With the NFL season around the corner, that means right now is draft season. And the first step in Tunnel Vision Sports draft preparation is a tiered positional ranking.

Why a tiered list and not an ordered big board? Tiered lists can actually be more useful, allowing personal preference and situation to decide within tiers rather than feeling locked in on a number. There is no order within a tier, players are listed alphabetically by team. A tiered list can be especially useful when comparing players across positions, and to recognize where the drop-off in talent is at each position. 

What do the tiers actually mean? While it's not definitive and there are some slight shifts across different positions, a rough translation of tiers looks something like this:

Tier 1:

The elite of the position, more than likely to finish at the top.

Tier 2:

Just an eyelash below the top tier, no one would be surprised if one of these guys finished at the top of the position.

Tier 3:

Often guys that were top-tier or on their to being there, or just consistently solid. This is where the breakout surprises start, and even if you don't hit the lottery with one here, they're solid second and third pieces to a fantasy lineup.

Tier 4:

Production and consistency have started to drop off, but these guys can still be solid pieces to round out the middle of a roster.

Tier 5:

These guys aren't going to help you week in and week out. Whether it's because they're inconsistent or because it's unclear when they'll be on the field, don't count on a full season of decent output. But play them the right week and they'll reward you with those Ws.

Tier 6:

You don't want to have to rely on these guys, but you'll need them to round out your roster. Situational plays or low floor high ceiling guys that will boom or bust all season. 

QBs

Tier 1

Josh Allen Buf
Patrick Mahomes KC

There should really be no surprise here. Last season's points leader Allen and Mahomes the perennial QB1 sit atop the signal-callers list, and both are likely to be gone by the third round.

Tier 2

Kyler Murray Ari
Lamar Jackson Bal
Justin Herbert LAC
Aaron Rodgers GB
Russell Wilson Sea

A pair of consistent veterans in Rodgers and Wilson, matched with a couple of youngsters set to break out in Murray and Herbert and rounded out with a former league MVP Jackson, the second tier looks pretty good. Jackson's struggles throwing the ball when behind is really the only thing that keeps him out of the top tier.

Tier 3

Dak Prescott Dal
Jalen Hurts Phi
Tom Brady TB
Ryan Tannehill Ten

Dak was on a wild pace to start last season before going down with the ankle injury, and it doesn't look like we'll get the chance to see him in the preseason. Hurts' sample size is just a little bigger than the recovering Dak, but he closed out last season as a productive fantasy QB, and his weapons have only improved.

Tier 4

Justin Fields Chi
Joe Burrow Cin
Matt Stafford LAR
Jameis Winston NO

Depending on when he gets the starting job, Fields could have a big impact on the fantasy season from what he's done in a small preseason sample. And if Winston is named starter in New Orleans like he should be, we could see another roller coaster season of league-leading touchdowns and interceptions.

Tier 5

Matt Ryan Atl
Baker Mayfield Cle
Derek Carr LV
Tua Tagovailoa Mia
Kirk Cousins Min
Daniel Jones NYG
Trey Lance SF

Another rookie who is set to make an impact, Lance isn't likely to get the start as soon as Fields is, but when he does, he'll have better weapons and protection than Fields. Lance could be a draft-and-stash candidate if you're worried someone else will end up with him off waivers or in free agency. No one else in this tier is going to win you your matchup week-to-week, but they're all good matchup plays during the season.

Tier 6

Sam Darnold Car
Jared Goff Det
Carson Wentz Ind
Trevor Lawrence Jax
Cam Newton NE
Zach Wilson NEJ
Ben Roethlisberger Pit
Ryan Fitzpatrick Was

No one wants to depend on any of these guys, and for good reason. If he can somehow get and stay healthy, Wentz has shown MVP-caliber play in the past. But he's also looked like the worst QB in the league at times.

RBs

Tier 1

Christian McCaffrey Car
Alvin Kamara NO
Derrick Henry Ten

The return from injury is really the only reason CMC isn't in a tier of his own. When healthy he was hands down the top fantasy back, but it's unclear exactly how much he'll be used in the new Carolina offense.

Tier 2

Nick Chubb Cle
Aaron Jones GB
Jonathan Taylor Ind
Dalvin Cook Min

All four backs in the second tier could easily be moved up a notch heading forward with a top finish from any of them.

Tier 3

Joe Mixon Cin
Ezekiel Elliot Dal
Clyde Edwards-Helaire KC
Saquon Barkley NYG
Najee Harris Pit
Antonio Gibson Was

Health questions surround the two biggest names in the group with Elliot and Barkley, both of whom used to be seen at the top of most fantasy drafts. CEH was a predraft darling last year, but his production didn't quite match the first-round pick many used on him. Regardless, he's still the main back in an explosive KC offense and should be able to produce week to week.

Tier 4

J.K. Dobbins Bal
David Montgomery Chi
D'Andre Swift Det
Austin Ekeler LAC
Darrell Henderson LAR
Miles Sanders Phi
Chris Carson Sea

Some breakout possibilities here in Tier 4. Henderson has huge upside with Cam Akers out for the season in Los Angeles. Sanders gets a full season of Jalen Hurts starting at quarterback, something that made him a top back in the final games last season. And Chris Carson looks to be getting the nod as the lead back as Seattle slowly moves away from running-back-by-committee.

Tier 5

Mike Davis Atl
Chase Edmonds Ari
Kareem Hunt Cle
Javonte Williams Den
James Robinson Jax
Travis Etienne Jax
Josh Jacobs LV
Myles Gaskins Mia
Damien Harris NE
Michael Carter NYJ
Tre Sermon SF

Things start getting a little messy here with depth charts still unclear in camp. In Jacksonville, Robinson looks to be the starter after his breakout season last year, but they used a first-round pick on Etienne, so he's sure to see the field. If Sermon gets to see the field in San Francisco he'll be a difference maker.

Tier 6

James Conner Ari
Gus Edwards Bal
Zack Moss Buf
Devin Singletary Buf
Tony Pollard Dal
Melvin Gordon III Den
AJ Dillon GB
David Johnson Hou
Nyheim Hines Ind
Kenyan Drake LV
Latavius Murray NO
Raheem Mostert SF
Ronald Jones II TB

You're not going to build your weekly roster around these guys but finding the right one for the right situation is important. Someone like Pollard won't score every week, but with Zeke's inability to stay on the field, there's a couple weeks in the season where he can make the difference.

WRs

Tier 1

Stefon Diggs Buf
Davante Adams GB
Tyreek Hill KC

Diggs has a year of familiarity with his QB, Adams has his back for what might be the last dance and Hill gets to run around in the secondary until his QB has an opening to flick it downfield to him.

Tier 2

DeAndre Hopkins Ari
D.K. Metcalf Sea
AJ Brown Ten

Metcalf and Brown could be on the verge of huge seasons, and Hopkins has a year in the Arizona offense to be comfortable and possibly return to top-3 status.

Tier 3

Calvin Ridley Atl
Allen Robinson II Chi
Keenan Allen LAC
Justin Jefferson Min
Terry McLaurin Was

It will be interesting to see what happens with Ridley's production now that Julio Jones is in Tennessee. He'll be the focus, but defenses will have to pay attention to rookie TE Kyle Pitts too. Jefferson took a couple weeks to get comfortable in the Minnesota offense last season, but after things started clicking in week 3, he was a big piece for those that were patient enough to sit him or lucky enough to get him off waivers.

Tier 4

DJ Moore Car
Ja'Marr Chase Cin
Amari Cooper Dal
CeeDee Lamb Dal
Tyler Lockett Sea
Chris Godwin TB
Mike Evans TB
Diontae Johnson Pit

It's unclear who will end up being the top pass catcher in Dallas and Tampa Bay. Cooper and Lamb in Dallas have the question of Dak's health hanging over them. Godwin and Evans have a QB in Tampa that tends to spread the wealth among his receiving corps, and there are plenty of other weapons for the Super Bowl champs as well.

Tier 5

Odell Beckham Jr. Cle
Tee Higgins Cin
Courtland Sutton Den
Cooper Kupp LAR
Robert Woods LAR
Adam Thielen Min
Michael Thomas NO
Chase Claypool Pit
JuJu Smith-Schuster Pit
Brandon Aiyuk SF
Julio Jones Ten

Two big names stand out in this group, and health is a question for both. Can Odell come back healthy and finally gel with this Cleveland offense? And when will Thomas be ready to get on the field in New Orleans.

Tier 6

Robby Anderson Car
Darnell Mooney Chi
Jarvis Landry Cle
Michael Gallup Dal
Jerry Jeudy Den
Brandin Cooks Hou
T.Y. Hilton Ind
Laviska Shenault Jr. Jax
Marvin Jones Jr. Jax
D.J. Chark Jr. Jax
Will Fuller V Mia
Kenny Golladay NYG
Corey Davis NYJ
Jalen Reagor Phi
DeVonta Smith Phi
Deebo Samuel SF
Antonio Brown TB
Curtis Samuel Was

Jeudy and Reagor could be set for big production increases in their second year. Reagor's rookie teamate Smith's big play ability made him a Heisman winner and first-round pick, and if it translates to the field as a rookie he can make a dent on the right week.

TEs

Tier 1

Travis Kelce KC
George Kittle SF

There's really no debate as to the top two TEs in the game right now. Kelce has a few less questions surrounding his offense in KC than Kittle has in SF.

Tier 2

Kyle Pitts Atl
Mark Andrews Bal
Darren Waller LV

Pitts is the reason Atlanta was so comfortable letting go of Julio Jones, and he looks like a matchup nightmare for defenses. Andrews is Lamar Jackson's most consistent target in Baltimore, and Waller has continued to grow and emerge as a top-end TE in Las Vegas.

Tier 3

Noah Fant Den
T.J. Hockensen Det
Tyler Higbee LAR
Jonnu Smith NE

More than any other position, TE starts to thin out quick. Hockensen has the ability, but hasn't been able to put it out on the field consistently.

Tier 4

Robert Tonyan GB
Irv Smith Jr. Min
Dallas Goedert Phi
Logan Thomas Was

Tier 5

Mike Gesicki Mia
Adam Trautman NO
Rob Gronkowski TB

Tier 6

Cole Kmet Chi
Austin Hooper Cle
Blake Jarwin Dal
Evan Engram NYG
Gerald Everett Sea