Here at Best Props Today, we’ve cooked up an ESPN fantasy football cheat sheet that’s hotter than your uncle’s takes at Thanksgiving dinner.
Here’s the lowdown: We compared the average draft positions in ESPN leagues to those in FantasyPros Championship Leagues with a $250 buy-in.
Why? The $250 leagues are have extremely sharp fantasy football enthusiasts participating, so we’re using their collective wisdom to uncover some juicy value picks on ESPN.
ESPN Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet – PPR Draft Value 2024
We will highlight some of the most noteworthy value plays below. However, you can view the entire ESPN Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet at this Google Sheet.
- The larger the difference, the better the value on ESPN fantasy leagues.
- The ADP in this sheet was last updated on Monday, Aug. 5.
These value picks stood out to us:
Steelers RB Najee Harris (ESPN: 81 / FPPC: 70)
Harris notched his third straight year with over 1,000 rushing yards in 2023. He had 1,200 total yards and eight touchdowns, but only finished as RB30 on the season.
Pittsburgh’s late-season run-heavy approach boosted Harris’s stats. This could continue in 2024, especially with new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in town. Smith has been labelled a run-heavy coordinator with a propensity to favor workhorse, downhill running backs. Harris certainly fits the bill.
Chiefs WR Hollywood Brown (ESPN: 101 / FPPC: 85)
Hollywood Brown’s low ESPN ranking is puzzling. As a potential top target for Patrick Mahomes, he has huge fantasy upside.
While he’ll compete with Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, Brown’s separation skills could make him crucial in Kansas City’s offense. He’s a high-upside pick going later on ESPN than in high-stakes leagues, offering potential value.
Consider Brown a mid-round target with the chance to significantly outperform his draft position.
Lions QB Jared Goff (ESPN: 148 / FPPC: 121)
Jared Goff may not be the flashiest name in fantasy football, but his recent performance with the Detroit Lions deserves attention.
Last year, Goff surprised many by finishing as the QB7 in total fantasy points. However, it’s worth noting that his per-game average was slightly less impressive, ranking as QB13 in that metric among qualified signal-callers.
Still, Goff is very solid, and the schedule is agreeable. He’s a strong QB2 or fringe QB1 that would make for a nice compliment to those stuck with a shaky, later-round QB.
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence (ESPN: 155 / FPPC: 134)
Lawrence’s overall numbers weren’t great last season, but he really turned it on in the second half of the season.
The Jaguars QB ranked 7th in fantasy points per game at the position from Week 11 onward. That’s even with top target Christian Kirk out of the lineup for the last five games.
Because he didn’t take the leap most expected last year, Lawrence is now an underrated upside play, especially if he can carry over his impressive finish to last season.
He’ll have new receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabriel Davis (plus Kirk, Etienne, Engram) to help him out.
Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle (ESPN: 181 / FPPC: 145)
Dowdle was one of the top write-ups in our 7 Fantasy Football Sleepers article. He’s a low-risk, high-upside play that is going way too late on ESPN. Here’s why:
- The Cowboys’ RB1 role is up for grabs, and Dowdle has a real shot at claiming it over Ezekiel Elliott.
- Dallas offers a prime opportunity for running backs. Their offense is potent, creating plenty of scoring chances, especially in the red zone.
- If Dowdle can secure the RB1 spot, he could easily outperform his draft position and become a reliable FLEX play or even more.
Packers TE Luke Musgrave (ESPN: 205 / FPPC: 166)
I highly recommend grabbing a solid tight end that isn’t too expensive (like Mark Andrews, Trey McBride, Jake Ferguson). However, there are a few deep tight ends worth watching, especially if you are in best-ball leagues and need a backup filler. Luke Musgrave fits that bill, as he has the talent to make a huge impact in this league. His quarterback isn’t too shabby, either.
He missed six games last season, which took a toll on his overall numbers. However, he averaged a solid 7.3 fantasy points per game (PPR), which hints at some reliability moving forward.
Musgrave is a player who could see his stock rise quickly if things break right. He has the potential to develop into a valuable fantasy asset as the season progresses.
More ESPN Draft Values To Consider
This is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to finding value within the Cheat Sheet. Other intriguing late-round players going much later on ESPN include:
- Broncos RB Jaleel McLaughlin
- Vikings RB Ty Chandler
- Chargers RB Kimani Vidal
- Chargers WR Joshua Palmer
- Bills WR Khalil Shakir
Picks in the earlier or middle rounds that pose value on ESPN include:
- Packers RB Josh Jacobs
- Browns WR Amari Cooper
- Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert
- Bills WR Curtis Samuel
- Bengals RB Chase Brown
