finish – RB5 | 12.9 Fantasy Points Per Game
2023 PPR Finish – RB8 | 14.5 Fantasy Points Per Game

The veteran running back has been one of the best pure runners since taking over as the featured guy in 2018. Last year, Henry led the NFL with 280 rushing attempts while ranking second in yards (1,167) and fifth among running backs in touchdowns (12). He wasn’t a factor in the passing game earlier in his career, totaling 19 or fewer receptions in his first six seasons. However, the veteran had 33 receptions in 2022 and 28 in 2023, averaging 18.6 receiving yards per game the past two years.

While the bump in receiving work the past few seasons is nice, that’s not where Henry makes his money. The former Alabama star is a tank with elite speed. After playing behind an awful offensive line in Tennessee, the veteran will run behind PFF’s eighth-highest graded run-blocking offensive line in the NFL last year. Furthermore, defenses can’t collapse on Henry because of Lamar Jackson’s rushing abilities. Yet, the veteran won’t lose rushing touchdowns to the superstar quarterback, as Jackson isn’t frequently used around the goal line.

David Montgomery (RB – DET)

2023 Non-PPR Finish – RB9 | 13.7 Fantasy Points Per Game
2023 PPR Finish – RB17 | 14.8 Fantasy Points Per Game

Montgomery was one of my favorite running backs to draft last year in non-PPR and PPR leagues. The veteran was part of an elite rushing attack in Detroit, totaling a career-high 13 touchdowns in his 13 healthy contests. Furthermore, he averaged a career-high 4.6 yards per rushing attempt. The Lions’ offense has been outstanding for their running backs, especially around the goal line. After Jamaal Williams led the NFL with 17 rushing touchdowns in 2022, Montgomery had the third-most among running backs last season.

Fantasy players expected the veteran to have a limited role in the passing game after Detroit drafted Jahmyr Gibbs. However, Montgomery’s passing game numbers fell off a cliff after being a factor during his time with the Chicago Bears. The veteran had only 16 receptions on 24 targets for 117 receiving yards last year, all career lows. Unfortunately, that is unlikely to change in 2024. Yet, Montgomery’s role as the lead back and goal-line guy should keep him as RB1 in non-PPR, even with Gibbs’ expanding workload.

Gus Edwards (RB – LAC)

2023 Non-PPR Finish – RB14 | 10.3 Fantasy Points Per Game
2023 PPR Finish – RB25 | 11 Fantasy Points Per Game

Unfortunately, J.K. Dobbins has struggled to stay healthy in his career, opening the door for Edwards to be the starting running back for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. The veteran had a career year, totaling 198 rushing attempts for 810 yards and 13 touchdowns. He averaged 10.3 non-PPR fantasy points per game, 35.9% higher than his 2022 average. More importantly, Edwards had 13 rushing touchdowns in his first 52 career games. He matched that total last season, ranking third among running backs in rushing scores.

Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman want a run-first offense, which will benefit Edwards. Roman was the Ravens’ offensive coordinator from 2019 through 2022. Baltimore ranked top three in rushing yards every year and top nine in rushing touchdowns in all but one season. While Dobbins followed Edwards to Los Angeles, the former Ohio State star has struggled to stay healthy. Unless Kimani Vidal is this year’s Isiah Pacheco, Edwards is prime for another productive fantasy season in non-PPR scoring.

Deebo Samuel (WR – SF)

2023 Non-PPR Finish – WR7 | 12.2 Fantasy Points Per Game
2023 PPR Finish – WR15 | 16.2 Fantasy Points Per Game

Most wide receivers have zero role in the running game. Some will see a rushing attempt once a game or every other week. Last year, Samuel (37) and Rondale Moore (28) were the only two wide receivers with more than 14 rushing attempts. The veteran wide receiver was San Francisco’s third-leading rusher behind Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell. However, Samuel had only 56 fewer rushing yards than Mitchell despite earning 38 fewer attempts. Yet, he finished second on the team with five rushing touchdowns.

More importantly, Samuel’s five rushing scores were the most by a wide receiver last season. While some believe he is the 49ers’ No. 1 wide receiver, the veteran ranked fourth on the team in targets last year, finishing behind Brandon Aiyuk, McCaffrey and George Kittle. His rushing work accounted for 28.6% of his fantasy production in non-PPR and 21.5% in PPR in 2023. Samuel’s role on the ground significantly matters more in non-PPR than in PPR scoring leagues.

Fantasy Football Draft Picks to Target

Fitz’s Top Fantasy Football Draft Targets (Premium)
Erickson’s Top Fantasy Football Draft Targets (Premium)
DBro’s Top Fantasy Football Draft Targets (Premium)

Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.

NFL Bijan Robinson Ja’Marr Chase Derrick Henry Lamar Jackson David Montgomery Jamaal Williams Jahmyr Gibbs Gus Edwards J.K. Dobbins Kimani Vidal Isiah Pacheco Deebo Samuel Rondale Moore Christian McCaffrey Elijah Mitchell Brandon Aiyuk George Kittle