Not all fantasy football cheat sheets and sleeper lists are created equal. With so many experts and so many sites, it can be overwhelming to figure out the best source for overall player rankings from one year (and draft) to the next. The constantly updated consensus rankings at Fantasy Pros are a helpful composite, but even with other sites gaining popularity heading into 2024, chances are, many fantasy owners will be drafting and playing most of their leagues on either Yahoo or ESPN.
When comparing Yahoo and ESPN based on the apples to apples of their respective PPR rankings, there are some intriguing differences. If you play on both, different sleeper/bust targets might emerge, and you'll likely need to employ a slightly different draft strategy on each format.
Even if you play on only one site, it's important to understand that the draft app you're using might have different criteria for its rankings than the ones you were studying before the draft.
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: 2024 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet
There is one guarantee — neither Yahoo nor ESPN will be 100-percent accurate across positions, just like Sporting News, CBS Sports, Sleeper, etc. Here's a look at the most polarizing players leading to the biggest deviations in 2024 so you can plan accordingly for your drafts.
IYER: 'Do Not Draft List' by ADP | Best values, draft steals by ADP
Quarterbacks: Yahoo PPR fantasy football rankings vs. ESPN PPR fantasy football rankings
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (QB10 on Yahoo!/QB7 on ESPN)
Burrow is coming back from another season cut short by injury. He's fully healthy for 2024, but there's more competition for young-gun production with C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson and rookie Jayden Daniels emerging as top-11 options. He's a better value on Yahoo! ahead of Jordan Love and Brock Purdy vs. jumping Dak Prescott and Kyler Murray on ESPN.
Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders (QB9 on Yahoo!/QB12 on ESPN)
Yahoo! has gotten a bit savvier in aggressively pushing Daniels up inside the top 10 at his position around No. 66 overall in the seventh round, while Daniels is still a fine value down on ESPN at No. 99 overall in the ninth round.
2024 POSITION TIERS & DRAFT STRATEGY
QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST
Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets (QB20 on Yahoo!/QB13 on ESPN)
ESPN still has him ranked as Packers-MVP-form Rodgers and not as the 40-year-old coming off a torn Achilles' Rodgers who will lean a lot on the defense and running game. Caleb Williams and Trevor Lawrence are among the younger QBs at much better values behind him.
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (QB19 on Yahoo!/QB14 on ESPN)
Herbert is also on a run-heavy offense and is coming off a significant preseason foot injury. His familiar receivers are gone, and the Chargers are trying to find answers at wideout and tight end. Add Tua Tagovailoa and Matthew Stafford to Williams and Lawrence as QBs who shouldn't be going behind Rodgers and Herbert.
2024 PPR RANKINGS
Top 250 Overall | RB | WR | TE | DEF/ST | K
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (QB14 on Yahoo!/QB20 on ESPN)
Goff was QB17 in average scoring last season, but since he didn't miss any time, he was QB8 in total scoring. Goff can finish a little higher with more consistency vs. his home-road splits trend, but there are no variables to say he should be behind Rodgers, Herbert, and Deshau Watson.
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (QB31 on Yahoo!/QB22 on ESPN)
ESPN was off on Rodgers and Herbert being too high, but there's good reason to be optimistic about Young. Yahoo has him down as an unthinkable QB3 vs. a sleeper QB2. If you like Young, like we do with QB whisperer Dave Canales as the new head coach, he would be a bit easier to grab on Yahoo! with one of your last picks. On ESPN, Will Levis at No. 26 becomes the better deep sleeper target.
Running Backs: Yahoo PPR fantasy football rankings vs. ESPN PPR fantasy football rankings
Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens (RB7 on Yahoo, RB10 on ESPN)
Henry always gets a little dissed in PPR because he doesn't catch passes. But anytime he pops into the end zone, that's the equivalent of six receptions. He was the average RB16 in PPR last season, but he could see bumps in scoring and rushing yards in the league's best running game. He is a better value on ESPN in relation to Kyren Williams, Isiah Pacheco, and Travis Etienne Jr.
De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins (RB11 on Yahoo!/RB17 on ESPN)
There's a boom-or-bust quality to Achane that's reflected in this disparity. The optimist says he still scores at a high clip even with considerable cooldown from his rookie per-touch sizzle. The pessimist says he can be hurt again, and the backfield got murkier with rookie Jaylen Wright. Err on the side of being aggressive in drafting Achane.
2024 FANTASY AUCTION VALUES (PPR & STANDARD)
Overall | QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF/ST | K
D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears (RB24 on Yahoo!/RB19 on ESPN)
Swift is a huge asset in PPR this season, and if he can lead the team in rushing yards and TDs, he has a chance to well outplay his draft position. Swift has been difficult to rank among the RB2s, but take advantage of an undervalued RB2 on both sites.
David Montgomery, Detroit Lions (RB20 on Yahoo!/RB25 on ESPN)
ESPN is factoring in a dropoff into his TD-boosted production while also calling for a spike in the high-leverage work of Jahmyr Gibbs. Yahoo has accounted less for TD and rushing yard variations. Montgomery will get enough work to keep Gibbs fresh to put him into RB2 value vs. RB3.
Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins (RB23 on Yahoo!/RB32 on ESPN)
Mostert is going down in relation to Achane and the arrival of Wright. He probably should be going somewhere right in the middle of these rankings as a high-end RB3.
Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers (RB32 on Yahoo!/RB26 on ESPN)
Warren is a good receiver, and that's why ESPN sees another potential RB2. But he was RB30 in full PPR scoring average last season, so his value is truer towards the Yahoo! side given Najee Harris should be more effective as a lead overall.
2024 STANDARD, NON-PPR RANKINGS
Top 250 Overall | QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST | K
Wide Receivers: Yahoo PPR fantasy football rankings vs. ESPN PPR fantasy football rankings
Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals (WR8 on Yahoo!/WR13 on ESPN)
It sounds crazy that you can get away waiting a few extra spots to land Harrison as your WR1 in ESPN. Yahoo is being aggressive, but that's smarter given he should dominate targets and produce big-time right away with Kyler Murray.
Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams (WR12 on Yahoo!/WR24 on ESPN)
A combination of Puka Nacua injury news and buzz about Kupp "being back" in training camp has helped him shoot back up draft boards and Yahoo! consensus is putting him in old Kupp territory as a WR1. ESPN has it too low. Kupp should be be right in the middle of that wide range around WR16 to WR18.
Malik Nabers, New York Giants (WR23 on Yahoo!/WR16 on ESPN)
Yahoo! is concerned about Daniel Jones hurting Nabers' rookie value, but ESPN is right to be aggressive and have him on the board as an even more appealing WR2. You will need to jump on Nabers quickly in ESPN drafts after Harrison is gone.
2024 FANTASY SLEEPERS
QB | RB | WR | TE
Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs (WR24 on Yahoo!/WR34 on ESPN)
Rice doesn't feel like he'll be suspended, but there still might be some twists and turns left given the sudden overloaded depth of the Chiefs' wide receiver group. On either site, Xavier Worthy and Marquise Brown seem to be better value shots to take in the 40s at the position.
Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns (WR25 on Yahoo!/WR31 on ESPN)
Cooper was WR18 in average scoring in full-PPR leagues last season, even putting up a monster game with Joe Flacco throwing him the ball. Both sites have the consistent veteran undervalued in this route-running and hands-friendly format, making him one of the best surprise sleepers, period.
Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders (WR29 on Yahoo!/WR36 on ESPN)
There's no doubt Yahoo! is right to bump up McLaurin nine spots from his PPR finish in 2023 with Daniels as his QB, while ESPN is kind of rating the McLaurin of old with shaky QBs in consistently changing passing games.
Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans (WR36 on Yahoo!/WR25 on ESPN)
ESPN is in the more appropriate WR3 territory with Ridley as he has looked good in a Titans' offense better suited to him as a new go-to guy for Will Levis. Take advantage of the Yahoo! contrast to target him as a value a round later.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks (WR42 on Yahoo!/WR37 on ESPN)
JSN has been tough to put in WR3 range for many in the top 36, but if he does indeed replace Tyler Lockett as the second-best option to DK Metcalf in a much more up-tempo passing game with Geno Smith, he'll easily outperform both numbers. He remains a sleeper you can get a little later than his true value on both sites.
Tight Ends: Yahoo PPR fantasy football rankings vs. ESPN PPR fantasy football rankings
Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills (TE5 on Yahoo!/TE7 on ESPN)
Kincaid is behind George Kittle and Evan Engram on ESPN. Yahoo is right to be aggressive on the buzzy Kincaid, who can be the Travis Kelce of Josh Allen's Bills. Either way, you'll need to draft him earlier than expected with so much hype.
T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings (TE17 on Yahoo!/TE13 on ESPN)
Hockenson can be an upper-half TE1 again when recovered from his knee injury and back on the field for the Vikings' new-look passing game with Sam Darnold. He should be an early TE2 stash, as ESPN has ranked him, for his healthy upside.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TE19 on Yahoo!/TE25 on ESPN)
Otton has sleeper appeal on both sites, but he becomes an easier late-round flyer to take much lower on ESPN.
Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans (TE23 on Yahoo!/TE18 on ESPN)
This is the reverse of Otton. ESPN likes Okonkwo's complementary skill set to a limited wide receiver corps more than that of Otton. You can save a bit here taking a shot on Okonkwo late on Yahoo!.
