Fantasy football evolved. Or at least, the industry wants you to think it did. These days, everyone acts like Point Per Reception (PPR) is the only way to play the game, leaving the "standard" scoring enthusiasts in the dust. But honestly? Standard scoring is where the real grit lives. It's about touchdowns. It's about yardage. It's about moving the chains. If you're prepping for a non ppr mock draft, you quickly realize that the flashy slot receiver who catches eight balls for 40 yards is basically useless. You need the bruisers.
Most people hop into a draft room and just follow the default rankings. That is a massive mistake. Rankings are usually a blend, a "half-PPR" compromise that helps nobody. In a touchdown-dependent world, the value of a bell-cow running back doesn't just increase—it skyrockets. You're looking for the guys who get the goal-line carries, the ones who don't need a screen pass to stay relevant. It’s a different beast entirely.
Why Your Non PPR Mock Draft Strategy Should Start With the Ground Game
The "Zero RB" strategy is a death sentence here. Seriously. While your league-mates are chasing high-volume receivers like Tyreek Hill or Justin Jefferson, you have to be looking at the guys who handle 20+ carries. In standard scoring, a yard is a yard, but a catch is worth zero. This means a 100-yard rushing performance is objectively better than a receiver with 6 catches for 80 yards. The math just doesn't lie.
Think about the traditional "dead zone" running backs. In PPR, they're terrifying. In a non ppr mock draft, a guy like Brian Robinson Jr. or David Montgomery becomes a foundational piece. They might not catch passes, but they live in the red zone. They're the hammers. You want hammers. If you aren't walking out of the first three rounds with at least two high-volume backs, you're playing catch-up from week one. It’s a hard truth, but someone has to say it.
The Receiver Trap
It's easy to get seduced by the big names. We see CeeDee Lamb's stats and our eyes light up. But in standard scoring, receivers are inherently more volatile. If they don't score a touchdown, their floor is non-existent. You're basically praying for a 50-yard bomb or a trip to the end zone.
When you're running through a non ppr mock draft, pay close attention to the "Deep Threat" archetype. Players like George Pickens or Gabe Davis, who might have been frustrating in PPR because of low catch totals, actually gain relative value here. They are the "home run" hitters. They don't need 10 targets to win you a week; they just need two catches for 90 yards and a score.
💡 You might also like: What Channel is Champions League on: Where to Watch Every Game in 2026
Adjusting for the Tight End Landscape
Tight ends are the biggest headache in fantasy, but in non-PPR, the gap between the elite and the rest is even wider. Or narrower, depending on how you look at it. If a tight end isn't a primary red-zone target, he's a roster clogger. You’re looking for the Travis Kelces or Mark Andrews of the world—guys who are effectively the first or second option in their respective passing attacks.
Don't reach for a mid-tier tight end who survives on "volume" catches. If they aren't catching touchdowns, they're giving you a 3-point week. I’ve seen countless people in a non ppr mock draft take a tight end in the 6th round who finishes with 400 yards and 2 touchdowns. That’s a wasted pick. You’re better off waiting until the double-digit rounds and throwing a dart at a massive human being who stands 6'6" and plays for a high-scoring offense.
Quarterbacks and the Rushing Upside
Quarterbacks are often overlooked in standard scoring strategy discussions, but the rushing floor is king. A passing touchdown is usually 4 points. A rushing touchdown is 6. If you have a Josh Allen or a Jalen Hurts, you're essentially rostering a goal-line running back who also happens to throw for 250 yards.
In your non ppr mock draft sessions, notice how the "pocket passers" like Jared Goff or Kirk Cousins slide. They have to throw for 300 yards and 3 touchdowns just to keep pace with a dual-threat QB who runs for 60 yards and a score. It’s an unfair advantage. Use it.
The Art of the Late Round Flyer
Once you get past round 10, the strategy shifts. You aren't looking for "safe" players anymore. Safety is for people who want to finish in 5th place. You want the backup running back who is one injury away from 25 carries. You want the rookie receiver with 4.3 speed.
📖 Related: Eastern Conference Finals 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
- Handcuffs matter more: In PPR, a backup might just be a third-down specialist. In standard, the backup is the guy who inherits the carries.
- Touchdown regression: Look for players who had "unlucky" touchdown totals the year before. If a guy had 1,200 yards but only 3 touchdowns, he’s a prime candidate for a massive leap in a standard league.
- Offensive line strength: This is the secret sauce. A great O-line creates rushing yards. In a non ppr mock draft, I'm constantly checking PFF grades for offensive lines. If a team has a top-5 unit, I want their RB2.
Real-World Mock Scenarios
Let's look at a hypothetical. You're at the 1.05. In a PPR league, you probably take Justin Jefferson or Ja'Marr Chase without thinking. But in a standard draft? You might be looking at Breece Hall or Bijan Robinson. The security of those 20+ touches is worth more than the volatility of a wideout who might get shadowed by a top corner.
I recently ran a non ppr mock draft where I went RB-RB-RB to start. People in the chat were laughing. By round 8, they were scrambling for guys like Ezekiel Elliott while I was snagging high-upside receivers who had slipped because "they don't catch enough passes." Guess whose team had the highest projected points? Mine.
Misconceptions About the Modern Game
There's this weird myth that "standard is boring." People think that because there's less scoring, it's less fun. I disagree. Standard scoring forces you to be a better talent evaluator. You can't hide behind a "PPR floor." You have to actually know who is good at football, not just who gets targeted on 2nd and long.
Another misconception is that you can't win with receivers in this format. You can, but you need the right receivers. You need the guys who win contested catches in the end zone. You need the physical monsters. Think AJ Brown or DK Metcalf. These guys are built for standard scoring.
Navigating the Middle Rounds
The middle rounds are where most people lose their non ppr mock draft. They start panic-buying "depth" that has no ceiling. If you're in round 7 and you're deciding between a boring veteran receiver and a high-upside rookie running back, take the back. Every single time.
👉 See also: Texas vs Oklahoma Football Game: Why the Red River Rivalry is Getting Even Weirder
Why? Because the replacement level for receivers is much higher. You can always find a guy on the waiver wire who will give you 60 yards. You cannot find a guy who will give you 15 carries. Running back scarcity is the defining characteristic of this format. If you don't own the backfield, you don't own the league.
Tactical Takeaways for Your Next Draft
Start your non ppr mock draft by ignoring the "best available" list if it's based on PPR rankings. Cross-reference with a standard-specific list. It sounds simple, but you'd be shocked how many people forget this in the heat of a 30-second clock.
Keep an eye on the "Big Three" positions: RB, QB, and TE. In standard, these are the positions that create the biggest weekly advantages. Wide receivers tend to "clump" together in scoring more than they do in PPR. The difference between WR12 and WR24 is often just one or two touchdowns over the course of a season.
Practical Steps to Victory
- Prioritize Rushing Yards: Every 10 yards is a point. Look for teams with high "run-to-pass" ratios.
- Hunt the Goal Line: Identify the "vultures." Even if they aren't the starter, players who get the 1-yard carries are gold.
- Value the Deep Threat: Don't be afraid of the "boom or bust" receivers. In this format, you need the "boom" to win.
- Ignore Target Share: Focus on "Red Zone Target Share" instead. A target at the 40-yard line is worth way less than a target at the 5-yard line.
- Watch the O-Line: A running back is only as good as the holes opened for him.
The biggest mistake you can make is treating a non ppr mock draft like a rehearsal for a PPR league. They are different sports. One is a game of volume; the other is a game of efficiency and dominance. If you want to win your standard league, you have to embrace the physicality. You have to hunt for points where they actually live: in the end zone and on the ground. Go get your hammers. Build a roster that punishes your opponents for every yard they give up. That's how you win in 2026.
Check the current depth charts for teams with coaching changes. Often, a new offensive coordinator means a new philosophy on goal-line carries. If a team moves from a "pass-heavy" system to a "ground-and-pound" style, their lead back's value in a non ppr mock draft will be undervalued by the general public for weeks. Stay ahead of the curve by monitoring beat writer reports during training camp. Focus on who is getting the "heavy" packages in practice. That is where the real non-PPR value is hidden.
Don't settle for "okay" when you can have "dominant." Every pick in your non ppr mock draft should be a calculated strike toward maximizing your touchdown potential. If a player's path to scoring doesn't involve a 20-yard run or a jump-ball in the corner of the end zone, they probably don't belong on your standard scoring roster. Keep your eyes on the yardage, your heart on the touchdowns, and your draft board focused on the elite volume earners.