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 draft to the next.
The updated consensus rankings at FantasyPros are a helpful composite. Still, even with other sites gaining popularity heading into 2025, many fantasy owners likely will be drafting and playing in most of their leagues on either Yahoo or ESPN.
Note the major difference between these two major league apps: the default settings of Yahoo (half-point PPR) and ESPN (full-point PPR).
While considering the differences in their respective default rankings, some intriguing discrepancies arise. If you play on both, varied sleeper and bust targets should emerge. You need to employ a unique draft strategy on each site.
There is one guarantee: Neither Yahoo nor ESPN will be 100% accurate across positions, just like Sporting News, CBS Sports, Sleeper, etc.
Here's a look at the most polarizing fantasy players who are leading to the biggest deviations in 2025 — and, most importantly, how to use that to your advantage in drafts.
👀 See how these Yahoo and ESPN rankings stack up compared to our Top 300 PPR cheat sheet and our Top 300 Non-PPR rankings.
All fantasy rankings data is updated as of Sept. 2.
Quarterbacks: Yahoo vs. ESPN fantasy rankings
Justin Fields, New York Jets (QB13 Yahoo vs. QB14 ESPN)
Fields is lining up as a great value on ESPN. He's a cheat code running QB in an improved Lions adjacent offense scheme.
He should be in the top 10 because of his floor, and his upside is sneaky with Garrett Wilson.
Still drafting? Use our 2025 fantasy draft kit and cheat sheets.
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (QB10 Yahoo vs. QB7 ESPN)
This time, ESPN is just about right on Mayfield's ranking, while Yahoo is calling for some significant regression without Liam Coen.
That sets him up to be a steal on Yahoo as he has a strong case to finish in the top 6 again.
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (QB8 Yahoo vs. QB10 ESPN)
Mr. Irrelevant remains polarizing in fantasy and reality after getting his mega contract in San Francisco. There are some concerns about the variables around him, including uncertainty over Brandon Aiyuk's knee and availability.
Purdy is probably too rich on Yahoo and just about right on ESPN.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (QB9 Yahoo vs. QB12 ESPN)
This is a slight difference between seeing a healthy Prescott being a rebound top-12 QB1 vs. hedging the bets and putting him on the borderline.
ESPN has him as the more comfortable value.
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (QB15 Yahoo vs. QB11 ESPN)
Herbert did finish last season strong and gets Keenan Allen back for Year 2 of Greg Roman's offense. He should be more efficient out of the gate, but the concern is getting the required passing volume in a run-heavy offense.
He is overpriced on ESPN for that reason.
2025 DRAFT SLEEPERS: QB | RB | WR | TE | DST | Deep Sleepers | 1 From Each Team
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Running Backs: Yahoo vs. ESPN fantasy rankings
Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans (RB20 Yahoo vs. RB23 ESPN)
Pollard is a difficult running back to rank based on whether he can keep holding off Tyjae Spears from cutting into his touches and limiting his work in the passing game.
ESPN and Yahoo both have this about right given Pollard's receptions volume hurts.
R.J. Harvey, Denver Broncos (RB21 Yahoo vs. RB26 ESPN)
Harvey should be higher on ESPN because of his all-around scrimmage potential.
He has a good chance to see all the high-leverage touches over oft-inured late free-agent addition J.K. Dobbins.
Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings (RB28 Yahoo vs. RB36 ESPN)
Mason hasn't shown much in the way of the passing game with the 49ers, but they also didn't need him much in that role.
Aaron Jones is pushing it with age and wear, and Mason is a fine target in either format, with ESPN giving him massive value.
Cam Skattebo, New York Giants (RB45 Yahoo vs. RB37 ESPN)
Skattebo has had some injury issues during his first camp and preseason, but the coaching staff is high on his versatility.
He might be a little ignored by ESPN, making him a big-time steal on Yahoo.
Austin Ekeler, Commanders (RB37 Yahoo vs. RB31 ESPN)
Ekeler has the perception of being so reliant in his work in the passing game, to the point one has forgotten what kind of prolific scoring back he can be when given the chances. ESPN might be too high on Ekeler's role, but there's no doubt Yahoo is too low.
Joe Mixon, Texans (RB54 Yahoo vs. RB46 ESPN)
ESPN is much too aggressive with Mixon and his overall volume, given his latest injury that'll cost him several weeks of action -- plus significant mileage from Cincinnati and Houston.
Let someone else make the mistake on ESPN, and you might want to avoid him on Yahoo, too.
NON-PPR RANKINGS: TOP 300 Cheat Sheet | QB | RB | WR | TE
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Wide Receivers: Yahoo vs. ESPN fantasy rankings
Tyreek Hill, Dolphins (WR18 Yahoo vs. WR13 ESPN)
Hill is another tricky ranking because of his age (31), sudden slowdown in Miami's downward spiraling downfield passing game.
The value seems to be somewhere in middle of these rankings, at WR14 or WR15.
Davante Adams, Rams (WR19 Yahoo vs. WR15 ESPN)
Sure, Matthew Stafford's back injury is a concern, but Yahoo needs to be higher on Adams because of his TD scoring prowess, past and present.
ESPN might seem to have him high, but also could be undervalued there based on how productive he still was last season on two other teams.
DeVonta Smith, Eagles (WR20 Yahoo vs. WR26 ESPN)
Smith is considered to be more of a big-play threat in relation to A.J. Brown and doing his damage on lesser corners.
But pushing him into middle WR3 territory feels too low, compared to any notion of Yahoo being too aggressive with his value as a back-end WR2.
George Pickens, Cowboys (WR21 Yahoo vs. WR32 ESPN)
Considering that Pickens is a big-play guy and can get yards and TDs with lesser volume, it makes sense ESPN is much lower on him.
But Yahoo has him well overrated.
Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins (WR22 Yahoo vs. WR27 ESPN)
Waddle is either a strong rebound candidate or a red flag to avoid in drafts.
He's too expensive on Yahoo with a much more comfortable cost on ESPN.
DJ Moore, Bears (WR30 Yahoo vs. WR20 ESPN)
Moore had an arrow pointing up early in the offseason but now it looks like he might not be the true No. 1 for Ben Johnson's offense.
He feels more like the WR3 Yahoo considers him to be vs. putting well into the WR2s in the top 24.
Ricky Pearsall, 49ers (WR34 Yahoo vs. WR39 ESPN)
Pearsall might need to be very busy in the early season helping to replace Deebo Samuel and an injured Aiyuk along with George Kittle and Jauan Jennings.
His upside as last year's first-round picks suggests he's a strong value on either site.
Emeka Egbuka, Buccaneers (WR35 Yahoo vs. WR40 ESPN)
With Chris Godwin looking iffier, Egbuka, the first-rounder from Ohio State, is looking good for a key early rookie role for Mayfield playing off Mike Evans.
He is a steal on ESPN and a rather good value buy on Yahoo.
PPR RANKINGS: TOP 300 Cheat Sheet | QB | RB | WR | TE | DST | PK
Tight Ends: Yahoo vs. ESPN fantasy rankings
Colston Loveland, Bears (TE15 Yahoo vs. TE11 ESPN)
Loveland has been overhyped in the offense because of his good rookie camp.
He will be a key target in the team's frequent two-tight end sets, but given the crowd of receivers, it's difficult to see him being Sam LaPorta Part 2 for Ben Johnson, at least not yet. There are a lot of key mouths to feed for Caleb Williams in Chicago.
Mason Taylor, Jets (TE23 Yahoo vs. TE25+ ESPN)
ESPN is in the ideal ranking spot to take a shot on Taylor as one of Fields' new go-to guys.
Taylor should be going well into the 20s, making him a favorable late pick on Yahoo.
ESPN doesn't even list him in their top position rankings, which could make him an even bigger steal there.