Thursday Night Football means the first start/sit decisions of the week.
Whether you’re sitting comfortable atop your league’s standings or fighting for a playoff chance, these decisions are important as ever. That’s why I outline the initial version of my weekly fantasy football rankings into tiers — so you can start making these calls at every position.
These rankings will undoubtedly change before Sunday’s games kickoff, so be sure to check my updated tiers on Saturday. And, as always, you can see my real-time rankings at any point here.
Fantasy Rankings & Tiers
Fantasy QB Rankings & Tiers
Tier 1
Josh Allen (vs. MIA)
Tier 2
Patrick Mahomes (vs. NYG)
Kyler Murray (vs. GB)
Jalen Hurts (@ DET)
Tier 3
Matthew Stafford (@ HOU)
Dak Prescott (@ MIN)
Justin Herbert (vs. NE)
Tom Brady (@ NO)
Tier 4
Joe Burrow (@ NYJ)
Kirk Cousins (vs. DAL)
Tier 5
Matt Ryan (vs. CAR)
Ryan Tannehill (@ IND)
Daniel Jones (@ KC)
Aaron Rodgers (@ ARI)
Rodgers opened the week as my QB9, but now that Davante Adams and Allen Lazard are expected to miss, Rodgers is closer to a high-end QB2 option.
Jones has low-end QB1 potential due to the mouth-watering matchup against the Chiefs. However, we’re still unsure if Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard or Kadarius Toney will return this week. Therefore, Jones’ final rank will depend on which Giants skill players can suit up, so stay tuned.
Tier 6
Taylor Heinicke (@ DEN)
Teddy Bridgewater (vs. WAS)
Trevor Lawrence (@ SEA)
Jameis Winston (vs. TB)
Carson Wentz (vs. TEN)
Sam Darnold (@ ATL)
Winston is a sneaky boom-or-bust QB2 option in a #RevengeGame against his former team. The Saints should have a more pass-heavy game plan to avoid the Bucs’ stout run defense, plus head coach Sean Payton has been letting Winston air it out more over the past couple of games.
Winston’s number of pass attempts of 20+ air yards:
- Games 1-4: 9
- Games 5-6: 11
Last week, Winston failed to connect on all five of his downfield attempts, despite three being catchable. However, the big game is coming for Winston, and it could be as soon as this week. So if you’re a sizable underdog, you may want to tap into Winston’s high ceiling this week.
Tier 7
Tua Tagovailoa (@ BUF)
Jared Goff (vs. PHI)
Mac Jones (@ LAC)
Geno Smith (vs. JAX)
Tagovailoa has been playing lights out the past couple weeks despite the trade rumors involving him. He has a brutal matchup against the Bills, but he could offer low-end QB1 value against the Texans next.
Tier 8
Ben Roethlisberger (@ CLE)
Justin Fields (vs. SF)
Case Keenum (vs. PIT)
Jimmy Garoppolo (@ CHI)
Fields was a disaster against the Bucs, and I’m afraid his chances of turning into a QB1/2 option this season are pretty thin.
Tier 9
Mike White (vs. CIN)
Davis Mills (vs. LAR)
There’s a chance that Tyrod Taylor will make his return from IR this week. Texans head coach David Culley has already said that Taylor will reclaim the starting job once he’s healthy, so he would be ranked in the Tier 7-8 range if he is able to return.
Fantasy RB Rankings & Tiers
Tier 1
Derrick Henry (@ IND)
Tier 2
Alvin Kamara (vs. TB)
Dalvin Cook (vs. DAL)
Austin Ekeler (vs. NE)
Jonathan Taylor (vs. TEN)
Tier 3
Aaron Jones (@ ARI)
D’Andre Swift (vs. PHI)
Nick Chubb (vs. PIT)
Ezekiel Elliott (@ MIN)
Darrell Henderson (@ HOU)
If he can suit up this week, Chubb could be limited as he’s dealing with a calf injury. However, he should still be a no-brainer RB1, even at less than 100%.
Tier 4
Najee Harris (@ CLE)
Cordarrelle Patterson (vs. CAR)
Tier 5
Joe Mixon (@ NYJ)
James Robinson (@ SEA)
Leonard Fournette (@ NO)
Darrel Williams (vs. NYG)
Chuba Hubbard (@ ATL)
Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine each had 12 touches in the Bengals’ Week 7 win over the Ravens. However, I wouldn’t panic too much if Mixon is on your roster — his touches were limited because the Bengals leaned on Joe Burrow heavily (416 passing yards), and once the game was out of hand in the fourth quarter, they used Perine in mop-up duty.
Mixon should resume his workhorse role in an easy matchup against the Jets.
Tier 6
Elijah Mitchell (@ CHI)
Damien Harris (@ LAC)
Alex Collins (vs. JAX)
Khalil Herbert (vs. SF)
Collins is averaging 17 carries per game in his three spot starts for the injured Chris Carson, and all three of those games were losses with trailing game scripts. Now they’re 3.5-point home favorites against the Jaguars, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Collins gets 20+ carries.
He’s a solid RB2 option this week.
Tier 7
Zack Moss (vs. MIA)
Michael Carter (vs. CIN)
Antonio Gibson (@ DEN)
Javonte Williams (vs. WAS)
Chase Edmonds (vs. GB)
Melvin Gordon (vs. WAS)
Carter is the Jets’ clear-cut lead back right now. He’s also coming off a season-high 59% routes run that resulted in a massive eight catches for 67 receiving yards. Ty Johnson and Tevin Coleman are both questionable, so Carter’s role could be even more prominent if both RBs miss this week.
Tier 8
Myles Gaskin (@ BUF)
Devontae Booker (@ KC)
J.D. McKissic (@ DEN)
Tony Pollard (@ MIN)
Malcolm Brown has been placed on IR, which means that we can trust Myles Gaskin as a RB3/Flex option in a tough matchup against the Bills. However, his usage in the passing game means he should still be involved in what should be a negative game script. He’ll likely be a solid RB2 option next week against the Texans.
Tier 9
Jamaal Williams (vs. PHI)
James Conner (vs. GB)
Kenneth Gainwell (@ DET)
Devin Singletary (vs. MIA)
A.J. Dillon (@ ARI)
D’Ernest Johnson (vs. PIT)
D’Ernest Johnson’s rank would shoot up to the Tier 6 range if Nick Chubb cannot play.
Kenneth Gainwell’s rank would also shoot up if Miles Sanders were to be ruled out. I’m currently projecting Sanders with about a 40% chance of suiting up, suppressing Gainwell’s rank a bit. As always, we don’t want to make sit/start decisions until we have more clarity, so be sure to check the updated version of my tiers this Saturday.
Tier 10
Mark Ingram (vs. LAR)
David Johnson (vs. LAR)
Mike Davis (vs. CAR)
Brandon Bolden (@ LAC)
Ty Johnson (vs. CIN)
Boston Scott (@ DET)
Salvon Ahmed (@ BUF)
Miles Sanders (@ DET)*
Nyheim Hines (vs. TEN)
Samaje Perine (@ NYJ)
Rashaad Penny (vs. JAX)
JaMycal Hasty (@ CHI)
Sony Michel (@ HOU)
Royce Freeman (@ ATL)
Saquon Barkley (@ KC)*
Alexander Mattison (vs. DAL)
*I’m projecting Sanders and Barkley with 25-35% chances of suiting up this week, which is why you should take the rankings of all Eagles and Giants RBs with a grain of salt until my updated tiers are released this weekend once we have a better idea of their status.
Fantasy WR Rankings & Tiers
Tier 1
Cooper Kupp (@ HOU)
Tyreek Hill (vs. NYG)
Tier 2
Stefon Diggs (vs. MIA)
Ja’Marr Chase (@ NYJ)
Ja’Marr Chase is quickly becoming one of the top WRs in the league. Congrats if you were still willing to target him in the WR30 range in late August when his stock took a nosedive.
Tier 3
Justin Jefferson (vs. DAL)
Deebo Samuel (@ CHI)
D.J. Moore (@ ATL)
Tier 4
Chris Godwin (@ NO)
Diontae Johnson (@ CLE)
Mike Evans (@ NO)
CeeDee Lamb (@ MIN)
Terry McLaurin (@ DEN)
DeAndre Hopkins (vs. GB)
Calvin Ridley (vs. CAR)
A.J. Brown (@ IND)
Mike Williams (vs. NE)
Keenan Allen (vs. NE)
Adam Thielen (vs. DAL)
DeAndre Hopkins is dealing with a hamstring injury and plays on TNF. I would be shocked if the Cardinals held him out, but start making backup plans just in case he ends up being inactive.
Tier 5
D.K. Metcalf (vs. JAX)
Amari Cooper (@ MIN)
Robert Woods (@ HOU)
Chase Claypool (@ CLE)
Brandin Cooks (vs. LAR)
Emmanuel Sanders (vs. MIA)
Devonta Smith (@ DET)
Courtland Sutton (vs. WAS)
Tee Higgins (@ NYJ)
Marvin Jones (@ SEA)
Michael Pittman Jr. (vs. TEN)
Brandin Cooks will get a boost once Tyrod Taylor returns to the lineup. There is a chance that could happen as soon as this week. I will probably bump him up into Tier 4 if that ends up being the case.
Tier 6
Corey Davis (vs. CIN)
Jaylen Waddle (@ BUF)
Cole Beasley (vs. MIA)
Christian Kirk (vs. GB)
Tyler Lockett (vs. JAX)
Julio Jones (@ IND)
Jakobi Meyers (@ LAC)
Jerry Jeudy (vs. WAS)
Laviska Shenault (@ SEA)
Randall Cobb (@ ARI)
Sterling Shepard (@ KC)
Marquez Callaway (vs. TB)
A.J. Green (vs. GB)
Tyler Boyd (@ NYJ)
Robby Anderson (@ ATL)
Darnell Mooney (vs. SF)
Mecole Hardman (vs. NYG)
Jerry Jeudy’s ankle is healthy enough to return from the IR this week. I have him penciled in as a low-end WR3, but his final rank will depend on how much playing time we can expect.
Marquez Callaway is a sneaky WR4/Flex this week against the Bucs pass funnel defense. Robby Anderson is due for a big game, but he is impossible to trust as a WR3/Flex right now.
Tier 7
Allen Robinson (vs. SF)
Kalif Raymond (vs. PHI)
Jarvis Landry (vs. PIT)
Darius Slayton (@ KC)
Van Jefferson (@ HOU)
Rondale Moore (vs. GB)
Amon-Ra St. Brown (vs. PHI)
Jamison Crowder (vs. CIN)
Quez Watkins (@ DET)
Tier 8
Odell Beckham Jr. (vs. PIT)
Russell Gage (vs. CAR)
K.J. Osborn (vs. DAL)
Kendrick Bourne (@ LAC)
Nelson Agholor (@ LAC)
Equanimeous St. Brown (@ ARI)
Zach Pascal (vs. TEN)
Tyler Johnson (@ NO)
Brandon Aiyuk (@ CHI)
Jalen Reagor (@ DET)
Jamal Agnew (@ SEA)
Tim Patrick (vs. WAS)
Freddie Swain (vs. JAX)
Tre’Quan Smith (vs. TB)
Gabriel Davis (vs. MIA)
- (*) = Higher floor play (based on rank): Favor if you are a favorite.
- (**) Higher ceiling play (based on rank): Favor if you’re an underdog.
Fantasy TE Rankings & Tiers
Tier 1
Travis Kelce (vs. NYG)
Tier 2
Kyle Pitts (vs. CAR)
Falcons head coach Arthur Smith has finally unlocked the massive upside we all knew Kyle Pitts possessed. The rookie has now posted lines of 9/119/1 and 7/163/0 over his past two games. He’ll eventually pass up Travis Kelce as the TE1 in fantasy — the only question is when.
Tier 3
T.J. Hockenson (vs. PHI)
Dallas Goedert (@ DET)
Mike Gesicki (@ BUF)
Dalton Schultz (@ MIN)
Tier 4
Noah Fant (vs. WAS)
Tyler Higbee (@ HOU)
Ricky Seals-Jones (@ DEN)
Hunter Henry (@ LAC)
Hunter Henry is on fire right now, scoring a touchdown in four straight. He gets a #RevengeGame against the Chargers, and it appears Jonnu Smith will be limited by a shoulder injury this week.
Henry is a top-10 option and could end up inside my top six if Smith doesn’t suit up.
Tier 5
Rob Gronkowski (@ NO)
Jared Cook (vs. NE)
Robert Tonyan Jr. (@ ARI)
Zach Ertz (vs. GB)
Dan Arnold (@ SEA)
Tyler Conklin (vs. DAL)
C.J. Uzomah (@ NYJ)
Robert Tonyan is coming off his best game of 2021 by posting a 4/63/1 line against the Football Team. He’s still a TD-dependent TE2 going forward. However, with Davante Adams set to miss Thursday’s game, Tonyan’s odds of scoring a TD go way up.
Tier 6
Evan Engram (@ KC)
Mo Alie-Cox (vs. TEN)
Cole Kmet (vs. SF)
Pat Freiermuth (@ CLE)
Pat Freiermuth continues to outplay Eric Ebron, and it’s only a matter of time until the Steelers use the rookie as the primary TE. However, if “Baby Gronk” can top 60% routes run rate, that will be the tipping point for me to start treating him as a high-end TE2.
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Tier 7
O.J. Howard (@ NO)
Gerald Everett (vs. JAX)
David Njoku (vs. PIT)
Adam Trautman (vs. TB)
Ross Dwelley (@ CHI)
Tier 8
Anthony Firkser (@ IND)
Austin Hooper (vs. PIT)
Blake Jarwin (@ MIN)
Hayden Hurst (vs. CAR)
Juwan Johnson (vs. TB)
Jordan Akins (vs. LAR)
Ian Thomas (@ ATL)
Tommy Tremble (@ ATL)
Cameron Brate (@ NO)
Fantasy Kicker Rankings & Tiers
Tier 1
Matt Gay (@ HOU)
Harrison Butker (vs. NYG)
Tyler Bass (vs. MIA)
Tier 2
Matt Prater (vs. GB)
Greg Zuerlein (@ MIN)
Evan McPherson (@ NYJ)
Younghoe Koo (vs. CAR)
Ryan Succop (@ NO)
Dustin Hopkins (vs. NE)
Brandon McManus (vs. WAS)
Jake Elliott (@ DET)
Tier 3
Austin Seibert (vs. PHI)
Graham Gano (@ KC)
Michael Badgley (vs. TEN)
Randy Bullock (@ IND)
Greg Joseph (vs. DAL)
Nick Folk (@ LAC)
Jason Myers (vs. JAX)
Zane Gonzalez (@ ATL)
Mason Crosby (@ ARI)
Brian Johnson (vs. TB)
Tier 4
Chris Blewitt (@ DEN)
Jason Sanders (@ BUF)
Chase McLaughlin (vs. PIT)
Matthew Wright (@ SEA)
Ka’imi Fairbairn (vs. LAR)
Chris Boswell (@ CLE)
Joey Slye (@ CHI)
Matt Ammendola (vs. CIN)
Cairo Santos (vs. SF)
Fantasy Defense Rankings & Tiers
Tier 1
Cincinnati Bengals (@ NYJ)
Tier 2
San Francisco 49ers (@ CHI)
Los Angeles Rams (@ HOU)
Buffalo Bills (vs. MIA)
Tier 3
Denver Broncos (vs. WAS)
Seattle Seahawks (vs. JAX)
Philadelphia Eagles (@ DET)
Cleveland Browns (vs. PIT)
Atlanta Falcons (vs. CAR)
Jacksonville Jaguars (@ SEA)
Pittsburgh Steelers (@ CLE)
Chicago Bears (vs. SF)
Kansas City Chiefs (vs. NYG)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@ NO)
Tier 4
Los Angeles Chargers (vs. NE)
Arizona Cardinals (vs. GB)
Tennessee Titans (@ IND)
Washington Football Team (@ DEN)
Indianapolis Colts (vs. TEN)
Detroit Lions (vs. PHI)
Carolina Panthers (@ ATL)
Tier 5
Dallas Cowboys (@ MIN)
New York Jets (vs. CIN)
New England Patriots (@ LAC)
Minnesota Vikings (vs. DAL)
New Orleans Saints (vs. TB)
Green Bay Packers (@ ARI)
Tier 6
New York Giants (@ KC)
Miami Dolphins (@ BUF)
Houston Texans (vs. LAR)