Football Analysis

Green Bay remains a popular playoff pick, and for good reason. Getting Jordy Nelson back and adding Jared Cook helps address the deficient passing attack of 2015. The defense should be better, provided the key figures stay healthy. Read more »

The 49ers are in the second year of a massive overhaul of a team that rose to be consistent NFC contenders just three short years ago. No team has lesser skill position talent, and it's not really close. Read more »

The tier system is easily the best way to organize your draft board. Use ours for every position to win your Fantasy Football draft. Read more »

The Broncos' recipe for success is clear: the offense only has to be competent enough to not lose games for what appear to be a top-5 defense once again. Even with average QB play, this team should return to at least the AFC Championship Game. Read more »

The Jets are a team close enough to tantalize as a serious threat but far enough away to need another offseason to get there. The schedule is not in their favor and health will play a big role due to a lack of depth. Read more »

For the lack of national love and attention they get, this is a strikingly solid team. The playoff win drought stands a fair chance of ending after 25 years, though it's something we find ourselves always saying. Read more »

If the Chargers' offensive line can stay healthy along with Melvin Gordon just playing with confidence and letting the game come to him, he could breakout with over 1,000 yards rushing. Read more »

Tyrod Taylor should build upon his outstanding debut season, and his starting weapons are very impressive, but they've also lost a number of expected starters due to injury. The Bills may have unfortunately peaked last season. Read more »

This is almost unquestionably the most improved team in the AFC... on paper. If Blake Bortles can protect the ball and all those impressive weapons stay healthy, the offense here is good enough to outscore most opponents, plus the defense has improved. Read more »

The Cowboys' offensive triplets are incredibly skilled and benefit from playing with the NFL's best line, but they also have a defense that will give up a lot more points than last season. Read more »

There are two cogs here that are very impressive, the running game and the defensive front four. But they have a difficult schedule and an offense line that will do no favors for Jared Goff or Case Keenum. Read more »

There is a fair share of talent here, even without retired wideout Calvin Johnson. But there are too many questions not to be pessimistic. Read more »

To be used in conjunction with the position tier rankings, here's the top 150 players overall (both standard and PPR rankings). Read more »

Contrary to what some fantasy analysts will tell you, a top level defense/special teams unit can be worth a late mid-level draft pick. But not every season has those teams. Read more »

For the past few years and into the foreseeable future, Rob Gronkowski sits alone in tier 1. From there, Jordan Reed and Greg Olsen provide the next level of value, followed by another solid, talented group in tier 3. Read more »

While the Manning/Beckham pairing has been fantastic, it hasn't led to wins. The running game must improve, and someone else must step up to balance the reliance on Beckham in the passing game. Read more »

While the WR position has good depth, make sure to get at least one WR from the top 3 tiers, with two from the group earning you a high draft grade. Read more »

The RB position continues to become more uncertain. Looking at tier 1, you have a 31-year-old, a player one year removed from a torn ACL, a rookie yet to play an NFL down, an RB with 581 career rushing yards, and a player who moved to a new team this offseason. Read more »

The cold reality is this Indianapolis team will need a great deal of luck to even match last year's eight wins. There are a scant few players on this roster in their prime years, seasons 4-8 of their careers. Read more »

Cam Newton will likely be the top quarterback for most prognosticators but any of the six QBs in tier 1 could finish the season No. 1. The best strategy is patience at this position. Read more »