Draft Pick Value Calculator

Evaluate the relative value of fantasy draft picks using a modified version of the widely-used Jimmy Johnson NFL draft value chart, adapted for fantasy football drafts. Compare two picks to assess trade fairness.

How This Calculator Works

This calculator uses a modified version of the Jimmy Johnson draft value chart to assign a numerical trade value to each fantasy draft pick. The methodology works as follows:

1. Overall pick calculation: Converts round and slot into an overall pick number — Overall = (Round − 1) × League Size + Slot.
2. Value lookup: Maps the overall pick to a value from the Jimmy Johnson chart. Pick 1.01 = 3,000 points, with values decreasing steeply through the first round (1.10 = 1,300) and more gradually in later rounds.
3. Tier classification: Elite (1,000+) for first-round picks, Premium (500–999) for rounds 2–3, Solid Starter (200–499), Depth/Upside (50–199), and Minimal Value (below 50).
4. Comparison mode: When a second pick is entered, the calculator displays the point difference to evaluate trade fairness between picks.

The original Jimmy Johnson chart was created by the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff in the early 1990s to evaluate NFL Draft pick trades. The chart's exponential decay curve — where early picks are disproportionately more valuable — maps well to fantasy football because the same principle holds: the talent difference between the 1st and 12th player drafted far exceeds the difference between the 12th and 24th.

References & Methodology

• Johnson, J. / Dallas Cowboys (c. 1991) — The original NFL Draft trade value chart, developed by the Dallas Cowboys under Jimmy Johnson. Widely adopted across the NFL and later adapted for fantasy football draft pick valuation.
• Massey, C. & Thaler, R. H. (2013) — "The Loser's Curse: Decision Making and Market Efficiency in the National Football League Draft." Management Science 59(7):1479–1495. Academic analysis of draft pick value curves and how teams over- and under-value picks at different positions.
• Stuart, C. (2012) — "Revisiting the Draft Value Chart." Football Outsiders. Updated empirical analysis of actual draft pick production vs. the Jimmy Johnson chart values.
• FantasyPros — Dynasty and redraft ADP (Average Draft Position) data used to validate that fantasy draft pick values follow a similar exponential decay to the NFL chart.

How Draft Pick Values Work

The Jimmy Johnson draft value chart, originally created for NFL draft pick trades, assigns a point value to each pick that decreases steeply from the first overall pick. The first pick (3,000 points) is worth roughly three times the 10th pick (1,300 points) and six times the first pick of round 2.

In fantasy football, this chart translates well because the same principle applies: the difference between the 1st and 12th player drafted is far larger than between the 12th and 24th. Elite running backs and wide receivers create a significant advantage that diminishes with each subsequent round.

Draft Pick Trade Strategies

• Trading up: Costs exponentially more as you approach the 1.01. The premium is highest in the first 6 picks.
• Trading down: Can yield excellent value — two mid-round picks often outweigh one early pick in total production.
• Future picks: In dynasty, next year's 1st is typically valued at this year's early 2nd.
• Positional value: In superflex leagues, the 1.01 is worth even more due to elite QB scarcity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does league size change pick values?

Yes. In smaller leagues (8-10 teams), the talent pool is deeper so the drop-off between rounds is less severe. In 14-16 team leagues, early picks become even more valuable because the replacement level drops significantly.

How do I use this for multi-pick trades?

Add up the total value of all picks on each side. For example, if you are trading pick 1.03 (2,200) for picks 2.03 (760) and 3.03 (540), the 1.03 side gets 2,200 while the other side totals 1,300 — the team trading up is paying a premium but getting the more valuable individual asset.