Fantasy Football: Advanced Metrics Glossary

Fantasy football has evolved significantly, and the information available has grown exponentially. Today, you can find fantasy football advice through podcasts, magazines, YouTube shows, and many other sources. With this abundance of data and metrics, staying on top of everything can sometimes feel overwhelming. However, diving into advanced metrics can provide a competitive edge. Understanding their definitions and application can help you make more informed decisions when drafting, trading, or setting your weekly lineup.

For those new to the game though, you may want to start with our Fantasy Football 101 acronyms and definitions before diving into these advanced metrics.

Here’s a guide to some key advanced metrics you should know:

YPRR

Yards Per Route Run measures the efficiency of a receiver by dividing their total receiving yards by the number of routes run. This metric indicates how productive a player is on a per-route basis, helping identify efficient receivers who maximize their opportunities. Players with a high YPRR are making the most out of their targets, and if you see that they also get a decent amount of targets then this makes them valuable assets in any lineup. Be sure to check out my article Analyzing Wide Receiver Performances for an in-depth look at how WRs are overperforming or underperforming during a given week, where I breakdown YPRR for the given week.

TPRR

Targets Per Route Run is the number of targets a player receives divided by the number of routes they run. This metric highlights a player’s involvement in the passing game, showing which receivers are favored targets when they are on the field running routes. A high TPRR can indicate a player who is consistently targeted by the quarterback, which has great correlation to more receptions and more fantasy points. For an in-season breakdown of TPRR check out AJ Passman’s Targets Per Route Run Report that he writes after the games each week.

Route %

Route Percentage is the number of team passing plays in which a player ran a route. This metric helps to reflect a player’s usage and involvement within the passing game. Players with a high Route % are frequently on the field during passing plays, and when metrics like this are combined with YPRR and TPRR you start to get a good picture of players that should have great chances to score fantasy points. This metric also is valuable for evaluating TEs considering they often are asked to stay in on passing plays to block.

DVOA

Defense-adjusted Value Over Average is a metric that measures a team or player’s efficiency by comparing success on each play to the league average, adjusted for situation and opponent. This metric (first introduced Aaron Schatz formerly of Football Outsiders) provides context to performances by considering the quality of the defenses faced, offering a more nuanced view of their effectiveness. Understanding DVOA can help you evaluate matchups more accurately and make better start/sit decisions.

EPA

Expected Points Added quantifies the value of individual plays in terms of points added or subtracted from a team’s score, based on the situation. This metric helps evaluate the impact of specific players and plays on the game’s outcome, focusing on their contributions to scoring. Players with high EPA are those who consistently make significant contributions to their team’s scoring efforts, making them valuable for fantasy football.

1D/RR

First Downs Per Route Run is the number of first downs a player gains divided by the amount of routes they run. This metric measures a player’s ability to move the chains, highlighting those who are reliable in crucial situations. Players who excel in 1D/RR are often key targets in third-down situations, gain large amounts of yards when targeted, and can be critical to sustaining drives, providing consistent fantasy points. Just as a reference, here are the wide receivers who were Top 5 in 1D/RR last season:

xFP

Expected Fantasy Points projects a player’s fantasy points based on their usage, targets, and historical performance. This metric offers a baseline expectation of performance, helping fantasy managers set realistic expectations for player output. Understanding xFP can help you identify underperforming players who may be due for positive regression or overperforming players who might regress to the mean. For more on Expected Fantasy Points and actionable advice to go with it, be sure to check out Marvin Elequin’s series on xFP regression candidates by position.

Explosive Rush/Pass %

Explosive Rush/Pass % is the percentage of a player’s runs or receptions that result in significant yardage gains (usually defined as 10+ yards for rushes and 20+ yards for passes). This metric identifies players with big-play potential who can generate significant yardage and scoring opportunities. Players with a high Explosive Rush/Pass % can provide boom potential and help you win matchups with their ability to break off large gains.

Neutral Situation Pace

Neutral Situation Pace is the rate at which a team runs plays in neutral game situations (when the game is within one score). This metric indicates the tempo of an offense, with faster-paced teams providing more opportunities for players to accumulate stats. Understanding a team’s Neutral Situation Pace can help you target players from high-tempo offenses that run more plays and create more opportunities for fantasy points.

WAR

Wins Above Replacement quantifies a player’s overall value by comparing their performance to that of a “replacement-level” player, essentially a baseline player available on the waiver wire. It incorporates various aspects of a player’s game, including offensive production and consistency, to provide a single, comprehensive value. WAR is crucial in fantasy football because it allows for comparisons between players across different positions and skill sets. A player with a high WAR significantly boosts their fantasy team’s chances of winning, making them an essential asset for any roster. Understanding WAR helps fantasy managers identify players who offer substantial value beyond traditional statistics, leading to more informed drafting, trading, and lineup decisions. Be sure to check out Matt DiSorbo’s article On the WARpath that discusses WAR in greater detail.