Quick answerValue over replacement, or VOR, is a player's projected points minus the projected points of a replacement option at the same position. It helps compare scarce positions. The result depends on the time horizon, scoring system and replacement baseline, so two sites can calculate different values without using different player projections.
The VOR formula
VOR = player projected points − replacement player projected points. Both projections must use the same scoring rules and period. Subtracting weekly points from season points produces a meaningless number.
| Player | Projected points | Same-position baseline | VOR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterback A | 300 | 260 | +40 |
| Running back B | 220 | 150 | +70 |
Quarterback A has more total points, but Running back B adds more above the selected fallback. That is why a one-quarterback draft board can reasonably place a running back ahead of a higher-scoring quarterback. Change the baseline and the answer can change.
How LineupLab's public draft board uses VOR
The public full-PPR board uses a 12-team, one-quarterback reference model. Its replacement positions are QB12, RB30, WR42 and TE12. RB and WR baselines include allowance for FLEX demand. The displayed VOR is the projected season-points difference from that position's baseline; market ADP is a separate price signal.
What VOR does not tell you
- It is not a guarantee that a player will outscore the fallback by that amount.
- A mathematical replacement rank is not proof that player is available on your waiver wire.
- It does not include the opportunity cost of a draft pick unless you compare it with price.
- An overall draft rank can include editorial or product adjustments; VOR alone does not explain every displayed ordering.
- A season-long VOR is not a start/sit ranking for a single game.
Why league settings change the baseline
A superflex league demands more quarterbacks than a 1QB league. A three-receiver lineup demands more receivers than a two-receiver lineup. Larger rosters can remove otherwise useful backups from waivers. The replacement option generally gets weaker as demand rises, increasing the value of stronger players at that position.
Use value and cost together
A high-VOR player can still be a poor purchase at an excessive cost. Compare the value available at your current pick with what may remain later, and check which lineup slots you still need to fill. For waivers, compare the pickup with the player you would actually start or drop, not an abstract league-average replacement.