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An easy way to gain an edge over your competition is to take advantage of the differences in the pre-draft automatic player rankings across the sites. There is a natural tendency for most drafters to be heavily influenced by the pre-draft rankings they see when they enter the ESPN draft room. In today's article, we will compare the ESPN ADP to the Footballguys Consensus to identify which players we could potentially steal later in ESPN drafts than we might be able to on a different platform.
Stealing these players is how you beat ESPN Fantasy Football.
ADP Values on ESPN
The 10 players are drafted significantly later on ESPN than on other sites. This allows you to get extreme draft value if others in your league stick too closely to the ESPN automated rankings.
Players to Target on ESPN
The trend here is obvious -- wide receivers are falling further in ESPN drafts than they should be. A number of the players on the above list stand out as tremendous targets if you are drafting on ESPN and want to take advantage of the ADP discount.
WR Drake London, Atlanta
London is the most obvious breakout candidate in all of fantasy football. He is going in the early second round of Underdog drafts. Early drafters are enamored with his upside after the Falcons made a massive upgrade at quarterback with the addition of Kirk Cousins. London does not turn 23 until late July, making him younger than many of the top rookie wide receivers.
WR George Pickens, Pittsburgh
In the second half of the 2023 season, Pickens was one of just 11 wide receivers with over 600 receiving yards. Pickens's game is similar to DK Metcalf and Courtland Sutton's, wide receivers who have had success when paired with Russell Wilson. Like London, Pickens is a strong candidate to make a year-three leap.
WR Christian Kirk, Jacksonville
Before his mid-season injury, Kirk was a Top 20 wide receiver. With Calvin Ridley in Tennessee and Zay Jones in Arizona, Kirk is the only projected starting wide receiver in Jacksonville who has already established a strong chemistry with Trevor Lawrence. The outside speed of new additions, such as Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas Jr., should help keep defenses honest and open up space for Kirk.
Players Going Too Early on ESPN
If you want any of the 10 players listed below, you will likely have to draft them earlier on ESPN than on most other sites.
The running backs are going off the board more quickly on ESPN than on other platforms. Be aware that you may need to pounce on your favorite running back targets a bit earlier in your ESPN drafts than you have been in your drafts on Underdog or elsewhere.
Late-Round Sleeper Values
In addition to the potential value options going early in your draft, here are 10 players going late in ESPN drafts who are more highly valued in the Footballguys Consensus.
While Adonai Mitchell is a talented new addition, Josh Downs is still the favorite to be the WR2 in Indianapolis. He is falling WAY too far in ESPN drafts.
Joshua Palmer is the top outside wide receiver for the Chargers. He is a solid depth option anywhere near his current ESPN ADP.
The pecking order for targets in Green Bay is very up in the air. The best option may be to target the cheapest of the top options: Dontayvion Wicks and Luke Musgrave. The two flashed major upside as rookies last season.
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