Categorical Tiers 2025
Last Updated July 27, 2025
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
Lamar Jackson
Joe Burrow
Jayden Daniels
Top 10 Potential
Patrick Mahomes
Caleb Williams
C.J. Stroud
Justin Herbert
Brock Purdy
Baker Mayfield
Unsexy But Reliable
Dak Prescott
Jordan Love
Matthew Stafford
Jared Goff
Tua Tagovailoa
Rushing Upside (aka Konami Code)
Justin Fields
Kyler Murray
Drake Maye
Bo Nix
Anthony Richardson
Breakout Potential
J.J. McCarthy
Michael Penix
Trevor Lawrence
Cam Ward
Fantasy Backups
Geno Smith
Sam Darnold
Bryce Young
Jaxson Dart
Nominal Starters
Tyler Shough
Aaron Rodgers
Russell Wilson
Daniel Jones
Joe Flacco
Draftable NFL Backups
Jalen Milroe
Kirk Cousins
Shedeur Sanders
Dillon Gabriel
Spencer Rattler
Mac Jones
Mitch Trubisky
Mason Rudolph
Malik Willis
Joe Milton
Jameis Winston
Andy Dalton
Jimmy Garoppolo
Hendon Hooker
Gardner Minshew
Riley Leonard
Jake Browning
RBS
True Studs
Bijan Robinson
Jahmyr Gibbs
Saquon Barkley
Christian McCaffrey
Derrick Henry
Jonathan Taylor
De’Von Achane
Top 12 Potential
Ashton Jeanty
Breece Hall
Kyren Williams
Josh Jacobs
Alvin Kamara
James Cook
Chase Brown
Kenneth Walker
Reliable RB2
Bucky Irving
Chuba Hubbard
Joe Mixon
James Conner
David Montgomery
Aaron Jones
D’Andre Swift
Aging Stars
Tony Pollard
Austin Ekeler
Kareem Hunt
J.K. Dobbins
Devin Singletary
Nick Chubb
High Upside Stashes
Trey Benson
Isaac Guerendo
Jordan Mason
Blake Corum
Tyler Allgeier
Marshawn Lloyd
Roschon Johnson
Braelon Allen
Jonathon Brooks
Top Rookies
Omarion Hampton
Quinshon Judkins
TreVeyon Henderson
RJ Harvey
Kaleb Johnson
Cam Skattebo
Bhayshul Tuten
Late Round Rookies
Dylan Sampson
Tahj Brooks
Jaydon Blue
Woody Marks
Trevor Etienne
Jarquez Hunter
Jordan James
DJ Giddens
Ollie Gordon
Brashard Smith
Devin Neal
LeQuint Allen
Kyle Monangai
Pass Catchers
Tyrone Tracy
Jaylen Warren
Rachaad White
Will Shipley
Justice Hill
Dylan Laube
Timeshare Leaders
Isiah Pacheco
Brian Robinson
Travis Etienne
Najee Harris
Rhamondre Stevenson
Javonte Williams
Back End of Timeshare
Zach Charbonnet
Tank Bigsby
Ray Davis
Tyjae Spears
Jaylen Wright
Eli Mitchell
Miles Sanders
Rico Dowdle
Zack Moss
Jerome Ford
Audric Estime
Dameon Pierce
Kendre Miller
A.J. Dillon
WRS
Alpha Dogs
Ja’Marr Chase
Justin Jefferson
Puka Nacua
Malik Nabers
CeeDee Lamb
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Nico Collins
Drake London
Brian Thomas, Jr.
Ladd McConkey
Top 12 Potential
A.J. Brown
Garrett Wilson
Rashee Rice
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Tee Higgins
Chris Godwin
Terry McLaurin
Slight Step Down
Jaylen Waddle
DJ Moore
Chris Olave
Zay Flowers
DeVonta Smith
DK Metcalf
Xavier Worthy
Brandon Aiyuk
George Pickens
Aging Stars
Davante Adams
Mike Evans
Tyreek Hill
Deebo Samuel
Stefon Diggs
Calvin Ridley
Cooper Kupp
Adam Thielen
Keenan Allen
Reliable WR3
Jordan Addison
Courtland Sutton
Michael Pittman
Jauan Jennings
Jerry Jeudy
Jakobi Meyers
Deep Threats
Jameson Williams
Rashid Shaheed
Marvin Mims
Alec Pierce
Christian Watson
Darius Slayton
Breakout Potential
Marvin Harrison, Jr.
Rome Odunze
Ricky Pearsall
Keon Coleman
Cedric Tillman
Xavier Legette
Jalen Coker
A.D. Mitchell
Roman Wilson
Troy Franklin
Malachi Corley
Top Rookies
Travis Hunter
Tetairoa McMillan
Emeka Egbuka
Jayden Higgins
Luther Burden
Matthew Golden
Tre Harris
Jack Bech
Second Tier Rookies
Kyle Williams
Pat Bryant
Jaylin Noel
Jalen Royals
Elic Ayomanor
Isaac TeSlaa
Dont’e Thornton
Xavier Restrepo
Tory Horton
Ricky White III
Slot Receivers
Jayden Reed
Khalil Shakir
Josh Downs
Wan’Dale Robinson
Demario Douglas
DeVaughn Vele
Christian Kirk
Fantasy Backups
Rashod Bateman
Quentin Johnston
Romeo Doubs
Darnell Mooney
Jalen McMillan
Dontayvion Wicks
Roster Fillers
Joshua Palmer
Diontae Johnson
Michael Wilson
Allen Lazard
Jermaine Burton
Andrei Iosivas
Tyler Lockett
TES
True Studs
Brock Bowers
George Kittle
Trey McBride
Sam LaPorta
High End Starters
Travis Kelce
Mark Andrews
TJ Hockenson
”Fine” (Low End) Starters
David Njoku
Jake Ferguson
Evan Engram
Dallas Goedert
Reliable but Uninspiring
Zach Ertz
Isaiah Likely
Cade Otton
Hunter Henry
Pat Freiermuth
Breakout Potential
Tyler Warren
Colston Loveland
Kyle Pitts
Brenton Strange
Dalton Kincaid
Backups
Dalton Schultz
Ja’Tavion Sanders
Cole Kmet
Juwan Johnson
Dawson Knox
Theo Johnson
Wild Cards
Tucker Kraft
Mike Gesicki
Chig Okonkwo
Jonnu Smith
Rookies
Terrance Ferguson
Mason Taylor
Elijah Arroyo
Harold Fannin
Gunnar Helm