Fantasy Tiers: Updated Draft Rankings for the 2020 Season

Fantasy Tiers: Updated Draft Rankings for the 2020 Season article feature image
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Getty Images. Pictured: Michael Thomas, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey

A lot has changed since I released the first edition of my 2020 fantasy tiers. Now that the dust has settled from Saturday's 53-man cut and Sunday's waiver wire deadlines, I've updated my tiers across every position.

Let's quickly run through how to use these tiers then dive in.

Fantasy Tiers

To further streamline your draft prep, I've added the following tiers to this PDF so you can save and/or download it for quick reference once your draft starts.

Now, before we get to the actual tiers, here's a position-by-position overview of how to use them:

  • Quarterbacks: In 1QB leagues, the six QBs in Tiers 1 and 2 are worth (relatively) high draft capital. After that, I would recommend not drafting a QB (if your league allows it) and instead streaming the position  in-season. In 2QB leagues, draft at least two QBs from Tiers 1-6, then your third before Tier 7 dries up.
  • Running backs: Workhorse RBs are the most valuable type of player in fantasy, so target two between Tiers 1-7.
  • Wide receivers: This position is deep, but don't wait too long to draft your WRs — aim to draft at least three between Tiers 1-8.
  • Tight ends: Tier 1 is worth second-round draft capital. Tiers 2-5 offer mid-round options. After that, there's plenty of potential late-round options, so there's no need to reach.
  • Kickers: You should be like the Patriots and head into Week 1 without a kicker, if your league allows it. That allows you to stash high-upside backup RBs for the time being, then you can stream a kicker before Sunday's games kicks off.
  • Defenses: Like kickers, I would recommend spending your final picks on high-upside RBs who could see promotions in the lead up to Week 1 rather than a defense — if your leagues allows it. If so, you can stream a defense before Sunday's main slate.

[Download PDF of Koerner's Draft Tiers]

Now for my updated draft tiers!


Skip to:QB | RB | WR | TE | K/DEF


QB Tiers

Tier 1

Patrick Mahomes
Lamar Jackson

Tier 2

Deshaun Watson
Dak Prescott
Kyler Murray
Russell Wilson

Tier 3

Matt Ryan
Josh Allen
Carson Wentz
Drew Brees

Tier 4

Tom Brady
Matthew Stafford

nfl mvp-predictions-picks-betting-2020-1
Leon Halip/Getty Images. Pictured: Matthew Stafford

Tier 5

Daniel Jones
Joe Burrow
Cam Newton
Ben Roethlisberger
Aaron Rodgers
Jared Goff

Tier 6

Philip Rivers
Baker Mayfield

Tier 7

Kirk Cousins
Jimmy Garoppolo
Gardner Minshew
Ryan Tannehill
Drew Lock
Derek Carr

Tier 8

Sam Darnold
Teddy Bridgewater
Dwayne Haskins

Tier 9

Tyrod Taylor
Mitchell Trubisky
Ryan Fitzpatrick

Tier 10

Tua Tagovailoa
Justin Herbert
Nick Foles

[Download PDF of Koerner's Draft Tiers]

RB Tiers

Tier 1

Christian McCaffrey

Tier 2

Ezekiel Elliott
Saquon Barkley
Alvin Kamara

rb half ppr-rankings-fantasy-draft-2020
Getty Images. Pictured: Saquon Barkley

Tier 3

Derrick Henry
Dalvin Cook

Tier 4

Clyde Edwards-Helaire

Tier 5

Joe Mixon
Josh Jacobs
Aaron Jones

Tier 6

Nick Chubb
Miles Sanders
Kenyan Drake
Austin Ekeler

Tier 7

Chris Carson
James Conner
David Johnson
Todd Gurley

Tier 8

Le'Veon Bell
Melvin Gordon

Tier 9

Kareem Hunt
Raheem Mostert
Cam Akers
Jonathan Taylor
Mark Ingram
Devin Singletary
David Montgomery
J.K. Dobbins

jk dobbins-dynasty-rookie-fantasy-football-projections-freedman
Christian Petersen/Getty Images. Pictured: J.K. Dobbins

Tier 10

Zack Moss
Marlon Mack
Leonard Fournette
Tarik Cohen
D'Andre Swift
Phillip Lindsay
Antonio Gibson

Remaining Backup Tiers

Backups With Occasional Flex Value but RB2 Potential If Starter Misses Time

Boston Scott
Ronald Jones II
Tevin Coleman
Damien Harris
Kerryon Johnson
Jordan Howard

Elite Upside Backups/Handcuffs

Latavius Murray
Tony Pollard
Chase Edmonds
Alexander Mattison
Darrel Williams
Darrynton Evans
Benny Snell
A.J. Dillon

Low-Upside Backups/Handcuffs

Bryce Love
Carlos Hyde
Devine Ozigbo
James Robinson
Frank Gore
Dion Lewis

Third-Down RBs with Higher Floor/Lower Upside

James White
Matt Breida
Darrell Henderson
Duke Johnson Jr.
Jalen Richard
Giovani Bernard
Nyheim Hines
LeSean McCoy
Jerick McKinnon

Deep Fliers

Malcolm Brown
Justin Jackson
Joshua Kelley
DeeJay Dallas
Rex Burkhead
Brian Hill
Corey Clement
Darwin Thompson
Anthony McFarland Jr.

[Download PDF of Koerner's Draft Tiers]

WR Tiers

Tier 1

Michael Thomas

Tier 2

Davante Adams
Julio Jones
Tyreek Hill

Tier 3

DeAndre Hopkins
Kenny Golladay

Kenny Golladay
Leon Halip/Getty Images. Pictured: Kenny Golladay

Tier 4

D.J. Moore
Chris Godwin
Mike Evans
Adam Thielen
Odell Beckham Jr.
Allen Robinson
Calvin Ridley
Juju Smith-Schuster

Tier 5

A.J. Brown
Cooper Kupp
D.K. Metcalf
Robert Woods
Amari Cooper
D.J. Chark
Keenan Allen
Courtland Sutton
Terry McLaurin
Tyler Lockett

Tier 6

DeVante Parker
Michael Gallup
Stefon Diggs
T.Y. Hilton
A.J. Green
Marquise Brown

Tier 7

Julian Edelman
Marvin Jones
Jarvis Landry
Will Fuller V
Tyler Boyd

Tier 8

CeeDee Lamb
Christian Kirk
Jamison Crowder
Deebo Samuel
John Brown
Henry Ruggs
Brandin Cooks
Sterling Shepard

Tier 9

Desean Jackson
Diontae Johnson
Jerry Jeudy
Darius Slayton
Emmanuel Sanders
Anthony Miller
Preston Williams
Mecole Hardman

super-bowl-54-mvp-longshot-bets-odds-picks
Jamie Squire/Getty Images. Pictured: Mecole Hardman

Tier 10

Golden Tate
Allen Lazard
Breshad Perriman
Robby Anderson
Parris Campbell
Curtis Samuel
Sammy Watkins
Justin Jefferson
Corey Davis
Michael Pittman Jr.
N'Keal Harry

Tier 11

Mike Williams
Brandon Aiyuk
Larry Fitzgerald
Hunter Renfrow
Cole Beasley
Bryan Edwards
Steven Sims
Jalen Reagor

Tier 12

Dede Westbrook
James Washington
Miles Boykin
Randall Cobb
Russell Gage
Alshon Jeffery
Denzel Mims
Laviska Shenault
Danny Amendola
Chris Conley
Chase Claypool

[Download PDF of Koerner's Draft Tiers]

TE Tiers

Tier 1

Travis Kelce
George Kittle

Tier 2

Mark Andrews

Tier 3

Zach Ertz

Tier 4

Darren Waller

Tier 5

Evan Engram
Tyler Higbee
Hayden Hurst

Tier 6

Hunter Henry

Tier 7

Rob Gronkowski
T.J. Hockenson
Dallas Goedert
Mike Gesicki
Noah Fant
Jared Cook
Austin Hooper

nfl-wild-card-picks-betting-vikings-saints-seahawks-eagles-spreads-over-unders-props
Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire. Pictured: Miles Sanders, Dallas Goedert

Tier 8

Jonnu Smith
Blake Jarwin
Eric Ebron
Jack Doyle

Tier 9

Chris Herndon
Ian Thomas
Irv Smith Jr.

Tier 10

Greg Olsen
O.J. Howard
Kyle Rudolph
Jimmy Graham
Dawson Knox
Dan Arnold
Tyler Eifert
Will Dissly

Tier 11

Devin Asiasi
Jace Sternberger
Gerald Everett
Robert Tonyan Jr.
Mo Alie-Cox
David Njoku

[Download PDF of Koerner's Draft Tiers]

Kicker Tiers

You should be like the Patriots and head into the week without a Kicker if your league allows it

Tier 1

Harrison Butker
Justin Tucker

Tier 2

Jake Elliott
Wil Lutz
Sam Sloman
Matt Prater
Robbie Gould
Younghoe Koo
Greg Zuerlein

Tier 3

Chris Boswell
Ryan Succop

Tier 4

Jason Myers
Joey Slye
Stephen Gostkowski
Rodrigo Blankenship
Dan Bailey
Ka'imi Fairbairn
Zane Gonzalez
Mason Crosby

Tier 5

Brandon McManus
Josh Lambo
Michael Badgley
Dustin Hopkins

Tier 6

Tyler Bass
Graham Gano
Austin Seibert

Tier 7

Jason Sanders
Daniel Carlson
Randy Bullock

[Download PDF of Koerner's Draft Tiers]

Defense Tiers

Tier 1

Pittsburgh Steelers
Baltimore Ravens
San Francisco 49ers

packers-vs-49ers-sharp-betting-pick-spread-nfc-championship-2020
Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images. Pictured: Nick Bosa

Tier 2

New England Patriots
New Orleans Saints
Buffalo Bills
Los Angeles Rams
Minnesota Vikings
Philadelphia Eagles

Tier 3

Tennessee Titans
Kansas City Chiefs
Denver Broncos
Indianapolis Colts
Chicago Bears
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Seattle Seahawks
Los Angeles Chargers
Cleveland Browns
Green Bay Packers

Tier 4

Dallas Cowboys
Washington Football Team
Houston Texans
New York Jets

Tier 5

Arizona Cardinals
Detroit Lions
Carolina Panthers
Atlanta Falcons
Jacksonville Jaguars
Las Vegas Raiders
Miami Dolphins

Tier 6

Cincinnati Bengals
New York Giants

[Download PDF of Koerner's Draft Tiers]

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