Virtually anyone can rank fantasy football players, from your favorite ESPN analysts to your grandma to your neighborhood plumber, but without context, the rankings really do not tell much of a story, especially in the heightened rush of a draft. Seconds are swiftly ticking down, and perhaps some would simply choose our highest-ranked option available at a position of need. But so often, that is not really the way to go. A tiered system -- your own, preferably -- provides better information, and importantly, more clarity.
Say you are on the clock in Round 4, confused and struggling to decide between players, and then the incessant beeping starts, the nerve-racking signal of an unwelcome deadline for this important decision. With a tiered system, the wise fantasy manager can simply glance off screen to see there is one running back left far ahead of the others in value, while four or five wide receivers of similar statistical consequence remain. Easy decision. Go running back.
After all, there are always drop-offs in value regardless of position -- well, perhaps not kicker -- or fantasy sport, and a tiered system not only reduces stress in the aim of efficiency, but it makes your team better. It makes the experience better, and is that not what we all yearn for these days?
We start this annual exercise with a closer look at running backs, one analyst's thoughts on how he groups the position as of mid-August (we do this for wide receivers as well). It should not be entirely consistent with how you separate the players. We all think differently. These are your teams, so take the time to decide in advance how you view the options. My opinions change, of course, due to various information but also gut feelings on any given day. We will update these lists later in August.
Tier 1: Top of Round 1
Christian McCaffrey, Panthers
Dalvin Cook, Vikings
Alvin Kamara, Saints
Tier 2: Later Round 1
Jonathan Taylor, Colts
Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
Derrick Henry, Titans
Nick Chubb, Browns
Notes: Again, we can nitpick any of the players, even the remarkable Henry, because this exercise is for PPR formats. Henry rarely catches passes and the "R" in PPR is for receptions. I think Taylor will be great, regardless of QB dysfunction. Elliott will bounce back. Chubb can share touches and thrive. These are first-round picks.
Tier 3: Rounds 1/2
Austin Ekeler, Chargers
Saquon Barkley, Giants
Aaron Jones, Packers
Notes: Some might combine this tier with some players from the previous one or even the next one, but I see a drop-off in each direction. Receptions are the key to this tier, to a large degree. Ekeler and Barkley each surpassed 90 catches in a recent season. I think Ekeler is more likely to repeat the feat in 2021, though. With Barkley, we worry some about volume now as he returns from a serious knee injury. With Jones, his volume concern is about another fellow in the backfield. The opening round is fine for this crew, because we can all wait at wide receiver, where there's tremendous depth.
Tier 4: Rounds 2/3
Joe Mixon, Bengals
James Robinson, Jaguars
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs
Antonio Gibson, Washington
Najee Harris, Steelers
D'Andre Swift, Lions
David Montgomery, Bears
Notes: Myriad names here, perhaps too many for some tastes, but it is a young group and it teems with upside, though there are the requisite concerns. Underrated Robinson may actually improve on his rookie stats with Travis Etienne Jr out for the season. Edwards-Helaire must catch many passes to deserve placement here. Gibson and Harris must get many rushing attempts and score touchdowns. Swift and Montgomery must hold off others for volume. Any of these fellows could be RB1 options ... or realistically and disappointingly fall to RB3s.
Tier 5: Round 4
Chris Carson, Seahawks
Josh Jacobs, Raiders
Miles Sanders, Eagles
Notes: Ah, the reasonably young, solid veterans who should be better, but end up as borderline RB2 choices. We would be more surprised if everything went right with them at this point, but they remain strong producers, even as their teams bring in competition, putting each in a precarious career position.
Tier 6: Rounds 5/6
Mike Davis, Falcons
Kareem Hunt, Browns
Darrell Henderson Jr., Rams
Chase Edmonds, Cardinals
Javonte Williams, Broncos
Notes: Intriguing mix of young and old in this section, but great opportunity for several players. Henderson gets the first chance to replace injured Cam Akers, but health has been a concern. Davis appears to be starting but will clearly need some help. Hunt is not starting, but it is tough to tell from his numbers. Perhaps nobody should really worry about who starts, but concentrate on volume. Edmonds and Williams might be in the right place at the right time.
Tier 7: Rounds 6/7
Myles Gaskin, Dolphins
Michael Carter, Jets
Zack Moss, Bills
Damien Harris, Patriots
Sony Michel, Rams
Gus Edwards, Ravens
AJ Dillon, Packers
Notes: Sometimes it simply comes down to commitment, especially in the wild AFC East! Gaskin is apparently sharing touches in Miami. Carter is a rookie with little clarity at this point. Moss and Harris seem like starters today, while Dillon is an important backup outside the AFC East, but none of them caught as many as 15 passes a season ago. Michel is new in town but still not a pass catcher. This is an issue in PPR formats.
Tier 8: Round 7
Trey Sermon, 49ers
Raheem Mostert, 49ers
Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers
Ronald Jones II, Buccaneers
Notes: One might not consider the San Francisco situational battle at all similar to Tampa Bay's, and that is fair. Sermon is a flashy rookie, Mostert the brittle track star. In Tampa, it is quite clearly a tandem, one many of us avoid. We do not wish to avoid the 49ers, though.
Tier 9: Rounds 7/8
Melvin Gordon III, Broncos
Phillip Lindsay, Texans
James Conner, Cardinals
Kenyan Drake, Raiders
Jamaal Williams, Lions
Carlos Hyde, Jaguars
David Johnson, Texans
Notes: We have clear symmetry here with six running backs on franchises they did not begin with. Gordon and Lindsay were teammates. Now each fights for touches. Conner ostensibly replaced Drake, but neither has a guarantee for volume. Williams might push Swift for touches and Johnson teams up with Lindsay, possibly. Counting on any of these players for flex status might go wrong.
Tier 10: Rounds 9/10
Nyheim Hines, Colts
Tarik Cohen, Bears
J.D. McKissic, Washington
James White, Patriots
Giovani Bernard, Buccaneers
Notes: Never ignore the pass-catchers, for they have real value in PPR formats. Look what McKissic did a season ago, hauling in 80 catches. White was nearly an RB1 in 2018, Cohen a solid RB2. They do not need major rushing attempts, merely targets. If you desire to switch Tier 11 with Tier 10, I would not argue.
Tier 11: Round 11 and later
Devin Singletary, Bills
Malcolm Brown, Dolphins
Chuba Hubbard, Panthers
Tony Pollard, Cowboys
Alexander Mattison, Vikings
Latavius Murray, Saints
Darrynton Evans, Titans
Darrel Williams, Chiefs
Tevin Coleman, Jets
Notes: Still some intriguing players at this late stage, including several high-upside choices waiting for injury to befall the first-round stars for the Panthers, Vikings, Cowboys and Titans. Someone like Hubbard seems more of a must for the McCaffrey investor, for example, but the double-digit rounds are for taking wise chances, too.