It’s that time of year again – time to start building out the first version of my redraft player rankings. Over the years of doing this, I have found a process that works for me, and it starts with tiering out each of my position groups.

Draft RB Rankings Tiers

I find cutoffs at different positions to be a major backbone of my drafting strategy. Knowing when a position goes from acceptable starters to backup gambles is vital. I start this process with the most important position to tier out: running back.

The only caveat I have here is that these names are listed within their tiers in no particular order.

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RB Rankings Tier 1: Smash the Draft Button

Players: Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson

These are the two clearest bets to be league-winning running backs this year. Both are big-play, pass-catching running backs in their prime with multiple top-three finishes at the position already under their belts.

Right now, they are my No. 1 and No. 2 overall players this season.

RB Rankings Tier 2: Overall RB1 Potential

Players: Christian McCaffrey, Jonathan Taylor

This next small tier consists of the other two running backs, I think, who have the potential to finish as the highest-scoring running back this season.

Injury history holds both back from the tier above, as does age for McCaffrey and quarterback questions for Taylor.

RB Rankings Tier 3: True RB1

Players: James Cook, Kenneth Walker, Ashton Jeanty, De’Von Achane, Saquon Barkley, Chase Brown, Derrick Henry, Breece Hall

This is a big group. These backs are strong bets to round out the top 12 at the position.

It is very much a pick-your-flavor tier. You have the reliable veterans in Barkley, Cook and Henry; the explosive threats in less-than-ideal situations in Achane and Hall; the solid backs in great situations in Brown and Walker; and, finally, the rising star in Ashton Jeanty.

This group is all about selecting the archetype you prefer, with all of them possessing high ceilings from both a volume and talent standpoint.

RB Rankings Tier 4: Sky-High Ceiling With Something to Prove

Players: Omarion Hampton, Jeremiyah Love, Bucky Irving, Josh Jacobs

Here we have some backs with all the talent and potential of those above them, but with notable question marks that bring them down a tier.

This is the group I could most easily see moving in one direction or another as we get more information and get closer to the season.

Hampton is the most enticing player in the group. If the high-end play he showed last year continues and he clearly owns his backfield, then he is ranked far too low on this list.

Love’s concerns are entirely situation-based, with a crowded backfield and what appears to be a rough quarterback room. However, his best-case outcome is the definition of sky-high.

Irving has both injury concerns and backfield ambiguity, with Kenneth Gainwell and Sean Tucker likely to earn touches.

Jacobs is the player who will move up or down this list most firmly based on his legal situation, which should hopefully gain clarity before most drafts.

RB Rankings Tier 5: True RB1 Potential

Players: Kyren Williams, Travis Etienne, Javonte Williams, TreVeyon Henderson, David Montgomery

These are the final backs I feel comfortable taking as my top running back. All of them should either dominate touches in their backfield or be explosive enough to score major fantasy points.

This is my major tier cutoff.

If I am going running back-heavy, I want at least two backs from this tier or above because after this point, we enter clear question-mark territory.

RB Rankings Tier 6: Best Bets to Win a Committee

Players: RJ Harvey, Cam Skattebo, Bhayshul Tuten, D’Andre Swift, Quinshon Judkins, Tony Pollard, Jadarian Price, Chuba Hubbard

This is the highest tier of backs who are in clear-cut committees.

All are the most likely players to lead their respective groups in snaps, and each has obvious contingency value if their backfield partner gets injured. However, you are certainly paying for that upside with their current draft cost.

In these ambiguous backfields, it is sometimes better to target the cheaper option.

RB Rankings Tier 7: True Committee or Specialized Roles

Players: Rhamondre Stevenson, Kenneth Gainwell, Rico Dowdle, Kyle Monangai, Blake Corum, J.K. Dobbins, Rachaad White, Jordan Mason, Aaron Jones, Tyrone Tracy, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Chris Rodriguez Jr., Woody Marks, Tyler Allgeier, Zach Charbonnet, Alvin Kamara, Tyjae Spears, Isiah Pacheco

This tier is full of players who will earn snaps and possibly even split their backfields 50-50, but lack ceiling because of the other backs on their teams.

This is gambling territory right now, but with a group this large, there is plenty of time for circumstances to change and players to move up or down the tier list.

RB Rankings Tier 8: Handcuff

Players: Keaton Mitchell, Kimani Vidal, MarShawn Lloyd, Kaelon Black

This tier consists of pure handcuff backs. They are worth adding to the back end of rosters because of their massive contingency value, but they are not players you can count on.

Each of these backs would likely see significant volume if the player ahead of them missed time.

Either Mitchell or Vidal will probably move down this list once we learn more about how the new Chargers’ offensive staff views them.

RB Rankings Tier 9: Favored Sleepers

Players: Jonathon Brooks, Kaytron Allen, Demond Claiborne, Dylan Sampson

These are the players I am trying to add in deeper leagues.

All have the potential to outperform their current value significantly. I view each of these backs as a stash candidate, hoping they continue to earn additional playing time as the season progresses.

RB Rankings Tier 10: Everyone Else

Players: Everyone Else

At this point, I think the value at running back has run out, and it is better to spend your draft capital elsewhere.

You had better hope you’ve filled the position on your roster by now.

Jay Green is a contributor to Optimus Fantasy Football. Find more from Jay on Bluesky and on Optimus Fantasy.