Erickson: 2021 PPR Fantasy Football Rankings & Tiers

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.