A tiered PPR league is a fantasy football format that attempts to balance out the advantage premium pass-catchers receive in standard PPR leagues. The difference? In tiered PPR, running backs get a smaller percentage per reception and tight ends get a larger percentage per reception relative to wide receivers. This is meant to level the playing field, allowing winning roster builds to take many forms.
Tiered PPR League Breakdown
A tiered PPR league presents fantasy football managers with an interesting problem: how do I build my roster? With traditionally prolific producers capped slightly, mid-level options take on more importance. Additionally, more flex spots can really open up the strategic potential of the league.
Tiered PPR scoring is the hallmark of the format, with a basic setup looking something like this:
Of course, you can tier receptions any way you like, but the general idea remains the same. Running backs receive fewer reception points due to their production in the running game. Tight ends receive additional points due to their lack of volume relative to wide receivers.
Generally, tiered PPR scoring is thought to be a solution to the holes in standard PPR. For one, this minimizes the tendency for passing down backs to break out and become cheat codes. Also, the idea taken from TE premium scoring that makes more tight ends fantasy-relevant is maintained.
Overall, it’s a great consideration for scoring balance across all skill positions.
Rosters
Rosters in a tiered PPR league run as normal, although there are a few options you might consider given the format:
- Superflex: in tiered PPR, adding a Superflex position places a greater emphasis on quarterback value. The main reason for this is that QBs are typically the optimal play in Superflex slots. If you are truly looking for balance across positions and across the league, this is the way.
- More Flex Positions: especially in tiered PPR, additional flex positions are a strong consideration. The flexibility of drafting three high-volume tight ends or a load of late-round, pass catching backs can really allow for diverse lineup constructions. And, it’s more fun, which is what fantasy is all about.
- Deeper Benches: another consideration in a tiered PPR league is depth. When everyone is equally valuable, no one is. This means that any player can find his way into your starting lineup if he’s catching a fair amount of passes. And with more opportunity due to injury and other issues throughout the year, more bench depth avoids crazy waiver wire additions each week.
Waivers
Waivers in a tiered PPR league are straightforward. They’ll run as normal. Whether you use a Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB) or a rolling priority system, it won’t matter. The scoring is what will dictate who you pick up, but the pick up system is up to you.
Scoring
As mentioned earlier, scoring is the name of the game in a tiered PPR league. Here, you’ll assign fewer points per reception for RBs and more for TEs.
Popular point per reception setups include +.5 for RBs, +1 for WRs, and +1.5 for TEs. Of course, you can do this however you like, just as long as scoring is communicated clearly pre-draft
The Polly’s Playoff charity league an interesting variated of tiered PPR scoring. The league gives incrementally increased points based on the depth of the reception.
Average Depth of Target (ADoT) truthers love this setup as it promotes a fantasy nerd’s favorite stat. But it is also great since it is agnostic of position, yet receiving RBs are somewhat capped by the setup itself.
Strategy
Whatever scoring you ultimately decide upon, a tiered PPR league will require a different draft approach. This is especially true depending on your fixed roster settings. For now, assuming a standard sized roster and the normal amount of fixed positions, here are a few bits of strategy:
- Grab a TE early. Early tight end strategies haven’t seen much promotion in the past. However, the rise of Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews have made this a viable draft strategy in recent years. In a tiered PPR league, a high-volume, elite tight end is even more advantageous. If there is any sort of TE premium for pass catching, Kelce, Andrews and a couple others at the top are must haves. And, don’t be afraid to grab a couple of them.
- Consider a Hero or Zero RB approach. I’m a noted fantasy RB hater, but even I can’t deny that Christian McCaffrey and Austin Ekeler will crush for you in any format this year. Still, tiered PPR means running back receptions are valued less, so I prefer to load up on wide receivers and tight ends early instead. In this case, I’m left looking for unproven backs or ones with a pass-catching role later on in drafts. Given the builds you can create, consider fading RBs in general in this format.
- Avoid middle-round WRs. For me, the Christian Kirks of the fantasy world are less valuable in a tiered PPR league. This is because of two clear reasons. First, a potential breakout RB or a devalued TE can elevate your squad much more than a 4-catch-per-game wideout. But, maybe more importantly, middle-round WRs are wildly inconsistent. Both week-to-week and year-to-year, it’s very difficult to find players in this range who consistently produce. If Kirk, for example, sees a slight dip in production, he can move dramatically down the ranks, but perhaps not enough for you to drop him and move on. Avoid the headache and swing for upside with a tight end or RB.
The balance provided by the scoring implemented in a tiered PPR league is second-to-none. Lineup builds are wide open and the possibilities to fill out your lineup and win the week are endless. And, in a game where we seek the perfect format for all players, tiered PPR comes really close.
Keep in mind that Sleeper makes it easy for you to setup a tiered PPR league. Scoring settings are customizable and easy to navigate. If you haven’t tried out Sleeper yet, now is the time.
Jeremy Shulman
Jeremy is an avid football fan from New York who lives in Amsterdam and roots for the Patriots. This walking contradiction has played fantasy football for over than 20 years. He is now a Senior Dynasty Writer at The League Winners. In his spare time, he writes and edits professionally.