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Erickson: 2021 PPR Fantasy Football Rankings & Tiers

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley (18) completes a touchdown reception on a pass from quarterback Matt Ryan (not pictured) against the Minnesota Vikings during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

The 2021 Fantasy Football draft season has arrived. Fantasy leagues are firing up, and everybody wants to know how they can gain an upper edge. The first step to gaining an advantage is to break every position into tiered rankings — these groupings offer a picture of where value may lie as other drafters begin to stray from the consensus. Combining the tiers and overall rankings will make it easy to find value while drafting.


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The following is my freshest collection of fantasy football rankings for 2021 PPR fantasy football leagues. Find breakdowns of positional tiers below the overall 300 and more of PFF's fantasy rankings here. My most up-to-date Half-PPR rankings plus tiers can be found here.

2021 PPR Fantasy Football Rankings (last update: Sept. 2)
Rank Name Team Position
1 Christian McCaffrey CAR RB
2 Dalvin Cook MIN RB
3 Ezekiel Elliott DAL RB
4 Alvin Kamara NO RB
5 Aaron Jones GB RB
6 Davante Adams GB WR
7 Derrick Henry TEN RB
8 Tyreek Hill KC WR
9 Travis Kelce KC TE
10 Saquon Barkley NYG RB
11 Austin Ekeler LAC RB
12 Stefon Diggs BUF WR
13 Calvin Ridley ATL WR
14 Nick Chubb CLE RB
15 Joe Mixon CIN RB
16 Najee Harris PIT RB
17 Antonio Gibson WAS RB
18 Darren Waller LV TE
19 DeAndre Hopkins ARI WR
20 Justin Jefferson MIN WR
21 Jonathan Taylor IND RB
22 George Kittle SF TE
23 Keenan Allen LAC WR
24 Clyde Edwards-Helaire KC RB
25 A.J. Brown TEN WR
26 D.K. Metcalf SEA WR
27 Allen Robinson II CHI WR
28 Terry McLaurin WAS WR
29 CeeDee Lamb DAL WR
30 Amari Cooper DAL WR
31 Chris Carson SEA RB
32 D'Andre Swift DET RB
33 Chris Godwin TB WR
34 Diontae Johnson PIT WR
35 Robert Woods LAR WR
36 D.J. Moore CAR WR
37 Julio Jones TEN WR
38 Tyler Lockett SEA WR
39 Cooper Kupp LAR WR
40 Mike Evans TB WR
41 Tee Higgins CIN WR
42 David Montgomery CHI RB
43 Miles Sanders PHI RB
44 Patrick Mahomes II KC QB
45 James Robinson JAC RB
46 T.J. Hockenson DET TE
47 Josh Allen BUF QB
48 Kyler Murray ARI QB
49 Mark Andrews BAL TE
50 Lamar Jackson BAL QB
51 Gus Edwards BAL RB
52 Josh Jacobs LV RB
53 Tyler Boyd CIN WR
54 Brandon Aiyuk SF WR
55 Chase Claypool PIT WR
56 Courtland Sutton DEN WR
57 Kyle Pitts ATL TE
58 Jerry Jeudy DEN WR
59 Ja'Marr Chase CIN WR
60 Adam Thielen MIN WR
61 Kenny Golladay NYG WR
62 Odell Beckham Jr. CLE WR
63 Javonte Williams DEN RB
64 Chase Edmonds ARI RB
65 Damien Harris NE RB
66 Darrell Henderson LAR RB
67 Raheem Mostert SF RB
68 Trey Sermon SF RB
69 Dak Prescott DAL QB
70 Russell Wilson SEA QB
71 Justin Herbert LAC QB
72 Mike Davis ATL RB
73 Brandin Cooks HOU WR
74 Robby Anderson CAR WR
75 Laviska Shenault Jr. JAC WR
76 DeVonta Smith PHI WR
77 Myles Gaskin MIA RB
78 Antonio Brown TB WR
79 Corey Davis NYJ WR
80 JuJu Smith-Schuster PIT WR
81 Michael Gallup DAL WR
82 Mike Williams LAC WR
83 D.J. Chark Jr. JAC WR
84 Jaylen Waddle MIA WR
85 Kareem Hunt CLE RB
86 Marvin Jones Jr. JAC WR
87 Will Fuller V MIA WR
88 Ronald Jones II TB RB
89 Jalen Hurts PHI QB
90 Noah Fant DEN TE
91 Logan Thomas WAS TE
92 Aaron Rodgers GB QB
93 Ryan Tannehill TEN QB
94 Tom Brady TB QB
95 Joe Burrow CIN QB
96 Deebo Samuel SF WR
97 Curtis Samuel WAS WR
98 Darnell Mooney CHI WR
99 Sterling Shepard NYG WR
100 Zack Moss BUF RB
101 Jakobi Meyers NE WR
102 Jamaal Williams DET RB
103 Michael Pittman Jr. IND WR
104 Jarvis Landry CLE WR
105 Melvin Gordon III DEN RB
106 AJ Dillon GB RB
107 Michael Carter NYJ RB
108 Leonard Fournette TB RB
109 Kenyan Drake LV RB
110 James Conner ARI RB
111 Justin Fields CHI QB
112 Sony Michel LAR RB
113 Tony Pollard DAL RB
114 Marquez Callaway NO WR
115 Elijah Moore NYJ WR
116 Terrace Marshall Jr. CAR WR
117 Trey Lance SF QB
118 Trevor Lawrence JAC QB
119 Hunter Henry NE TE
120 Jonnu Smith NE TE
121 Mike Gesicki MIA TE
122 Dallas Goedert PHI TE
123 Matthew Stafford LAR QB
124 Nyheim Hines IND RB
125 James White NE RB
126 Tevin Coleman NYJ RB
127 Marquise Brown BAL WR
128 Cole Beasley BUF WR
129 Bryan Edwards LV WR
130 Mecole Hardman KC WR
131 Rondale Moore ARI WR
132 Gabriel Davis BUF WR
133 Emmanuel Sanders BUF WR
134 Nelson Agholor NE WR
135 Michael Thomas NO WR
136 Randall Cobb GB WR
137 Nico Collins HOU WR
138 Robert Tonyan GB TE
139 Evan Engram NYG TE
140 Ty Johnson NYJ RB
141 Austin Hooper CLE TE
142 Gerald Everett SEA TE
143 Rhamondre Stevenson NE RB
144 Matt Ryan ATL QB
145 Baker Mayfield CLE QB
146 Parris Campbell IND WR
147 DeVante Parker MIA WR
148 Tua Tagovailoa MIA QB
149 Ryan Fitzpatrick WAS QB
150 Kirk Cousins MIN QB
151 Zach Wilson NYJ QB
152 Damien Williams CHI RB
153 Giovani Bernard TB RB
154 Devin Singletary BUF RB
155 Tyler Higbee LAR TE
156 Zach Ertz PHI TE
157 Rob Gronkowski TB TE
158 Cole Kmet CHI TE
159 Blake Jarwin DAL TE
160 Pittsburgh Steelers PIT DST
161 David Johnson HOU RB
162 Los Angeles Rams LAR DST
163 Phillip Lindsay HOU RB
164 Chuba Hubbard CAR RB
165 Alexander Mattison MIN RB
166 Marquez Valdes-Scantling GB WR
167 Jalen Reagor PHI WR
168 Sammy Watkins BAL WR
169 Rashod Bateman BAL WR
170 Russell Gage ATL WR
171 Van Jefferson LAR WR
172 Donovan Peoples-Jones CLE WR
173 Daniel Jones NYG QB
174 Josh Palmer LAC WR
175 Baltimore Ravens BAL DST
176 Derek Carr LV QB
177 Mac Jones NE QB
178 Dyami Brown WAS WR
179 Tyrell Williams DET WR
180 Carlos Hyde JAC RB
181 KJ Hamler DEN WR
182 Hunter Renfrow LV WR
183 Hayden Hurst ATL TE
184 O.J. Howard TB TE
185 Washington Football Team WAS DST
186 Jared Cook LAC TE
187 Henry Ruggs III LV WR
188 DeSean Jackson LAR WR
189 Rashaad Penny SEA RB
190 Quez Watkins PHI WR
191 Jordan Akins HOU TE
192 Ty'Son Williams BAL RB
193 Denver Broncos DEN DST
194 Indianapolis Colts IND DST
195 Harrison Butker KC K
196 Greg Zuerlein DAL K
197 Tony Jones Jr. NO RB
198 Jamison Crowder NYJ WR
199 J.D. McKissic WAS RB
200 Darrynton Evans TEN RB
201 Qadree Ollison ATL RB
202 Darrel Williams KC RB
203 A.J. Green ARI WR
204 Amon-Ra St. Brown DET WR
205 Christian Kirk ARI WR
206 Justin Tucker BAL K
207 Jason Sanders MIA K
208 Allen Lazard GB WR
209 Salvon Ahmed MIA RB
210 Devontae Booker NYG RB
211 Ben Roethlisberger PIT QB
212 Olamide Zaccheaus ATL WR
213 Boston Scott PHI RB
214 Larry Rountree III LAC RB
215 Jaret Patterson WAS RB
216 New Orleans Saints NO DST
217 San Francisco 49ers SF DST
218 New England Patriots NE DST
219 Malcolm Brown MIA RB
220 Marlon Mack IND RB
221 Justin Jackson LAC RB
222 Jameis Winston NO QB
223 Chris Herndon IV MIN TE
224 Teddy Bridgewater DEN QB
225 Carson Wentz IND QB
226 Jared Goff DET QB
227 Sam Darnold CAR QB
228 Taysom Hill NO QB
229 Drew Lock DEN QB
230 Tyrod Taylor HOU QB
231 Tampa Bay Buccaneers TB DST
232 Jason Myers SEA K
233 Los Angeles Chargers LAC DST
234 Younghoe Koo ATL K
235 Tre'Quan Smith NO WR
236 Mark Ingram II HOU RB
237 Joshua Kelley LAC RB
238 Dan Arnold CAR TE
239 Tyler Conklin MIN TE
240 Juwan Johnson NO TE
241 C.J. Uzomah CIN TE
242 Trent Sherfield SF WR
243 JaMycal Hasty SF RB
244 Keelan Cole Sr. NYJ WR
245 Deonte Harris NO WR
246 Tim Patrick DEN WR
247 Devin Duvernay BAL WR
248 J.J. Taylor NE RB
249 Buffalo Bills BUF DST
250 Kansas City Chiefs KC DST
251 Chicago Bears CHI DST
252 Minnesota Vikings MIN DST
253 Miami Dolphins MIA DST
254 Tyler Bass BUF K
255 Matt Prater ARI K
256 Rodrigo Blankenship IND K
257 Philadelphia Eagles PHI DST
258 Amari Rodgers GB WR
259 Wil Lutz NO K
260 Ryan Succop TB K
261 Kadarius Toney NYG WR
262 Scotty Miller TB WR
263 Josh Reynolds TEN WR
264 D'Wayne Eskridge SEA WR
265 Albert Wilson MIA WR
266 Ihmir Smith-Marsette MIN WR
267 Tylan Wallace BAL WR
268 Zach Pascal IND WR
269 Byron Pringle KC WR
270 Jimmy Garoppolo SF QB
271 Kenneth Gainwell PHI RB
272 Jerick McKinnon KC RB
273 Latavius Murray NO RB
274 Anthony McFarland Jr. PIT RB
275 Adam Trautman NO TE
276 Anthony Firkser TEN TE
277 Robbie Gould SF K
278 Michael Badgley FA K
279 Tucker McCann TEN K
280 Samaje Perine CIN RB
281 Alex Collins SEA RB
282 Andy Dalton CHI QB
283 Mason Crosby GB K
284 Brandon McManus DEN K
285 Elijah Mitchell SF RB
286 Khalil Herbert CHI RB
287 Auden Tate CIN WR
288 Mike Strachan IND WR
289 Daniel Carlson LV K
290 Seattle Seahawks SEA DST
291 Green Bay Packers GB DST
292 Mo Alie-Cox IND TE
293 Quintez Cephus DET WR
294 Mike Boone DEN RB
295 Denzel Mims NYJ WR
296 Darius Slayton NYG WR
297 James Washington PIT WR
298 Pat Freiermuth PIT TE
299 Matt Gay LAR K
300 Joey Slye FA K
301 Graham Gano NYG K
302 Ka'imi Fairbairn HOU K
303 Tennessee Titans TEN DST
304 Cleveland Browns CLE DST
305 Dallas Cowboys DAL DST
306 Jaelon Darden TB WR
307 Preston Williams MIA WR
308 Ke'Shawn Vaughn TB RB
309 Matt Breida BUF RB
310 Tutu Atwell LAR WR
311 Tyler Johnson TB WR
312 Kendrick Bourne NE WR
313 N'Keal Harry NE WR
314 New York Jets NYJ DST
315 Houston Texans HOU DST
316 Jake Elliott PHI K
317 Chris Evans CIN RB
318 Jake Funk LAR RB
319 Donald Parham Jr. LAC TE
320 Anthony Schwartz CLE WR
321 Freddie Swain SEA WR
322 T.Y. Hilton IND WR
323 Demetric Felton CLE WR
324 Andy Isabella ARI WR
325 Rashard Higgins CLE WR
326 Jacksonville Jaguars JAC DST
327 Detroit Lions DET DST
328 Arizona Cardinals ARI DST
329 Rex Burkhead HOU RB
330 Jimmy Graham CHI TE
331 Eric Ebron PIT TE
332 Adam Humphries WAS WR
333 Shi Smith CAR WR
334 Marquez Stevenson BUF WR
335 Simi Fehoko DAL WR
336 Jermar Jefferson DET RB
337 Miles Boykin BAL WR
338 Kylin Hill GB RB
339 Eno Benjamin ARI RB
340 Dede Westbrook MIN WR
341 John Ross NYG WR
342 Deshaun Watson HOU QB
343 La'Mical Perine NYJ RB
344 Dawson Knox BUF TE
345 Cam Newton FA QB
346 Jacob Eason IND QB
347 Jordan Love GB QB

QUARTERBACKS

TIER 1: THE FANTASTIC FOUR

Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in the NFL, but he’s also vastly overrated in fantasy football. His ADP as the 36th player off the board is almost a full round ahead of the other Tier 1 quarterbacks. The quarterbacks in this tier all offer similar fantasy QB1 overall upside, so it's best to wait for another elite passer after Mahomes comes off the board.

The only exception would be if a roster already includes a combination of Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and/or Clyde Edwards-Helaire. In that case, Mahomes is worth the late third-round or early fourth-round selection in the pursuit of a Kansas City Chiefs team stack. 

TIER 2: TOP-TIER UPSIDE

Dak Prescott has moved down slightly into the Tier 2 of quarterbacks. This is by no means a knock on Prescott as a fantasy commodity because he does possess top-five upside. During the first four weeks of the 2020 season, the Dallas Cowboys ranked first in passing yards per game (423) and third in points per game (24) with Prescott under center. The fifth-year QB led all quarterbacks in fantasy points per game (31.8) during that span. 

However, the catastrophic ankle injury he suffered last season could have an impact on his rushing numbers. He’s still No. 5 overall in the quarterback rankings but should be drafted at least a full round after the Tier 1 quarterbacks (Rounds 6 & 7).

Green Bay Packers stud left tackle David Bakhtiari was recently placed on the PUP list, which does not bode well for quarterback Aaron Rodgers

Without Bakhtiari's presence on the left side of the line, the quarterback’s chances of experiencing passing touchdown regression increase substantially. Bakhtiari is the NFL's premier pass-blocking tackle, grading out at 94.4 in that department over the past three years. Fantasy drafters should not expect a repeat performance of Rodgers' 9.1% touchdown rate from 2020, further bolstering the case for fading him at his QB8 ADP.

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