After months away from the game, fantasy football season is upon us. Millions of people worldwide will gather in person or virtually to compete for a shot at securing a fantasy title.

While you cannot win your league just by drafting well, you can certainly set yourself back by making poor choices for a squad. That’s why operating with a solid tactical approach to building your team is essential. 

Together, let’s go over a fully tiered list of the top 100 fantasy football rankings for the 2024 season:

Summer Positional Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE

Tier One: The Elite First-Rounders:

1. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

2. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions

3. Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets

4. Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins

5. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

6. Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers

It’s vital that managers lay a strong foundation for their teams from the jump. 

Typically, the best way to do that is to focus on players likely to receive the ball the most, regardless of the scoring format. I like to use the adage that volume is volume, and volume is king. 

After all, fantasy football is a game of reaping statistical rewards. To record stats, a player must have the ball in their hands, and the more the ball comes a specific player’s way, the more they can rack up production. 

Drafting wide receivers over running backs early in fantasy drafts has become en-vogue in the past few years. Should that be the approach you want to follow, CeeDee Lamb, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Tyreek Hill are chief among fantasy wideouts in their own tier, the elite around whom fantasy managers can feel most confident building their teams.

To illustrate their dominance, let’s look at how this group ranks among all qualified pass catchers (including tight ends and running backs) in receptions and percentage of team air yards share since 2021, per TruMedia:

The only non-highlighted data points on this chart in their neighborhood represent Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders and Stefon Diggs of the Houston Texans. Both of them are north of 30 and are playing with new quarterbacks in 2024; age and lack of continuity are a ding against them, but their names will appear on this list not too long from now.

As for the running backs, each of Hall, Robinson, and McCaffrey occupies a significant featured role in their team’s backfield and possesses strong pass-catching chops, regularly putting them in the ballpark of opportunity for 20 touches per game.

Seeing McCaffrey valued as the RB3 is jarring at first glance, but all things being equal, the likelihood he finds the end zone 21 times again in 2024 is risky. Trying to be in the business of predicting touchdowns can be a fool’s errand, but betting on that high a number is bold, solely based on simple regression odds.

Robinson and Hall are significantly younger, with ample opportunity to match McCaffrey’s work share on the Falcons and Jets, respectively. Each of those three is in an ”elite” tier of its own. They can be considered in any particular order, but these rankings reflect my preferences.

Present ADP doesn’t reflect that these top six players are being picked as the first half-dozen off the board, but that’s where they’re valued in my rankings as the highest volume opportunity and safest assets.

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Tier Two: Stable Lineup Stalwarts

7. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

8. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

9. A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

10. Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets

11. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions

12. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

13. Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons

14. Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

15. Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

While not as dominant as the elite bunch in Tier 1, this next group has a solid chance to be high-ceiling contributors. They are likely to be dependable, consistent occupants of weekly starting lineups.

Except for Drake London, each of these receivers listed occupied at least a 33 percent air yards share on their respective teams last year and ranks within the top 10 of targets earned in the past two seasons, per Stathead.

With the substantial upgrade at quarterback in Atlanta, going from Desmond Ridder to Pro Bowl signal-caller Kirk Cousins, London can leap forward to join this group as a dependable WR1 this season.

It’s fair, however, to be concerned about Justin Jefferson playing with QB Sam Darnold all year. But don’t forget how well he performed last year with backups:

• From Week 15 to 18 of the 2023 season, Jefferson averaged 11 targets, 7.5 receptions, and 119 receiving yards per game with quarterback Nick Mullins under center.

As for the running backs, all members of this tier are represented in the group of just 14 backs who recorded at least 15 point-per-reception (PPR) points per game in 2023. According to Stathead, each player also tallied at least 1,100 scrimmage yards last season.

Jahmyr Gibbs specifically stands out among the group as the lone member of a committee backfield. Though he may belong to a timeshare with David Montgomery, he finished eighth among running backs in targets (71) and 12th in scrimmage yards (1,261) last season as a rookie.

Gibbs’ upside as a pass-catcher is substantial and cements his status as an upper-crust fantasy running back. 

One final note on running back receiving upside: Isiah Pacheco jumped from 14 targets as a rookie in 2022 to 49 last season. That boost to an already robust share of the Chiefs’ backfield carries is a wonderfully crafted recipe for fantasy excellence this year.

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Tier Three: High-End Values

16. Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

17. De’Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins

18. Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams

19. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins

20. DJ Moore, WR, Chicago Bears

21. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

22. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals

23. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Here, we reach a group of players who should be considered strong second-round selections that pair nicely with whomever you selected with your first pick.

This tier is tricky because it includes players with solid track records but with a handful of potential question marks, keeping them from being ranked higher.

Let’s use rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. as an example:

• The Cardinals’ offense ranked second-to-last in pass rate over expectation (PROE) in 2023 (-6.5 percent) under first-year offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, per NFELO. Granted, the team was without QB Kyler Murray for much of the season, so we can take some of that with a grain of salt, but it’s a far cry from the high-flying aerial attack of former coach Kliff Kingsbury.
• It’s also worth highlighting that the Cardinals registered the second-highest target rate to tight ends (32 percent) a year ago. Teammate Trey McBride will likely see a high concentration of looks that will take away from Harrison Jr., but only enough to make the first-year wideout a high-end WR2 rather than a bonafide WR1.

Similar things can be said about De’Von Achane:

• Due to a knee injury, he was limited to 11 games as a rookie and, per FantasyData, only occupied a 40.2 percent opportunity share in the Dolphins’ backfield. The Dolphins also signed veteran Raheem Mostert to a contract extension this offseason. He’ll still be around to keep Achane limited to a part-time complementary role.
• Still, the young speedster recorded an absurd 7.8 yards per carry last season, by far the highest among all running backs with at least 100 carries. Achane’s absurd quickness and penchant for making big plays should enable him to overcome his workshare limitations.

This exercise could keep going for a while.

Saquon Barkley is going to a team that historically hasn’t thrown the ball to running backs, but he’s still one of the league’s best players at his position. Kupp and Nacua can potentially cannibalize each other a little bit in the target department, but that didn’t stop the duo from independently ranking within the top 24 of PPR points per game among wideouts in 2023.

So on and so forth… just trust them, okay? You know their names for a reason.

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Tier Four: Enter the Quarterbacks and Tight Ends

24. Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions

25. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

26. Dalton Kincaid, TE, Buffalo Bills

27. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers

28. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills

29. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

30. Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans

31. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts

32. Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens

33. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

34. Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

35. Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

36. James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills

37. Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers

38. Patrick Mahomes II, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

By this point of a draft (roughly the third round), you’ve set your core duo that’ll lead your squad to victory. Now, it’s time to round out your lineup with another running back or wide receiver, or if you’re bold, entertain the idea of taking one of the elite quarterbacks or tight ends.

In more traditional 1-QB redraft formats, modern draft practice says managers shouldn’t start looking at quarterbacks until perhaps the sixth round at the earliest. However, times are changing, and the NFL has several quarterbacks who add a ton of value with their rushing contributions.

Many common scoring formats reward one point per every 25 passing yards and one point per every 10 rushing yards. This matters because a quarterback throwing for 100 yards is precisely the same value as rushing for 40.

This edge gives players like Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Jalen Hurts an extra boost over their counterparts. All three belong to a group of 26 players, including all running backs, who’ve rushed for at least 2,000 yards since 2021.

In that same timeframe, Hurts leads the entire NFL in rushing touchdowns with 38.

Consider adding that “onesie” position advantage to your team; if not, you could do so at tight end instead:

• LaPorta’s 14.1 PPR points per game as a rookie last year ranks first among first-year tight ends in the past decade, per Stathead. The Lions added a noteworthy target to their offense this offseason, and the former Iowa standout should maintain a large share of work in the passing game.
• Kincaid notched the sixth-best rookie tight end season of the last 10 years with 9.39 PPR points per game and stands to elevate himself into a significant role as Allen’s safety blanket following the offseason departure of wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

Those sticking to more conventional roster builds can also feel safe with any of the other position players in this tier. Whatever your approach, these guys should fit your lineup needs.

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Tier Five: Effective Veterans (and Malik Nabers)

39. Amari Cooper, WR, Cleveland Browns

40. Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans

41. DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

42. Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers

43. Stefon Diggs, WR, Houston Texans

44. DK Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks

45. Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

46. Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants

47. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

48. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

49. Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals

50. Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

This is when we get into a collection of players who are either exiting their primes or have obstacles stopping them from being in the upper echelon of their position.

For instance, Cooper, Diggs, and Kelce are all at least 30 years old. Their best seasons are likely behind them, but all three have finished within the top 12 in PPR-scoring at their positions at least once, if not multiple times, in the past several seasons.

Stefon Diggs has the unique challenge of fitting into a Texans offense with incumbent standouts like Nico Collins and Tank Dell. However, all the evidence from the preseason indicates the veteran will beat out Dell for snaps in two wide receiver sets. Diggs should be on the field often enough to ball out, even if he takes a 1B or secondary role to Collins.

The same can be said for Mixon, Jones, and Kamara at running back. Each is 28 or older, which might as well be a person’s mid-50s in running back years, but their ability to shoulder a significant workload is likely to keep them fantasy-relevant in 2024.

• For example, consider that Kamara finished 17th among all running backs in touches (255) last season despite only appearing in 13 games.
• The only other player who appears ahead of him on that list who played in fewer than 16 games is new Packers RB Josh Jacobs, who ranked 13th with 270.

And then… there’s Malik Nabers.

In short, the LSU product is a tremendously talented player, but the generally unhealthy nature of the Giants’ offensive ecosystem will likely hold him back. Until the team can move on from shaky starting QB Daniel Jones and add more defense-threatening weapons to take pressure off Nabers, he’ll likely have some blow-up games here and there, but nothing consistent.

Remember DJ Moore’s early career with the Panthers? Yeah, expect something like that.

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Tier Six: Solid, “Meat & Potatoes” Guys

51. C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans

52. Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams

53. Christian Kirk, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

54. Anthony Richardson, QB, Indianapolis Colts

55. David Montgomery, RB, Detroit Lions

56. Jonathon Brooks, RB, Carolina Panthers

57. Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals

58. Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

59. Diontae Johnson, WR, Carolina Panthers

60. George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

61. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

62. James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals

63. Raheem Mostert, RB, Miami Dolphins

64. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

These players are the types of contributors who have obstacles holding them back from massive production all the time but, on average, will turn in weekly double-digit PPR scores and add to the heartbeat of any quality starting lineup.

Here are some quality examples of the sentiment behind this tier:

• Despite only appearing in 13 games last year due to injury, James Conner ranked third among running backs (min. 100 carries) in rushing yards per game (80), per Stathead. The addition of rookie Trey Benson may cut into some of the veteran’s upside, but he should have a solid role when healthy.
• Kyren Williams averaged a league-leading 95.3 rushing yards per game in 2023. Could he be coach Sean McVay’s workhorse? He’s got more than a puncher’s chance as the incumbent. However, the addition of rookie Blake Corum and playing in an offense that ranked last in target share to running backs (12 percent) in 2023, according to NFELO, puts a potential cap on Williams’ scoring ceiling. He’s acceptable for this range, though.

Perhaps the sneakiest name amongst this group is Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin.

In the past five seasons, the veteran has seen at least 120 targets four times. The departure of offensive coordinator Dave Canales, now the Panthers coach, leads to some concerns about how differently this offense will function. 

Still, that type of volume floor is worth taking a shot on in the middle rounds.

This tier also ends the list of potential high-end QB1s. If you want to gain an advantage with a potential 30+ passing touchdown option like Burrow/Prescott/Stroud, or you want the possible rushing upside of Anthony Richardson, go ahead and take your guy here.

The gap between this quartet and the remaining quarterbacks in terms of possible difference-making ability is sizable. If you don’t have a quarterback and pass on one in this range, you’re probably further ahead, just waiting into the double-digit rounds.

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Closing Thoughts, the Remaining top 100:

From here, you’ve likely picked up on the major themes of how to draft a fantasy football team:

• Bet on volume upside.
• You’re not rewarded with past production, but the past provides a good context for what can happen in the future.
• Any player in a situation with continuity deserves a small bump, and any sort of uncertainty should provide a slight ding.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to building a safe group of players for your starting lineup through the first several rounds. Once you get deep enough, take shots on players in decent situations who have potential paths to transcendent relevance.

What if Jayden Daniels of the Commanders becomes the first rookie quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards? Can the Seahawks’ Kenneth Walker III thrive with new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and post his third-consecutive season with at least 900 rushing yards and eight touchdowns?

All of these things are possible; it’s up to you to decide how much risk you’re willing to take on. If you’ve followed the general thought process and draft strategy to this point, you’ll likely be fine on draft day.

And with that, here’s the remainder of the top 100 rankings:

65. Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens

66. Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders

67. Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks

68. Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears

69. D’Andre Swift, RB, Chicago Bears

70. Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders

71. Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots

72. Aaron Jones, RB, Minnesota Vikings

73. Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens

74. Tank Dell, WR, Houston Texans

75. Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers

76. Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

77. Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders

78. Evan Engram, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars

79. Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans

80. Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers

81. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks

82. George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers

83. Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions

84. Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears

85. Jaylen Warren, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

86. Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

87. Austin Ekeler, RB, Washington Commanders

88. Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers

89. Calvin Ridley, WR, Tennessee Titans

90. Keenan Allen, WR, Chicago Bears

91. Devin Singletary, RB, New York Giants

92. Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota Vikings

93. David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns

94. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys

95. Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons

96. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins

97. Jake Ferguson, TE, Dallas Cowboys

98. Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos

99. Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders

100. De’Andre Hopkins, WR, Tennessee Titans