Fantasy Football Tiers: Must-Haves, Busts & Draft Values (2025)

Tiers matter — sometimes even more than fantasy football rankings. That’s the premise behind FantasyPros’ latest tier breakdown, where Chris Welsh, Derek Brown (DBro) and Scott Bogman go beyond the expert consensus rankings (ECR) to dissect positional tiers, draft strategy and which players to target or avoid based on cost, upside and roster construction.

Think of this as a crash course in how to think through tiers and use them to your advantage.

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Fantasy Football Tiers & Advice

Why Tiers Beat Straight Rankings

Rankings tell you who’s next. Tiers tell you where the dropoffs begin.

“Tiers can provide the proper nuance,” said DBro, emphasizing how grouping players by projected outcome ranges can help drafters avoid panic or overreacting when a specific target gets sniped. Bogman echoed the sentiment, explaining that tiers help drafters remain calm and adaptive, even under a 30-second draft clock.

FantasyPros’ consensus tiers are available on the 2025 Rankings page, but each analyst brings their own flavor. Some build wide tiers around upside; others — like Welsh — prefer tighter groups that reflect hard lines in value.

RB Tiers: McCaffrey’s Slide, Jeanty’s Rise & The RB Dead Zone

• Tier 1 (ECR): Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs
• DBro’s Tier 1 Adds: Christian McCaffrey, Ashton Jeanty
• Bogman’s Tier 1 Cuts: Ashton Jeanty stays out. Saquon Barkley is his RB1.

The Barkley versus Jeanty debate quickly heated up. DBro dropped Barkley to Tier 2, citing a decline in tackle-breaking metrics and Philly’s expected shift toward a pass-heavy scheme. Bogman fired back, not buying the argument.

“Saquon doesn’t get touched until he’s past the offensive line,” he said. “Tackle-breaking? Whatever. He’s still my RB1.”

Meanwhile, Christian McCaffrey‘s durability divided the group. Bogman dropped him to RB13, calling him “the trap” in Tier 2 due to injury concerns and workload. DBro defended the rollercoaster ride:

“When McCaffrey plays, he breaks fantasy. Full stop.”

Best RB Values

• Bucky Irving (RB11, Tier 3) — “We’re replaying the De’Von Achan analysis from last year,” said DBro, citing his pass-catching upside and touchdown potential.
• Kenneth Walker (RB15, Tier 3) — Underrated despite efficiency and a new run-friendly scheme.
• Mike Evans of RBs? DBro stumped for RJ Harvey, saying he’s being penalized for not being a hyped prospect despite a likely three-down role in Sean Payton’s offense.

RB Tier Trap Picks

• Jonathan Taylor (Tier 2) — “If you’re drafting him, you better be drafting DJ Giddens, too,” said Bogman.
• Christian McCaffrey (Tier 2) — Age, wear, and trust issues with Shanahan led Bogman to fade him entirely.

WR Tiers: Tier 1 Consensus, But Tier 2 is a Minefield

• Tier 1: Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb

All three analysts agreed on this trio and order, though Welsh noted that Lamb’s “distance” from the rest of Tier 2 might deserve his own mini-tier.

• Tier 2 (ECR): Puka Nacua, Malik Nabers, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Nico Collins, Brian Thomas Jr., Drake London

DBro’s hot take? Brian Thomas Jr. is his WR4 overall. “He could lead the NFL in targets,” he said, citing a consolidated Jacksonville offense and no clear competition behind him.

Bogman’s choice? Malik Nabers, based on a sky-high target share and improved quarterback play (even if he’s lukewarm on Jaxson Dart and Russell Wilson).

WR Tier 2 Trap Candidates

• Puka Nacua — Bogman reluctantly flagged Nacua as a possible letdown if Matthew Stafford regresses or the offense leans run-heavy.
• Malik Nabers — DBro warned about inconsistent quarterback play capping Nabers’ ceiling.

Tier 3 WRs Who Deserve to Move Up

• A.J. Brown — Both analysts agreed Brown belongs in Tier 2.
• Davante Adams — “If you draft based on age, you’ll miss out,” DBro said. Still elite in target share and separation.
• DeVonta Smith — Quietly finished as the WR14 in fantasy points per game (PPG). Undervalued due to last year’s offensive shift.

WR4+ Climbers to Watch

• Mike Evans — “What more does he have to prove?” asked Bogman.
• Tetairoa McMillan (rookie) — DBro is all in. “There’s a path to double-digit touchdowns and a WR1 role.”
• RJ Harvey (again) — “We’re undervaluing the rookie backs with defined roles.”

QB Tiers: Don’t Wait Too Long

Tier 1: Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels, Jalen Hurts
Tier 2: Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, Bo Nix, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray

Joe Burrow sparked debate. Bogman argued he belongs in Tier 1. DBro slotted him into a “Tier 1.5,” just below the rushing elite dual-threat quarterbacks, but still clearly above the rest.

Top QB Value

• Jalen Hurts – DBro’s pick for the best cost-access to top-tier upside.
• Bo Nix – “QB6 from Week 5 on,” said DBro. Bogman added: “We all learn. He proved us wrong.”

Pass on Pricey Picks?

If you can’t get one of the top five signal-callers, both analysts agreed to wait. “The bottom is all kinds of the same.” – Bogman.

Tight Ends: Get One Early or Cross Your Fingers

Tier 1: Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, George Kittle

Bogman called this the only truly elite tier, and both he and DBro strongly preferred George Kittle at cost.

“You’re drafting the TE1 in points per game last year as the TE3. What are we doing?” – DBro

Mid-Tier Targets

• Evan Engram — Clear volume path. Top-5 upside.
• Mark Andrews — Quiet bounce-back potential post-injury.

Late-Round Dart

• Tucker Kraft — “If Matt LaFleur commits to him,” DBro said, “he could finish top five.”

Final Words of Wisdom

• Tier-Based Drafting Works: It helps avoid panic and creates flexibility during your draft.
• Prioritize Elite TE & QB: The dropoff in both positions is sharper than usual.
• Don’t Overreact to Age: Mike Evans and Davante Adams still deliver.
• Bet on Role and Offense: Whether it’s Tetairoa McMillan or RJ Harvey, talent plus opportunity equals upside.