Answer: Not really.
Explanation: This research spanning all ADP / games played data since 2015 can be broken down into these core highlights:
- QBs generally miss the fewest games, with preseason high-end QB1s and high-end QB2s playing the most games among all four offensive positions. Collectively, preseason low-end QB1s and low-end QB2s average 1-2 fewer games per season than their counterparts.
- Preseason high-end RB1s average fewer games than their high-end counterparts at other positions and, collectively, average fewer games than most other draftable RBs.
- WR1s and WR2s, collectively, average more games than other draftable WRs.
- High- and low-end TE1s and TE2s, collectively, have the smallest variance of games played compared to the other three primary offensive positions.
- Elite and near-elite kickers average at least two more games played than other draftable/streamable kickers.
Why This Matters: Durability is a factor in fantasy team performance. Understanding positional risks is key to making draft and roster-management decisions that maximize the probability of success. For example, preseason top-6 RBs average nearly four missed games a year, while preseason top-6 WRs average only two missed games a year. Top-6 RBs also average fewer points. Yet most of these RBs are drafted before 5-6 of the best WRs. Similarly, these RBs average more than two missed games more than preseason top-6 QBs, while also averaging about 50 fewer points. Yet these RBs are drafted 1-4 rounds earlier. This research raises significant questions about near-universal draft and roster-management strategies.
