Fantasy football isn't just a game — it's a war of wits, and every fantasy manager knows the battlefield is shaped by how you value each position. While every player on your roster is valuable, not all positions on your fantasy football cheat sheet are equal; some positions are absolute game-changers. Being patient and locking in the right spots can mean the difference between dominating your league or getting left in the dust.
In this ultimate primer for fantasy football positions explained, we're diving deep into the true value of each position across all league formats. We'll show you how to make smart, strategic decisions when compiling custom fantasy football rankings that give your roster a competitive edge. You'll discover which positions deserve top draft capital, which ones can be mined for hidden gems later on, and how to craft a draft strategy that keeps your team balanced, powerful, and successful.
Ready to build a championship squad? Let's go position-by-position and chart your path to glory with these fantasy football position tiers.
Running Back (RB): The Workhorse of Fantasy Football
Running backs may not be quite as valuable in fantasy football as they once were, but there is no doubt RBs are still the workhorses of fantasy football. This status is why RBs are the top players in fantasy football rankings.
There are fantasy managers who try to go with a zero RB approach by selecting low-cost starters and/or backup RBs, but those managers need to closely monitor the latest fantasy football news in order to keep from losing too much RB scoring ground.
Wide Receiver (WR): Big Playmakers, Big Points
Wide receivers may take a back seat to RBs in standard leagues, but their fantasy football auction values are as high or higher than RBs in PPR leagues. Wide receiver value is also prioritized in many leagues because of the starting roster layout. For example, certain leagues require three starting wide receivers and only two starting running backs.
Quarterback (QB): The Command Center of Your Team
It used to be that fantasy managers would wait as long as possible to select a starting quarterback. That is becoming rarer these days because of the volume of high-scoring field generals. This means finding an impact quarterback must be a priority. The deep-dive quarterback reviews available in the RotoWire fantasy football draft kit will greatly enhance your statistical research.
Tight End (TE): Sleeper Potential and Scoring Gaps
The tight end position is a tough one for many fantasy team-builders. This position has finally developed some quality upper-end depth, yet the upside here is still lower than can be found at similarly priced players on draft day. That's why many fantasy managers look for sleepers at this position group. These shrewd managers also use RotoWire, which offers the best draft assistant fantasy football package to properly gauge upper-tier TE talent and find the top return on draft day investment options.
Defense/Special Teams (D/ST): Upsides & Risks
The D/ST position can be one of the most difficult draft-day decisions a fantasy manager makes. The issue is no matter how talented a D/ST is, that platoon will generally not fare very well when it has a tough matchup. That's why many fantasy managers find a bulk starter on draft day and spot start D/STs based on matchups in the other weeks.
Kicker (K): To Stream or Not to Stream
Most fantasy football platforms that still use the kicker position require teams to draft at least one player at this position. Managers often decide to drop the kicker when that team needs a roster spot and then go with whatever fill-in kicker is available via waivers or free agency (a strategy known as streaming).
How to Prioritize Positions During Your Draft
Most fantasy managers will select RBs or WRs with their top three draft picks and then pick their starting quarterback. Getting your player position priorities settled before draft day is key, as it will put you ahead of the curve versus those managers who just wing it. You can lock these priorities down by using the RotoWire Mock Draft Simulator that lets you go through unlimited practice drafts.
Fantasy Football Position Breakdown: Final Tips
A balanced fantasy roster includes strong starters, quality backups and a plan for handling bye weeks and injuries. You can get best-in-class caliber roster-building help by subscribing to RotoWire. Here you will find every tool noted above plus many more. It's a draft day and in-season edge that you can't get anywhere else, so be sure to subscribe today!
