Early post-draft fantasy football dynasty rankings covering, fantasy-relevant quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends, and wide receivers.
The NFL Draft just wrapped up, and it’s back to fantasy football. These dynasty rankings are based on a two year window, taking into account: Talent, opportunity, fit, location, and consistency into the rankings.
Each position group is split into separate color tiers, going from best to worst, left to right. Please remember that these are not final rankings, and are subject to change based on new information.
Quarterbacks
Green
These are the obvious studs. They’ve been consistent top tier fantasy football quarterbaks for multiple years and don’t seem to be going anywhere, any time soon. No surprises.
Cyan
Trevor Lawrence cracks the list as the newly minted Jaguars quarterback has a lot of expectations to reach, and the possibility to do so. Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert‘s teams have surrounded them with offensive talent to be elite for years to come. Russell Wilson doesn’t need to cook to maintain his top-10 quarterback status.
Magenta
It might alarm some to see 2020’s MVP at 12, but age and situation are added context. We see three other rookies crack the list here, along with the newly acquired Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford crack the top-10. Jameis Winston makes an appearance based on the Saints offense and his history alone, while Baker Mayfield may be the surprise of the bunch; but for good reason.
Yellow
This tier is full of players with the potential to finish higher than their ranking, but for one reason or another they tend to fall short. Kirk Cousins may be the lone exception on this list, but it’s hard to justify moving him up a tier at this time. This tier may be the most subject to change as we get closer to the regular season.
Orange
The players in this tier are a mixed bag. They are either facing bad circumstances, getting up there in age, or I just don’t have any faith in them whatsoever. Matt Ryan should be poised for a great 2021, but after that season his future is incredibly blurry. The Giants did a great job building around Daniel Jones this offseason, but he’s a player that’s impossible to trust. Mac Jones makes the list as the heir apparent to Cam Newton on a bad team; while Ryan Tannehill and Jared Goff are in situations where their offense got gutted badly.
Red
This tier are the players you should avoid for long-term ownership in fantasy football. These players are either close to retiring or close to losing their jobs. Tom Brady leads this tier, but age and inevitable retirement are the only reason he’s this low.
* Please note Deshaun Watson was removed from the rankings until his situation can be cleared *
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Running Backs
Green
As with the quarterbacks, these are the elite players at their position. The names in this tier haven’t changed since my last ranking chart, but some have moved around.
Cyan
Led by Najee Harris, this tier of players are those who are bonafide studs, but not quite top-5 for dynasty. That said, any one of these players could give you a top-5 week at any given time. After returning to Green Bay, Aaron Jones returns to the list, while Clyde Edwards-Helaire sees a significant boost after the Chiefs fail to bring in a competing RB.
Purple
These are the wildcards. Led by Ezekiel Elliot, all of the players in this tier have high-end RB1 potential; but give me some trust issues. This is a tier that is most subject to change, and the most volatile players in this group.
Magenta
Mike Davis leads this group in what I believe will be solid RB2’s for the next couple of years. They are lead running backs on teams with a committee-like approach, or those that don’t instill much confidence being consistent on a week-in and week-out basis.
Tan
This tier features the high-end backups who will see plenty of time. This can be by vulturing touchdowns or carries in crucial moments, or significant 3rd-down passing RBs. These are the more premiere Zero RB or FLEX play options in leagues where you start multiple running backs. Some of these guys may surprise by year’s end.
Yellow
These players are stuck in a bad timeshare, awaiting an injury to a starter, or are uninspiring given their situation on the team. They are slightly behind the Tan tier, but still possible plays for Zero RB leagues. I don’t recommend going after this group with any long-term plans.
Orange
Featuring strictly backup running backs, this is a group you really want to avoid at all cost. If you have a deep bench in your fantasy football league they could be worth a stash in case of injury, but I don’t recommend relying on any of these players.
Red
Don’t try to be cute. Avoid all of these players.
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Tight Ends
Green
The ‘Big 3’ and now Kyle Pitts. This group doesn’t need an explanation.
Cyan
The other TE1’s. With the position being fairly low-scoring in recent years, these are the players to have so you’re at least competent in your fantasy football league. You can’t trust them on a weekly basis, but the same can be said about the rest of this group regardless.
Tan
The borderline TE1’s. These players have the potential to slide into the next tier, and could easily do so. It’s up to them to usurp the players ahead of them and maximize their potential in their respective offenses.
Yellow
The ‘I don’t knows’. This group features two Patriot tight ends. Instead of playing the guessing game as to which one will be elite and which one won’t, I will wait and see how the situation unfolds before changing their ranking.
Orange
Adam Trautman might be the only name on this list worth some interest, while the rest are strictly stashes or players to avoid having to play on a weekly basis. You don’t want to end up with these players as your TE1, or you’ll find yourself having a hard time.
Red
These players can be used in plug-and-play situations given the right matchup. Don’t rely on them to put up weekly numbers until they manage to establish themselves on a consistent basis. Gronkowski is on this list for the same reason as Tom Brady for the quarterbacks; age and looming retirement.
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Wide Receivers
Green
The elite wide receivers. Calvin Ridley may be a name that jumps out on this list as someone who doesn’t belong, but he checks off all the boxes for an elite player. Like running back, the names in this tier haven’t changed, but have moved around.
Cyan
Admittedly I’m probably lower on DeAndre Hopkins than anyone else, but he leads this tier due to my lack of faith in Kyler Murray as a passer and Kliff Kingsbury’s offense than anything against Hopkins himself. The rest of these players are all high caliber, WR1-potential players with excellent situations. These guys will ball out on your fantasy football team.
Magenta
These are primarily the WR2’s on your fantasy football team. They’re either established, reliable players, or younger guys who could surge in rankings in coming years. You won’t see a bust on this list.
Yellow
The in-betweeners. This tier features players that have had plenty of WR1 or WR2 seasons, but are either; getting older, in a worse situation, or still young with plenty of potential. These players are great depth additions to rosters and can be put in plug-and-play situations.
Orange
The ‘scrambled eggs’. Most of the players on this list are WR3’s on their respective teams. They are boom or bust potential players who are incredibly hard to predict going forward. Select these players at your own risk, and be sure to do plenty of homework beforehand. The younger players on this list could be excellent stashes, while the older players you want to avoid, outside of a bye week filler.
Red
These players are nothing more than bye-week fillers. I wouldn’t recommend adding any of them to your fantasy football league, though some of the rookies could be interesting going forward. Proceed with caution.
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