If you aren't familiar with this new game mode on DraftKings called ‘Tiers’, all you have to do is select one player from each basket of players. For the NFL, the first two tiers are filled with just quarterbacks, but the last six tiers are filled with running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends mixed together.
Typically, they are the highest scoring players, so it's not necessary to know the difference between a low-end TE2 and the Jets' WR3 for example. Instead, the key is to make close decisions on the studs, like choosing between Michael Thomas and DeAndre Hopkins. Just like in the other DraftKings' game modes like 'Classic' and the single game slates, you can enter 'Tiers' tournaments, 50/50s, Head-to-Heads, and more. This column will help you build your own lineups for each type of contest.
Expect updates to the rankings until lock, but feel free to reach out to me on Twitter (@HaydenWinks) if you have questions about the game mode or about this slate.
Tournament Rankings
The ‘Salary’ is pulled from the DraftKings’ Classic player salaries. The ‘Winks’ rankings come from myself (@HaydenWinks), while the ‘Daugherty’ rankings come from the one and only Patrick Daugherty (@RotoPat), who is the author of Rotoworld’s weekly Rankings column. His rankings aren’t directly built with DraftKings Tiers in mind, but they are a great tool in finding value and eliminating some players from consideration. The 'Hribar' comes directly from Rich Hribar's (@LordReebs) weekly Worksheet column.
| Tier 1 | Opp | FPPG | Salary | Winks | Daugherty | Hribar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cam Newton | @TB | 24.1 | 6600 | 1 | QB2 | Trust |
| Jared Goff | @DET | 25.4 | 6400 | 2 | QB3 | Trust |
| Russell Wilson | SF | 20.0 | 6300 | 3 | QB9 | Trust |
| Aaron Rodgers | ARI | 21.2 | 6200 | Stack Only | QB8 | On the Cusp |
| Tom Brady | MIN | 19.4 | 5800 | Fade | QB17 | Bust |
| Tier 2 | Opp | FPPG | Salary | Winks | Daugherty | Hribar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Luck | @JAX | 24.3 | 5800 | 1 | QB4 | Trust |
| Ben Roethlisberger | LAC | 25.8 | 6000 | 2 | QB6 | Trust |
| Jameis Winston | CAR | 20.9 | 6000 | 3 | QB5 | Trust |
| Deshaun Watson | CLE | 21.8 | 6100 | 4 | QB11 | On the Cusp |
| Lamar Jackson | @ATL | 6.32 | 5900 | 5 | QB10 | On the Cusp |
| Kirk Cousins | @NE | 22.3 | 5500 | 6 | QB12 | Trust |
| Baker Mayfield | @HOU | 18.5 | 5600 | Fade | QB18 | On the Cusp |
| Philip Rivers | @PIT | 21.6 | 5700 | Stack Only | QB13 | On the Cusp |
| Tier 3 | Opp | FPPG | Salary | Winks | Daugherty | Hribar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Todd Gurley | @DET | 28.5 | 9300 | 1 | RB1 | Trust |
| Christian McCaffrey | @TB | 25.3 | 8800 | 2 | RB3 | Trust |
| Tyreek Hill | @OAK | 24.3 | 9100 | 3 | WR1 | Trust |
| Adam Thielen | @NE | 25.9 | 8000 | 4 | WR3 | Trust |
| Tier 4 | Opp | FPPG | Salary | Winks | Daugherty | Hribar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kareem Hunt | @OAK | 21.5 | 7800 | 1 | RB2 | Trust |
| Saquon Barkley | CHI | 27.1 | 7900 | 2 | RB5 | Trust |
| DeAndre Hopkins | CLE | 21.2 | 8200 | 3 | WR4 | On the Cusp |
| Antonio Brown | LAC | 21.2 | 7900 | 4 | WR2 | On the Cusp |
| Mike Evans | CAR | 20.2 | 8100 | 5 | WR9 | On the Cusp |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | LAC | 20.7 | 7500 | Stack Only | WR12 | On the Cusp |
| Tier 5 | Opp | FPPG | Salary | Winks | Daugherty | Hribar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davante Adams | ARI | 22.8 | 7900 | 1 | WR7 | Trust |
| Julio Jones | BAL | 23.2 | 7700 | 2 | WR5 | On the Cusp |
| Odell Beckham | CHI | 20.7 | 7800 | 3 | WR11 | On the Cusp |
| Keenan Allen | @PIT | 17.3 | 7200 | 4 | WR14 | Trust |
| James Conner | LAC | 23.8 | 7300 | 5 | RB8 | On the Cusp |
| Stefon Diggs | @NE | 21.3 | 7600 | 6 | WR15 | Trust |
| David Johnson | @GB | 16.8 | 7400 | Fade | RB13 | On the Cusp |
| Tier 6 | Opp | FPPG | Salary | Winks | Daugherty | Hribar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Jones | ARI | 15.5 | 6700 | 1 | RB6 | Trust |
| Julian Edelman | MIN | 17.9 | 7100 | 2 | WR18 | Trust |
| Brandin Cooks | @DET | 18.0 | 7000 | 3 | WR8 | Trust |
| Travis Kelce | @OAK | 19.3 | 7000 | 4 | TE1 | Trust |
| Robert Woods | @DET | 17.6 | 6900 | 5 | WR10 | On the Cusp |
| Nick Chubb | @HOU | 12.6 | 7000 | 6 | RB9 | On the Cusp |
| Joe Mixon | @CIN | 18.0 | 7300 | 7 | RB10 | On the Cusp |
| Leonard Fournette | SUSP | 17.7 | 7200 | SUSP | SUSP | SUSP |
| Tier 7 | Opp | FPPG | Salary | Winks | Daugherty | Hribar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenny Golladay | LAR | 15.3 | 6700 | 1 | WR13 | Trust |
| Emmanuel Sanders | @CIN | 18.3 | 6300 | 2 | WR17 | On the Cusp |
| Matt Breida | @SEA | 13.2 | 5800 | 3 | RB12 | Trust |
| T.Y. Hilton | @JAX | 17.9 | 6000 | 4 | WR16 | On the Cusp |
| Dalvin Cook | @NE | 10.5 | 6200 | 5 | RB23 | On the Cusp |
| Tyler Boyd | DEN | 17.5 | 6100 | 6 | WR25 | On the Cusp |
| James White | MIN | 19.5 | 6500 | 7 | RB25 | Bust |
| Sony Michel | MIN | 13.4 | 6100 | 8 | RB19 | Bust |
| Tier 8 | Opp | FPPG | Salary | Winks | Daugherty | Hribar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phillip Lindsay | @CIN | 15.3 | 5400 | 1 | RB11 | Trust |
| Tyler Lockett | SF | 15.0 | 5800 | 2 | WR21 | On the Cusp |
| D.J. Moore | @TB | 10.9 | 5600 | 3 | WR22 | On the Cusp |
| Josh Gordon | MIN | 12.5 | 5900 | 4 | WR23 | On the Cusp |
| Corey Davis | NYJ | 13.4 | 5500 | 5 | WR24 | On the Cusp |
| Tarik Cohen | @NYG | 14.8 | 5600 | 6 | RB26 | On the Cusp |
| Gus Edwards | @ATL | 7.57 | 4800 | 7 | RB15 | On the Cusp |
| LeSean McCoy | @MIA | 10.2 | 4900 | 8 | RB27 | On the Cusp |
Implied Team Totals and Game Stacks
For full game-by-game breakdowns, read Evan Silva’s Matchups column and Rich Hribar’s Worksheet column. John Daigle also posts two columns per week dissecting targets and touches, which are obviously important in all decisions.
1. Chiefs (35.25 points at OAK)
Players: Tyreek Hill (3) + Kareem Hunt (4) + Travis Kelce (6)
Run It Back Options: None.
Favorite Tournament Stack: Kareem Hunt (4) + Travis Kelce (6)
2. Rams (32.25 points at DET)
Players: Jared Goff (1) + Todd Gurley (3) + Brandin Cooks or Robert Woods (6)
Run It Back Options: Kenny Golladay (7)
Favorite Tournament Stack: Jared Goff (1) + Brandin Cooks (6) + Kenny Golladay (7)
3. Panthers (29.75 points at TB)
Players: Cam Newton (1) + Christian McCaffrey (3) + D.J. Moore (8)
Run It Back Options: Jameis Winston (2) + Mike Evans (4)
Favorite Tournament Stack: Cam Newton (1) + Mike Evans (4) + D.J. Moore (8)
4. Packers (29.5 points vs. ARI)
Players: Aaron Rodgers (1) + Davante Adams (5) + Aaron Jones (6)
Run It Back Options: David Johnson (5)
Favorite Tournament Stack: Davante Adams (5) + Aaron Jones (6)
5. Seahawks (28 points vs. SF)
Players: Russell Wilson (1) + Tyler Lockett (8)
Run It Back Options: Matt Breida (7)
Favorite Tournament Stack: Tyler Lockett (8)
6. Steelers (27.75 points vs. LAC)
Players: Ben Roethlisberger (2) + Antonio Brown or JuJu Smith-Schuster (4) + James Conner (5)
Run It Back Options: Phillip Rivers (2) + Keenan Allen (5)
Favorite Tournament Stack: Ben Roethlisberger (2) + Antonio Brown (4) + Keenan Allen (5)
7. Patriots (27.25 points vs. MIN)
Players: Tom Brady (1) + Julian Edelman (6) + Sony Michel or James White (7) + Josh Gordon (8)
Run It Back Options: Kirk Cousins (2) + Adam Thielen (3) + Stefon Diggs (5) + Dalvin Cook (7)
Favorite Tournament Stack: None.
8. Texans (27 points vs. CLE)
Players: Deshaun Watson (2) + DeAndre Hopkins (4)
Run It Back Options: Baker Mayfield (2) + Nick Chubb (6)
Favorite Tournament Stack: Deshaun Watson (2) + DeAndre Hopkins (4)
9. Buccaneers (26.26 points vs. CAR)
Players: Jameis Winston (1) + Mike Evans (4) + DeSean Jackson (8)
Run It Back Options: Cam Newton (1) + Christian McCaffrey (3) + D.J. Moore (8)
Favorite Tournament Stack: Cam Newton (1) + D.J. Moore (8)
10. Colts (25.75 points at JAC)
Players: Andrew Luck (2) + T.Y. Hilton (7)
Run It Back Options: Leonard Fournette (6) - Suspended
Favorite Tournament Stack: Andrew Luck (2) + T.Y. Hilton (7)
11. Falcons (25 points vs. BAL)
Players: Julio Jones (5)
Run It Back Options: Lamar Jackson (2) + Gus Edwards (8)
Favorite Tournament Stack: Lamar Jackson (2)
12. Chargers (24.25 points at PIT)
Players: Philip Rivers (2) + Keenan Allen (5)
Run It Back Options: Ben Roethlisberger (2) + Antonio Brown or JuJu Smith-Schuster (4) + James Conner (5)
Favorite Tournament Stack: Ben Roethlisberger (2) + Antonio Brown (4) + Keenan Allen (5)
13. Ravens (24 points at ATL)
Players: Lamar Jackson (2) + Gus Edwards (8)
Run It Back Options: Julio Jones (5)
Favorite Tournament Stack: Lamar Jackson (2)
Injury Notes: Gus Edwards is questionable.
14. Titans (24 points vs. NYJ)
Players: Corey Davis (7)
Run It Back Options: None.
Favorite Tournament Stack: Corey Davis (7)
15. Broncos (23.5 points at CIN)
Players: Emmanuel Sanders (7) + Phillip Lindsay (8)
Run It Back Options: Joe Mixon (6) + Tyler Boyd (7)
Favorite Tournament Stack: Emmanuel Sanders (7) + Phillip Lindsay (8)
Injury Notes: Emmanuel Sanders was added to the injury report on Thursday.
16. Lions (22 points vs. LAR)
Players: Kenny Golladay (7)
Run It Back Options: Jared Goff (1) + Todd Gurley (3) + Brandin Cooks or Robert Woods (6)
Favorite Tournament Stack: Jared Goff (1) + Brandin Cooks (6) + Kenny Golladay (7)
17. Jaguars (21.75 points at BUF)
Players: Leonard Fournette (6) - Suspended
Run It Back Options: Andrew Luck (2) + T.Y. Hilton (7)
Favorite Tournament Stack: Andrew Luck (2) + T.Y. Hilton (7)
18. Vikings (21.25 points at NE)
Players: Kirk Cousins (2) + Adam Thielen (3) + Stefon Diggs (5) + Dalvin Cook (7)
Run It Back Options: Tom Brady (1) + Julian Edelman (6) + Sony Michel or James White (7) + Josh Gordon (8)
Favorite Tournament Stack: None.
19. Browns (21 points at HOU)
Players: Baker Mayfield (2) + Nick Chubb (6)
Run It Back Options: Deshaun Watson (2) + DeAndre Hopkins (4)
Favorite Tournament Stack: Deshaun Watson (2) + DeAndre Hopkins (4)
20. Bengals (19 points vs. DEN)
Players: Joe Mixon (6) + Tyler Boyd (7)
Run It Back Options: Emmanuel Sanders (7) + Phillip Lindsay (8)
Favorite Tournament Stack: Emmanuel Sanders (7) + Phillip Lindsay (8)
21. 49ers (18 points at SEA)
Players: Matt Breida (7)
Run It Back Options: Russell Wilson (1) + Tyler Lockett (8)
Favorite Tournament Stack: Russell Wilson (1) + Tyler Lockett (8)
22. Bills (17.75 points at MIA)
Players: LeSean McCoy (8)
Run It Back Options: None.
Favorite Tournament Stack: None.
23. Cardinals (15 points at GB)
Players: David Johnson (5)
Run It Back Options: Aaron Rodgers (1) + Davante Adams (5) + Aaron Jones (6)
Favorite Tournament Stack: Davante Adams (5) + Aaron Jones (6)
Cash Game Considerations
There are 3,010,560 different ways to build a Tiers roster this week. These cash game considerations will help you narrow down your options for H2Hs, 50/50s, and Double Ups.
Tier 1
1. Cam Newton (@ TB)
2. Jared Goff (@ DET)
Tier 2
1. Andrew Luck (@ JAX)
2. Ben Roethlisberger (vs. LAC)
Tier 3
1. Todd Gurley (@ DET)
2. Christian McCaffrey (@ TB)
3. Tyreek Hill (@ OAK)
4. Adam Thielen (@ NE)
Tier 4
1. Kareem Hunt (@ OAK)
2. Saquon Barkley (vs. CHI)
3. Antonio Brown (vs. LAC)
4. DeAndre Hopkins (vs. CLE)
Tier 5
1. Davante Adams (vs. ARI)
2. Julio Jones (vs. BAL)
2. Odell Beckham (vs. CHI)
3. Keenan Allen (@ PIT)
Tier 6
1. Aaron Jones (vs. ARI)
2. Julian Edelman (vs. MIN)
3. Travis Kelce (@ OAK)
Tier 7
1. Kenny Golladay (vs. LAR)
2. Emmanuel Sanders (@ CIN) if he practices on Friday
3. Matt Breida (@ SEA)
Tier 8
1. Phillip Lindsay (@ CIN)
2. Tyler Lockett (vs. SF)
3. D.J. Moore (@ TB)
4. Josh Gordon (vs. MIN)
5. Corey Davis (vs. NYJ)