4-EYED DRAFT STRATEGY: The ADP Cheat Sheet
ADP stands for “average draft position” in fantasy football. ADP is a perception of market value based on how everyone is drafting each player.
However, ADP can be a self-fulfilling prophecy because so many people use the ADP in their draft room to determine when to draft a player. Therefore, the person just keeps re-affirming the ADP even if a player is being overvalued or undervalued. Most people are concerned that their pick may be mocked by fellow league mates if their pick differs too far from ADP. This echo chamber perpetuates the ADP to solidify more and more into prime draft season (August).
However, this article will be a cheat sheet to point out ADPs on the most popular fantasy football platforms that have a discrepancy compared to the consensus and it will help you find value on draft day! Since most of your league mates will use the platform’s ADP to sort their players, you can use this cheat sheet to draft players at a good value before they even realize the player is available because they are so far down their screen. Don’t be afraid to draft a player before their ADP and trust how you rank and value the players!
The consensus ADP comes from FantasyPros.com which collects ADP value from several popular fantasy football sites.
ESPN
The “standard” scoring setting for ESPN is PPR, so these ADPs are based on PPR scoring. Overall, ESPN seems to elevate the top rookie WRs, elevate top TEs, elevate D/STs, downgrade perceived non-pass catching RBs, and downgrade RBs in “crowded” backfields. Keep those in mind when targeting players in your draft on ESPN. There appears to be more value with RBs in mid-to-late rounds, which may mean drafting a stud RB early, then focusing on WR, then finding value later in the draft for RB depth. This would be my bet for the most optimal strategy to maximize value in ESPN drafts.
Below is a list of players that have an ADP on ESPN that are lower than consensus ADP, which means you may be able to draft them ahead of the ESPN ADP, and still get them at a value:
| RB Ezekiel Elliott – 8 (6.2) | WR Michael Thomas – 82 (71.8) |
| RB Austin Ekeler – 13 (11.2) | WR DeVonta Smith – 84 (77.6) |
| RB Joe Mixon – 23 (20.4) | RB Melvin Gordon III – 103 (82) |
| RB Chris Carson – 40 (35.4) | RB Michael Carter – 122 (85.2) |
| RB J.K. Dobbins – 41 (29.2) | RB Ronald Jones – 125 (93.2) |
| RB Myles Gaskin – 73 (52.4) | RB Trey Sermon – 129 (90.4) |
| WR Chase Claypool – 75 (69) | WR Michael Pittman Jr. – 145 (115.6) |
| RB Mike Davis – 76 (55) | WR Darnell Mooney – 151 (123.8) |
*listed as Player Name – ESPN ADP (consensus ADP)
Yahoo
The “standard” scoring setting for Yahoo is Half PPR, so these ADPs are based on Half PPR scoring. Overall, Yahoo seems to elevate the top QBs, elevate TEs, elevate D/STs, elevate Ks, and downgrade high volume/low TD scoring WRs. There is not as much discrepancy with the mid-to-late round RBs like there was with ESPN. It is important to note that you may have to “pay up” for the top QBs and TEs if you want to target them in your draft, but you will be able to find value for RBs and WRs using this cheat sheet.
Below is a list of players that have an ADP on Yahoo that is lower than consensus ADP, which means you may be able to draft them ahead of the Yahoo ADP and still get them at a value:
| WR Davante Adams – 12 (9.5) | RB Melvin Gordon III – 98 (78.3) |
| RB Josh Jacobs – 38 (32.5) | WR Jerry Jeudy – 99 (83.5) |
| RB Myles Gaskin – 56 (49.3) | WR Courtland Sutton – 101 (85.3) |
| WR Diontae Johnson – 62 (55) | WR Tyler Boyd – 107 (93) |
| RB James Robinson 67 (53.3) | RB AJ Dillon – 109 (96) |
| RB Raheem Mostert – 80 (67.8) | WR DeVonta Smith – 116 (89) |
| RB Javonte Williams – 82 (66) | WR Will Fuller V – 122 (106.5) |
| WR Michael Thomas – 95 (73.5) | WR Laviska Shenault Jr. – 153 (113.8) |
CBS
The “standard” scoring setting for CBS is non PPR, so these ADPs are based on non PPR scoring. Overall CBS seems to elevate QBs, elevate the top TEs, downgrade D/STs, downgrade Ks, and for some reason downgrade the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ skill positions (except Leonard Fournette). There will be less of a chance of your league mates trying to fill out their starting positions by drafting D/STs and Ks too early since CBS has their ADP lower.
Below is a list of players that have an ADP on CBS that are lower than consensus ADP, which means you may be able to draft them ahead of the CBS ADP and still get them at a value:
| RB Nick Chubb – 10 (5.3) | WR Diontae Johnson – 68 (59.3) |
| RB Saquon Barkley – 13 (8) | WR Chase Claypool – 78 (70) |
| RB Antonio Gibson – 24 (17.3) | WR Odell Beckham Jr – 89 (67) |
| WR DK Metcalf – 25 (18) | RB Ronald Jones II – 106 (75) |
| RB Josh Jacobs – 40 (29.8) | WR Jarvis Landry – 111 (96) |
| WR Mike Evans – 48 (35.3) | RB Zach Moss – 114 (90) |
| WR Chris Godwin – 53 (43.8) | TE Rob Gronkowski – 126 (102.3) |
| WR Julio Jones – 54 (41.8) | WR Henry Ruggs – 144 (126.3) |
Sleeper
The “standard” scoring setting for Sleeper is PPR, so these ADPs are based on PPR scoring. The Sleeper ADP was a lot closer to consensus ADP so it was harder to find value opportunities until you get to the later “dart throw” rounds. However, it seems like rookies are elevated more than any other platform, top QBs are elevated, and D/STs and Ks are both downgraded. If you are playing on Sleeper it seems like you will have fewer opportunities to utilize ADP gaps to your advantage.
Below is a list of players that have an ADP on Sleeper that is lower than consensus ADP, which means you may be able to draft them ahead of the Sleeper ADP and still get them at a value:
| TE Travis Kelce – 11 (7.8) | WR Robert Woods – 48 (38.8) |
| RB Antonio Gibson – 22 (18.4) | RB Mike Davis – 67 (55) |
| TE Darren Waller – 27 (22.6) | RB Damien Harris – 96 (80.6) |
| RB David Montgomery – 37 (31.6) | TE Logan Thomas – 104 (84.6) |
| WR CeeDee Lamb – 43 (32.2) | RB Jamaal Williams – 145 (123.6) |
To wrap it up, use this ADP cheat sheet to have an advantage in your drafts. Do not just blindly follow the draft platform’s ADP, and utilize rankings you trust and this article to capitalize on the ADP gaps. Fantasy football is supposed to be fun, so go get “your guys” and do not stress about “reaching” based on ADP. Do not feel pressured to draft based on the platform’s ADP just because your league mates are less prepared and think you are drafting a player too soon.
Good luck with your drafts!