If you’re like me and started playing fantasy football way back when, then you probably have a longstanding league hosted on ESPN’s platform. And while I can’t speak to the types of players on ESPN vs. other platforms like Yahoo!, CBS or Sleeper, there are always nuances in ADP between them.
In this article, I’ll take you through some players who I think are being overvalued if you’re drafting on ESPN in PPR formats.
Over the course of the offseason you will be able to use our ADP (Average Draft Position) tool to determine players that present values and reaches on popular league host sites. The tool combines the updated ADP for different sites along with our latest Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) to provide players to target and avoid based on average draft position. You can also use our mock draft simulator to sync your league and complete fantasy football mock drafts against the current ADP of your league host.
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Overpriced Players to Avoid on ESPN
Here are players to avoid at current ADP on ESPN leagues.
Najee Harris (RB – PIT)
Are we sure Najee Harris is even that good? Sure, Harris crossed the 1,000-yard threshold and scored seven touchdowns. But does that really warrant a top-30 draft pick? According to ESPN players, it does. On film, not much about Harris jumps out. He’s better than a workman back, but I don’t see the elite traits that many saw in him coming out. I’m willing to pass up Harris to take players like Tee Higgins, DeVonta Smith and Kenneth Walker, all of whom possess more upside. I’d rather wait a round later to get Harris.
Christian Watson (WR – GB)
The Green Bay offense is just one I’m preferring not to buy into. The uncertainty surrounding Jordan Love trumps Christian Watson’s potential. Watson seems like more of a boom-or-bust weekly receiver, perhaps like Buffalo’s Gabriel Davis. But with Love under center, I suspect he could bust more than he booms in 2023. Watson is being taken 54th overall in drafts, despite ranking 65th in our Expert Consensus Rankings. That’s more the range I’d be willing to take a stab on him.
Miles Sanders (RB – CAR)
If there’s an early frontrunner for regression candidate of the year, it’s Miles Sanders. His breakout 2022 season was fantastic but probably a mirage as he benefitted from being in the high-flying Eagles offense. Sanders got paid this offseason, and good for him. But he faces a much worse situation in Carolina, featuring a downgraded offensive line and a rookie QB under center. It will be tough sledding for Sanders in 2023, and I disagree with him going 57th in ESPN drafts.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – SEA)
How many No. 3 wide receivers get drafted in the top 100 of fantasy drafts? Currently, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is going 92nd in drafts, and our rankings generally agree, ranking him 95th in PPR formats.
I understand the hype surrounding Smith-Njigba. But it will be hard for him to be a true fantasy factor weekly with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett on the outside. I like Smith-Njigba’s talent a ton, and he will benefit from owning the slot in Seattle. But I’m not sure I’m willing to spend a seventh or eighth-round pick on him.
Odell Beckham Jr. (WR – BAL)
I’m of the mindset that Odell Beckham Jr. is pretty much washed. Yet, ESPN drafters are clearly buying in, as he’s going 99th on average in drafts. That’s ludicrous. Beckham Jr. hasn’t played in over a year and will compete with Rashod Bateman, rookie Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews for targets. He may have an impressive game or two, but this is way too high to be drafting him.
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