2025 Fantasy Football ADP: Exploiting Default Rankings on ESPN

Learn how to use Fantasy Football ADP to exploit default rankings in 2025. Find undervalued players and maximize your draft strategy to dominate your draft.
2025 Fantasy Football ADP: Exploiting Default Rankings on ESPN

This is the third and final article in our series about exploiting default ranks and ADPs on the most popular redraft platforms. First, we looked at the Sleeper app, where notable fantasy football ADP values included Rams WR Davante Adams and Titans WR Calvin Ridley. After that, we surveyed Yahoo, where top values included Dolphins RB De'Von Achane and Charger RB Omarion Hampton. There were even some commonalities between the two platforms, with Xavier Worthy, Tetairoa McMillan, Marvin Harrison and Caleb Williams standing out as values on both Sleeper and Yahoo when comparing ADPs to numbers from high-stakes and best-ball drafts.

We'll now do the same exercise for ESPN, comparing their ADPs and default ranks to the ADP data from NFFC (high stakes) and Drafters (best ball). Much like Yahoo, ESPN's ADP data is heavily influenced by the expert/projection-based default ranks that we see in draft rooms. Sleeper is a bit different, with players sorted by their ADPs in draft rooms (so that default ranks and ADP are one and the same).

ESPN does update their default ranks throughout the summer — which wasn't always the case — but they're ultimately still coming from projections or expert rankings, not being re-sorted in the order of ADP from actual drafts. Also note that ESPN's default setting is full PPR, which is why I'm using Drafters instead of Underdog as our ADP comparison from the best-ball realm. Numbers from Drafters are then averaged with those from

This is the third and final article in our series about exploiting default ranks and ADPs on the most popular redraft platforms. First, we looked at the Sleeper app, where notable fantasy football ADP values included Rams WR Davante Adams and Titans WR Calvin Ridley. After that, we surveyed Yahoo, where top values included Dolphins RB De'Von Achane and Charger RB Omarion Hampton. There were even some commonalities between the two platforms, with Xavier Worthy, Tetairoa McMillan, Marvin Harrison and Caleb Williams standing out as values on both Sleeper and Yahoo when comparing ADPs to numbers from high-stakes and best-ball drafts.

We'll now do the same exercise for ESPN, comparing their ADPs and default ranks to the ADP data from NFFC (high stakes) and Drafters (best ball). Much like Yahoo, ESPN's ADP data is heavily influenced by the expert/projection-based default ranks that we see in draft rooms. Sleeper is a bit different, with players sorted by their ADPs in draft rooms (so that default ranks and ADP are one and the same).

ESPN does update their default ranks throughout the summer — which wasn't always the case — but they're ultimately still coming from projections or expert rankings, not being re-sorted in the order of ADP from actual drafts. Also note that ESPN's default setting is full PPR, which is why I'm using Drafters instead of Underdog as our ADP comparison from the best-ball realm. Numbers from Drafters are then averaged with those from NFFC, a popular high-stakes site.

The write-ups below list the ESPN default rank (rather than ADP) for each player, but I'll focus on cases where both numbers provide value, i.e., ESPN's default rank and ADP for the player both are much lower than his ADP average from NFFC/Drafters.

After the write-ups you'll find a big chart with a complete fantasy football ADP rankings comparison for ESPN. The first three columns after each player's name compare his ESPN default rank to his NFFC/Drafters ADP, with the next three columns then comparing his ESPN ADP to the NFFC/Drafters ADP. The final four columns, for anyone who happens to be curious, show ADPs individually from full-PPR leagues on NFFC, Drafters, Yahoo and Sleeper.

If you're looking for more ADP data, including from some platforms not mentioned here, you can find that on RotoWire's ADP Page, which can be sorted by full/half/non-PPR and even includes some dynasty and superflex data.

      

Top Values Based on ESPN's Default Rankings

The first thing that jumps out when comparing ESPN default ranks against ESPN ADP is that quarterbacks tend to be drafted earlier than where they're ranked, at least for the first 8-10 guys. Patrick Mahomes, for example, has a default rank of 62 and an ADP of 52. Higher up, Lamar Jackson is at default rank No. 29 and ADP No. 22. However, the opposite is true once we get to younger, lower-ranked QBs like Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy — they don't stand out as major values in the default ranks, but their ADPs are far more friendly.

For running backs, we mostly see earlier rankings and ADPs on ESPN (compared to ADPs from NFFC and Drafters) in the early and middle rounds, but there are some notable exceptions like Derrick Henry, Chase Brown and TreVeyon Henderson — a trio that don't appear to have much in common otherwise. 

It's the opposite for wide receivers, with most lasting longer than they do in best-ball or high-stakes settings, especially for the unproven, young guys. There are also some veteran values, e.g., Garrett Wilson, Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings, and then a few WRs like Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp who actually have elevated ADPs on ESPN. 

Keep in mind that ESPN's default settings have just two WRs and then a FLEX, whereas the sites we're comparing ADPs against (NFFC and Drafters) start three WRs and a FLEX. It thus makes sense that WR3 and WR4 types would go later on ESPN, although I still think there's a lot of value in targeting the higher-ceiling options among that bunch (see below) at a much-reduced price relative to high-stakes drafts.

For tight ends, the thing that stands out (by far) is extremely early ADPs for the mid-range and low-end TE1s. Trey McBride, Brock Bowers and George Kittle all have ESPN default ranks that are similar to the high-stakes ADPs, but things go off the rails after that, with both default ranks and ADPs on ESPN putting guys like David Njoku and Evan Engram far ahead of where they go in high-stakes and best-ball drafts.

Now, let's take a look at some of the most interesting cases, sorted by their ESPN default rank...

         

  • RB Chase Brown (ESPN Default Rank 32  /  NFFC/Drafters ADP 22.2)

With Zack Moss recently waived and no real sign of rookie Tahj Brooks getting first-team reps or otherwise making a push, Brown appears set for a massive workload again, perhaps only losing playing time to Samaje Perine in clear passing situations like third-and-long or two-minute drills. The 2/3 turn feels early for a player who isn't actually an elite talent, but Brown isn't a bad player by any means, and we already saw the massive upside from this situation last season when he averaged 20.9 PPR points over his final eight games. He can lose 15 percent of that production and still provide strong value relative to a late-Round-2 ADP — something high-stakes drafters have caught on to more so than ESPN drafters, it seems.

       

This is one where I'd recommend treading cautiously. I have Wilson at No. 30 in the latest RotoWire Roundtable PPR Rankings, putting him halfway between his ESPN ADP and his cost in high-stakes or best-ball leagues. I thought it was an aggressive ranking, but apparently not, given that my colleagues all rank him earlier, more in line with the high-stakes ADP. I just can't buy in before Round 3, given the concerns about passing volume and efficiency with Justin Fields at quarterback. But, if you disagree, the price on ESPN must look like robbery.

       

McMillan and Marvin Harrison have been two constants in this series, going much later on ESPN/Yahoo/Sleeper than on any high-stakes or best-ball site. The lack of a third WR spot in ESPN lineups has something to do with that, but I'd still rather have McMillan or Harrison than most of the non-wideouts with similar default ranks on ESPN, figuring both have potential to become no-doubt, weekly starters. 

       

How do these players stack up against the rest of the NFL? Visit our fantasy football rankings for a list of the top players for the remainder of the season.

              

Other Good Values 👍

After the first 35-40 WRs, we see players at the position consistently ranked and drafted much lower than their ADPs from NFFC and Drafters. It makes sense, given the two-WR format on ESPN, but there's still value there in terms of certain strategies, like double-tapping the SF wideouts (Jennings/Pearsall) and hoping one of the two proves to be a clear top dog over the other.

On the other hand, there are some guys on this list like Josh Downs and Jayden Reed who probably don't have ceilings with much value in a two-WR format. The price looks great, but I'd rather be drafting other positions in that range in the two-WR, one-FLEX leagues on ESPN.

                 

Worst Values / Frequent Reaches 👎

Concerns about Matthew Stafford's back (and perhaps Davante Adams' target share) have hurt Nacua's ADP in high-stakes room and best-ball drafts, but that isn't showing up in the ESPN numbers, at least not yet. Nacua is No. 8 on ESPN for both default rank and ADP, right ahead of Malik Nabers, who is pretty consistently going earlier than Nacua in high-stakes and best-ball drafts these days. ESPN's default ranks are also bullish on Davante Adams (No. 27), although ESPN drafters considerably less so (ADP 40).

                                 

ADP Chart

  ESPN DefaultΔDefNF/DRESPN ADPΔADPNF/DRNFFCDraftersYahooSleeper
1WRJa'Marr Chase10.11.110.11.11.16111.7
2RBBijan Robinson20.62.620.62.62.682.523.5
3WRJustin Jefferson32.05.050.05.05.294.754.1
4RBSaquon Barkley41.25.232.25.24.725.732.6
5RBJahmyr Gibbs5-0.74.340.34.34.334.245.6
6WRCeeDee Lamb6-1.44.66-1.44.66.083.266.4
7RBChristian McCaffrey73.310.373.310.313.127.5713.6
8WRPuka Nacua84.012.084.012.011.7912.288.3
9WRMalik Nabers90.19.110-0.99.19.668.61010.3
10WRAmon-Ra St. Brown100.010.091.010.010.229.896.4
11RBAshton Jeanty111.212.2111.212.210.5813.81111.4
12RBDe'Von Achane121.313.3130.313.313.7312.81315.3
13WRNico Collins13-1.211.814-2.211.814.738.91412
14WRBrian Thomas14-1.212.815-2.212.812.8912.71513.4
15WRA.J. Brown153.918.9171.918.921.1216.61718.7
16WRDrake London16-0.115.919-3.115.916.9214.81917.4
17RBJonathan Taylor175.322.3202.322.322.7721.92024.5
18RBJosh Jacobs186.824.8168.824.823.0226.61620.3
19RBDerrick Henry19-4.314.7122.714.713.8215.6129.5
20TEBrock Bowers20-1.218.8180.818.818.8518.71816
21TETrey McBride214.825.826-0.225.826.63252625.8
22RBBucky Irving22-0.321.822-0.321.820.922.62219.3
23RBKyren Williams236.029.0245.029.028.0529.92427.9
24WRTee Higgins244.728.729-0.328.731.8925.62930.6
25WRTyreek Hill255.330.3282.330.332.2628.32826.7
26WRLadd McConkey26-4.521.525-3.521.521.9321.12523.8
27WRDavante Adams279.936.940-3.136.938.2135.54043.5
28QBJosh Allen28-1.526.5233.526.523.8529.12321
29QBLamar Jackson29-3.425.6214.625.623.3527.92122.9
30QBJayden Daniels306.736.7306.736.732.37413031.5
31QBJalen Hurts318.039.0363.039.038.9393636.7
32RBChase Brown32-9.822.227-4.822.226.3418.12729.7
33RBJames Cook3310.543.53112.543.539.3947.73134.3
34WRJaxon Smith-Njigba34-2.931.133-1.931.129.5732.73327.8
35WRTerry McLaurin358.443.4412.443.440.246.64140.6
36WRGarrett Wilson36-10.625.435-9.625.428.222.63532.3
37RBKenneth Walker373.940.9373.940.944.6337.13744.4
38RBOmarion Hampton38-2.235.844-8.235.842.7528.94441.6
39QBJoe Burrow393.142.1348.142.130.5353.63439.3
40TEGeorge Kittle40-0.139.9390.939.944.0335.73937
41RBAlvin Kamara419.850.83812.850.848.253.33841.2
42RBChuba Hubbard4210.852.8457.852.848.1457.44546.1
43RBJames Conner4315.558.54612.558.557.4659.54651
44RBBreece Hall44-8.435.6323.635.634.17373233.1
45WRMike Evans45-5.239.942-2.239.941.338.44238.1
46WRMarvin Harrison46-12.233.843-9.233.836.3131.24334.6
47WRDK Metcalf472.849.8481.849.848.9650.64847.4
48WRDJ Moore48-4.743.347-3.743.343.5343.14748.7
49WRRashee Rice494.253.2494.253.244.38624945.9
50WRXavier Worthy50-6.044.056-12.044.047.2440.85655.9
51RBJoe Mixon5132.783.75132.783.765.341025157
52RBD'Andre Swift529.461.4556.461.471.3551.45571.2
53WRZay Flowers534.157.159-1.957.156.7757.45953.1
54WRCourtland Sutton54-6.747.353-5.747.348.6465350
55WRCalvin Ridley554.059.070-11.059.066.8151.17074.6
56WRDeVonta Smith56-3.152.954-1.152.954.0851.85452.1
57WRJaylen Waddle573.760.775-14.360.764.6256.87568.7
58WRJerry Jeudy5810.868.876-7.368.862.974.67672.7
59WRJameson Williams59-7.751.362-10.751.353.8648.76259.7
60WRGeorge Pickens60-5.954.167-12.954.164.7443.56760.9
61TESam LaPorta616.767.75017.767.764.271.15048.8
62QBPatrick Mahomes626.368.35216.368.358.0278.55254.2
63QBBaker Mayfield6320.483.46419.483.466.25100.66467
64WRRome Odunze643.267.280-12.867.267.5966.88080.6
65WRTetairoa McMillan65-17.547.568-20.547.555.4739.56861.8
66WRTravis Hunter663.669.6663.669.680.2558.96664.9
67RBTreVeyon Henderson67-12.454.660-5.454.660.3248.96066.6
68RBAaron Jones689.177.16512.177.173.8280.46569.9
69TET.J. Hockenson6914.983.96122.983.980.8386.96158.8
70RBDavid Montgomery701.171.15714.171.166.24765755
71RBKaleb Johnson71-1.070.071-1.070.071.3568.77179
72RBRJ Harvey720.772.7639.772.783.41626362.8
73WRChris Godwin7313.086.0779.086.074.9897.17782.2
74WRJakobi Meyers74-1.372.791-18.372.777.33689181.3
75WRChris Olave75-2.572.578-5.572.572.98727869.4
76WRCooper Kupp7621.997.98512.997.994.71018586.6
77WRStefon Diggs771.778.787-8.378.794.9962.58789.4
78WRMatthew Golden7813.191.196-4.991.1108.573.79697.5
79WRJordan Addison791.280.281-0.880.276.8283.68176
80RBTony Pollard80-7.073.0730.073.078.8667.27378.6
81RBIsiah Pacheco81-5.775.3696.375.378.1172.56962.2
82RBTyrone Tracy8212.494.4886.494.491.1297.78887.4
83TETravis Kelce83-0.982.15824.182.187.4276.75865.2
84TEDavid Njoku8425.1109.18425.1109.1109.88108.38490.4
85TEMark Andrews854.589.57415.589.595.0883.97476.9
86TEEvan Engram8615.6101.68219.6101.6103.799.48283.6
87QBBo Nix87-2.984.17212.184.174.593.77273.8
88QBKyler Murray884.192.1839.192.190.4693.88395.8
89QBBrock Purdy8914.6103.61012.6103.699.5107.7101108
90RBJaylen Warren905.295.2896.295.299.7590.68994.2
91RBBrian Robinson91-1.989.17910.189.189.0389.27983.6
92RBJavonte Williams9236.2128.29731.2128.2118.8137.597106.1
93RBRhamondre Stevenson9328.5121.510615.5121.5121.22121.7106121.6
94RBCam Skattebo9428.1122.19032.1122.1118.111269099.3
95RBJ.K. Dobbins959.3104.3113-8.7104.3115.8692.7113111.9
96WRKhalil Shakir96-6.189.993-3.189.988.7991.19388.4
97WRJauan Jennings97-17.879.294-14.879.279.3279.19497.5
98WRDeebo Samuel98-20.078.086-8.078.083.7772.28685.8
99WRRicky Pearsall99-24.374.7100-25.374.786.7362.6100100.7
100WRKeon Coleman1007.2107.2121-13.8107.2122.7491.6121122.4
101WRMichael Pittman1012.2103.2123-19.8103.2109.8296.5123118.6
102WRJayden Reed102-10.491.6105-13.491.693.7489.4105101.3
103QBJustin Herbert10311.8114.81077.8114.8106.26123.3107103
104QBCaleb Williams104-2.7101.3110-8.7101.394.73107.8110123.5
105QBDak Prescott105-9.096.0102-6.096.093.2498.7102118.3
106QBJustin Fields106-7.698.4104-5.698.4109.487.4104143.7
107WRKeenan Allen10742.6149.6224-74.4149.6170.71128.5224183.1
108WRDarnell Mooney1088.2116.2125-8.8116.2116.48116125116.9
109WRJosh Downs109-18.990.1122-31.990.197.0183.1122104.6
110WRRashid Shaheed11011.3121.3150-28.7121.3136.47106.1150139.5
111WRJayden Higgins11110.6121.6143-21.4121.6143.12100143115
112WREmeka Egbuka112-29.782.3119-36.782.396.5568.1119102.5
113TETucker Kraft11310.3123.311112.3123.3124.71121.8111114.1
114RBAustin Ekeler11453.4167.413532.4167.4170.19164.7135165.5
115RBTravis Etienne115-16.798.3953.398.3100.8495.79592.1
116RBTyjae Spears11617.5133.51294.5133.5136.13130.9129139.8
117RBTank Bigsby11711.4128.4137-8.6128.4140.48116.4137146.9
118RBJerome Ford11847.7165.71578.7165.7175.8155.6157176.9
119RBRachaad White11933.6152.613121.6152.6147.56157.7131146.5
120RBJordan Mason120-23.996.1116-19.996.1109.7782.5116107.6
121QBDrake Maye121-9.6111.4142-30.6111.4112.56110.2142144.9
122QBJordan Love122-2.1119.9126-6.1119.9113.28126.5126125.5
123QBJared Goff123-17.5105.5987.5105.587.971239890
124QBJ.J. McCarthy124-0.1123.9144-20.1123.9126.92120.8144149.4
125TEColston Loveland1257.9132.910923.9132.9151.46114.3109104.8
126TEDallas Goedert12622.5148.513216.5148.5160.68136.4132125.3
127TEJake Ferguson12716.4143.413310.4143.4144.55142.2133124.1
128TEDalton Kincaid1284.2132.21302.2132.2136.54127.8130109.7
129TETyler Warren129-19.2109.81081.8109.8117.11102.510893.5
130RBTrey Benson13012.0142.0153-11.0142.0149.76134.3153167.7
131RBQuinshon Judkins1318.5139.59247.5139.5105.091749275.1
132RBDylan Sampson13213.4145.4176-30.6145.4160.61130.1176174.3
133RBZach Charbonnet133-25.1107.9117-9.1107.9109.64106.2117111.1
134RBTyler Allgeier13427.8161.81601.8161.8168.58155.1160185.2
135RBNajee Harris1356.6141.611229.6141.6116.27166.9112113.9
136WRAdam Thielen13636.4172.4179-6.6172.4172.63172.1179170.6
137WRXavier Legette13734.4171.4181-9.6171.4172.81169.9181191.8
138WRCedric Tillman13812.1150.1199-48.9150.1164.82135.4199190.9
139WRHollywood Brown13916.1155.1161-5.9155.1154.32155.9161188
140WRBrandon Aiyuk140-5.0135.012015.0135.0133.22136.8120110.3
141TEHunter Henry14126.4167.4168-0.6167.4180.94153.8168171
142TEKyle Pitts1422.3144.31386.3144.3151.33137.2138117
143QBTua Tagovailoa14310.1153.1163-9.9153.1155.21150.9163199.8
144QBMatthew Stafford14421.9165.9178-12.1165.9158.47173.4178195.2
145QBC.J. Stroud145-22.5122.5134-11.5122.5115.94129134120.8
146RBJaylen Wright14624.8170.8184-13.2170.8167.84173.8184202.3
147RBBhayshul Tuten1475.8152.8156-3.2152.8161.22144.4156169.4
148RBBraelon Allen1487.5155.5177-21.5155.5173.46137.5177187.9
149RBIsaac Guerendo1492.0151.01492.0151.0146.88155.1149166.2
150RBMarShawn Lloyd15067.1217.1233-15.9217.1211.41222.8233246.6
151RBRay Davis151-11.9139.1169-29.9139.1148.84129.3169172.2
152WRJack Bech15247.3199.316237.3199.3197.37201.3162174.3
153WRWan'Dale Robinson1539.1162.1202-40.0162.1154.4169.7202197.4
154WRMarvin Mims154-23.8130.2152-21.8130.2131.42128.9152148.2
155WRKyle Williams1558.8163.8182-18.2163.8180.72146.9182163.8
156WRRashod Bateman156-22.1133.9172-38.1133.9147.08120.8172164.2
157WRLuther Burden157-30.8126.2155-28.8126.2135.19117.2155150.5
158WRJalen McMillan1581.8159.8192-32.2159.8161.65157.9192192
159WRTre Harris159-11.3147.71461.7147.7154.61140.7146142.6
160RBRoschon Johnson16026.8186.8206-19.2186.8192.57181.1206208.5
161RBJaydon Blue161-25.3135.7136-0.3135.7160.13111.3136141.3
162RBWill Shipley16234.2196.2235-38.8196.2214.68177.7235229
163WRMichael Wilson16354.3217.3324-106.7217.3230.38204.3324263.1
164WRPat Bryant16430.1194.1280-85.9194.1221.53166.6280223.2
165TEChig Okonkwo16520.3185.3222-36.7185.3208.64162222225.3
166TEZach Ertz1664.9170.915119.9170.9181.85159.9151151.6
167TEJonnu Smith167-14.3152.711537.7152.7131.18174.211596.1
168WRChristian Kirk168-47.5120.5166-45.5120.5129.07111.9166162.1
169WRRomeo Doubs169-3.2165.8201-35.2165.8184.27147.3201206.7
170RBJustice Hill17028.7198.7204-5.3198.7201.46195.9204228.1
171RBKareem Hunt17139.8210.818921.8210.8207.6214189195.2
172WRTyler Lockett17272.0244.0249-5.0244.0261.03226.9249230.5
173QBTrevor Lawrence173-44.2128.8167-38.2128.8126.9130.7167173.6
174QBCameron Ward174-11.4162.6173-10.4162.6173.41151.8173160.8
175QBMichael Penix175-32.8142.2174-31.8142.2143.32141.1174181.6

                       

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jerry was a 2018 finalist for the FSWA's Player Notes Writer of the Year and DFS Writer of the Year awards. A Baltimore native, Jerry roots for the Ravens and watches "The Wire" in his spare time.
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