Getty Images. Pictured: Colts RB Jonathan Taylor and Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill.
Sean Koerner — FantasyPros’ most-accurate draft ranker of 2019 — is breaking down his draft strategy for every position. The following story features updates to his 2021 Tiers, which are organized versions of his rankings so you can actually apply them clearly to your draft strategy.
Here are his updated tiers for the four primary positions as of Aug. 19, but you can also check real-time updates to his rankings through our 2021 Fantasy Draft Kit, which is part of our PRO subscription.
One of my biggest pet peeves is when people say there’s nothing to be learned from the NFL preseason. Sure, we don’t need to overreact to preseason games that are overwhelmingly unimportant — but to flat out ignore what we see from players and teams right before the regular season begins would be a mistake.
That’s why I’ve updated my 2021 draft tiers to reflect recent news, preseason performances and more.
Reminder that you can read my detailed strategy for each position here — just be sure to combine those strategies with the latest rankings below for a full picture of how I’m drafting quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends.
2021 Fantasy Football Rankings
| Click On A Position To Skip Ahead |
|---|
| Quarterbacks |
| Running Backs |
| Wide Receivers |
| Tight Ends |
2021 Fantasy QB Ranking & Tiers
What’s changed:
- Trey Lance moves up two slots to put him near the top of Tier 6. He may not be NFL-ready by Week 1, but his preseason debut makes me think he passes up Jimmy G by Week 8.
- Justin Fields is up one slot to the top of Tier 7. He should be able to overtake Andy Dalton sooner rather than later. He looked NFL-ready in his preseason debut.
- Carson Wentz moves up to the bottom of Tier 7. He’s ahead of schedule with his recovery following foot surgery. His odds of starting Week 1 seem closer to 50/50.
Fantasy QB Rankings & Tiers
| Tier | Players |
| 1 | Patrick Mahomes (KC) Josh Allen (BUF) |
| 2 | Kyler Murray (ARI) Lamar Jackson (BAL) |
| 3 | Dak Prescott (DAL) Russell Wilson (SEA) |
| 4 | Tom Brady (TB) Aaron Rodgers (GB) Justin Herbert (LAC) Jalen Hurts (PHI) |
| 5 | Ryan Tannehill (TEN) Matthew Stafford (LAR) |
| 6 | Trevor Lawrence (JAX) Trey Lance (SF) Joe Burrow (CIN) Matt Ryan (ATL) Baker Mayfield (CLE) Kirk Cousins (MIN) Tua Tagovailoa (MIA) |
| 7 | Justin Fields (CHI) Daniel Jones (NYG) Derek Carr (LV) Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) Deshaun Watson (HOU) Sam Darnold (CAR) Ryan Fitzpatrick (WAS) Zach Wilson (NYJ) Carson Wentz (IND) |
| 8 | Jared Goff (DET) |
| 9 | Jameis Winston (NO) |
| QBBCs | Cam Newton (NE) Mac Jones (NE) Taysom Hill (NO) Drew Lock (DEN) Teddy Bridgewater (DEN) Tyrod Taylor (HOU) Davis Mills (HOU) |
| Early-Season Value | Jacob Eason (IND) or Sam Ehlinger (IND) Andy Dalton (CHI) Jimmy Garoppolo (SF) |
| Long-Shot Backups | Taylor Heinicke (WAS) Joe Flacco (PHI) Jacoby Brissett (MIA) |
2021 Fantasy RB Rankings & Tiers
What’s changed:
- Darrell Henderson moves up from RB21 to RB20. The Rams still haven’t added a veteran back to compete with him; his rank will slowly creep up toward RB18 or so if they don’t add a back before Week 1.
- Larry Roundtree is added to my high-upside backups list. He looked good in his preseason debut and could pass up Joshua Kelley and Justin Jackson (might be a cut candidate) and become the Chargers’ No. 2 back. Austin Ekeler leaves room for the RB2 to get early down, goal-line work, something Roundtree can provide.
Fantasy RB Rankings & Tiers
2021 Fantasy WR Rankings & Tiers
What’s changed:
- Jerry Jeudy moves up from bottom of Tier 8 toward the middle. People might be underestimating a big Year 2 leap. He looked great in limited action.
- D.J. Chark moves from Tier 8 down into the top of Tier 9. His thumb injury likely won’t keep him out of the Week 1 lineup. The Jaguars’ three WRs should be much closer in ADP.
- Michael Pittman Jr. moves up a couple spots to top of Tier 10 since Carson Wentz may be ready by Week 1.
- Mecole Hardman fell a few slots to bottom of Tier 10. He dropped an easy pass by Patrick Mahomes in preseason game. Bryon Pringle may be the better flier at ADP for the Chiefs’ WR2 job.
- Amon-Ra St. Brown moves up to the top of Tier 12. It looks like he’s on track to start in the slot and could be Goff’s favorite WR to target (à la Cooper Kupp).
- Nico Collins is added to the top of Tier 12 as he is trending to become the Texans‘ WR2. Anthony Miller dislocated his shoulder and may not be ready by the start of the regular season.
- John Brown falls from Tier 11 to the bottom of Tier 12. He might not start Week 1.
- Josh Palmer is added to bottom of Tier 12. He looked good and could become the Chargers‘ WR3.
- Marquez Callaway is added to bottom of Tier 12. It is a wide open competition to be the top WR/target with Michael Thomas on the shelf for around six games. Callaway could be the top target and is therefore worth a flier.
Fantasy WR Rankings & Tiers
2021 Fantasy TE Rankings & Tiers
What’s changed:
- Robert Tonyan Jr. surpassed Mike Gesicki for the No. 1 spot in Tier 6.
- Darren Waller missed a bit of practice time for an ankle injury, but he’s already back at practice so no need to sound the alarm bells.
| Tier | Players |
| 1 | Travis Kelce (KC) |
| 2 | Darren Waller (LV) |
| 3 | George Kittle (SF) |
| 4 | Mark Andrews (BAL) T.J. Hockenson (DET) Kyle Pitts (ATL) |
| 5 | Noah Fant (DEN) Logan Thomas (WAS) Dallas Goedert (PHI) Tyler Higbee (LAR) |
| 6 | Robert Tonyan Jr. (GB) Mike Gesicki (MIA) Irv Smith Jr. (MIN) Adam Trautman (NO) Evan Engram (NYG) Hunter Henry (NE) Jonnu Smith (NE) |
| 7 | Rob Gronkowski (TB) Anthony Firkser (TEN) Jared Cook (LAC) Gerald Everett (SEA) Cole Kmet (CHI) Austin Hooper (CLE) Blake Jarwin (DAL) Eric Ebron (PIT) |
| 8 | Zach Ertz (PHI) Hayden Hurst (ATL) O.J. Howard (TB) Dawson Knox (BUF) Mo Alie-Cox (IND) C.J. Uzomah (CIN) Chris Herndon (NYJ) Dan Arnold (CAR) Jordan Akins (HOU) |