Fantasy football managers need all the help they can get with the frenetic pace of a draft and/or salary cap setting. Preparation is key, and one of the best ways to organize for success is to use a positional tiered system to find the so-called peaks and valleys of the available player list. Group players by expected production and distinguish where the talent -- really, the value -- drops off, then capitalize on limited supply versus demand.
Prepare. Attack. Exploit. Command. Win.
Simple rankings fail to discern how much better -- or more valuable -- one player might be from the next. A fantasy manager nearing his or her fourth-round pick sees a jumble of choices and must make a decision in a short amount of time. A tiered system might reveal one running back left in a certain tier, compared with a crew of three or four at wide receiver. Pick the running back.
Perhaps the most critical part of any tiered system is that the decisions are yours. Oh sure, one analyst's tiers at running back appear below (here is that same analyst's WR tiers), but these are your fantasy teams. Participate in myriad mock drafts, study and analyze however it is you study and analyze, look forward and not backward, recognize what you believe should determine the order for rankings and tiers. Then, dominate your drafts.
Check out all of the tiered rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE
Tier 1: Top of the first round
1. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
2. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
No real need to dissect the order here. Most people agree these are the top options at running back. These two stand out among their peers.
Tier 2: Mid-to-late first round
3. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
4. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
5. James Cook III, Buffalo Bills
6. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
7. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
Reasonable minds might disagree about who is missing in this tier, and that is fine. As for this group, people overrate the Miami situation. Achane is special. Cook is special, too, and it is not only touchdowns. He led the league in rushing yards. Henry was close, and he thrives every season, so don't bother looking up his birth year, not yet.
Tier 3: Early second round
8. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
We can acknowledge the 413-touch elephant in the room, yes? I wanted no part of McCaffrey, with his injury history, last season. OK, so I missed out, like really missed out. It changes nothing. I still want no part, even later in Round 1. Any player coming off this unsafe level of volume will step back statistically. Consider not only the upside, but the downside in investing in this player in Round 1.
Tier 4: Rounds 2/3
9. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
10. Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers
11. Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
Here are three options who should improve upon what happened a season ago. Barkley is the veteran here, and the Eagles seem intent on reestablishing him as the focal point of the offense. Jeanty and Hampton were disappointing as rookies, but both are in a better position to succeed.
Tier 5: Rounds 3/4
12. Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys
13. Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals
14. Breece Hall, New York Jets
15. Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs
More question marks than the prior tier, but most notably (other than the first rookie) these are proven players. People sure love Love, but his situation looks a lot like what Jeanty dealt with (bad team, offensive line, confusing direction), and a high ankle sprain might compromise him for September. Walker and Williams might be better/safer options. Bottom line, though: If a fantasy manager doesn't have two running backs before this tier ends, they may regret it later.
Tier 6: Rounds 5/6
16. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
17. Travis Etienne Jr., New Orleans Saints
18. Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns
Many will shout at this Williams falling to this tier, but the threat of compromised touches is real. The threat is real with all these players. Certainly Etienne might not catch as many passes in his new home. Judkins, returning from ankle surgery, didn't catch many passes as a rookie.
Tier 7: Rounds 6/7
19. D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears
20. Jadarian Price, Seattle Seahawks
21. Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars
22. Cam Skattebo, New York Giants
23. David Montgomery, Houston Texans
More question marks. Swift and Montgomery are proven but a bit older, and they may be in annoying timeshares. Price, a rookie, and Tuten, beginning Year 2, are full of promise, but neither has been much of a pass catcher. Skattebo can do everything, but he is an obvious injury risk with his reckless style of play.
Tier 8: Round 7
24. Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
25. TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots
26. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
27. Kenny Gainwell, Buccaneers
Time for a few timeshares! Let's go against typical opinion here. Stevenson is quite good. Why do we assume the younger Henderson simply pushes him aside? Meanwhile, Gainwell proved he is quite good! Irving has major competition. For now, we rank Irving better, but I will simply wait a few rounds for Gainwell.
Tier 9: Rounds 8/9/10
28. Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans
29. J.K. Dobbins, Denver Broncos
30. Jonathon Brooks, Carolina Panthers
Potentially productive players populate this tier, but these are unlikely to be safe RB2 choices. Roster them in case the numbers surprise, but rely on them mainly during bye weeks, if possible. Pollard seeks his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season. Dobbins seeks his first, but he has been close before when injuries intervened. Brooks, now healthy, has barely played.
Tier 10: Round 10
31. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
32. MarShawn Lloyd, Packers
Jacobs was placed on the commissioner exempt list, which comes with little clarity for fantasy managers. He may miss no games. He may miss many games. He is a risk to rely on in fantasy. Lloyd, who has played in one NFL game in two seasons, is reportedly next in line, but the Packers have other options, too. This may be a tier to avoid for now.
Tier 11: Rounds 10/11/12
33. Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
34. Rico Dowdle, Steelers
35. Aaron Jones Sr., Minnesota Vikings
36. Chuba Hubbard, Panthers
37. Rachaad White, Washington Commanders
38. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders
More timeshares appear in this tier, and perhaps a few safe flex options will emerge. Warren and Dowdle were productive players last season, but we can only guess how volume will be divided. Same goes for the Commanders. Jones has missed significant time in two of the past three seasons.
Tier 12: Rounds 12/13/14
39. Kyle Monangai, Bears
40. Blake Corum, Rams
41. RJ Harvey, Broncos
Monangai and Corum, younger than their team's starters, would hold far more appeal if they caught passes. Still, they matter in fantasy for teams that run the football more than most.
Tier 13: Rounds 14/15/16
42. Tyjae Spears, Titans
43. Jordan Mason, Vikings
44. Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jaguars
45. Jonah Coleman, Broncos
46. Woody Marks, Texans
47. Keaton Mitchell, Chargers
48. Alvin Kamara, Saints
This is a rather interesting collection of players who may be afterthoughts in your drafts. Spears and Kamara certainly catch passes, adding to their allure. Mason and Rodriguez do not, but they will play. Mitchell may be underrated here.
Tier 14: Later rounds/free agency
49. Isiah Pacheco, Lions
50. Tyler Allgeier, Cardinals
51. Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks
52. Mike Washington Jr., Raiders
53. Justice Hill, Ravens
54. Samaje Perine, Bengals
55. Brian Robinson Jr., Falcons
56. Dylan Sampson, Browns
57. Braelon Allen, Jets
58. Ty Johnson, Bills
59. Tank Bigsby, Eagles