Rangers is what we do at FantasyPros. It’s what you want as the fantasy player. ‘Tell me who should set up for everyone else once I’m on the clock. ‘Does that sound like something you should say? What if I told you that ranking is not the only thing you need to look at?
I know I sit and spend a lot of time creating projections, which then make me my own personal ranking. But why is it that every time I’m a concept, I do not rank those players in the exact order of my rankings?
Tiers. Because of this. Ranking is just a general measure of where a player should go, but it does not tell you the full story of the role they will play on your fantasy team. If you do not understand this concept, that’s where I’m here today.
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Imagine you have a taste for pizza and then go to a steakhouse. Does that mean steak is not good? No, but it may not satisfy what you are looking for that particular day. Not a good comp? How about a stock portfolio with all your life savings in nothing but high risk stocks? Ask any financial advisor, you need balance in your portfolio, just as you need balance in your fantasy setup.
By showing you this animal list, it should help you understand the importance of adjusting your mindset on the fly. I will explain the rounds in which each tier should be directed, as well as the impact they have on your grid construction. These tiers are based on settings for half PPR in a league with 12 teams, because it gives us the widest range of usability in leagues.
Here are the links to the other positional animal lists:
Running rain
Broad receivers
Quarterbacks
The tier “Worth a choice in the first two rounds” (Round 2)
1. Travis Kelce
2. George Kittle
If you are thinking about making a tight end early, these are the only two you should consider in the first two rounds. If you like Kittle better because he’s younger and up to date, that’s fine. Just be aware that Kelce has been the model citizen when it comes to consistency, placing TE1-type numbers in 28-of-32 games in the last two years. When you line up these guys, you play them every week and forget the position.
The “Just Outside of Elite” Tier (Round 3-4)
3. Mark Andrews
4. Zach Ertz
What Andrews has done in the first two years in the league is absolutely bonkers, and he will only get better. Yet he does not get the goals to still be included in the elite tier, even though he is close. Ertz is trending in the wrong direction, while Dallas Goedert deserves more playing time, but the attack uses both, allowing a lot of safe production with a high floor.
The tiger “Does not feel great, but also not bad” (rounds 5-6)
5. Darren Waller
6. Evan Engram
Both players in this tier suddenly have a lot of surrounding talent. However, Waller is the heartbeat of the Raiders offense as they have targeted the close end position 287 times in the past two seasons. Even if he drops to 100 goals (117 last year), he comes for touchdown regression for the average (only three touchdowns last year). Engram has placed TE1-type numbers in 12-of-19 games over the past two years, which is worth a pick in the top six rounds. You’ll be fine with these guys, although it’s unlikely that any of them will take a leap into the top three.
The tiger “Take a leap of faith” (Rounds 7-8)
7. Hayden Hurst
8. Tyler Higbee
If you are lucky, one of these two tight ends can pay off. Hurst sat behind Mark Andrews, remembering that he is not talented. The Falcons gave up a pick from the second round to get him and he will replace the role of Austin Hooper which included 97 goals in just 13 games. Higbee ended the season with five straight games with 84-plus yards. He’s the first tight end to ever do that. There were some variables that led to more playing time, but it’s clear he has top-five potential.
The tiger “I have been well” (rounds 8-11)
9. Jager Henry
10. Rob Gronkowski
11. Jack Doyle
These players have been very good in situations in the past, although things have changed for them all. Henry will play in an offense that probably throws 100 fewer passes and with a quarterback who has never hit more than 20 touchdowns. Gronkowski was not great the last time we saw him on a football field, he was a whole year away from the game, and he is now surrounded by two top-12 wide receivers. Doyle gets an upgrade with Philip Rivers constantly producing top-12 tight ends, but Doyle’s had issues healthy.
The “Are they taking the next step?” Tier (Round 10-13)
12. Jonnu Smith
13. TJ Hockenson
14. Mike Gesicki
15. Noah Fant
18. Blake Jarwin
These are the tight ends that have not been weekly starters at this point in their careers, but they need to get a bigger role, as they are in the next phase of their development. Smith replaces Delanie Walker as the lead tight end in the Titans offense, a role that has been valuable. By scoring the tight end, the Titans have become top-12 in the last five years. Hockenson saw the 12th most chance before his season was cut short. His efficiency was down, but he was able to get back on track in 2020. Gesicki saw a lot of volume last year, but was not something exciting to put in your lineup. Fant had flashes last year, but the Broncos suddenly have a lot of talented passers-by. Jarwin and Jason Witten combined last year for 124 goals … Witten is gone.
The “Touchdown Dependent” Tier (Round 11-14)
16. Jared Cook
17. Dallas Goedert
19. Austin Hooper
22. Eric Ebron
These tight ends are not set to see quite a few goals by 2020, making them much more touchdown-reliable than most. Cook scored all 4.8 receptions last year and averaged 16.4 yards per reception. He regresses in both categories; the only question is how much. Goods are trending up, but Zach Ertz is still on his way to stable production. Hooper is someone who went to a much lesser role in Cleveland and I would consider him lucky to hit 70 goals. Ebron has always been touchdown dependent, as he is not an avid player due to his lack of blocking skills.
The tiger “Hail Mary” (rounds 14-16)
21. Will Dissly
23. Chris Herndon
24. Irv Smith Jr.
25. Ian Thomas
26. Jace Sternberger
27. OJ Howard
These are all young tight ends that you hope to get a shot at in their respective crimes. Herndon may have fallen out of favor with Adam Gase, especially considering how well Ryan Griffin played last year. Smith would have to take over Kyle Rudolph as the most straightforward Vikings tight end. Thomas will take Greg Olsen’s place as the starter, but there are plenty of mouths to feed on the Panthers. Sternberger was a favorite sleeper of many, but after hearing he was placed on the COVID list and missing most of the camp, he dropped draft boards. Howard will be accompanied by Rob Gronkowski, and he might be better off at this point in her career. Dissly comes from an Achilles injury, which presents far too much risk to put up higher than this, but he has been good in the games we have seen.
The Tier “Low Upside Veteran”
28. Greg Olsen
29. Tyler Eifert
32. Kyle Rudolph
36. Jimmy Graham
I’m not sure why you want to do this to yourself, but nominal will set them up in most leagues. Olsen will actually be useful at the beginning of the year if Will Dissly does, indeed starting on the PUP list. Eifert could not stay healthy and will fight with Josh Oliver, second-year tight end, for snaps. Rudolph is likely to lose goals to Irv Smith because they were essentially equal last year. And finally, Graham has gone from Drew Brees, to Russell Wilson, to Aaron Rodgers, to now Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles. Hard to see a resurrection of him.
Here are the links to the other positional animal lists:
Running rain
Broad receivers
Quarterbacks
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Mike Tagliere is a featured writer at FantasyPros. See for more about Mike archive and follow him @MikeTagliereNFL.
