Fantasy Football season is upon us as the NFL season just finished week 1. I am here to help you out with all of the positional rankings with a top 30 for each position (yes even QB though you hopefully won’t have any QB ranked lower than 15th on this list).
Jonathan Taylor is yet again leading the Running Backs and is the safest #1 pick in recent memory as Christian McCaffrey’s continued injury history puts his fantasy value in jeopardy. Could we see another breakout season from Vikings star Justin Jefferson? Are Travis Etienne or Jaylen Waddle this year’s Ja’Marr Chase poised for a fantasy breakout?
What is the outlook on the Broncos, 49ers, and Packers RB situations? Are Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes by far the best fantasy quarterbacks? All of these questions will be answered and more on this year’s “The Sports Tribune” edition of NFL Fantasy Football PPR Positional Rankings.
Top 30 Running Backs:
- Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Taylor put up 53.4 fantasy points in Week 11 against one of the best defenses in the NFL, the Buffalo Bills. Taylor rushed for 185 yards and 4 touchdowns in that game, while also catching a TD on the receiving end as well. Taylor had 9 weeks where he scored 20+ fantasy points and had 3 weeks of 30+ fantasy points.
Taylor finished #1 in all PPR leagues because of his lethal ability to catch the pass and run at a high level. His elite production should continue with a run-heavy offense and Matt Ryan instead of Carson Wentz at quarterback. He is by far the safest selection with the #1 overall pick and should be locked in at that position. He won’t disappoint.
2. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers
If there is any slim chance that McCaffrey is healthy for most of the season, then he finishes as the #1 overall fantasy player. Depending on how much of a risk you want to take, CMC is the best pass-catching back of all time and now has a better quarterback under center in Baker Mayfield that will get him even more receptions. He didn’t live up to expectations in week 1 and salvaged his day with a TD run, but expect him to get more involved as a pass-catcher next weekend.
When McCaffrey was healthy last season he had over 24.7 fantasy points in 4 of his 7 games played and still finished as a top 15 receiving back in only 7 games played. If you are a risk taker, choose McCaffrey as he could finish as the #1 overall fantasy football player and if that selection pans out, you will win your league.
3. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
Henry is a one-man wrecking crew that puts up dominant fantasy numbers when healthy. In just 9 weeks last season, Henry put up 30+ fantasy points three times and was on track to finish as the #1 overall fantasy player.
He is the best pure rusher in the league (by a mile) and even though he isn’t as big of a threat in the passing game as Taylor or Christian McCaffrey, he still usually gets 1-2 rushing touchdowns per game, and every once in a while gets 3 in a game. He is the 3rd best RB despite a quiet week 1 where he put up only 8 fantasy points.
4. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
Ekeler finally had the fantasy season everyone had been waiting for. After missing a lot of the 2020 NFL season due to injury, Ekeler established himself yet again as a PPR monster with over 20 fantasy points in 9 weeks and 33+ fantasy points in two weeks. Ekeler finished with over 600 yards receiving and will get close to that again despite Mike Williams, Keenan Allen, and Joshua Palmer’s usage in the passing attack.
Chargers coach Brandon Staley may use Ekeler a little less at least in the run game considering Ekeler’s health is the #1 priority for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Nonetheless, even after a bad fantasy performance in week 1, Ekeler is still the RB4.
5. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
Dalvin Cook being the 5th overall running back may be a little disrespectful, but last season featured some injury problems and lack of production entirely in some games for Cook. He missed 5 weeks and in the 13 games he played, he only got over 20 fantasy points 5 times, which is why he’s dropped in your drafts.
I treat last season as a fluke year for Cook, who was dealing with injuries most of the season (whether he played or not). Cook is the 5th overall running back for fantasy football and has the chance to finish 1st overall if he stays healthy. A high-end pass-catching back with some of the best burst out of the backfield in the NFL, Cook is a solid first-round selection regardless of who says otherwise and if he stays healthy he is poised for a big season.
6. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
I am all in on Najee Harris this season. In his rookie year last season, Harris had 7 rushing touchdowns and 3 receiving touchdowns showing his versatility in an unproductive Pittsburgh offense last year.
Now with Mitch Trubitsky under center instead of the aging Ben Roethlisberger, Harris should yet again take another leap and finish as one of the best backs in fantasy football. Harris was hurt in Pittsbrugh’s win over the Bengals on Sunday, but it doesn’t appear to be serious and he is the RB6 this season.
7. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Mixon finally stayed healthy last season and balled out! 13 rushing touchdowns and 3 receiving touchdowns will be almost impossible to match, which is why I have Mixon lower than some people have him.
The Bengals have a much tougher schedule this season against a lot of good defenses and I think Mixon will regress a little bit. That is of course if he stays healthy which he has only proven to do so last season.
8. D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions
Swift absolutely dominated last season even with backup Jameson Williams being very productive. Jared Goff’s favorite target besides Amon-Ra St. Brown is Deandre Swift! A great pass-catching back with a better Lions team this season, Swift should finish as a top 8 running back and will have a big second-year leap.
9. Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos
Javonte Williams would be a top 7 running back if he didn’t have to share touches with Melvin Gordon. The Broncos should honestly pull Gordon out of the offensive scheme and let Williams go to work. Williams had two games with 6 or more receptions last season and should be targeted more with a way more talented quarterback this season in Russell Wilson. In fact, in Denver’s first game Williams pulled in 11 receptions. A timeshare will not stop him from producing as a top back.
10. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Kamara put up a dud in week 1 and he hasn’t been the same without Drew Brees (production-wise). Nonetheless, he is Mr. PPR and should be top 5 in receptions at the RB position regardless.
11. Leonard Fournette, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Fournette remains the most viable option at running back in one of the more pass-heavy offenses in the NFL. He will get most of the goal line runs plus a ton of targets as a receiver as well. I don’t love Fournette’s outlook next year, but he should continue to produce at a high level and remains a valuable 3rd or 4th round pick. I wouldn’t touch him earlier than that.
12. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Barkley is hit or miss for me. I think he was a little underrated going into the season but there is no way he continues to produce at the level of his 34 fantasy point week 1 performance. As long as he stays healthy, Barkley will produce at a high level considering he catches a lot of passes and averaged 9 yards per carry last weekend. However, his injury history prevents him from being a top 10 back.
13. James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
Conner dominated in some games last season putting up 18+ fantasy points 7 times, but the inconsistencies are still apparent with 4 games under 10 fantasy points. When Kyler Murray is on, Conner’s production goes down and I just can’t take that risk in the first 3 rounds of the draft.
Conner will explode yet again for some jaw-dropping games, but he will also disappoint in almost half of his games played. He has high upside but there is a 0 percent chance I am taking Conner in any of my fantasy leagues because of how volatile his production is.
14. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
I expect a bigger leap from A.J. Dillon this season, but Jones will still catch a lot of passes and run for many touchdowns. He has to with Green Bay’s awful receiving core. He should command some big fantasy point games, but also fail to step up to the plate in many others. A very volatile back this season, I would stay away from Jones despite his obvious talent.
15. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
Chubb will have some 2 rushing touchdown games, but not he isn’t a threat in the passing attack and Jacoby Brissett isn’t going to get the passing attack rolling enough to take pressure off of Chubb’s runs.
The Browns’ offense will suck and Chubb will be subject to yet again running up the middle when everyone knows he is going to run. That will obviously lower his production dramatically so I would stay away from Chubb until round 5.
16. Antonio Gibson, Washington Commanders
People are forgetting that Antonio Gibson was one of the best fantasy players in his rookie year just two seasons ago. Yes, he struggled last season in many games (only getting 20+ fantasy points five times all year) and will be a nonfactor in PPR leagues when J.D. Mckissic plays most of the time.
Nonetheless, I expect Gibson to have a bounceback year and finish even higher than my 18th overall running back outlook for him. He is still the 3 down back for a rush-heavy offense and Carson Wentz was responsible for a lot of production in Jonathan Taylor’s breakout fantasy season last year. Could that happen again for Gibson? It’s possible if Ron Riveria utilizes him in the passing game as well as the run game.
17. A.J. Dillon, Green Bay Packers
Dillon should be productive again as a pass-catching back with goal-line touches in the run game, but Aaron Jones still steals a lot of Dillon’s rush attempts when it matters, which is why he is ranked so low on my list. Talent-wise, Dillon would be ranked much higher, but I don’t know if Matt LeFleur will use Dillon enough to be considered a top 10 RB even after a solid first game performance.
18. Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
Josh Jacobs will have a better season this year and rush for 1,000 yards (as he did in his first tow seasons before last year only rushing for 872). Davante Adams will also take a lot of pressure away from Jacobs in the passing game so his receptions should increase as well. I really love Josh Jacobs this season he will turn into a steal if picked in round 5 or later despite an average week 1 performance.
19. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs
Contrary to many analysts’ beliefs that Edwards-Helaire isn’t going to be productive, I think that he is poised for a big season and he already proved that in week 1. Tyreek Hill is gone and Edwards-Helaire is still one of the best pass-catching backs in the NFL (despite Andy Reid sometimes not playing him at all).
It is all about his usage percentage and with Hill gone, I think Andy Reid will implement Edwards-Helaire more into the offense this season. He could finish higher than this RB24th overall ranking and is a solid mid-late round selection.
20. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
Welcome your next fantasy football superstar ladies and gentleman, that is of course if Doug Pederson lets him go to work. Etienne Jr. only rushed 4 times but for 47 yards and Trevor Lawrence overthrew him in the end zone to limit his fantasy production in week 1. Etienne Jr. and James Robinson should continue to co-exist. Travis Etienne was forgotten because he was hurt all of last season, but now he is healthy with an undeniable connection with college QB Trevor Lawrence under center.
21. JK Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens
Maybe its just me, but I don’t trust any running back in a Lamar Jackson offense. Sorry JK Dobbins, you are very talented, but there is no way I am drafting you in fantasy football.
Because of his talent and being the Ravens RB2 (since Jackson is QB1 and RB1), I have him as the 21st overall back. However, I would stay away from him, especially with Lamar Jackson on a contract year.
22. Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons
Patterson won everyone over with his dominant fantasy football season last year, but don’t expect him to fully replicate that even after a stellar week 1 performance. Rookie Tyler Allgeier was drafted in the 5th round to play running back for the Falcons and he is an absolute steal (and could become one of the best backs in the league).
I am expecting Allgeier to be implemented more at the RB position later on this season and with Drake London and Kyle Pitts being options in the passing game, Patterson is bound for some regression despite his obvious two-way abilities.
23. Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns
Kareem Hunt’s trade request was denied by the Browns, but he will still be a good option in PPR leagues because of his pass-catching value. Nick Chubb will have a much higher usage percentage, and I wouldn’t draft Hunt at all, but he could prove valuable in round 10 or on as he showed out in week 1.
24. Breece Hall, New York Jets
Breece Hall is a rookie, but was a monster at Iowa State last season and should be considered the favorite of the rookies to win ROTY because of the usage percentage he will get as the lead back for the Jets.
Yes, Michael Carter was solid last season, but Breece Hall is already better than Carter and will produce as a rusher and as a receiver in year 1. Despite Carter being more a part of the offense than people think and the Jets having an awful team, Hall should get better as the year goes on.
25. Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans
Despite Rex Burkhead out-carrying Pierce in week 1, at some point, Pierce (the more talented back) is bound to take over. Dameon Pierce will be one of the lone bright spots this season in Houston. The Texans drafted him in the 4th round and Pierce showed out in the first preseason game. If you can snag Pierce off waivers or through a trade, now would be the time to do so before he pops off. aft he could be the guy that wins you your fantasy league. Pierce has the ability to be that good if utilized correctly.
26. Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
No Ezekiel Elliot yet but Tony Pollard?! Yes, Pollard is an elite pass-catching back who will provide value even if he’s used as an RB2. Elliot was awful last year and the last time I checked running backs don’t get better with age unless they are in their first couple of seasons in the NFL. Pollard was a valuable late-round selection to stash on your bench for certain games and if he is still on the waiver wire, pick him up.
27. Rashaad Penny/Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
Kenneth Walker III should be the primary back for a struggling Seattle Seahawks team as he dominated college football at Michigan State and was the Heisman favorite until the second half of the season. However, Rashaad Penny played very well for the Seahawks last year and will challenge Walker III for playing time and rushing attempts once Walker III recovers from his injury (he sat out week 1).
In fact, Walker III may only get 50% of the attempts since Penny is so good. That is why they are so low on this list, since they will split the touches evenly.
28. David Montgomery, Chicago Bears
David Montgomery at 28?! Another wow moment for you readers, but let me explain; I am under the impression that David Montgomery will be replaced by Khalil Herbert by week 5 or 6 so this is why neither of those backs is in the top 20 despite being in a rush-heavy offense.
Montgomery is good, but dealt with injuries last season and is bound to lose the job to Herbert (who I think is better anyways) at some point. Herbert was already more efficient than Mongtomgery in week 1.
29. Elijah Mitchell/Jeff Wilson Jr, San Francisco 49ers
Another guy that would be a sure thing top 8 running back if he would get 70+ percent of the backfield touches and was healthy, Elijah Mitchell is one of the best running backs in the NFL already. Yes, part of that is the 49er’s elite rushing scheme, but he also showed off finesse moves and speed at elite levels last season after being picked in the 6th round.
However, he will be out for 2 months and Jeff Wilson Jr. is taking over the touches in the backfield (with Deebo Samuel) so that limits his production. Wilson Jr. simply isn’t Elijah Mitchell, but Mitchell should still come back by week 10 and dominate from there on out.
30. Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams
Cam Akers is 30th on my list because Darell Henderson Jr. is a beast and Akers fumbles the football a whole lot. I would be surprised if Akers has over 55 percent of the rush attempts in the backfield this season, which is why I am staying away from Akers in an ultra-heavy pass attack in the Rams.
Top 30 Wide Receivers:
1. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
Everyone is saying that Cooper Kupp will regress, but will he? I know he had 1,947 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns, but why can’t he replicate that? He and Matthew Stafford have the best connection in the NFL and Kupp was still getting his usual 1-2 TD’s a game despite teams heavily game planning for him. I am expecting 12-14 touchdowns with 1,700 receiving yards for Kupp this year as he will finish as a top 3 (probably 1) wide receiver in fantasy football yet again.
2. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Jefferson is poised for another big year as he finished with 1616 receiving yards with 10 touchdowns last season. Not only do I think he will replicate that performance, but I think he will top it finishing with close to 2,000 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns with more receptions as well. Adam Thielen will continue to be a threat, but that won’t limit Jefferson’s insane fantasy production.
3. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders
Everyone keeps saying Davante Adams is going to regress, but I just don’t see it. Yes, Derek Carr is not Aaron Rodgers, but he is Adams’ college QB and they have an amazing connection. Carr is also supremely underrated and will target Adams a bunch. I think Adams has the ability to finish as WR1 this year even on the Raiders and not the Packers.
4. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
Chase had arguably the best rookie receiving season of all time and was dominant almost every week having over 25 fantasy points 4 times including a 55.6 fantasy point game. He had over 13 fantasy points in 12 out of the 16 games he played and should dominate yet again as Joe Burrow’s top target.
I still think Chase is going to go off this season, but to a lesser extent which is why he is ranked 4th and not 2nd or 3rd on this list. The Bengals have a very hard schedule and Chase will face some tough corners.
5. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Deebo Samuel won’t replicate last year’s “wideback position” takeover, but he will still have a ton of rushing attempts and receptions. Because of his overall value in PPR leagues, Samuel remains a top 5 fantasy wide receiver and a sure-thing first-rounder. After a “down” week 1, expect him to bounceback for 20+ fantasy points against the Seahawks this weekend.
6. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
6th overall for Tyreek Hill seems disrespectful but we have to remember that Tua Tagovailoa is his quarterback now and I am not high on Tagovailoa at all. I think he will struggle in finding Tyreek Hill downfield a lot of the time, but Hill will find a way to finish with another elite fantasy season.
7. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
Jaylen Waddle’s average draft position was 37.4 but he is going to finish as a top 15 fantasy player this season and is a steal in any round after the second round. Waddle will still unfortunately have Tua Tagovailoa throwing to him, but Mike McDaniel is the head coach and he implemented the wide back position for Deebo Samuel in San Francisco.
Expect Waddle to actually have a lot of rush attempts and jet sweep-type plays this season as well as 1,200+ receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns. Waddle is the second-year player that is most likely to take a Justin Jefferson-type leap.
8. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Evans is still a red-zone monster being 6-5 and Tom Brady’s #1 target. No Rob Gronkowski only helps Evans more with production and I think Evans could finish as a top 5 wide receiver if Brady and he both stay healthy.
9. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
I don’t love CeeDee Lamb being a #1 receiver, but he is going to be in one of the most pass-heavy offenses in the NFL and is going to produce regardless of who is his QB.
10. Stefon’ Diggs, Buffalo Bills
Diggs at 10 may also be disrespectful, but that’s how high I am on Gabe Davis to take a leap and possibly dethrone Diggs as Josh Allen’s top wide receiver. Diggs will still be productive, but Davis’ ascension will diminish Diggs’ fantasy value immensely, which is why he drops to 10 on my list when most people have him at 3 or 4 overall for wide receivers.
11. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
Allen is a catch machine that struggles to get over 6 touchdowns a year for whatever reason. Even though Mike Williams may produce more because he is Herbert’s favorite red zone threat, Keenan Allen will still average close to 17 fantasy points a week because of his receptions alone. If he adds in more touchdowns, Allen could finish even higher on this list.
12. Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert’s favorite red-zone target, Mike Williams will continue to ascend this season and dominate opposing corners. Expect Williams to yet again have 10+ receiving touchdowns and 1,100+ yards even after putting up a dud in week 1.
13. DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks
DK Metcalf may be the most physically gifted receiver in the NFL, but he now has Geno Smith as his QB, and even though Smith looked good in his debut, he still had trouble finding Metcalf the ball.
Nonetheless, Metcalf should be the focal point of the offense and Smith will continue to try to get the ball to Metcalf as much as possible.
14. Antonio Brown, Phialdelphia Eagles
Will Jalen Hurts figure out how to pass? He couldn’t stay consistent with the passing attack last year despite having the best o-line in the NFL. Hurts yet again has the best offensive line in the NFL and if he does learn how to pass at a high level, watch out for his #1 target A.J. Brown.
Still one of the best receivers in football, Brown is a mismatch nightmare and Hurts will be licking his chops trying to get the ball to him at all times, that is if it’s a passing play. The Eagles run more than any team in the league which is why Brown is 14th on this list and not higher.
15. D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers
D.J. Moore racks up yards like nobody’s business, but only 4 touchdowns last year brings a lot of question marks to the table. Will he be a red-zone threat and will a healthy Christian McCaffrey take away some of his targets?
Either way, Moore still caught 93 receptions for 1157 yards, and even if he takes a hit in production, will still be 1,000+ yards with 4 touchdowns. A high-end WR2 option that will likely improve once he builds his connection with Baker Mayfield.
16. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
Pure talent-wise, McLaurin is as good as they come. Unfortuantley he hasn’t had the best of luck with QB’s in his Commander’s tenure. Carson Wentz will be the best one though and McLaurin could have another breakout season in store. I don’t love the Commanders’ offense, but Wentz is an upgrade over Taylor Heinicke and will get McLaurin the ball a ton. McLaurin remains a solid WR2 with WR1 upside depending on how Carson Wentz does.
17. Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts
Carson Wentz to Matt Ryan shouldn’t change anything for Pittman, who broke out last season for 1082 yards and 6 touchdown catches last season. Pittman should be able to replicate those stats as Ryan’s top target and he remains a solid round 5-7 selection with WR1 upside.
18. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
St. Brown’s second half of the season was insane as he put up lines of 24.8,15.3, 23.5,26,35.4, and 26.1 fantasy points from week 13 on. 18th overall may be a little low for a guy that has the ability to finish as a top 10 wide receiver.
His average draft position of 70.4 is disrespectful as well since I think St. Brown’s second half is more indicative of who he is as a player than his first half of the season. The Lions are finally good and could be a playoff team and St. Brown is Jared Goff’s #1 target. He remains a steal in rounds 5 and onward and could become the next great fantasy wide receiver as soon as this year.
19. Gabe Davis, Buffalo Bills
This will be the year of Gabe Davis, who could become Josh Allen’s #1 target by the end of the season. Did anyone watch the playoff game where Davis caught 3, yes 3 touchdowns?
Expect a dominant season from Davis with 9+ touchdowns and 1000 receiving yards. I will be drafting him as my WR2/flex option in the later rounds and he will likely win me, my league. If you selected him in the mid rounds, he will win you your leagues too.
20. Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints
One of the biggest wild cards in fantasy football, former top fantasy receiver Michael Thomas is coming back to play football this year and has a talented Jamies Winston at quarterback. Winston should get Thomas a ton of receptions, but I would be cautious about Thomas’ outlook for the rest of this season.
21. Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos
Although Russell Wilson is continuing to regress a little bit, Jeudy is his #1 option in Denver and should put up similar numbers to both DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. I am expecting a huge year from Jeudy who could outperform this rank on my list very easily. He remains a solid 7th-round WR2 who has WR1 upside if utilized correctly and already went off in the first game of the season against Seattle.
22. Juju Smith-Schuster, Kansas City Chiefs
Now Patrick Mahomes’ WR1, Smith-Schuster is poised for a remarkable comeback season with over 1,100 yards receiving and 7 touchdowns. I can see him finishing as a top 15 wide receiver, but the only knock on him is whether the yards will be spread around him, Mecole Hardman, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Sky Moore. Smith-Schuster is a solid 8th-round selection who should be consistent for your fantasy team all season long.
23. Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
Are you ready for the year of Brandon Aiyuk? I sure am as he is Trey Lance’s favorite target and has had arguably the best camp of any receiver in football. The hype is real and after a disappointing season last year, expect Aiyuk to go off for 1000+ receiving yards and 6+ touchdowns.
24. Allen Robinson II, Los Angeles Rams
Robinson II has looked great in training camp so far and many people forget how good he was considering he played for the Bears previously. Robinson II will be the perfect complement to Cooper Kupp and will be a draft steal in the later rounds. He is a good flex option for this season despite an awful fantasy showing in week 1…but we all know that wasn’t his fault.
25. Hunter Renfrow, Las Vegas Raiders
Renfrow was a reception machine last season pulling in 103 receptions for 9 touchdowns and 1038 yards receiving. Now with Davante Adams as WR1, Renforw’s production will diminish, but probably not by much.
In fact, Adams will take so much pressure off of Renfrow that he could still get 900 receiving yards and 7+ touchdowns this season. Mr. discount Cooper Kupp (watch videos of both of them, crisp route runners who don’t drop the football) is set for another big year and is a WR2 and solid flex option.
26. Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings
Theilen still provides his elite touchdown production as a red-zone threat pulling in 10 touchdowns last season despite only 726 receiving yards. I expect a little bit of regression from Thielen, but not much. He is still a late-round steal and a solid WR2 that can help you win the fantasy championship.
27. Tee Higgins, Cinncinati Bengals
Everyone is high on Tee Higgins this year but not me. Again, the Bengals’ schedule is very difficult that Ja’Marr Chase will barely be a top 6 wide receiver. Higgins as Burrow’s #2 will also regress this year, but he is still a top 30 wide receiver. I would stay away from Higgins entirely this year as I think Gabe Davis and even Hunter Renfrow are better options, but he provides value if you drafted him relatively late.
28. Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens
With a Lamar Jackson resurgence ensuing, Rashod Bateman is bound to take a huge leap with Marquise Brown playing for the Cardinals. Although Mark Andrews will be Jackson’s #1 red-zone target, Bateman will likely have 1,000 yards receiving and will be available very late in rounds. He is a solid flex option that you could stash on the bench for trade value as his price will keep going up.
29. Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars
Although owners hate him since he started the wide receivers getting paid a ton of money trend, Christian Kirk will be Trevor Lawrence’s #2 option behind Travis Etienne and won’t disappoint. Christian Kirk took over as the WR1 for Arizona in games when Rondale Moore wasn’t great and when DeAndre Hopkins was injured.
Now he will be on a much improved Jaguars team with a good quarterback under center in Trevor Lawrence. Kirk is another guy that will provide amazing value as a flex option and bench player that you could slot in on bye weeks.
30 Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Goerge Pickens will become the most talented receiver on this team but it won’t be this year. Depite having one of the worst QB’s in the league in Mitch Trubitsky, Johnson will still produce at a decent rate, but I stayed away from him in fantasy football this season.
Top 30 Tight Ends:
1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Kelce will be even more of a problem now that Tyreek Hill is off of the team. I wouldn’t be surprised if he finishes with a career-high in yards and receiving touchdowns. It is crazy that people consider Kelce’s 2021 season as a “down” year as he finished with 1125 yards and 7 touchdowns.
2. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
Andrews was always Lamar Jackson’s #1 red-zone threat but last year he took his production to another level finishing as the TE1 (yes for the first time in years over Travis Kelce) with 1361 receiving yards and a whopping 9 touchdowns as well.
Not only was this Andrews’ best season of his career, but it turned into one of the more dominant fantasy showings from a TE in recent memory. Even though without Marquise Brown, Andrews could be targeted more (if that’s even possible) I am a bit skeptical on his season outlook as it compares to last year.
3. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
Pitts is poised to finish as a top 40 fantasy player in year 2 as he should become much more consistent with his production. A mismatch nightmare who will likely be Atlanta’s top target in not only the red zone but in general too, Pitts will finish as TE3.
4. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
I do think George Kittle could finish as TE2 if Trey Lance throws to him a lot. Sounds simple, but Kittle has lacked targets in the 49ers’ offense for the past two seasons, allowing his fantasy production to fluctuate.
In some games, Kittle will get you 30+ fantasy points with 2 touchdowns, and in others, he will get you 5 and be a non-factor in your matchup. Nonetheless, Kittle should demand 3rd and 4th round consideration with Trey Lance being able to throw downfield more so than Jimmy Garoppolo.
5. Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders
Waller’s elite fantasy production finishing as the TE2 in both 2020 and 2021 took a huge dip this past year as he was limited to 665 yards and only 2 touchdowns. Davante Adams should allow Waller to get many more open looks this season and he should become a fantasy football steal.
6. T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions
Hockenson will yet again be a threat, especially in the red zone. He is just a solid player on a good football team, yes the Lions are a good football team.
7. Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills
Ranked as the TE12-14 on a lot of analysts’ lists, people are forgetting how big of a touchdown threat Dawson Knox is. He has the best fantasy quarterback throwing to him (and Allen should throw for 40+ touchdowns) and will pull in at least 7 touchdowns this season with 600+ receiving yards.
8. Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys
Dalton Schultz had a huge year with Dak Prescott under center and should be able to pull in 700 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns even with Cooper Rush as his QB.
9. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
Goedert had some monster fantasy performances for the Eagles last year including a 28.5 fantasy point masterpiece. Despite him only pulling in 4 touchdowns, Goedert still had over 800 yards receiving and wasn’t the main option in half of the games he played (because Zach Ertz was on the team). I expect Goedert to continue to improve this season and finish as a top 10 TE.
10. Zach Ertz, Arionza Cardinals
Ertz finished with 763 yards and 5 touchdowns last season and was consistently over 10 fantasy points in most games. He is a solid option at TE who will benefit from Kyler Murray having a big year.
11. Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
Freiermuth was a touchdown machine last year pulling in 7 touchdowns (4th among tight ends) even though he only finished with 497 yards. With a better quarterback under center in Mitchell Trubitsky this season, I expect Freiermith to pull in around 600 yards and have 5-6 touchdown receptions.
12. Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins
Gesicki pulled in only 2 touchdowns but had 73 receptions and almost 800 yards receiving. With Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill being the focal points of an improved Dolphins offense, Gesicki won’t be as productive this year. Still, he is a solid TE option in the later rounds.
13. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
Njoku got paid in the offseason for a reason and it’s because talent wise he’s one of the best tight ends in the league and will undoubtedly improve with Amari Cooper taking away some pressure at receiver. Baker Mayfield was hurt last season so last year wasn’t a good gauge on the Browns’ offense.
14. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Like Pat Freiermuth, Henry provided value by pulling in touchdowns (9 to be exact, tied second among all TE’s). Mac Jones loves to pass to Hunter Henry and with no proven WR1 on the Patriots, Henry is a huge boom/bust TE every week.
15. Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers
In a similar situation to Hunter Henry and the Patriots, the Packers don’t have a set WR1 and Tonyan is one of the more experienced players on this offense. I expect him to garner a ton of targets in the red-zone and don’t expect Aaron Rodgers to slow down any time soon despite losing Davante Adams.
16. Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers
One of the most underrated signings of the offseason, Gerald Everett is a solid pickup for the Chargers and should benefit from a more dynamic offense than the Seahawks had last year. I expect Everett to pull in 4-7 touchdowns and have 400 yards receiving. He has this 16th overall ranking because of his touchdown outlook.
17. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence will have a huge year and Engram should be considered a huge boom/bust player every week with Christian Kirk, Lavishka Shenault, Marvin Jones, and Travis Etienne being the only other options in the passing game. Lawrence will have a huge year and Engram will have a huge year with him and could finish way higher than this 17th overall ranking, especially if he becomes Lawrence’s #1 red-zone target.
18. Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brate seems to be the guy to replace Rob Gronkowski this season and Tom Brady always defies father time and should put together another monster season. With that in mind, Brate should get a ton of red-zone targets, but don’t expect him to be anything close to Rob Gronkowski. Brate is a waiver wire type of tight end that will flourish in some weeks, but disappoint in many other weeks.
19. Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders
Before Thomas’ injury that kept him out for most of the year, he put together solid fantasy showings of 12, 9.5, and 12 fantasy points, all of which are solid TE1 type of performances. Health is always an issue with Thomas, but if you are feeling risky he could have a huge year with a better quarterback behind center in Carson Wentz so may as well take a look at him on the waiver wire.
20. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams
Higbee is one of the bigger boom/bust tight ends in all of football. Some games he will put up 23.5 fantasy points and pull in 2 touchdowns (as he did to San Francisco in week 18) and in other weeks he will barely put up 5 fantasy points. He should not be drafted in fantasy leagues but depending on the matchup, Higbee can be a solid streaming option.
21. C.J. Uzomah, New York Jets
With Zach Wilson coming off of an injury and Joe Flacco being relatively ineffective as a quarterback now, C.J. Uzomah will have trouble matching the production he had with Joe Burrow as QB for the Bengals (493 yards and 5 touchdowns). Like the rest of these remaining TE’s on the list, no way should you ever go near Uzomah in a fantasy football draft, but he could have some upside depending on who the Jets are playing.
22. Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
I am out on virtually every single Bears player including Kmet, who is actually one of the better tight ends in the NFL despite playing in a dumpster fire offense. I didn’t have Darnell Mooney in my wide receiver list either simply because he plays for the Bears and I don’t trust that offense one bit. Stay away from Kmet.
23. Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks
Fant is one of the worst tight ends to have in fantasy football this year because he has either Drew Lock or Geno Smith as his quarterback. Because of that, and DK Metcalf likely getting the multitude of red-zone targets, I am completely out on Fant this season.
24. Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota Vikings
I am all in on the Vikings offense this season and although Irv Smith Jr. does not have a resume, he should benefit from a new coach who is more offensive-minded. Still, Jefferson and Thielen will take the bulk of red-zone targets so stay away from Smtih Jr. as well.
25. Albert Okwuegbunam, Denver Broncos
Okwuegbunham is higher rated on everyone else’s list simply because Russell Wilson is his QB. However, he has no resume and the Broncos’ offense will rely more heavily on the run this season. Stay away from Okwuegbunham in all fantasy leagues.
26. Austin Hooper, Tennesee Titans
Hooper would be higher if he were in a dynamic offense. There is no value for him with Ryan Tannehill as his QB. Stay away from him.
27. Jonnu Smith, New England Patriots
Smith would be a top 15 tight end if he started for the Patriots, but with Hunter Henry getting first-team reps and being Mac Jones’ favorite red-zone target, Smith will be limited in the passing game, especially in the red zone.
28. Hayden Hurst, Cincinnati Bengals
Will Hurst step up and replicate Uzomah’s production in Cinci? Probably not as the Bengals have a tougher schedule following a Super Bowl appearance and Joe Burrow will have a hard enough time finding his other targets, much less Hurst.
29. Maxx Williams, Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals’ backup TE, Maxx Williams had a couple of solid fantasy performances last season (17.6 in week 4 against the Rams and 16.4 in week 2 against the Vikings) before getting hurt and beaten out by Zach Ertz following the Cardinals’ trade with the Eagles.
Williams is very talented but will likely get 0 points most weeks. However, if Ertz misses time, Williams immediately becomes a top 10 TE and should be picked up off of waivers/
30. Mercedes Lewis, Green Bay Packers
Could Lewis split time with Robert Tonyan at TE? Possibly, and if Tonyan misses time Lewis should assert himself as one of the better TE’s in football with Aaron Rodgers passing to him. Keep an eye on him.
Top 30 Quarterbacks:
1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen is a fantasy football superstar who will have an even better season than last year (4407 passing yards with 36 touchdowns and 763 rush yards with 6 touchdowns).
I know it sounds crazy to predict that Allen will outperform his legendary 2021 fantasy football season, but if that playoff loss against the Chiefs is anything indicative of his performance this season, we could be in line for the best QB fantasy football performance of all time. Allen has it in him and is the only QB that was worth taking in the first round because he is the best fantasy player by far.
2. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
The second-best QB in fantasy football this season will be Justin Herbert, who should also finish 2nd in MVP voting behind Josh Allen. Herbert threw for 5014 yards and 38 touchdowns last season while rushing for 302 yards and 3 touchdowns as well.
Not only do I think Herbert throws for more yards (yes even more than 5014) but I think he throws for 40 touchdowns this season. His rushing production will regress but he will become the best passing QB in the NFL this season and should be a league winner if you built the right team around him.
3. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Jackson missed some key games last season that led to the Ravens missing the postseason, but in the time he played he put up 2882 yards and 16 passing touchdowns while rushing for 767 yards and 2 touchdowns in 13 weeks. Now the 13 interceptions is a bit concerning, but I expect Jackson to have a similar season to his 2019 MVP year.
4. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes will regress a little bit only because he won’t have Tyreek Hill getting open on deep routes for him. Juju Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman, and Skyy More are all solid receivers, but none of them are Tyreek Hill and I actually think the Chiefs will struggle to get 10 wins this year.
Mahomes and the offense will be rolling, and it will be the defense that lost Charvarius Ward and Tyrann Mathieu that will cost them games. Mahomes is always going to throw for almost 40 touchdowns and 5,000 yards so he’s always going to produce at a high level.
5. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Hurts became a fantasy football superstar because of his rushing abilities (784 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground), but his passing was much improved as well as he threw for 3144 yards and 16 touchdowns with only 9 interceptions on the year.
Hurts should only improve his passing game and should be able to sustain similar run production with the best offensive line in the NFL in front of him.
6. Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers
The next great fantasy football star quarterback? Yes, I am completely in on Trey Lance and his ability to become a superstar in the NFL. It may not be as soon as this year, but there is no denying that he has the pieces around him in Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Trent Williams, and Brandon Aiyuk to succeed in this league.
He is also one of the best rush quarterbacks in the league already and I expect Lance to run for at least 6 touchdowns and 500 yards in year 1. I also expect Lance to throw for close to 30 touchdowns despite the obvious interceptions he will throw in his first full season as a starting QB.
7. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray will dominate the first half of the season again (top 3 fantasy QB in the first 8 weeks of the season) but he has yet to get past his second-half slumps that plague this Cardinals team from contending (4 games under 22 fantasy points in the second half of the season).
Nonetheless, Kyler Murray is going to pick up a lot of touchdowns and rushing yards on the ground, plus he should still have an awesome year in the air with former college wide receiver Marquise Brown coming in.
8. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brady was my fantasy quarterback last season and did not disappoint as he defied father time and threw for 5316 yards and 43 touchdowns (and deserved the NFL MVP in my eyes) in a year where many people thought he would regress. Brady should yet again throw for 5,000 yards and dominate in the passing game.
9. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Rodgers doesn’t have Davante Adams so don’t expect the two-time MVP to replicate his 37 touchdowns and only 4 interception performances from last season.
Rodgers always finds a way especially in the regular season to get it done and should still throw for 35 touchdowns with less than 8 interceptions. However, his production will regress without Davante Adams which is why he falls off from being one of the more elite fantasy QB’s.
10. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow will throw a ton of touchdowns this season following his breakout 2021-2022 season, but it won’t be without struggles. The reason why he isn’t higher on this list is that he still has an abysmal offensive line in front of him that forced him into 14 interceptions last season.
Chances are that Burrow throws between 12-15 interceptions again despite the 4500+ passing yards and 35 touchdowns he will put up. The Bengals have a brutal schedule and Burrow won’t benefit from that either. Regardless, he is a solid QB1 and will get better as the year progresses.
11. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Stafford will throw for 35 touchdowns again (with probably half of them going to Cooper Kupp) but he won’t replicate his 42 touchdowns and 4886 performance from last season.
Both he and the Rams are bound to regress with a much tougher schedule and Stafford is already having arm issues. Although Stafford has obvious issues, he is still in a pass heavy offense and should have some monster fantasy weeks.
12. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
Kirk Cousins threw for 4221 yards and 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions last season…let that sink in. Now one of the more underrated QB’s in the NFL, Cousins benefits from having one of the best offenses around him in the NFL with Justin Jefferson, Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen, and K.J. Osborn.
Cousins should be able to replicate his sneaky dominant fantasy performance again this season and may have his best year yet. He is of extreme value as a late-round QB pickup.
13. Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders
Another underrated QB, Derek Carr threw for 4804 passing yards last season but struggled in the red zone only putting up 23 touchdowns but throwing 14 interceptions.
However, now he has Davante Adams to boost the weapons around him and will only improve his touchdown-interception ratio. I am expecting a huge year from Carr and he will be a late-round steal that could win your fantasy league for you.
14. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Ready for the year of Trevor Lawrence? Now with a serious head coach and more pieces around him (the additions of college teammate and star Travis Etienne and WR Christian Kirk being the top ones) Lawrence is poised for his first 30-touchdown 4000-yard season. The Jaguars will be much improved and should win 6 games and Lawrence is a late-round steal with QB1 upside.
15. Matt Ryan, Indianapolis Colts
I am not as high on Matt Ryan as other analysts are, but he has Michael Pittman Jr. and Jonathan Taylor as his weapons so how bad can he be? That is already better than just Kyle Pitts and Cordarelle Patterson in Atlanta last season.
Ryan should throw for around the same amount of years, especially in a run-heavy offense, but should also throw for 25+ touchdowns since Carson Wentz went for 27 touchdowns last season. Ryan remains a good backup and fringe starting fantasy QB with QB1 upside.
16. Jamies Winston, New Orleans Saints
Jamies Winston was balling out before going down with an injury early last season (14 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions in just 7 games played) and although I don’t expect him to replicate that kind of performance, he is still a solid backup QB with QB1 upside.
17. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa could become a fantasy star this season, but I am still out on him as he threw 10 interceptions in 13 games last year and wasn’t impressive at all.
Obviously, Tyreek Hill and an improved Jaylen Waddle will help a lot, but I don’t expect Tagovailoa to become this “difference maker” that many people are making him out to be. Mike McDaniel will put him in great positions to succeed and he will still come up short.
18. Mac Jones, New England Patriots
Mac Jones would be higher on this list if Bill Belichick actually let him pass. The Patriots won’t have a good passing attack, but Mac Jones is still one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL despite his lack of weapons.
I expect regression from the Patriots, but they always seem to prove people wrong and could do it again. Either way, stay away from Jones as your QB1.
19. Carson Wentz, Washington Commanders
Wentz gets a lot of flack for choking in the last game of the Colts’ season against the Jaguars (if they won they would have made the playoffs) where he only threw for 185 yards and had a crucial interception to go along with being sacked 6 times.
However, Wentz still finished 9th in QBR at 54.7 and threw for 27 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. Wentz has a reputation for getting sacked and fumbling the ball a ton, but he is still a very solid QB who will be a good backup in fantasy football leagues.
20. Baker Mayfield, Carolina Panthers
I expect Baker Mayfield to have a “comeback” season as the starter for the Carolina Panthers and have 3500 passing yards with 20-25 touchdowns. He won’t ever be considered as a QB1 this season, but he is a solid play against certain opponents as a low-end QB2.
21. Zach Wilson, New York Jets
If Zach Wilson comes back healthy he should be alright, but even before the injury he threw one of the worst interceptions anyone has ever seen. I would be surprised if the Jets don’t move on from Wilson after this season as he throws way too many interceptions and doesn’t have many excuses anymore with an improved offensive line and more weapons around him. Still, he has the potential to become a good QB because of his arm strength and natural athleticism but remains a very bad backup QB in fantasy football until he proves otherwise.
22. Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
Fields is a great quarterback that probably won’t ever succeed in Chicago. He will need to go somewhere else to flourish and have an offensive-minded coach that can help him do that. The Bears did not help Fields at all this offseason letting Allen Robinson II walk and not providing any upgrades offensively to help him. The Bears’ defense is getting older and won’t even be that good this year either. Fields has upside because of his natural talent but stay far away from him even as a QB2.
23. Ryan Tannehill, Tenessee Titans
Tannehill lost his star receiver A.J. Brown and remains the most overpaid and overrated quarterback in the NFL. However, Derrick Henry’s dominance should open up the passing lanes for Robert Woods and rookie Treylon Burks, making Tannehill a QB2 but nothing more than that.
24. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Jared Goff had a decent season finishing with 3245 yards, 19 touchdowns, and only 8 interceptions. He should continue to improve with a full season of targeting Amon-Ra St. BRown, something he did not do in the first half of the season. Because Goff is still young and showed some decent improvement last season, he remains a fine waiver wire pickup if both of your QBs are on byes.
25. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson will be out 11 games but he may be worth a stash if you need help in the latter part of the season. He hasn’t played football in a long time but could come back as a top 10 QB right away in week 13 against the Texans so he deserves a look at. Do not draft him though.
26. Mitch Trubitsky, Pittsburgh Steelers
Trubitsky gets a bad rap because of his tenure with the Bears but he was never that bad of a quarterback… it was just the Bears. but has made improvements in every facet of his game and he doesn’t play for the Beats anymore! Now under Mike Tomlin who made a washed 40-year-old Ben Roethlisberger good, Trubitsky should have a decent season and could be valuable off of waivers against certain teams.
27. Davis Mills, Houston Texans
Davis Mills threw for 2664 yards and 16 touchdowns in only 13 games played and should improve in year two. However, even with RB Dameon Pierce and WR Brandin Cooks on offense, Mills still plays for the worst team in football, the Texans so only pick him up off waivers if you need to.
28. Jacoby Brissett, Cleveland Browns
Brissett will start the first 11 games for the Cleveland Browns before Deshaun Watson takes over, but don’t expect him to do much of anything even with Amari Cooper coming in to help on the offensive end. Stay far away from Brissett at all costs. Under no circumstance no matter how big of a Browns fan you are, do not pick up Brissett.
29. Marcus Mariota, Atlanta Falcons
Mariota starred in week 1 and should continue to produce rushing yards but he won’t do much more than that. Despite his rushing upside, I doubt Mariota continues to play at this level.
30. Cooper Rush/Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Contrary to many analysts, I have the Cowboys only winning 8 games and regressing a ton this season.I had to keep that line in there as it was written on August 20th and stands tall now. I knew the Cowboys would suck this year with or without Dak Prescott and now with his injury, it looks even grimmer for the Cowboys and backup Cooper Rush.
