When it comes time to draft,
arguments constantly rage about what positions are more important and
what type of players are more valuable. Well, we like to break things
down scientifically here at FFExperts.com by using a ranking system that
is based on relative value.
It’s common knowledge that
quarterbacks generally generate more fantasy points than any other
position, but since you cannot start more than one QB, total points
scored is not the true measure of fantasy value. For example, in
overall performance leagues, QB Steve McNair scored more points
than RB Rudi Johnson in 2005, but we all know that Johnson was
far more valuable.
The true measure of a fantasy player
is how much better he is than the rest of the players at his position.
Why? Because you will always get a certain number of points at each
position (as long as you fill out your starting lineup). For example,
your average starting kicker (in fantasy) scored 123 points last
season. The top-ranked kicker, Neil Rackers, scored 157 points,
meaning that his relative value compared to an average kicker was 34
points (or 2.1 points per game).
Here’s another example. Peyton
Manning (the third ranked QB) generated 294 fantasy points last
season, which was 26 more than Edgerrin James (the fifth ranked
RB). However, when you consider the alternatives, James was more
valuable. If you compare Manning to the 10th rated QB (Mike Vick),
he scored just 31 more points for the season. If you compare James to
the 10th rated running back (Mike Anderson), he scored 61 more
points.
Another way of looking at it is that
you would be better off with Vick as your starting quarterback than you
would be having Anderson as your No. 1 RB. In the case of Anderson,
eight RBs generated at least 26 more points for the season. As for
Vick, only three QBs exceeded his total by more than 25 points. There
wasn’t a big difference between Vick (263 points) and the No.4 QB,
Eli Manning (282 points), but there was a huge difference between
Anderson (201 points) and the No. 4 RB, Tiki Barber (307
points).
The following rankings are based on
the principal of relative value. We have compared all players to the
lowest ranked starter at their respective positions (based on a 12-team
league). For example, we compared all quarterbacks to the 12th ranked
QB, Jake Delhomme, and we compared all running backs to
DeShaun Foster, the 24th ranked RB. By doing this, we get a good
idea of how valuable a player truly was in 2005.
Relative Value Rankings from 2005
