A few years ago I noticed a major difference between the in-draft rankings on various draft sites. Drafting on ESPN gave you a different order of players than drafting on Yahoo did.
Think about it. If you’re drafting and you don’t have an extra set of rankings on hand, you’re probably going to pick based on who the draft site has ranked higher. It’s round seven and you need a wide receiver, the draft site has Will Fuller as the next best receiver available so you think to take him. However, Marvin Jones is sitting there five spots behind Fuller and the consensus rankings on FantasyPros has Jones ranked multiple spots ahead of Fuller.
Am I telling you that you should draft based on other peoples’ ranks? No, I’m just highlighting that there’s a way to find value in draft rankings by comparing them to other expert rankings. If you have guys you want you should take them, but if you’re looking strictly for value in later rounds this may help.
I’m going to highlight a few guys that I find are great values on certain draft sites based on FantasyPros and draft room rankings. These are guys ranked much higher on FantasyPros than they are in draft rooms, so you can find some super value picks.
I have a spreadsheet that you can dig into everything on your own if you’d prefer.
Davante Adams – ESPN PPR
Draft rank: 16 | Expert rank: 7
This is a discount I would heavily take advantage of. Adams is ranked overall as a top-10 player in the mid/late-first round but can be drafted in ESPN leagues almost a whole round later at 16 overall. That’s value and if you’re content with taking a WR in the early second I’d jump on this.
Adams is a proven player in a situation that is very much the same as his previous seasons, so there are very little knocks against him other than the fact that he’s a year older (everyone is).
Julio Jones – ESPN PPR/Sleeper PPR
Draft rank: 19/15 | Expert rank: 9
Julio Jones is being disrespected in draft lobbies the same way Davante Adams is. A proven vet, an elite WR and a great relationship with his QB but he’s being ranked in the early/mid-second round? If you can pair Julio as your WR1 along with a round one RB you’re set, I’d be so happy with that start to a draft!
Robert Woods – Yahoo PPR
Draft rank: 61 | Expert rank: 32
Holy cow, jump on this. I’m personally high on Woods this season. He’s being drafted at the start of the sixth on Yahoo?! Please don’t miss out on this apparent fire sale on Robert Woods.
John Brown – Sleeper PPR
Draft rank: 156 | Expert rank: 95
I think John Brown is in for a sneaky good year in 2020. With the addition of Stefon Diggs to that offense and already having that relationship with Josh Allen from last season, things could open up for him. Brown had a quality year in 2019 finishing the year as the WR20 and is now being drafted insanely later than that. You can currently get him in Sleeper Half PPR and PPR drafts a little less than 60 spots later than where experts rank him.
Austin Ekeler – Fleaflicker
Draft rank: 22 | Expert rank: 12
Ekeler is up and down all over expert rankings. Can he live up to his performance last season? I personally think so. The average expert ranking has him at the back of the first round while in Fleaflicker draft you can get him in the back of the second. That’s roughly a whole round difference that I’d be happy to take advantage of.
DeAndre Hopkins – CBS
Draft rank: 28/24 Expert rank: 15
I’m not personally high on Hopkins after he’s been sitting out with a hamstring injury. However, if he’s available in the early third round I’d be happy to take that chance. Hopkins is on a new team that could provide a lot of value for him. A third-round value on him is where I’m happily taking that chance.
