Richard's 4.0 Tiers: QB | WR | TE
We're going to update the tiers every week heading into the busiest draft weekends of the year. They are focused on delivering the absolute latest info to help you in standard and PPR leagues.
If you're looking for some draft strategies or want to see previous tiers check out the Draft Prep Guide.
Elite Tier
Near-Elite Tier
| Standard | PPR |
| Round 2 | Round 2 |
| Jamaal Charles | Ezekiel Elliott |
| Eddie Lacy | Jamaal Charles |
| Le'Veon Bell | Le'Veon Bell |
| Doug Martin | Eddie Lacy |
| Devonta Freeman | Devonta Freeman |
| Mark Ingram | |
Excellent Tier
| Standard | PPR |
| Round 3 | Round 3 |
| LeSean McCoy | Doug Martin |
| Latavius Murray | Mark Ingram |
| C.J. Anderson | LeSean McCoy |
| | Latavius Murray |
| | C.J. Anderson |
Very Good Tier
| Standard | PPR |
| Round 4 | Round 4 |
| Thomas Rawls | Carlos Hyde |
| Jeremy Hill | DeMarco Murray |
| DeMarco Murray | Danny Woodhead |
| Carlos Hyde | |
No. 2/Upside Tier
| Standard | PPR |
| Rounds 5, 6 | Round 5 |
| Melvin Gordon | Thomas Rawls |
| Jeremy Langford | Melvin Gordon |
| Rashad Jennings | Jeremy Hill |
| Danny Woodhead | Jeremy Langford |
| | Matt Forte |
No. 2/Mid-Upside Tier
Concerning RBs
Standard | PPR |
| Rounds 6, 7 | Rounds 6, 7 |
| Matt Jones | Giovani Bernard |
| Matt Forte | Rashad Jennings |
| Chris Ivory | Duke Johnson |
| Jonathan Stewart | Matt Jones |
| Frank Gore | Ryan Mathews |
| Ryan Mathews | Chris Ivory |
| Giovani Bernard | |
| LeGarrette Blount | |
No. 3/Less Upside Tier
| Standard | PPR |
| Round 7 | Round 7 |
| Ameer Abdullah | Frank Gore |
| Arian Foster | Jonathan Stewart |
| Duke Johnson | Charles Sims |
| DeAngelo Williams | Arian Foster |
| Charles Sims | Ameer Abdullah |
| Derrick Henry | James White |
| | LeGarrette Blount |
| | DeAngelo Williams |
High-End Reserves
| Standard | PPR |
| Rounds 8, 9 | Rounds 8, 9 |
| James White | Jay Ajayi |
| Jay Ajayi | Justin Forsett |
| Devontae Booker | Derrick Henry |
| T.J. Yeldon | Devontae Booker |
| Isaiah Crowell | Theo Riddick |
| Christine Michael | T.J. Yeldon |
| DeAndre Washington | Isaiah Crowell |
| Tevin Coleman | Christine Michael |
| Jerick McKinnon | Jerick McKinnon |
| Kenneth Dixon | |
| Justin Forsett | |
Handcuffs & Late Picks
| Standard | PPR |
| Round 10+ | Round 10+ |
| Spencer Ware | Bilal Powell |
| Bilal Powell | DeAndre Washington |
| Theo Riddick | Kenneth Dixon |
| Chris Johnson | Spencer Ware |
| Tim Hightower | Tevin Coleman |
| Alfred Morris | Chris Johnson |
| Javorius Allen | Tim Hightower |
| Darren Sproles | Javorius Allen |
| James Starks | Alfred Morris |
| C.J. Prosise | Darren Sproles |
| Terrance West | James Starks |
| Wendell Smallwood | Wendell Smallwood |
| Shaun Draughn | Terrance West |
| | Shane Vereen |
| | Shaun Draughn |
Running backs on the move
Carlos Hyde
JAC • RB • #24
2016 preseason stats
ATT11
YDS55
TD1
REC0
REC YDS0
REC TD0
I struggled with the order of these backs and where they fit in the rankings. All could genuinely finish as top-10 options or get hurt and/or disappoint us. Rawls tops the list because it's tough to trust Christine Michael to legitimately cut into Rawls' work IF Rawls is truly healthy. Hill's next -- if he improves his rushing average, he'll be a cinch for Fantasy greatness in non-PPR because the touchdown opportunities will be there. Murray is next -- Derrick Henry will take work but Murray is the one who will play the most and get the most touches, particularly when they're playing from behind. The only one not expected to share that much is Hyde, but I'm skeptical of Chip Kelly's offense succeeding and thus Hyde putting up big numbers. I'm also skeptical of Hyde staying upright for 16 games. All four of these guys belong in Round 4.
View Profile
A Re-named Tier
Rashad Jennings and Danny Woodhead moved up into definitive Round 6 territory in non-PPR while a whole slew of running backs who scare the pants off of me moved down. That's why I called that sixth tier "Concerning RBs" in standard. From Matt Jones all the way down to LeGarrette Blount (who moved up!), the running back muckety muck after 60th overall isn't pretty. Perhaps it's survivable, especially if you get multiple players from the tier and/or the crew after them. This is Exhibit A why I'm just not crazy for Zero RB in standard leagues.
James White
NE • RB • #28
2016 preseason stats
ATT3
YDS12
TD0
REC3
REC YDS73
REC TD0
Obviously, the Dion Lewis surgery news moved him out of must-draft status. Emerging up the rankings were LeGarrette Blount and James White. Everyone knows what Blount's role can be with the Patriots, but White looks like the odds-on favorite to take over the passing downs role. That's a job that'll be important in those four games without Tom Brady to begin the season. He's another Zero RB target, particularly in PPR formats.
View Profile
