Fantasy Football Ranking Tiers & Player Profiles
Purpose of Tiers and Instructions on how to use them
The intent of Tiers is so that when you are in a draft and presented with a series of options you can pick any player from the tier and we project them
to have the same/similar ceiling and same/similar floor as any other player in that tier, giving you more flexibility to build an optimal roster and get your guys.
Another way to look at it is that even though one player such as JuJu Smith Schuster, is ranked as our WR #28, and Rashod Bateman is our WR #23 they are still in the same tier (3A)
and therefore we project all WRs in tier 3A to have a similar range of outcomes so depending on how your draft board unfolds you can feel confident picking any of the players
in that tier and feel good about their projected performance in 2022.
This gives you more flexibility in stacking QBs with WRs, avoiding having too many players on matching bye weeks, enables you to get "your guys" (player bias), and helps you deal with in-draft sniping
In-draft sniping is when your buddy who picks just before you or a few picks before you takes the guy you were planning on taking… I know it sucks BUT with Tiers, voila!
You just get another guy in that same tier. Last but not least this helps you not reach for players beyond where they are typically drafted, thus costing you valuable draft capital
Example: Why draft Gabriel Davis in Tier 3A at the end of the third round when you can get Amon-Ra St. Brown, also in Tier 3A towards the end of the 4th.
Therefore allowing you to spend your end of 3rd round pick on a RB like Travis Etienne, who is projected to have a better floor and equal ceiling as Gabe Davis this year (Etienne is in RB Tier 2C)
Tier 1A - Great Passing & Great Rushing Floor
1A - Josh Allen, Bills
1A - Justin Herbert, Chargers
Tier 1B - Elite Passing with above-avg. or elite rushing
1B - Lamar Jackson, Ravens
1B - Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
1B - Kyler Murray, Cardinals
1B - Jalen Hurts, Eagles
Tier 1C - Elite Passing (Targets for Rounds 7 to 10)
1C - Joe Burrow, Bengals
1C - Tom Brady, Buccaneers
1C - Russell Wilson, Broncos
1C - Dak Prescott, Cowboys
Tier 2A - High-End Arbitrage on Hurts or Lamar
Trey Lance, 49ers
Tier 2B - Great Passing Options in Rounds 11 or 12
2B - Matthew Stafford, Rams
2B - Aaron Rodgers, Packers
2B - Derek Carr, Raiders
2B - Kirk Cousins, Vikings
Tier 2C - Rushing Upside
2C - Justin Fields, Bears
Tier 2D - Young Signal-Callers & Offensive Upgrades
2D - Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins
2D - Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
2D - Jameis Winston, Saints
2D - Mac Jones, Patriots
2D - Daniel Jones, Giants
2D - Zach Wilson, Jets
2D - Jared Goff, Lions
Tier 2E - Last Shot at a Starting Quarterback
2E - Ryan Tannehill, Titans
2E - Matt Ryan, Colts
2E - Baker Mayfield, Panthers
2E - Carson Wentz, Commanders
2E - Davis Mills, Texans
Tier 3A and 3B - So You're saying there's a chance
3A - Deshaun Watson, Browns
3A - Marcus Mariota, Falcons
3A - Mitchell Trubisky, Steelers
3A - Jimmy Garappolo, 49ers
3A - Kenny Pickett, Steelers
3B - Desmond Ridder, Falcons
3B - Matt Corral, Panthers
3B - Sam Darnold, Panthers
3B - Drew Lock, Seahawks
3B - Geno Smith, Seahawks
3B - Jacoby Brissett, Browns
Tier 1A - Explosive Young Studs
1A - Jonathan Taylor, Colts
Tier 1B - PPR Studs
1B - Christian McCaffrey, Panthers
1B - Austin Ekeler, Chargers
Tier 1C - Upside with Questions
1C - Derrick Henry, Titans
1C - Dalvin Cook, Vikings
Tier 1D - Big Volume
1D - Najee Harris, Steelers
1D - Saquon Barkley, Giants
1D - Joe Mixon, Bengals
1D - Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers
Tier 2A - Tier 1D Efficiency with upside of their role grows
2A - Aaron Jones, Packers
2A - D'Andre Swift, Lions
2A - Javonte Williams, Broncos
Tier 2B - Veteran with every-down potential
2B - James Conner, Cardinals
Tier 2C - Explosive Weapons in Timeshares Rounds 3 and 4
2C - Nick Chubb, Browns
2C - Travis Etienne, Jaguars
2C - Alvin Kamara, Saints
2C - Breece Hall, Jets
Tier 2D - Heavy Workloads at a Discount Rounds 3 and 4
2D - Cam Akers, Rams
2D - Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
2D - David Montgomery, Bears
Tier 3A - Committee Leads
3A - Josh Jacobs, Raiders
3A - Elijah Mitchell, 49ers
3A - Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs (don't draft before Round 6)
Tier 3B - Committee Backs with upside in Rounds 5-8
3B - J.K. Dobbins, Ravens
3B - A.J. Dillon, Packers
3B - Antonio Gibson, Commanders
3B - Miles Sanders, Eagles
3B - Tony Pollard, Cowboys
3B - Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks
3B - Damien Harris, Patriots
Tier 3C - Explosive Passing-down options
3C - Kareem Hunt, Browns
3C - James Cook, Bills
3C - Cordarelle Patterson, Falcons
3C - Chase Edmonds, Dolphins
Tier 4A - More Potential Committee Leads
4A - Devin Singletary, Bills
4A - Dameon Pierce, Texans
4A - Rashaad Penny, Seahawks
Tier 4B - Priority Targets in Rounds 9 to 12
4B - Melvin Gordon III, Broncos
4B - Ronald Jones, Chiefs
4B - Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots
4B - Isaiah Spiller, Chargers
4B - Rachaad White, Buccaneers
4B - Darrell Henderson, Rams
4B - Alexander Mattison, Vikings
4B - Michael Carter, Jets
Tier 4C - PPR Options
4C - Nyheim Hines, Colts
4C - Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles
Tier 5A - Potential Early-Down Options
5A - Tyrion Davis-Price, 49ers
5A - Khalil Herbert, Bears
5A - Tyler Allgeier, Falcons
5A - Jamaal Williams, Lions
5A - Gus Edwards, Ravens
5A - James Robinson, Jaguars
5A - Mark Ingram II, Saints
Tier 5B - Late-Round Priority Options
5B - Darrel Williams, Cardinals
5B - Brian Robinson Jr, Commanders
5B - Zamir White, Raiders
5B - D'Onta Foreman, Panthers
Tier 5C - Late-Round PPR Options
5C - Kenyan Drake, Raiders
5C - J.D. McKissic, Commanders
Tier 6A - Last-Round Darts in Deep Leagues
6A - Raheem Mostert, Dolphins
6A - Sony Michel, Dolphins
6A - Hassan Haskins, Titans
6A - Marlon Mack, Texans
6A - Jerick McKinnon, Free Agent
6A - Chris Evans, Bengals
6A - D'Ernest Johnson, Browns
6A - Eno Benjamin, Cardinals
Tier 6B - Names to monitor in pre-season
6B - Pierre Strong Jr., Patriots
6B - Damien Williams, Falcons
6B - Keaontay Ingram, Cardinals
6B - Samaje Perine, Bengals
6B - Snoop Conner, Jaguars
6B - Trey Sermon, 49ers
6B - Tyler Badie, Ravens
6B - Kyren Williams, Rams
6B - James White, Patriots
6B - Dontrell Hilliard, Titans
6B - Boston Scott, Eagles
6B - Trestan Ebner, Bears
6B - Matt Breida, Giants
6B - Rex Burkhead, Texans
Tier 1A - Elite talent, BIG target share and a great QB
1A - Justin Jefferson, Vikings
1A - Cooper Kupp, Rams
1A - Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals
Tier 1B - Most likely to catapult into Tier 1A
1B - Stefon Diggs, Bills
1B - Ceedee Lamb, Cowboys
1B - Davante Adams, Raiders
Tier 1C - Proven Options in high-octane Passing Attack
1C - Mike Evans, Buccaneers
1C - Tee Higgins, Bengals
Tier 2A - Elite talent in crowded attack with QB questions
2A - Deebo Samuel, 49ers
2A - Tyreek Hill, Dolphins
2A - A.J. Brown, Eagles
Tier 2B - Ascending talents in decent offenses plus an oldie
2B - D.J. Moore, Panthers
2B - Michael Pittman, Jr., Colts
2B - Keenan Allen, Chargers
Tier 2C - Talent in quality offenses with target competition
2C - Mike Williams, Chargers
2C - Marquise Brown, Cardinals
2C - Courtland Sutton, Broncos
Tier 2D - Ascending talent in questionable offense situation
2D - Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins
2D - Terry McLaurin, Commanders
2D - Diontae Johnson, Steelers
Tier 2E - Veteran WR2 Options
2E - Allen Robinson, Rams
2E - Brandin Cooks, Texans
Tier 3A - Priority upside WRs in Rounds 5-7
3A - Rashod Bateman, Ravens
3A - Gabriel Davis, Bills
3A - Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions
3A - Russell Gage, Buccaneers
3A - Jerry Jeudy, Broncos
3A - JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chiefs
Tier 3B - Lead WR3/Flex Options in Bad Situations
3B - D.K. Metcalf, Seahawks
3B - Elijah Moore, Jets
3B - Darnell Mooney, Bears
3B - Devonta Smith, Eagles
Tier 3C - Secondary WR options in Good Offenses
3C - Adam Thielen, Vikings
3C - Hunter Renfrow, Raiders
Tier 3D - High-end Veterans Options with Questions
3D - Chris Godwin, Buccaneers
3D - Michael Thomas, Saints
3D - DeAndre Hopkins, Cardinals
3D - Amari Cooper, Browns
Tier 4A - Young Talent with a Path to Targets Rounds 8 to 9
4A - Drake London, Falcons
4A - Treylon Burks, Titans
4A - Skyy Moore, Chiefs
4A - Chris Olave, Saints
4A - Kadarius Toney, Giants
Tier 4B - Young Talent with Questions
4B - Garrett Wilson, Jets
4B - Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers
4B - Chase Claypool, Steelers
4B - Christian Watson, Packers
Tier 4C - Veteran WR4/Flex Options Rounds 9 to 11
4C - Christian Kirk, Jaguars
4C - Tim Patrick, Broncos
4C - Tyler Boyd, Bengals
4C - Tyler Lockett, Seahawks
4C - Robert Woods, Titans
Tier 5A - WRs in Round 12 with sneaky breakout potential
5A - Rondale Moore, Cardinals
5A - Jakobi Meyers, Patriots
Tier 5B - Iffy talent but wide open depth chart and elite QB
5B - Allen Lazard, Packers
5B - Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chiefs
Tier 5C - Rookie WR5 options with upside - Rounds 13 or 14
5C - Jahan Dotson, Commanders
5C - Jameson Williams, Lions
5C - Jalen Tolbert, Cowboys
Tier 5D - Veteran Options with a path to targets
5D - Kenny Golladay, Giants
5D - Jarvis Landry, Saints
5D - Jamison Crowder, Bills
5D - Robby Anderson, Panthers
5D - DeVante Parker, Patriots
Tier 6A - WR6 options on quality offenses
6A - Michael Gallup, Cowboys
6A - Josh Palmer, Chargers
6A - Van Jefferson, Rams
6A - Mecole Hardman, Chiefs
6A - Sammy Watkins, Packers
6A - K.J. Osborn, Vikings
Tier 6B - Young WR6 Options
6B - George Pickens, Steelers
6B - Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants
6B - Nico Collins, Texans
6B - Alec Pierce, Colts
Tier 6B - Veteran WR6 Options
6C - Marvin Jones, Jr., Jaguars
6C - Curtis Samuel, Commanders
6C - Kendrick Bourne, Patriots
6C - Corey Davis, Jets
6C - Parris Campbell, Colts
6C - D.J. Chark, Jr., Lions
6C - Julio Jones, Buccaneers
Tier 7A - Late-Round Options in Quality Offenses for Deep Leagues
7A - K.J. Hamler, Broncos
7A - Isaiah McKenzie, Bills
7A - James Washington, Cowboys
Tier 7B - Late-Round Youth for Deep Leagues
7B - David Bell, Browns
7B - John Metchie III, Texans
7B - Terrace Marshall Jr., Panthers
Tier 7C - The Unsigned Veterans who could climb in ADP
7C - Will Fuller V, FA
7C - Odell Beckham Jr. Free Agent
Tier 7D - Best of the Rest for Deep Leagues
7D - Laviska Shenault Jr., Jaguars
7D - Byron Pringle, Bears
7D - Devin Duvernay, Ravens
7D - Zay Jones, Jaguars
7D - Donovan Peoples-Jones, Browns
7D - Cedrick Wilson, Dolphins
7D - A.J. Green, Cardinals
7D - Khalil Shakir, Bills
7D - Velus Jones Jr., Bears
7D - Justyn Ross, Chiefs
7D - Romeo Doubs, Packers
7D - Sterling Shepard, Giants
7D - Randall Cobb, Packers
7D - Bryan Edwards, Falcons
7D - Braxton Berrios, Jets
Tier 1A- Elite Talent, BIG Share, and QB
1A - Travis Kelce-Chiefs
1A - Mark Andrews-Ravens
Tier 1B- Most Likely to catapult into Tier 1A
1B - Kyle Pitts-Falcons
1B - Darren Waller-Raiders
1B - George Kittle-49ers - smash if slides to rd 4
Tier 1C- mid-range talents in good offenses
1C - Dalton Schultz-Cowboys
1C - T.J. Hockenson-Lions
1C - Dallas Goedert-Eagles
1C - Zach Ertz-Cardinals
Tier 2A- Ascending Talent or Great Offense
2A - Albert Okwuegbunam-Broncos - rd 11 ADP
2A - Dawson Knox-Bills - rd 8 ADP
2A - Irv Smith Jr.-Vikings - rd 9 ADP
Tier 2B- Solid Talent with offensive questions
2B - Pat Freiermuth-Steelers - rd 9 ADP
2B - Cole Kmet-Bears - rd 9 ADP
2B - Hunter Henry-Patriots - rd 11 ADP
2B - Mike Gesicki-Dolphins
Tier 2C- OK Talent in good offenses
2C - Gerald Everett-Chargers
2C - Robert TonyanPackers
2C - Tyler Higbee-Rams
Tier 2D- Strong Talent profile in bad situation
2D - Noah Fant-Seahawks
2D - David Njoku-Browns
2D - Evan Engram-Jaguars
2D - Brevin Jordan-Texans
Tier 2E- low talent starting in quality offense
2E - Cameron Brate-Buccaneers
2E - Hayden Hurst-Bengals
Tier 3A- Deep League Stash Options
3A - Rob Gronkowski-Free Agent
3A - Logan Thomas-Commanders
3A - Trey McBride-Cardinals
3A - Taysom Hill-Saints
3A - Cade Otton-Buccaneers
3A - Austin Hooper-Titans
3A - Mo Alie-Cox-Colts
3A - C.J. Uzomah-Jets
3A - Chigoziem Okonkwo-Titans
3A - O.J. Howard-Bills
- Buffalo Bills
- Indianapolis Colts
- Denver Broncos
- Baltimore Ravens
- Los Angeles Rams
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Green Bay Packers
- New England Patriots
- Dallas Cowboys
- New Orleans Saints
- San Francisco 49ers
- Chicago Bears
Chicago's secondary has an opportunity to be much improved following the additions of Jaquan Brisker and Kyler Gordon in the draft and slot cornerback Tavon Young in free agency. But even that requires a fair bit of projection. Jaylon Johnson improved his PFF grade by nearly 10 points to 64.3 in his second season out of Utah, and the Bears will be looking for another jump this season.
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Cleveland Browns
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Miami Dolphins
- Washington Commanders
- Minnesota Vikings
- Tennessee Titans
The Titans have some uncertainty at the cornerback position, but they have one of the best playmaking safeties in the league to help clean things up in the secondary. Since 2017, Kevin Byard ranks first among safeties in interceptions (23) and is tied for second in pass breakups (29), behind only Adrian Amos. He is joined by Amani Hooker, who had an extremely impressive 2021 season (85.9 PFF grade) in his own right.
- Las Vegas Raiders
Strong Defensive line with Maxx Crosby and they added Chandler Jones this off-season but The Raiders' secondary stands out as one of the weaker positional groups of this roster, but there also are several younger players who could outperform expectations. Fourth-year cornerback Trayvon Mullen Jr. falls under that category. Mullen missed the majority of last season with a right foot injury, but he had a 73.9 PFF coverage grade in the first three games of the season after ranking seventh among cornerbacks with 11 pass breakups in 2020. There's at least some reason for optimism heading into this season.
- Carolina Panthers
- Arizona Cardinals
- New York Jets
- Detroit Lions
- New York Giants
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Seattle Seahawks
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Atlanta Falcons
- Houston Texans