While rankings are important in fantasy football drafts, the utilization of tiers may be even more so. This is especially true of the RB position, as drop-offs in talent can be steep. Below, you will find Pro Football Network’s RB tiers — the consensus rankings of Senior Fantasy Analyst Eric Moody and Fantasy Analyst Tommy Garrett.
For analysis on the players listed below, be sure to check out our fantasy football player profiles and cheat sheet.
2021 Fantasy Football RB Tiers | Tiers 1-3
Which players make up the elite tiers this season?
Tier 1
- Christian McCaffrey | CAR
- Dalvin Cook | MIN
Tier 2
- Alvin Kamara | NO
- Derrick Henry | TEN
- Ezekiel Elliott | DAL
- Aaron Jones | GB
Tier 3
- Saquon Barkley | NYG
- Austin Ekeler | LAC
- Jonathan Taylor | IND
- Nick Chubb | CLE
- Antonio Gibson | WAS
RB Tiers 4-6
After the elite players, which RBs make up the next tiers for the 2021 fantasy football season?
Tier 4
- Joe Mixon | CIN
- Najee Harris | PIT
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire | KC
- D’Andre Swift | DET
- Chris Carson | SEA
- James Robinson | JAC
- David Montgomery | CHI
Tier 5
- Mike Davis | ATL
- Josh Jacobs | LV
- Gus Edwards | BAL
- Miles Sanders | PHI
- Myles Gaskin | MIA
- Darrell Henderson | LAR
- Damien Harris | NE
- Kareem Hunt | CLE
Tier 6
- Javonte Williams | DEN
- Chase Edmonds | ARI
- Michael Carter | NYJ
- Raheem Mostert | SF
- Nyheim Hines | IND
- Trey Sermon | SF
- Melvin Gordon III | DEN
Fantasy Football RB Tiers 7-9
Who are some of the deeper RB options for the 2021 season?
Tier 7
- James Conner | ARI
- AJ Dillon | GB
- Leonard Fournette | TB
- Jamaal Williams | DET
- Ronald Jones II | TB
- Zack Moss | BUF
- Tony Pollard | DAL
Tier 8
- Kenyan Drake | LV
- David Johnson | HOU
- Devin Singletary | BUF
- Sony Michel | LAR
- Giovani Bernard | TB
- James White | NE
Tier 9
- J.D. McKissic | WAS
- Malcolm Brown | MIA
- Phillip Lindsay | HOU
- Alexander Mattison | MIN
- Tevin Coleman | NYJ
- Rashaad Penny | SEA
Tiers 10-11
Which players round out the 2021 fantasy football RB tiers?
Tier 10
- Latavius Murray | NO
- Rhamondre Stevenson | NE
- Justin Jackson | LAC
- Salvon Ahmed | MIA
- Samaje Perine | CIN
- Chuba Hubbard | CAR
- Carlos Hyde | JAC
- Tony Jones Jr. | NO
- Justice Hill | BAL
- Devontae Booker | NYG
Tier 11
- Darrynton Evans | TEN
- Damien Williams | CHI
- Boston Scott | PHI
- Tarik Cohen | CHI
- Joshua Kelley | LAC
- Xavier Jones | LAR
- Darrel Williams | KC
- Mark Ingram II | HOU
- Ty Johnson | NYJ
- Ty’Son Williams | BAL
- Larry Rountree III | LAC
- Jerick McKinnon | KC
- Marlon Mack | IND