Fantasy football drafts are all about value, supply and demand and, to some degree, just plain going with your gut. Anyone can see the raw stats from last season, project ahead and make those numbers tell the story they desire, but there must be something more that separates how we choose the players. Relying in part on a positional tiered system can be of the utmost help during those pressurized moments in a draft when the clock is ticking and the seconds are winding down. Checking the tiers by position aids in decision-making.
Rankings are everywhere, of course, in our game and others, and everyone and their mail carrier can do them, but a tiered system takes the process further, allowing you to further clarify remaining value at a certain position and evaluate depth. Round 4 comes around and you're focused, as you should be, on the best available players. Say you don't have a quarterback yet -- it's the smart move -- but you've already invested in several flex-eligible players. Well, check your tiers for available options. The answers are there.
For example, perhaps you see four available quarterbacks in the highest tier, negligible difference between them. Pass. Pass for a while. There's also quite the crew of wide receivers clumped together. Pass again. There's ample wide receiver depth. You can wait. Then there are one or two running backs alone in a tier and, in your opinion, a significant jump in production compared to the next section. There -- thanks to a tiered system -- is the answer. Reduce your stress, crave efficiency. As the saying goes, "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."
Anyway, fantasy managers should rank, project and tier players themselves, for their league format, using analysts as a guide to help construct their opinions. Then do what you want! The fantasy teams are yours. If you do not agree with the tiers below, well, good, you shouldn't! Follow your own advice, your gut and build the teams you want. Below are one analyst's tiers for tight ends (standard league, PPR), but again, make your own. You will be pleased you did.
Tier 1: Round 2
Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
Tier 2: Round 4
Notes: Pitts delivered a terrific, 1,000-yard receiving season as a rookie, and if he had a bit more luck in the touchdown department, there would be no debate about his value. He should score more touchdowns this season. He might be a bargain in Round 4.
Tier 3: Rounds 5-6
George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders
Notes: Health is the concern with these talented options who can certainly pile on the receptions and get down the field, but it also is tough to count on them playing for all four months.
Tier 4: Rounds 8-10
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys
Notes: These are reliable options capable of top-five tight end production. Schultz hasn't missed a game in years, and he finished third in TE PPR scoring last season. Goedert is clearly ascending.
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Tier 5: Rounds 10-12
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
Notes: Ertz came in trade from the Eagles and produced instantly. Freiermuth was an immediate red zone option as a rookie. Gesicki saw his touchdown chances limited.
Tier 6: Rounds 13-undrafted
Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota Vikings
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Albert Okwuegbunam, Denver Broncos
Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
Notes: Fantasy managers generally don't secure multiple tight ends on draft day in standard leagues -- and for good reason. You only need one tight end, and the options at this point look statistically similar, so act on depth only when injuries and bye weeks intervene. The Fant trade to Seattle opens the door for Okwuegbunam to emerge. Kmet is another popular deep league pick.
Check out all four sets of tiered rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE