McNair Scholar Christopher Nava recently presented at the 2025 MKN Heartland McNair Research Conference on September 19-21 in Kansas City, Missouri. He delivered an oral presentation on his project which asked: “Which Fantasy Football Platform is more accurate at predicting preseason projections?” Under the guidance of faculty mentor Dr. Alexandros Paparas, Christopher’s research examined the accuracy of preseason player projections from ESPN and Yahoo over six NFL seasons (2019–2024).
By analyzing Average Draft Position (ADP) data from FantasyPros and performance outcomes from Pro Football Reference, Christopher compared each platform’s projections to actual results in points-per-reception (PPR) formats. His study addressed several questions, including which platform best predicts top performers, positional strengths and weaknesses, and patterns in missed breakout players or preseason overvaluations. The findings revealed ESPN correctly projected 290 out of 432 top tier slots (67.1%), while Yahoo projected 286 (66.3%). ESPN had an edge at running back predictions, while Yahoo performed slightly better at wide receiver; both platforms struggled most with tight end projections. Though ESPN ranked higher in four of the six seasons, the difference was not statistically significant.
Christopher’s research offers practical insights for fantasy football managers and highlights areas for improving projection models. His participation in the conference embodies the McNair spirit and the event’s guiding message: “If you will commit yourself to your dreams, you can go as high as you like. The sky is not the limit.”-Dr. Ronald E. McNair
Great job, Christopher!
For more visit: https://inside.ewu.edu/mcnair/christopher-nava/
