VORP / value over replacement

VORP, or value over replacement, measures how many fantasy points a player adds over a freely available replacement at the same position. It is the answer to the only question that matters when comparing players across positions: how much better is this player than the one you could grab off waivers?

Raw points mislead because positions are not equally deep. A quarterback projected for 300 points sounds better than a running back projected for 220, but if replacement quarterbacks score 260 and replacement running backs score 120, the running back is adding 100 points of value to the quarterback's 40. VORP prices in that scarcity.

How to Use It

Draft and trade by value added, not points scored.

• Cross-position decisions: when you are choosing between a receiver and a tight end, compare their value over replacement, not their season totals. The scarcer position often wins.
• Waiting on deep positions: VORP explains why waiting on quarterback works in most one-QB leagues. When the replacement level is high, even big point totals add little value.
• Trades: a two-for-one that wins on total points can lose on VORP if the roster spot you open gets filled by a replacement-level player.

NovaPredict's entire board runs on this principle. Nova Rank is a VORP ranking, tiers are drawn from drop-offs in value, and auction dollars come from the same value surface.

What It Is Not

VORP is not a projection of points and not a talent grade. A great player at a deep position can carry a modest VORP, and a good player at a barren position can carry a big one. It measures the value of rostering a player in your league's context, not how good he is in a vacuum.

For the full treatment, with examples and the history of the idea, read What is VORP in fantasy football?.

See every player ranked by value over replacement at /rankings.