Fantasy football managers are always looking for an edge over their opponents, to get closer to a championship and to become a better player overall. Yahoo Fantasy Plus has been proven to provide the exclusive tools to help fantasy managers do just that. And today, we want to put the spotlight on one of those tools in particular, Draft Scout, and what makes Draft Scout so special, and so powerful: VOLS.

But what is VOLS?

Well, we have to start with the draft process itself. Every draft pick you make is a trade-off. You’re not just choosing one player over another, you’re choosing one position over another, one drop-off in talent over another. This is where the concept of Value Over Last Starter (VOLS) comes into play.

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And once you understand it, you’ll never draft the same way again.

Fantasy managers often get caught chasing big names or average draft position trends. But optimal drafting is about squeezing the most value out of every single pick. VOLS brings a sharper lens to that process, guiding you to build a roster with the highest net impact.

Understanding Positional Value Curves

Not all positions are created equal. When you look at how player value drops off across a position, you’ll notice some are flatter (like wide receiver), while others are steep (like running back or quarterback in certain formats).

Think of it like a hill:

• A flat curve means player value doesn’t fall off much after the next few picks. You can wait longer to draft and still get solid production.

• A steep curve means there’s a sharp drop-off in points. Miss the next tier, and you could be at a weekly disadvantage.

How VOLS Is Measured

VOLS calculates how many points a player is projected to score over the last expected starter at that position in your league format.

If your league starts:

• 3 WRs

• 2 RBs

• 1 TE

Then VOLS looks at how much more a player scores compared to the WR36, RB24 or TE12 — i.e., the last starter in a 12-team league.

The formula is simple:
Projected Points – Projected Points of Last Starter = VOLS

This isn’t just math for math’s sake. This is strategy.

Why VOLS Helps You Draft Smarter

Here’s where it gets powerful: VOLS cuts through the potential noise of rankings and average draft position (ADP).

Say you’re debating:

• George Kittle 3rd ranked TE overall, projected 172 pts

• Tee Higgins 17th ranked WR overall, projected 181 pts

Both players have similar ADPs, at first glance, maybe Tee Higgins seems like the better pick. But:

• Jauan Jennings the WR36 (last starter) is projected 155 pts, which means Tee Higgins has a VOLS equal to 26 (181 – 155)

• Colston Loveland the TE12 (last starter) is projected 116 pts, which means George Kittle has a VOLS equal to 56 (172 – 116)

In this case George Kittle at TE gives you a larger edge at their position. One pick with strong VOLS can tilt a weekly matchup in your favor and multiple picks with strong VOLS compound that advantage.

This is the same philosophy NFL teams apply in the real world. It’s about identifying where a player gives you a meaningful edge relative to scarcity and average annual salary against the salary cap. VOLS exposes these inefficiencies and helps you build a roster that gains value where it matters most.

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How Yahoo Uses VOLS in Draft Scout

Yahoo’s Draft Scout bakes this analysis right into your live draft experience. It updates in real-time based on your current roster and league settings, showing you which players provide the most VOLS at the moment and what pick gives you the most projected point advantage. You don’t have to calculate anything. Draft Scout surfaces it, so you can act decisively.

Championships aren’t won by just drafting “the best player available.” They’re won by drafting the most valuable player for your roster and your league format. That’s what VOLS does. It turns your draft into a strategy game and gives you the winning formula.

Ready to draft with VOLS in your corner? Yahoo Fantasy Plus subscribers get access to Draft Scout and more advanced tools designed to maximize your edge.