What Is Football Outsiders Used For: Features, Reviews & Alternatives
Advanced NFL stats & analytics (now at FTN).
Editorially updated Oct 25, 2025
Football Outsiders
ftnfantasy.com
The overview
What Football Outsiders is for
1Core Capabilitie
- DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) team ranking
- DYAR (Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement) player ranking
- Offensive and Defensive Line metrics (Adjusted Line Yards, Stuffed Rate)
- Special Teams efficiency data (Kickoff/Punt Return/Coverage DVOA)
- Situational splits for all metrics (e.g., 3rd down, red zone)
2Specialized Workflow
- Sortable player and team data table
- Historical data archives dating back to 1980
- Custom query filters for specific game situation
- Play-by-play data breakdowns for advanced analysi
- Exportable data sets (CSV) for offline modeling
Who it helps
Useful ways to use Football Outsiders
A practical path
Access Team DVOA Ranking
From the homepage, navigate to the 'DVOA' section in the main menu, then select 'Team DVOA' to view current season rankings for all 32 NFL teams, broken down by offense, defense, and special team
External signals
Reviews & reputation
Aggregated review score
Highly respected for its pioneering advanced NFL metrics, Football Outsiders provides unparalleled depth for serious fantasy players, bettors, and professional analysts. The site's proprietary DVOA and DYAR statistics offer a crucial edge in understanding true team and player efficiency beyond conventional stats. While the interface is functional, the value lies squarely in the unique data and expert analysis.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
1How often is the data updated?⌄
DVOA and other weekly metrics are typically updated by Tuesday morning following the conclusion of all games for the prior NFL week, ensuring the most current analysis is available.
2What is the methodology behind DVOA/DYAR?⌄
DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) measures a player or team's success relative to the league average, adjusted for opponent strength and game situation. DYAR (Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement) applies a similar opponent and situation adjustment to individual player yardage totals, comparing them to a replacement-level player.
3Is historical data available on the site?⌄
Yes, the site maintains extensive archives of DVOA, DYAR, and other advanced metrics dating back to the 1980s, accessible via season selection dropdowns on most data pages.
4Can I integrate this data with my own analytical models?⌄
While direct API access isn't offered, most data tables include an 'Export to CSV' option, allowing users to download and import data into their personal spreadsheets or analytical tools for custom modeling.
5What's the difference between free content and a paid subscription?⌄
Free content typically includes introductory articles and high-level summaries. A paid subscription unlocks full access to all proprietary metrics, sortable databases, historical archives, and in-depth analytical articles.
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