The Underdog ADP (average draft position) is notoriously efficient. The people drafting in March and April (mostly) know what they are doing.

But that doesn't mean the "wisdom of the crowds" is always correct, just that their collective wisdom is directionally accurate.

It can be hard to untether yourself from the anchor of ADP when drafting, but it is important to understand where the market could be wrong and then find ways to exploit that in your drafts.

With that in mind, I compared the Underdog ADP to our early Fantasy Life rankings to find some interesting discrepancies. 

Now, comparing these ranks isn't a silver-bullet exercise—redraft vs. best ball is a very different game—but I still think there is merit to analyzing spots where best ball drafters could be over-emphasizing late-season production or undervaluing early-season veteran production because of tournament structures.

With that in mind, here are the biggest discrepancies I found and how to play it in drafts … 

ICYMI: Underdog Best Ball Strategy For The 2026 Big Board Pre-Draft Contest

Fantasy Life Rankings I'm Buying In Best Ball Drafts

Kenneth Walker | RB | KC (FL RB7; Underdog RB11)

This is an interesting comparison between rankings and ADP. Walker's landing spot in Kansas City is undoubtedly a boon for his fantasy value—Ian and Dwain have him as their RB5—but Underdog drafters have been slower to move Walker up. A big reason for this is that UD drafters select rookie Jeremiyah Love (RB9) and sophomores Ashton Jeanty (RB6) and Omarion Hampton (RB8) over him.

This is a classic case of tournament players trying to skate to where they think the puck is going to be and potentially drafting a young RB who could be a top-five overall selection next year. But in this case, I'm inclined to side with our Fantasy Life rankings. The (cheaper) bird in the hand is worth more than a few in the bush.

Davante Adams | WR | LAR (FL WR17; Underdog WR25)

Here's another example of the ageists on Underdog fading the veteran wideout in favor of some younger, more volatile guys like Luther Burden, Emeka Egbuka and Ladd McConkey. 

It's fair to be concerned about Adams' age—he'll turn 34 in December—but he also is a TD monster, which plays very nicely on a half-point PPR site like Underdog. Ultimately, my first three picks in a draft will determine how open I am to Adams in this spot. If I have a youth-heavy team early (say the aforementioned Love and Hampton, followed by Burden), then I might prioritize a proven commodity like Adams. If I have a good balance, though, I am more willing to take a shot on those other guys (my favorites in this range include Zay Flowers and Jameson Williams).

James Conner | RB | ARI (FL RB35; Underdog RB49)

This discrepancy is the result of a response to the question, "Aren't ya worried about Tyler Allgeier??"

In this pre-draft landscape where there is so much uncertainty at the RB position, I don't mind taking stabs on Conner. They reworked his contract to return to Arizona, and they have a long history of featuring him as a bell cow. Allgeier will absolutely have a role, but I think his signing is more an indictment of how the Cardinals feel about Trey Benson than about Conner. 

After the NFL Draft, I'll likely feel better about other RBs in his range, but for now, he's a solid target who is likely being overly punished for both his age and how free agency shook out.

Honorable mentions: Alvin Kamara (RB42 vs. RB59), Kaytron Allen (RB48 vs. RB62)

Fantasy Life Rankings I'm Selling In Best Ball Drafts

Travis Etienne | RB | NO (FL RB19; Underdog RB15)

The Etienne ADP is like the inverse of the Walker situation, but it has the same effect. Because ADP can be so sticky and slow to move, risers don't rise fast enough (Walker), and fallers don't fall fast enough (Etienne). 

Etienne is coming off an awesome year in Jacksonville and the glow of those fantasy points has kept him as a permanent fixture of the third round of drafts. Our rankings crew, however, is less bullish about his new situation in New Orleans and prefers options like Breece Hall, Kyren Williams and Bucky Irving to him. 

All of these RBs have legit question marks, so feel free to prioritize whichever flavor you like the most.

RELATED: Alvin Kamara vs. Travis Etienne Fantasy Football Value

George Kittle | TE | SF (FL TE21; Underdog TE11)

This is another classic redraft vs. best ball battle. In best ball, you can survive some zeroes from Kittle at the beginning of the season in hopes of having a late-season Elite TE hammer. In redraft, it can be a drag on your roster. 

This rankings gap makes perfect sense, and you should play it format-specific. P.S. Speaking of redraft, Jake Tonges will be on the early-season streaming radar with Kittle out.

Jalen McMillan | WR | TB (FL WR75; Underdog WR56)

Underdog drafters are excited about a potential role increase for McMillan in Tampa with Mike Evans gone, but Fantasy Life drafters recommend proceeding with more caution. Egbuka, Chris Godwin and Tez Johnson are still all there, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Bucs select a WR in this deep draft class. 

I would prefer to fade McMillan for now and instead take a shot on one of the cheap rookie WRs who project for Round 2 draft capital like Chris Brazzell, Chris Bell, Germie Bernard and Zachariah Branch.

Honorable mentions: Jalen Coker (WR62 vs WR49), Emanuel Wilson (RB64 vs RB50)

Alright, my job is done for now. Now it's up to you to figure out if you want to side with the Fantasy Life rankings crew or the best ball hive mind. Good luck.

Join Our Newsletter

Trusted by 400,000+ fantasy football players. Get access to Fantasy Life's free award winning newsletter and tools, all in one step.

Email Address

Subscribe

By registering or logging in, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.