1. Projection baseline
Start with established consensus projections and scoring settings for the specific release.
Rank value. Price the opportunity.
ACE means Actionable Competitive Edge. The system separates how valuable a player should be from when a manager must draft or acquire him.
2. Historical check
Test the projection against recent production, per-game rates and 17-game pace.
3. Context and risk
Adjust for role, health, competition, offensive environment, continuity, floor and ceiling.
4. Positional value
Compare production with realistic replacement options and account for positional scarcity.
5. Acquisition cost
Measure player value against platform-specific ADP—the price managers actually have to pay.
6. Final ACE Rank
Turn the evidence into an Actionable Competitive Edge rank and update it when the facts change.
Format matters
The current release is for an ESPN 10-team full-PPR league and uses ESPN ADP. Future flagship coverage will center on 12-team half-PPR, with platform-specific acquisition costs where reliable ADP is available.
Transparency policy
Each release carries a publication date and format label. Material changes are published as new updates rather than silently rewriting the historical record. Fantasy Football Brief is independent analysis created by Steve “Ace” DeAses.