Using running back tiers allows you to balance the value at the RB position alongside the other areas of your roster.
When it comes to RB tiers, you can easily see where the next dropoff in talent is coming from and make an educated decision about whether you feel safe waiting at the position for another round or if you need to act now.
The top tiers are usually pretty obvious at the RB position, so the strategy comes into play more in the middle and later rounds. However, there is still a case to be made for using tiers at running back and wide receiver to make those key decisions in the first three or four rounds, especially when picking around the turns.
What are the Running Back Tiers for Fantasy Drafts in 2024?
Tier 1: Elite
Tier 2: RB1s
- Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
- Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
- Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
- Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
- Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
- Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
- Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
- De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
Tier 3: High-End RB2s
- James Cook, Buffalo Bills
- Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
- Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
- James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
Tier 4: RB2s
- Joe Mixon, Houston Texans
- Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
- Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders
- David Montgomery, Detroit Lions
- D’Andre Swift, Chicago Bears
- Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings
- Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos
- Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders
Tier 5: Low-End Starting Options
- Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
- Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
- Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
- Zack Moss, Cincinnati Bengals
- Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins
- Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
- Jonathon Brooks, Carolina Panthers
- Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans
Tier 6: Spot Starters
- Devin Singletary, New York Giants
- Gus Edwards, Los Angeles Chargers
- Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
- Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings
- Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
- Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons
- Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns
- Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys
- Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
- Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders
Tier 7: Bench Stashes
- Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants
- MarShawn Lloyd, Green Bay Packers
- Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams
- Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears
- Jaleel McLaughlin, Denver Broncos
- Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals
- Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints
- J.K. Dobbins, Los Angeles Chargers
- Antonio Gibson, New England Patriots
- Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans
- Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins
- Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills
- Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers
- Braelon Allen, New York Jets
Tier 8: Deep-League Only
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs
- Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens
- Eric Gray, New York Giants
- Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears
- D’Onta Foreman, Cleveland Browns
- Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore Ravens
- Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars
- AJ Dillon, Green Bay Packers
- Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers
- Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles
- Samaje Perine, Denver Broncos
- Deneric Prince, Kansas City Chiefs
- Miles Sanders, Carolina Panthers
- Jamaal Williams, New Orleans Saints
- Audric Estimé, Denver Broncos
Tier 9: Very Deep League Options
- Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers
- Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders
- Israel Abanikanda, New York Jets
- Kareem Hunt, Free Agent
- Jeff Wilson Jr., Miami Dolphins
- Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals
- Dalvin Cook, Free Agent
- Pierre Strong Jr., Cleveland Browns
- Will Shipley, Philadelphia Eagles
- Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers
- Deuce Vaughn, Dallas Cowboys
- Joshua Kelley, Free Agent
- Emari Demercado, Arizona Cardinals
- Evan Hull, Indianapolis Colts
- Isaiah Spiller, Los Angeles Chargers
- Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders
- Cam Akers, Houston Texans
- D’Ernest Johnson, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Jerick McKinnon, Free Agent
- Cordarrelle Patterson, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Chase Edmonds, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Ronnie Rivers, Los Angeles Rams
- Trey Sermon, Indianapolis Colts
- Matt Breida, Free Agent
- Salvon Ahmed, Miami Dolphins
- Keaontay Ingram, Kansas City Chiefs
- Dylan Laube, Las Vegas Raiders
- Latavius Murray, Free Agent
What Are Tiers in Fantasy Football?
Fantasy football tiers are simply a different way of looking at fantasy rankings.
As opposed to a straight list, players are grouped based on their talent level relative to one another.
Players who are expected to provide a similar value to one another will be in a tier together. Where that value drops off, there is a tier break, and then we start again.
For example, in 2024, we expect Christian McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson, and Breece Hall to be elite fantasy options and a clear step above the next group of RBs available in drafts. Therefore, they go into the top tier, and then the next level makes up the second tier.
How To Use Tiers in Fantasy Football
If you are familiar with the horizontal board concept when discussing the NFL Draft, then tiers are a very similar proposition. Essentially, we look for the drop-off in talent at each position and use those groups to decide which players to prioritize at each stage of the draft.
For example, if only one RB remains in the RB1 tier, but there are still five WRs in the WR1 tier, you may decide to draft the RB and wait on WR. The reasoning is that it is more likely a player from the WR1 tier falls to your next pick in the following round than someone in the RB1 tier.
How To Create Your Own Fantasy Tiers
Probably the toughest part of creating tiers is getting the initial rankings together. However, once you have a rough ranking, tiers can save you from overthinking who should be your second or third-ranked RB.
If you feel that Robinson and Hall are essentially the same, then you put them together in a tier.
Naturally, if both are on the board when you are on the clock, you will have to choose between them. But setting tiers allows you to determine the limits of where you are comfortable with a certain group at that position.
To create the tiers, all you have to do is go down your rankings and draw a line between players where you feel there is a drop-off in expected output.
When you create your own tiers, you can do whatever you want with them. If you feel only one player is “Elite,” put him in a tier by himself. If you think all the RB1 should be tiered together, that is completely up to you.