A few weeks ago, we debuted Vegas-style fantasy football rankings.
We used season-long prop lines for each player to project fantasy points, using the wisdom-of-the-crowds approach embedded in betting markets to find players undervalued and overvalued by fantasy experts.
For example: if a receiver was listed at 7 catches, 70 yards and 0.5 TDs in the prop market, he'd be projected for 17 points in full PPR, but 10 points in standard formats.
We'll be doing the same on a game-by-game basis, using props from that week's games to create fantasy rankings. While you'll be starting most of the players listed anyway, these rankings can be a good way to find DFS value or make tough lineup decisions early in the season.
Here's how things shook out for quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers for Week 5 in all formats, with some notes below.
Quarterback
- The top of the board looks like you'd expect — Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson are 1-2-3.
- The biggest surprise might be Marcus Mariota all the way up at No. 14, especially in a tough matchup with the Bucs.
- Baker Mayfield, not Bailey Zappe, is the last-ranked quarterback in our rankings.
Running Back
- Austin Ekeler is the No. 2 overall player in PPR and half-PPR due to his immense receiving upside.
- Dalvin Cook is the No. 1 player in standard formats, due to his likelihood of scoring a touchdown.
- Christian McCaffrey is pretty far down the board in standard and half-PPR, but No. 4 in full PPR.
- Jeff Wilson Jr. and Jamaal Williams crack the top 15 as their roles solidify.
Wide Receiver
- Christian Kirk is top 10 in all formats, ahead of guys like Tyreek Hill, Tee Higgins and Mike Evans.
- Evans is all the way down at No. 18 in full PPR formats.
- Chris Olave is also up there with some star receivers at No. 15 in half-PPR and full PPR.
Tight End
- Tyler Higbee has been a focal point of the Rams offense and he's No. 3 in all formats, just ahead of Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert and OJ Howard (!).
