10 PPR Running Backs to Target in Your 2017 Fantasy Football Draft

James White, New England Patriots

Standard Running Back Rank: 45
PPR Running Back Rank: 36
Average Draft Position (PPR): 9.10 (RB42)

Every year, the New England Patriots running back situation is one of the most confusing position battles to decipher. Figuring out how the Pats are going to use their running backs makes us all the Zach Galifianakis math GIF. And head coach Bill Belichick is up to his usual quotes this summer, like this one recently, when discussing his backfield:

"I think [Rex] Burkhead has ability on all four downs. I think [Mike] Gillislee maybe has a little more overall versatility. Dion Lewis can play on all three downs. James White, as we saw later in the year last year, can play more on all three downs, although we used him more as a third-down player. [Brandon] Bolden can play on all three downs, so it will be interesting to see how all that competition unfolds."

Not really helping fantasy owners, Bill. Jeez. Thankfully, one thing it appears you can count on is that James White will see targets out of the backfield. That much seems certain. And we know that in fantasy, volume is king in terms of projecting fantasy points.

From 2015 (14 games played) to 2016 (16 games played), White's targets went up from 54 to 86, his receptions went up from 40 to 60, and his market share in the Pats' passing game went up from 8.59% to 15.64% -- resulting in a jump from 8.76 fantasy points per game in PPR leagues to 10.11 per game.

In 10 of his 16 games in 2016, White saw at least five targets. So why the increased trust from Belichick? White finished in the top-six in Reception NEP per target among running backs with at least 50 targets in 2015 and 2016, including a second-place finish in 2015 (behind only David Johnson).