Fantasy Football 2026: Building the Perfect First Round in Half-PPR Formats

These players are the best options to draft in the 1st round of Half-PPR Fantasy Football Leagues.

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III (4) is a legit first round target in half PPR fantasy formats. Mark Konezny-Imagn Images | Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) is a sure-fire first round pick in half-PPR formats. Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images | Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Wide receivers who rely on reception volume are not as valuable in half-PPR formats. Pass-catchers who prioritize average depth of target (aDOT) should be considered locks for the first round. WRs who command big target shares are also valuable. The value of a catch is cut down to 0.5 points, but the values of the other statistics remain the same. WRs with target shares between 25% and 30% will get the best opportunities to generate yards after the catch (YAC).

High target shares matter the most with WRs on teams that have run-heavy schemes. If a quarterback is only throwing 15 to 20 passes a game, chances for WRs to produce are limited, and that's why target share is emphasized. A WR who sees a target share of at least 30% is a safe bet. If that quarterback attempts 25 passes per game, that means his main target had at least 8 opportunities while the remaining 70% were spread out among the other backs and receivers. If a team's playbook relies mostly on run plays, only the players with the largest target share will maintain a resilient fantasy floor.

WRs To Avoid In 1st Round of Half-PPR Format

Player/Team/ADP	Reason To Avoid In 1st Round
Malik Nabers/NYG/14	Will He Be Able To Maintain Target Share?
Puka Nacua/LAR/2	Low TD Ceiling (4 total TD's)
Amon-Ra St. Brown/DET/4	Limited Explosive Play Upside
Brian Thomas Jr./JAX/30	Sophomore Slump?
Nico Collins/HOU/9	Consistency Concerns