2021 NFL Draft Guide: NFL Stats Central
Published: Apr 01, 2021
As statistical analysis and newly-created metrics become more of the norm in sports, the fantasy football community is caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, understanding things like Average Depth of Target (aDOT) and Pass Blocking Efficiency Ratings can be extremely helpful when analyzing a wide receiver’s usage or the strength of a team’s offensive line, but with so much player and coach movement each season, year-to-year data can only take you so far. There are also a number of these Next Gen stats that have very limited usefulness when it comes to player evaluation in the preseason. Something like Aggressiveness (AGG%) is pointless to look at if a quarterback has changed teams or is working under a new coach or coordinator and its level of accuracy two games into the regular season is limited, at best.
Football is a game of match-ups – offensive schemes versus defensive schemes – and it’s up to us to teach you when and where accumulated statistics are actually relevant; how they should be used in your analysis. It doesn’t matter how fast a guy is during OTAs. Show me how fast he is in full pads while breaking tackles. That’s what matters.
I am certainly not trying to dismiss the fantasy community’s desire to quantify certain things as there are a number of stats to explore as the season moves forward. We just want you to prioritize their use better. Otherwise, why is there a Stats Central page? Below is a list of articles which will help you understand football metrics better and how to employ them in your own analysis of your team.
Stats You Need to Know for 2021
Adjustments for Scoring Differences
Utilizing Advanced Football Stats