What’s up Fantasy Guru Fam! Hope everyone is doing well today and is ready for the latest edition of my league formats series. As I do every Wednesday, today I’ll be discussing a specific fantasy football format and how I would approach it.
So far, I have covered the following formats: 14-team PPR, Standard, PPR, and Super Flex. This week I want to discuss the half-PPR format which is becoming more and more popular. This is essentially a happy medium between standard and PPR leagues. For those transitioning from the OG (standard) of fantasy football, as I like to call it, to the new school (PPR), starting out with a half PPR league might not be that bad of an idea. For those wondering what half-PPR is, it’s pretty straight forward and it means you get half of a point per each reception.
For the purpose of this article, here is the roster breakdown: 1-QB, 2-RB, 3-WR, 1-TE, 1-Flex, Defense, and Kicker. The scoring is as follows for receiving and rushing:
| OFFENSIVE PLAYERS | SCORING |
| Passing Yards | 1 point per 25 yards |
| Passing Touchdowns | 4 points |
| Passing Interceptions | -2 points |
| Rushing Yards | 0.1 point per 1 yard |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 6 points |
| Receiving Yards | 0.1 point per 1 yard |
| Reception | 0.5 point |
| Receiving Touchdowns | 6 points |
| 2-Point Conversions | 2 points |
| Fumbles Lost | -2 points |
| Fumble Recovered for a Touchdown | 6 points |
QUICK OVERVIEW
As I mentioned above, this format is a nice compromise between standard and PPR formats. Unlike a full PPR, this format does not overvalue pass catching backs and high-volume receivers, but keeps the playing field balanced with the bell-cow backs due to the half point per each catch. As you can see in the chart below, there are some differences in overall scoring between the two formats at the end of the season and on a week-to-week basis. However, for the most part we see the same top players at each position in both formats.
The chart below displays the top 25 overall scorers (WR-RB-TE) in both half-PPR and PPR formats.
| 2018 – PPR Top 25 | 2018 – HALF-PPR Top 25 | ||||||||
| Player | Poisition | Fantasy Points | FP Per Touch | FPPG | Player | Poisition | Fantasy Points | FP Per Touch | FPPG |
| Saquon Barkley | RB | 383.8 | 1.09 | 24.0 | Todd Gurley II | RB | 338.6 | 1.07 | 24.2 |
| Christian McCaffrey | RB | 383.2 | 1.17 | 24.0 | Saquon Barkley | RB | 338.3 | 0.96 | 21.1 |
| Todd Gurley II | RB | 368.1 | 1.17 | 26.3 | Christian McCaffrey | RB | 329.2 | 1.01 | 20.6 |
| Alvin Kamara | RB | 348.2 | 1.27 | 23.2 | Alvin Kamara | RB | 307.7 | 1.12 | 20.5 |
| DeAndre Hopkins | WR | 337.5 | 2.91 | 21.1 | Ezekiel Elliott | RB | 292.6 | 0.77 | 19.5 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | RB | 331.1 | 0.87 | 22.1 | Tyreek Hill | WR | 284.5 | 2.61 | 17.8 |
| Julio Jones | WR | 329.9 | 2.87 | 20.6 | DeAndre Hopkins | WR | 280 | 2.41 | 17.5 |
| Tyreek Hill | WR | 328 | 3.01 | 20.5 | Julio Jones | WR | 273.4 | 2.38 | 17.1 |
| Davante Adams | WR | 327.6 | 2.95 | 21.8 | Davante Adams | WR | 272.1 | 2.45 | 18.1 |
| Antonio Brown | WR | 323.7 | 3.11 | 21.6 | Antonio Brown | WR | 271.7 | 2.61 | 18.1 |
| Michael Thomas | WR | 319.5 | 2.56 | 20.0 | Michael Thomas | WR | 257 | 2.06 | 16.1 |
| Adam Thielen | WR | 307.3 | 2.6 | 19.2 | James Conner | RB | 252.5 | 0.94 | 19.4 |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | WR | 296.9 | 2.65 | 18.6 | Adam Thielen | WR | 250.8 | 2.13 | 15.7 |
| Travis Kelce | TE | 296.6 | 2.88 | 18.5 | Melvin Gordon III | RB | 246.5 | 1.1 | 20.5 |
| Mike Evans | WR | 286.4 | 3.33 | 17.9 | Travis Kelce | TE | 245.1 | 2.38 | 15.3 |
| Zach Ertz | TE | 280.3 | 2.42 | 17.5 | Mike Evans | WR | 243.4 | 2.83 | 15.2 |
| James Conner | RB | 280 | 1.04 | 21.5 | JuJu Smith-Schuster | WR | 241.4 | 2.16 | 15.1 |
| James White | RB | 276.6 | 1.53 | 17.3 | James White | RB | 233.1 | 1.29 | 14.6 |
| Melvin Gordon III | RB | 271.5 | 1.21 | 22.6 | David Johnson | RB | 223.6 | 0.73 | 14.0 |
| Robert Woods | WR | 265.6 | 2.53 | 16.6 | Robert Woods | WR | 222.6 | 2.12 | 13.9 |
| Stefon Diggs | WR | 264.3 | 2.36 | 17.6 | Zach Ertz | TE | 222.3 | 1.92 | 13.9 |
| Keenan Allen | WR | 260.1 | 2.45 | 16.3 | Joe Mixon | RB | 222.2 | 0.8 | 15.9 |
| George Kittle | TE | 256.7 | 2.88 | 16.0 | Kareem Hunt | RB | 217.2 | 1.05 | 19.7 |
| David Johnson | RB | 248.6 | 0.81 | 15.5 | Stefon Diggs | WR | 213.3 | 1.9 | 14.2 |
| Joe Mixon | RB | 243.7 | 0.87 | 17.4 | George Kittle | TE | 212.7 | 2.39 | 13.3 |
RUNNING BACKS
I treat this position very similar to a PPR format and unlike in standard leagues where you have to prioritize getting yourself a reliable running back, in half-PPR you can hold off on taking one in the early rounds if you elect to do so and not set yourself back.
You see, after looking at the top 25 running backs from each format I noticed that there was only one running back that was in the top 25 in PPR that was not in the top 25 in half-PPR, and vice versa. T.J. Yeldon was RB22 in PPR formats, while failing to crack the top 25 in half-PPR and Matt Breida was RB25 in half PPR, but was not a top 25 in PPR formats.
Now, there are differences in scoring inside the top 25 at this position, which has to be pointed out. For instance, Kenyan Drake was RB14 in PPR formats and RB18 in half-PPR. The difference is minimal, and just like this example, there are others. That being said, for the most part the value at this position is treated similar to how it is in a PPR format.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Most receivers see a three to four point drop off in weekly production in half-PPR compared to what they do in PPR formats and that is to be expected because they get half of a point less for each catch. Still, this position gets a major boost compared to standard leagues because you are still awarded points for each reception.
Much like the running back position, the majority of the wide outs in the top 25 of PPR formats are in the top 25 in half-PPR in fantasy production at the end of the season. Aside from Adam Humphries and Alshon Jeffery who were both top 25 in PPR formats and not in half-PPR. They were replaced by Mike Williams and Chris Godwin in the top 25 of half-PPR scoring.
It is also worth noting that the per week production dips under 10 fantasy points per game much sooner for this position in this format. For example, all receivers in PPR formats in the top 25 averaged double-digit fantasy points per game, but that could only be said about the top 23 in half-PPR. In fact, 54 receivers averaged 10 or more fantasy points per game in PPR formats, compared to the 31 in half-PPR. Which is something that you must take into account when drafting this position, as far as expectations is concerned. This leads me to value the top end of this position more in half PPR than in PPR.
TIGHT ENDS
Much like I do in all formats, this is a position I hold off on drafting and that does not change in this format. When looking at the scoring for this position in this league setting, there is no major difference aside from the end of the year and week-to-week scoring drop because of the fact that you receive half of a point less than you do in a full PPR. This remains one of the tougher positions to find consistent production out of and when you think about it, the half-PPR format might actually balance out the tight end position the most. This format might give you a few more options that could produce because of the scoring settings.
QUARTERBACKS
You have read this before, but you will read it again. This is a position I am still waiting on drafting until later in the draft. As I have pointed out in previous articles, the drop off between QB5 and QB25 on average in fantasy points per game is not significant enough for me to exhaust an early round pick at this position. Being that is not often you see a quarterback go out and catch a pass, there is no reason to change the approach at this position.
The chart below displays the top 25 overall scorer at WR & RB and top 15 TE in both half-PPR and PPR formats.
| 2018 – PPR | 2018 – HALF-PPR | ||||||||
| Player | Poisition | Fantasy Points | FP Per Touch | FPPG | Player | Poisition | Fantasy Points | FP Per Touch | FPPG |
| Saquon Barkley | RB | 383.8 | 1.09 | 24.0 | Todd Gurley II | RB | 338.6 | 1.07 | 24.2 |
| Christian McCaffrey | RB | 383.2 | 1.17 | 24.0 | Saquon Barkley | RB | 338.3 | 0.96 | 21.1 |
| Todd Gurley II | RB | 368.1 | 1.17 | 26.3 | Christian McCaffrey | RB | 329.2 | 1.01 | 20.6 |
| Alvin Kamara | RB | 348.2 | 1.27 | 23.2 | Alvin Kamara | RB | 307.7 | 1.12 | 20.5 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | RB | 331.1 | 0.87 | 22.1 | Ezekiel Elliott | RB | 292.6 | 0.77 | 19.5 |
| James Conner | RB | 280 | 1.04 | 21.5 | James Conner | RB | 252.5 | 0.94 | 19.4 |
| James White | RB | 276.6 | 1.53 | 17.3 | Melvin Gordon III | RB | 246.5 | 1.1 | 20.5 |
| Melvin Gordon III | RB | 271.5 | 1.21 | 22.6 | James White | RB | 233.1 | 1.29 | 14.6 |
| David Johnson | RB | 248.6 | 0.81 | 15.5 | David Johnson | RB | 223.6 | 0.73 | 14.0 |
| Joe Mixon | RB | 243.7 | 0.87 | 17.4 | Joe Mixon | RB | 222.2 | 0.8 | 15.9 |
| Tarik Cohen | RB | 235.9 | 1.39 | 14.7 | Kareem Hunt | RB | 217.2 | 1.05 | 19.7 |
| Kareem Hunt | RB | 230.2 | 1.11 | 20.9 | Phillip Lindsay | RB | 205.3 | 0.9 | 13.7 |
| Phillip Lindsay | RB | 222.8 | 0.98 | 14.9 | Tarik Cohen | RB | 200.4 | 1.18 | 12.5 |
| Kenyan Drake | RB | 208.2 | 1.2 | 13.0 | Chris Carson | RB | 195.4 | 0.73 | 14.0 |
| Chris Carson | RB | 205.4 | 0.77 | 14.7 | Derrick Henry | RB | 195.3 | 0.85 | 12.2 |
| Derrick Henry | RB | 202.8 | 0.88 | 12.7 | Nick Chubb | RB | 184.5 | 0.87 | 11.5 |
| Nick Chubb | RB | 194.5 | 0.92 | 12.2 | Adrian Peterson | RB | 183 | 0.68 | 11.4 |
| Tevin Coleman | RB | 193.6 | 0.97 | 12.1 | Kenyan Drake | RB | 181.7 | 1.05 | 11.4 |
| Adrian Peterson | RB | 193 | 0.71 | 12.1 | Tevin Coleman | RB | 177.6 | 0.89 | 11.1 |
| Jordan Howard | RB | 182 | 0.67 | 11.4 | Jordan Howard | RB | 172 | 0.64 | 10.8 |
| Marlon Mack | RB | 178.1 | 0.84 | 14.8 | Marlon Mack | RB | 169.6 | 0.8 | 14.1 |
| T.J. Yeldon | RB | 175.1 | 1.1 | 12.5 | Lamar Miller | RB | 162.1 | 0.69 | 11.6 |
| Lamar Miller | RB | 174.6 | 0.74 | 12.5 | Aaron Jones | RB | 160.4 | 1.01 | 13.4 |
| Aaron Jones | RB | 173.4 | 1.09 | 14.5 | Austin Ekeler | RB | 151.3 | 1.04 | 10.8 |
| Austin Ekeler | RB | 170.8 | 1.18 | 12.2 | Matt Breida | RB | 151 | 0.84 | 10.8 |
| DeAndre Hopkins | WR | 337.5 | 2.91 | 21.1 | Tyreek Hill | WR | 284.5 | 2.61 | 17.8 |
| Julio Jones | WR | 329.9 | 2.87 | 20.6 | DeAndre Hopkins | WR | 280 | 2.41 | 17.5 |
| Tyreek Hill | WR | 328 | 3.01 | 20.5 | Julio Jones | WR | 273.4 | 2.38 | 17.1 |
| Davante Adams | WR | 327.6 | 2.95 | 21.8 | Davante Adams | WR | 272.1 | 2.45 | 18.1 |
| Antonio Brown | WR | 323.7 | 3.11 | 21.6 | Antonio Brown | WR | 271.7 | 2.61 | 18.1 |
| Michael Thomas | WR | 319.5 | 2.56 | 20.0 | Michael Thomas | WR | 257 | 2.06 | 16.1 |
| Adam Thielen | WR | 307.3 | 2.6 | 19.2 | Adam Thielen | WR | 250.8 | 2.13 | 15.7 |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | WR | 296.9 | 2.65 | 18.6 | Mike Evans | WR | 243.4 | 2.83 | 15.2 |
| Mike Evans | WR | 286.4 | 3.33 | 17.9 | JuJu Smith-Schuster | WR | 241.4 | 2.16 | 15.1 |
| Robert Woods | WR | 265.6 | 2.53 | 16.6 | Robert Woods | WR | 222.6 | 2.12 | 13.9 |
| Stefon Diggs | WR | 264.3 | 2.36 | 17.6 | Stefon Diggs | WR | 213.3 | 1.9 | 14.2 |
| Keenan Allen | WR | 260.1 | 2.45 | 16.3 | Keenan Allen | WR | 211.6 | 2 | 13.2 |
| Brandin Cooks | WR | 243.2 | 2.7 | 15.2 | Brandin Cooks | WR | 203.2 | 2.26 | 12.7 |
| T.Y. Hilton | WR | 239 | 3.14 | 17.1 | T.Y. Hilton | WR | 201 | 2.64 | 14.4 |
| Tyler Boyd | WR | 221.1 | 2.83 | 15.8 | Tyler Lockett | WR | 191.9 | 2.74 | 12.0 |
| Tyler Lockett | WR | 220.4 | 3.15 | 13.8 | Tyler Boyd | WR | 183.1 | 2.35 | 13.1 |
| Odell Beckham Jr. | WR | 220.1 | 2.68 | 18.3 | Amari Cooper | WR | 182 | 2.36 | 12.1 |
| Amari Cooper | WR | 219.5 | 2.85 | 14.6 | Odell Beckham Jr. | WR | 181.6 | 2.21 | 15.1 |
| Jarvis Landry | WR | 214.6 | 2.55 | 13.4 | Calvin Ridley | WR | 176.5 | 2.56 | 11.0 |
| Calvin Ridley | WR | 208.5 | 3.02 | 13.0 | Jarvis Landry | WR | 174.1 | 2.07 | 10.9 |
| Kenny Golladay | WR | 207.1 | 2.92 | 13.8 | Kenny Golladay | WR | 172.1 | 2.42 | 11.5 |
| Julian Edelman | WR | 205.7 | 2.48 | 17.1 | Julian Edelman | WR | 168.7 | 2.03 | 14.1 |
| Emmanuel Sanders | WR | 193.1 | 2.57 | 16.1 | Emmanuel Sanders | WR | 157.6 | 2.1 | 13.1 |
| Adam Humphries | WR | 188.7 | 2.42 | 11.8 | Mike Williams | WR | 156.7 | 3.13 | 9.8 |
| Alshon Jeffery | WR | 185.3 | 2.85 | 14.3 | Chris Godwin | WR | 155.7 | 2.64 | 9.7 |
| Travis Kelce | TE | 296.6 | 2.88 | 18.5 | Travis Kelce | TE | 245.1 | 2.38 | 15.3 |
| Zach Ertz | TE | 280.3 | 2.42 | 17.5 | Zach Ertz | TE | 222.3 | 1.92 | 13.9 |
| George Kittle | TE | 256.7 | 2.88 | 16.0 | George Kittle | TE | 212.7 | 2.39 | 13.3 |
| Eric Ebron | TE | 224.2 | 3.25 | 14.0 | Eric Ebron | TE | 191.2 | 2.77 | 12.0 |
| Jared Cook | TE | 193.6 | 2.85 | 12.1 | Jared Cook | TE | 159.6 | 2.35 | 10.0 |
| Austin Hooper | TE | 161 | 2.27 | 10.1 | Austin Hooper | TE | 125.5 | 1.77 | 7.8 |
| Kyle Rudolph | TE | 151.4 | 2.37 | 9.5 | Trey Burton | TE | 120.1 | 2.18 | 7.5 |
| Trey Burton | TE | 147.1 | 2.67 | 9.2 | Kyle Rudolph | TE | 119.4 | 1.87 | 7.5 |
| David Njoku | TE | 143.9 | 2.57 | 9.0 | David Njoku | TE | 115.9 | 2.07 | 7.2 |
| Vance McDonald | TE | 135 | 2.7 | 9.0 | Vance McDonald | TE | 110 | 2.2 | 7.3 |
| Rob Gronkowski | TE | 133.2 | 2.83 | 10.2 | Rob Gronkowski | TE | 109.7 | 2.33 | 8.4 |
| Jimmy Graham | TE | 130.6 | 2.37 | 8.2 | O.J. Howard | TE | 103.5 | 3.04 | 10.4 |
| Evan Engram | TE | 124.3 | 2.59 | 11.3 | Jimmy Graham | TE | 103.1 | 1.87 | 6.4 |
| Jordan Reed | TE | 121.8 | 2.26 | 9.4 | Evan Engram | TE | 101.8 | 2.12 | 9.3 |
| O.J. Howard | TE | 120.5 | 3.54 | 12.1 | Jordan Reed | TE | 94.8 | 1.76 | 7.3 |
MY THOUGHTS
Much like I do in PPR formats, I am prioritizing the running back and wide receiver positions early in my drafts. I will say that there are players such as Adam Humphries and Mohamed Sanu that hold a tad more value in PPR formats than they do in half-PPR because of how dependent they are on the receptions when it comes to scoring fantasy points. This leads to placing more emphasis on drafting more running backs in half-PPR. I am still trying to find a strong balance at both positions without a doubt, but rather than having six or seven wide outs and six or seven backs on my roster, I might be more inclined to roster five or six wide outs and seven or eight running backs.
In this type of format, I also lean more on rostering a running back in my flex spot, hence why I elect to place a bit more emphasis at this position. Being that the week-to-week production favors the running back position much more in this type of league setting, it only makes sense to roster a back at the flex. Moreover, when drafting in the late rounds, I am still targeting pass-catching backs in this type of format because they still provide a solid floor and even though the ceiling may not be as high, typically they still produce fantasy points because of their role in the passing game.
As I mentioned above, the weekly production in both formats differs for the wide receiver positions drastically. This is part of the reason I prefer having more depth at the running back position and why I think taking a top end receiver or multiple top end receivers is important in this format. Yes, overall I want more running backs on my roster, but I think it is key to get the reliable wide outs on your rosters as well.
Aside from giving running backs a minor bump in priority in half-PPR compared to PPR leagues, there is not much of a difference in my approach. This format is very similar to PPR, so don’t overthink it on draft day, just go into with the mentality of loading up on as many backs as possible and focusing on at least one top end wide out.
Hopefully this helps you gain an edge in your league. As always, you can reach out to me on the Twitter machine @Armando_Marsal and/or catch me in the chat room for any questions.
