ADP stands for Average Draft Position. ADP is a compiling of draft results to let you know when a player is being rostered. For example, let’s say that in four drafts Julio Jones is taken 11th, 14th, 15th and 18th overall. If you add those four numbers up (58) and divide by four (the number of drafts), then Jones’s ADP would be 14.5. ADP data paints a picture for you of how the fantasy community views a certain player, which is a very useful tool.

How should/shouldn’t you use ADP data?

1. Make sure you get your ADP data from a trusted source since there are literally hundreds of places on the Internet where you can find ADP data. Not all sources that offer data are trustworthy.

2. Let’s say you get your ADP data from That’sGreatADPFootballDataof2015.org (that isn’t a real site, I checked). Let’s say that 50 percent of draft participants on that site are humans and 50 percent are computer-based artificial intelligence. That means 50 percent of the selections are coming from the rankings that That’sGreatADPFootballDataof2015.org set up. In essence, whatever the site’s own rankings are will be greatly reflected in the final ADP data (because the computer is drafting players off the site’s pre-ranked list so it is a self-fulfilling prophecy of the ADP matching the rankings). You will also see the computer draft players based on the rankings in an inappropriate way. For example, a computer team drafts Andrew Luck to be its quarterback. Three rounds later, the best player in the ADP rankings is Peyton Manning so then that same team then drafts Manning. No person would ever do that, but the computer just did while blindly drafting off a rankings list. Situations like this skew the ADP data significantly. Speaking of which…

3. Understand the correct way to read ADP data. Just because Player A has an ADP that is 12 spots higher than Player B does not mean you always have to draft Player A. The oft-heard mantra of drafting the “best player available” is just flipping stupid, and here’s why. Let’s say your first three selections are Eddie Lacy, Jeremy Hill and Jimmy Graham. In the 4th round your handy dandy ADP chart says that the best player available is Jonathan Stewart. Does it really make sense to go with a third running back since you don’t have a single wide receiver in a PPR setup? Probably not. Let’s say that Brandon Marshall is listed 12 spots later than Stewart on your ADP list. Are you then just going to blindly follow the ADP list, roster the “best player” (Stewart) and create a catastrophic hole at wide receiver that you will never be able to recover from? Good luck winning if you do that. An ADP chart is useful if you know how to read it. You read it to understand how players are being valued and when positional runs are likely to occur. It’s great for that. However, you’re completely misusing it if you use it as a draft rankings chart that tells you who you must take with your next draft selection.

4. I know this seems a bit basic, but make sure the ADP data you’re using is a match for the type of league you are in. Using non-PPR data in a PPR setup isn’t going to do you any good. Do you think it is smart to use data for a 10-team league if you’re in a 14-team league?

Be smart. Use ADP to augment, not lead, your draft day decisions.