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2025 Fantasy Football Tiers: Maximize Value With Every Pick

Why Fantasy Football Tiers Are Better Than Rankings

You've seen our fantasy football rankings for your format.

But rankings alone can lie to you. Just because two players are listed back to back doesn't mean they're equals, or even close. Sometimes the difference is razor thin. Other times, it's a canyon.

That's Where Tiers Come In

Fantasy football tiers show you where the cliffs are and where the value hides. The result: A more complete understanding of the draft landscape. That means fewer panic picks, smarter gambles, and a better shot at building a championship-winning roster.

The tiers below use our default PPR rankings.

Want an even bigger edge? The Draft War Room fantasy football cheat sheet builds tiers specifically for your league, adapting in real-time to your settings and your draft.

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QB Tiers (Quarterback)

QB Tier 1

Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

It'd be a surprise if someone outside of this group led QBs in fantasy points this season.

Jackson, Daniels, Allen, and Hurts are the elite dual threats. Burrow's path to finishing as the QB1 is tougher, but he combines talent, supporting cast, and passing volume.

Hurts is the cheapest of this group in fantasy drafts and a strong positive value, according to our ADP Market Index.

QB Tier 2

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Justin Fields, New York Jets
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Drake Maye, New England Patriots

This tier extends from Round 5 to 11 in ADP -- and is a great argument for waiting on QB if you don't land one of the elites in Tier 1.

While Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield go in Rounds 5 and 6, you can get similar production from Justin Fields in Round 10 or Drake Maye in Round 11.

QB Tier 3

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

These guys have the potential to finish near the bottom of QB1 territory this season and will certainly provide top-12 production in spurts. But you don't want to head into the season relying on any of them as every-week starters.

We highlighted Trevor Lawrence and J.J. McCarthy as 2025 fantasy football sleepers.

QB Tier 4

Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders
Michael Penix, Atlanta Falcons
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Cameron Ward, Tennessee Titans
Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

These are pure QB2s. While they're capable of producing a handful of QB1 scoring weeks, they lack the potential to be season-long difference makers.

Leave these guys on the waiver wire outside of 2-QB and Superflex leagues.

RB Tiers (Running Back)

RB Tier 1

Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions

It's a tight race at the top of the RB rankings this season. All four of these guys have the potential to lead the position in fantasy points.

Robinson gets the nod at No. 1 thanks to his floor projection. He'll dominate carries and targets in Atlanta's backfield and is in his prime at 23 years old.

McCaffrey might prove to be the best value of the bunch, though. He's going in the back half of Round 1, while the other three will cost you top-four picks.

RB Tier 2

Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

These RBs have outside chances to lead the position in fantasy points thanks to strong volume projections.

They each come with question marks, whether it be inexperience, size, supporting cast, or age. But all four are fine picks at cost, with Taylor looking like the best value according to the ADP Market Index.

RB Tier 3

Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
Kenneth Walker, Seattle Seahawks
Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers

An eclectic mix of rising youngsters and aging vets who are still holding big roles.

Brown, Kamara, and Walker stand out as the top values in this tier.

We generally like having at least one RB by the time this group is gone.

RB Tier 4

James Cook, Buffalo Bills
Breece Hall, New York Jets
James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers

These guys still look like clear lead backs, but they come with bigger question marks:

• Cook: underwhelming snap rate, TD regression
• Hall: Three-man backfield committee
• Conner: Age, durability
• Hubbard: Passing-game role, Bryce Young

RB Tier 5

TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots
David Montgomery, Detroit Lions
Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears
Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans
R.J. Harvey, Denver Broncos
Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings

The majority of these RBs have workload questions, either due to age, injuries, or competition. But it's also the last tier of RBs with a realistic chance to operate as clear lead backs -- and reliable weekly fantasy starters.

Rookies Henderson and Harvey moved up into this tier after strong showings in the preseason.

This tier tends to dry up by the end of Round 6, and we prefer having at least two RBs by that point.

RB Tier 6

Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
Tyrone Tracy, New York Giants
Joe Mixon, Houston Texans
Kaleb Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers

Warren, Tracy, and Johnson profile as committee backs with a shot at carving out enough volume to become lower-end fantasy starters. But none offers much value at a sixth- or seventh-round price.

Mixon, still sidelined with a lingering foot injury, is the high-risk, high-reward pick in this tier.

RB Tier 7

Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings
Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars
J.K. Dobbins, Denver Broncos
Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans

A tier full of question marks, ranging from role to injury.

Ekeler and Spears are the only positive values in the group, per ADP Market Index.

RB Tier 8

Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars
Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks

We're still trying to figure out exactly what all four of these backfields will look like. Stevenson and Charbonnet will likely just be handcuffs, although both have a chance to see enough work to be standalone fantasy options.

Bigsby is battling Travis Etienne and Bhayshul Tuten for work in a crowded Jaguars RB room.

Judkins remains unsigned, despite domestic violence allegations against him being dropped. He'll likely emerge as Cleveland's lead back once he joins the team, but it's unclear when that will be.

RB Tier 9

Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys
Cameron Skattebo, New York Giants
Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jaydon Blue, Dallas Cowboys
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders

These are bench stashes with various upside paths.

Williams might open the year as Dallas' starter, giving him early-season fantasy value.

Rookies Skattebo, Blue, and Croskey-Merritt have the potential to emerge as their teams lead backs at some point this season.

White is a high-end pass catcher with handcuff upside behind Bucky Irving.

WR Tiers (Wide Receiver)

WR Tier 1

Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

Elite talent? Check.

Strong offense? Check.

Huge target volume? Check.

All three of these Tier 1 WRs are worth top-five picks in 2025 PPR drafts.

WR Tier 2

Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
Malik Nabers, New York Giants
Nico Collins, Houston Texans
Brian Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars

These guys' floors are a bit lower than the Tier 1 WRs. But their ceilings are similar. It wouldn't be a surprise if any of them finished as top-three fantasy WRs this season.

They're strong picks in the back half of Round 1 or anywhere in Round 2.

WR Tier 3

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

The WRs in this tier have roadblocks to finishing atop the position in fantasy scoring. But they're all good bets for WR1-level production.

St. Brown is overvalued at his late-first-round price tag, while Higgins is a strong value in Round 3.

WR Tier 4

Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers
Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams
Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

The guys could be fringe WR1s and are definitely excellent WR2s for your fantasy squad.

You'll have to pay an early Round 3 price for McConkey or Hill, but the other four are going in late Round 3 or Round 4.

WR Tier 5

Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals
D.J. Moore, Chicago Bears
Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers
Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
D.K. Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers
Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs
Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens
George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys
Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions

This is the money zone at WR. We like snagging two or three WRs from this tier, aiming to have at least three WRs rostered by the time the group dries up, which is typically by the end of Round 6.

McMillan, Waddle, and Pickens pop as the best values in this tier.

WR Tier 6

Travis Hunter, Jacksonville Jaguars
Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans
Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers
Deebo Samuel, Washington Commanders
Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears
Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders
Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns
Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings

These are WR3s with various ranges of floor and ceiling projections.

Hunter, Pearsall, Odunze, and Egbuka are the top upside targets in this tier.

Ridley is the high-floor pick.

We're currently projecting Rice for a six-game suspension, which lands him in this tier.

WR Tier 7

Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills
Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers
Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts
Matthew Golden, Green Bay Packers
Michael Pittman, Indianapolis Colts

This is an interesting tier. These WRs have the talent to be a tier or two higher but all come with question marks that ding their floors.

Ultimately, they aren't quite locked-in WR3s but also have upside into WR2 range.

WR Tier 8

Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints
Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons
Cooper Kupp, Seattle Seahawks
Marquise Brown, Kansas City Chiefs

The WR4 with upside tier.

Coleman is our favorite upside bet in this group.

TE Tiers (Tight End)

TE Tier 1

Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

These guys project as high-end WR2s that you get to play in your TE slot.

Bowers just scored the second-most PPR points per game by a rookie TE in NFL history. 

McBride finished second in total PPR points last year, despite scoring only two TDs. He's an obvious positive regression candidate in 2025.

TE Tier 2

George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

Did you know that Kittle led all TEs in PPR points per game last year?

He sits a tier below Bowers and McBride only because he turns 32 in October.

That makes him riskier than the two youngsters, but Kittle is also over a round cheaper in fantasy drafts.

TE Tier 3

Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings

These guys are long shots to lead the position in fantasy points over the course of the season. But they're comfortable weekly starters with the upside to lead the position in any given week.

TE Tier 4

David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

These guys project as TE1s but aren't quite as safe as the Tier 3 guys.

Njoku has finished top-nine among TEs in PPR points per game in three straight seasons. But he's missed time with injury all three years and could lose a little volume to rookie TE Harold Fannin.

Andrews has finished as a top nine TE in PPR points per game in six straight years. But he plays in a low-volume offense that's gotten crowded with the emergence of WR Zay Flowers and TE Isaiah Likely.

TE Tier 5

Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
Evan Engram, Denver Broncos
Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

Choose your flavor in this tier. Engram, Ferguson, and Goedert are established veterans with nice volume projections in 2025. Kincaid, Kraft, and Warren aren't as proven but boast exciting upside.

Aim to have at least one TE rostered by the time this tier is gone, which is typically by the end of Round 12.

TE Tier 6

Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears
Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans
Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
Cade Otton, Kansas City Chiefs

A wide range of archetypes here.

Loveland and Likely have target roadblocks and won't be reliable TE1s out of the gate. But they could quickly become difference makers.

Ertz, Henry, and Otton are reliable veterans who can give you spot-start value.

Okonkwo and Pitts land somewhere in between.

TE Tier 7

Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals
Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers

The waiver wire speed dial.

These guys probably aren't worth picking in most fantasy drafts. But if you're up against it during the season, they should be capable of keeping you afloat.

Get Customized Fantasy Football Tiers

Generic tiers are fine if you want to draft like everyone else.

But if you’re here to win, you need tiers built for your league's specific rules.

The Draft War Room does exactly that. It uses live-draft sync technology to adjust your tiers in real time.

Or watch the video below to learn more.

Next Up

Most Accurate Fantasy Football Experts 2025: Kevin English of Draft Sharks

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Jared Smola, Lead Analyst

Jared has been with Draft Sharks since 2007. He’s now Lead Analyst, heading up the preseason and weekly projections that fuel your Draft War Room and in-season tools. He currently ranks ninth among 173 analysts in draft rankings accuracy.