Categorical Tiers 2026
Last Updated July 16, 2026
At Hail Mary Football, we do everything in our power to get you to think beyond traditional rankings, as linear rankings do not account for huge gaps in player talent from one ranking to the next, and they fail to adequately account for your team’s roster construction. On this site, we encourage your to think about players by placing them in certain buckets of similar players - what we call “categorical tiers.” What types of players will best help you fill out your roster? Do you want to make sure to get an elite starter at tight end? A rookie running back with a clear path to playing time? A slot wide receiver for safe PPR points? Keep this list with you when you draft so that you’ll know when the “run” is about to end on certain tiers. (For more in-depth analysis, click the “Draft Kit” link at the top left of this page.)
*Players in each category listed in HMF order of preference, but the categories themselves are not listed in any particular order. This page is NOT updated once the regular season starts.
QBS
QB Studs
Josh Allen
Jalen Hurts
Joe Burrow
Jayden Daniels
Lamar Jackson
Top 10 Potential
Drake Maye
Justin Herbert
Dak Prescott
Jaxson Dart
Caleb Williams
Unsexy But Reliable
Matthew Stafford
Brock Purdy
Baker Mayfield
Patrick Mahomes
Jared Goff
Rushing Upside (aka Konami Code)
Kyler Murray
Malik Willis
Bo Nix
Trevor Lawrence
Daniel Jones
Breakout Potential
Tyler Shough
Cam Ward
Fernando Mendoza
Ty Simpson
Cade Klubnik
Fantasy Backups
Jordan Love
CJ Stroud
Sam Darnold
Bryce Young
Geno Smith
Aaron Rodgers
Nominal Starters
Jacoby Brissett
Tua Tagovailoa
Deshaun Watson
Kirk Cousins
Draftable NFL Backups
Mac Jones
Anthony Richardson
Justin Fields
Shedeur Sanders
Jameis Winston
Andy Dalton
Joe Flacco
Michael Penix
Jalen Milroe
Carson Beck
Drew Allar
Gardner Minshew
J.J. McCarthy
RBS
True Studs
Bijan Robinson
Jahmyr Gibbs
Christian McCaffrey
Jonathan Taylor
James Cook
Top 12 Potential
Omarion Hampton
Jeremiyah Love
Ashton Jeanty
Breece Hall
Chase Brown
De’Von Achane
Josh Jacobs
Reliable RB2
Kyren Williams
Travis Etienne
Javonte Williams
Quinshon Judkins
Kenneth Walker
David Montgomery
Cam Skattebo
D’Andre Swift
Aging Stars
Derrick Henry
Saquon Barkley
Aaron Jones
Tony Pollard
Alvin Kamara
James Conner
Breakout Potential
TreVeyon Henderson
Jadarian Price
Bhayshul Tuten
Jonathon Brooks
Late Round Rookies
Nicholas Singleton
Emmett Johnson
Jonah Coleman
Demond Claiborne
Mike Washington
Adam Randall
Kaelon Black
Kaytron Allen
Pass Catchers
Jaylen Warren
R.J. Harvey
Rachaad White
Kenneth Gainwell
Tyrone Tracy
Woody Marks
Eli Heidenreich
Trevor Etienne
Timeshare Leaders
Bucky Irving
Zach Charbonnet
Rhamondre Stevenson
Rico Dowdle
J.K. Dobbins
Chuba Hubbard
Bill Croskey-Merritt
Back End of Timeshare
Blake Corum
Chris Rodriguez
Jordan Mason
Kyle Monangai
Kimani Vidal
Tyjae Spears
Isiah Pacheco
Tyler Allgeier
Trey Benson
Sean Tucker
Next Man Up
Brian Robinson
Tank Bigsby
D.J. Giddens
Jordan James
Jaydon Blue
Ray Davis
Dylan Sampson
Tahj Brooks
Marshawn Lloyd
Keaton Mitchell
Braelon Allen
Kaleb Johnson
Emanuel Wilson
WRS
Alpha Dogs
Ja’Marr Chase
Puka Nacua
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Justin Jefferson
CeeDee Lamb
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Malik Nabers
Top 12 Potential
Luther Burden
Chris Olave
Nico Collins
Drake London
Garrett Wilson
Tetairoa McMillan
George Pickens
Rashee Rice
Slight Step Down
Tee Higgins
Emeka Egbuka
Ladd McConkey
A.J. Brown
Christian Watson
Terry McLaurin
Zay Flowers
Jaylen Waddle
Aging Stars
Davante Adams
Mike Evans
D.J. Moore
D.K. Metcalf
Courtland Sutton
Chris Godwin
Calvin Ridley
Deebo Samuel
Keenan Allen
Brandon Aiyuk
Jerry Jeudy
Reliable WR3
Jameson Williams
Michael Pittman
DeVonta Smith
Jordan Addison
Jakobi Meyers
Deep Threats
Alec Pierce
Rashid Shaheed
Xavier Worthy
Romeo Doubs
Tory Horton
Dontayvion Wicks
Post-Hype Sleepers
Brian Thomas Jr.
Marvin Harrison Jr.
Rome Odunze
Ricky Pearsall
Tre Harris
Jayden Higgins
Matthew Golden
Top Rookies
Makai Lemon
Carnell Tate
Jordyn Tyson
KC Concepcion
Omar Cooper
Denzel Boston
Second Tier Rookies
De’Zhaun Stribling
Zachariah Branch
Elijah Sarratt
Skyler Bell
Malachi Fields
Antonio Williams
Chris Brazzell
Brenen Thompson
Chris Bell
Kevin Coleman
Colbie Young
Slot Receivers
Parker Washington
Wan’Dale Robinson
Khalil Shakir
Jayden Reed
Tank Dell
Josh Downs
Jalen McMillan
Jaylin Noel
Malik Washington
Christian Kirk
Fantasy Backups
Quentin Johnston
Michael Wilson
Jalen Nailor
Jalen Coker
Isaac TeSlaa
Chimere Dike
Roster Fillers
Jalen Tolbert
Ryan Flournoy
Jack Bech
Jauan Jennings
Savion Williams
Tre Tucker
Elic Ayomanor
Adonai Mitchell
Rashod Bateman
Kyle Williams
Josh Palmer
Keon Coleman
TES
True Studs
Brock Bowers
Trey McBride
Colston Loveland
Tyler Warren
High End Starters
Sam LaPorta
George Kittle
Travis Kelce
Tucker Kraft
Harold Fannin
”Fine” (Low End) Starters
Dalton Kincaid
Jake Ferguson
Mark Andrews
Dallas Goedert
Kyle Pitts
Reliable but Uninspiring
Evan Engram
Hunter Henry
Dalton Schultz
T.J. Hockenson
Breakout Potential
Terrance Ferguson
Brenton Strange
Gunnar Helm
Chig Okonkwo
Backups
Mike Gesicki
Juwan Johnson
Cade Otton
Pat Freiermuth
Tommy Tremble
Wild Cards
David Njoku
Isaiah Likely
Greg Dulcich
Elijah Arroyo
Ben Sinnott
Rookies
Kenyon Sadiq
Eli Stowers
Eli Raridon
Tanner Koziol