Fantasy Football Late-Round RB Sleepers
Running backs remain the most important players in a fantasy football lineup. Targeting fantasy football late-round RB sleepers is an excellent strategy for attacking that all-important depth. Along with identifying 2022’s deep sleepers and fantasy football breakouts, loading up on
Along with identifying 2022’s deep sleepers and fantasy football breakouts, loading up on late-round RB sleepers can make all the difference between drafting a contender and a championship-winning roster.
Using FFWC high-stakes ADP, here are the late-round RB sleepers to draft in 2022.
Rhamondre Stevenson (New England Patriots) ADP 94 (RB36) – Subscribing to the caveat of never trusting Bill Belichick, Rhamondre Stevenson has been one of the camp standouts. The sophomore running back has been taking first-team reps and has stood out as a receiver. Meanwhile, James White has no timetable for a return, freeing up those valuable targets for Stevenson. NBC’s Peter King thinks Stevenson will wrestle away RB1 duties from Damien Harris by mid-season. Harris is in the final year of his rookie deal and Belichick isn’t one to pay lucrative extensions when he has a cheaper replacement in-house. In the seven games last season that Stevenson got double-digit carries, he averaged 12.3 PPR points per game. Stevenson’s ADP is already on the rise but he’s still a solid value in the 9th round.
Who else is on Jody’s late-round RB sleepers list?
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NFL Training Camp Update
The calendar now reads August and the excitement about the 2022 fantasy football season is palpable. The preseason is right around the corner which means it’s time for an NFL training camp update. Our training camp battles to watch for both the AFC and NFC are a good starting point for staying up-to-date on crucial news. It’s also important to keep an eye on those 2022 fantasy football deep sleepers this summer. Here are the fantasy-relevant training camp update notes for fantasy football fans to be aware of this week. Ezekiel Elliott to be Focus Cowboys owner Jerry Jones came out this week insisting that Ezekiel Elliott would be the focal point of the team’s run game in 2022. He added there was “room for [Tony] Pollard” but clearly he wants this coaching staff to get his money’s worth out of Elliott. We could see heavy usage from him this season now that he’s fully healthy. Travis Etienne Turning Heads According to John Shipley of Sports Illustrated, the young back has been the offensive star for the Jaguars thus far and is living up to his billing. After missing his rookie campaign with a foot injury, Etienne looks primed to explode this season. If we keep hearing reports like this his ADP is going to skyrocket. If these reports are accurate he’s probably worth paying up for. Etienne was also a topic on the latest FullTime Fantasy Podcast with our own Jody Smith and reigning FantasyPro’s No. 1 draft ranker Billy Muzio. Tyler Allgeier Could Win Starting Gig According to The Athletic’s Josh Kendall, Tyler Allgeier has a strong chance of winning the starting running back job in Atlanta. He just has to show in camp what he showed in college. If this is true it significantly increases his value and hurts Cordarrelle Patterson’s value. More importantly, dynasty owners need to take notice because his long-term value looks solid. J.K. Dobbins Not Practicing Coming off a torn ACL last preseason, Dobbins has been asking to get on the practice field. However, the Ravens aren’t willing to take that risk just yet. The hope is that Baltimore is just being overly cautious with their potential young star. The fact that he wants to practice is a good sign that he’ll be ready to go in Week 1. For now, Gus Edwards continues to look like a solid late-round investment. Editor’s Note: John Harbaugh indicated that Gus Edwards is already questionable for Week 1 and appears to be behind Dobbins in rehab. That’s better news for Dobbins, who indicated he feels great. The club also signed Corey Clement, so the prudent thing to do here might be to simply avoid this backfield altogether. Isaiah McKenzie Winning Slot Receiver Role With Jamison Crowder sidelined with soreness, Isaiah McKenzie has gotten a chance to start in the slot at camp. According to the Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia, he’s been a “standout” every day at camp. It appears Gabriel Davis is locked in as the WR2 and McKenzie has a shot to steal Crowder’s job and replace Cole Beasley in the Bills’ passing attack. A role we’ve seen has a ton of value for fantasy owners. Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold Splitting First-Team Reps This is unreasonably dumb to me because there is nothing that can convince me Baker won’t be the starter in Carolina Week 1. However, I do have to acknowledge that this is allegedly an open competition and fantasy owners need to consider the possibility that Darnold could win the job when drafting any players in the Panthers’ offense. John Metchie III Expected to Miss 2022 After Leukemia Diagnosis In sad news, Texans’ rookie wideout John Metchie is expected to miss the entire season after being diagnosed with leukemia. The good news is that it is treatable and he does plan to resume his NFL career once he recovers. There is even an outside he plays this year. More importantly, however, is that he gets healthy first. Our thoughts are with Metchie. Raiders to Deploy Committee Backfield? Early buzz out of Vegas is that the new regime will look to use a full-blown committee out of the backfield. Josh McDaniels who came over from New England is likely to deploy the same fantasy nightmare at running back that he did with the Pats. This is terrible news for Josh Jacobs’ fantasy value. Between this news and the team already declining his option for next season, the writing is on the wall for him to be a bust this year. Editor’s Note: If the first preseason game is an indicator, Jacobs still has a firm grasp of lead-back duties. Jacobs got a ton of touches in that game versus the Jags. Ameer Abdullah also managed to score. We’ll keep an eye on this but might boost Jacobs a spot or two. Allen Robinson Wows The Rams coaches haven’t stopped gushing about Allen Robinson since camp started. There have been nothing but overly positive reviews. His downfall appears to have been vastly overstated and the team believes he is in line for a massive bounce-back season. I expect his ADP to continue to climb this summer. Those glory days of Robinson’s ADP being in the 40s are long gone. Miami’s Passing Attack Clicking All reports out of Miami have been positive in regards to the Dolphins’ new and anticipated to be improved passing attack. This was highlighted by a 65-yard touchdown catch by Tyreek Hill that traveled about 55 yards through the air on a rope and hit him in stride. QB Tua Tagovailoa has looked good while Hill and Jaylen Waddle have looked uncoverable. There is a chance a lot of players in the Dolphins’ offense outperform their ADP if camp translates into regular-season games. Mac Jones Has Shown “Dramatic” Improvement According to head coach Bill Belichick, second-year quarterback Mac Jones has improved significantly from last season. This is fantastic news for the entire Patriots’ offense, especially the receiving options. Jones is still little more
2022 Fantasy Strength of Schedule: QB
The 2022 quarterback group seems as deep as ever. This will lead to a lot of waiting to address the most important position. FullTime Fantasy’s 2022 Fantasy Strength of Schedule: QB tools can help give you a significant edge on draft day. Strength of schedule is an important tool in the arsenal of well-prepared fantasy football drafters. By knowing what players have easier schedules you’ll be able to make the hard decisions between multiple starters. It can be particularly useful in best ball, where the fantasy playoff slate is crucial. Here is the 2022 fantasy strength of schedule for QBs, with analysis on how it will impact fantasy football this season. Charts show average fantasy points allowed to QBs in 2021 Easiest QB Schedule Daniel Jones (New York Giants) – 2022 is a pivotal year for Jones. New York’s new regime declined the embattled signal caller’s option so he’s set to enter free agency next spring. If Jones is ever going to make it, now is the time. In addition to a solid supporting cast, the Giants have the league’s easiest schedule for a quarterback. Of course, Jones has not proven he can stay healthy, nor has he been a consistent NFL or fantasy option. New York’s porous offense line also doesn’t build confidence. Still. Jones has plus rushing ability and some fantasy upside but his value should be restricted to mediocre QB2 in Superflex formats. Jones and the Giants also boast the league’s easiest QB schedule in the playoff Weeks 14-17 for those of you in best-ball leagues. Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars) – Undoubtedly, Lawrence’s rookie campaign was a huge disappointment, which will make a lot of drafters avoid the sophomore signal caller. A lot of those first-year struggles can be attributed to the disastrous decision to hire Urban Meyer. With Meyer exiled and Doug Pederson now in town, Lawrence and the revamped Jaguars’ offense are looking up. Jacksonville spent big bringing in Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, and Evan Engram. While we can’t project a rejuvenated Lawrence to compete for QB1 numbers, there’s enough potential there that we’re interested in him as a weekly streamer or solid QB2. Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles) – The Eagles and most of the fantasy world are all in on Hurts. In terms of pure fantasy points per game, Hurst was a top-10 option in 2021 and things should only get better in 2022. In addition to the shocking draft-day trade for A.J. Brown, Hurts also gets the third-easiest QB schedule. The slate looks particularly appealing down the stretch as the Eagles only face one team that ranked in the top-10 a year ago after the club’s Week 7 bye. There are still some experts skeptical of Hurts, but 2022 sets up to be a top-5 overall season. Russell Wilson (Denver Broncos) – Wilson was s top-5 fantasy quarterback in both 2019 and 2020 before missing four games in 2021. Now, he finds himself on a contending roster with a deep and talented supporting cast and elite offensive line. Additionally, Wilson should feast off of a schedule ranked 4th for quarterbacks and 5th in the playoffs (14-17). Wilson has worked all offseason with his new wideouts, who have a ton of potential. Jerry Jeudy is an elite route runner, while Courtland Sutton has the tools to excel outside. Regularly drafted outside of the top-10 in early ADP, Wilson looks poised to rebound in a big way. Jameis Winston (New Orleans Saints) – There are major red flags on Winston as a viable quarterback. Despite the nifty 14-3 TD-to-INT ratio in 2021, Winston had the lowest fantasy points per game number of his career. He also was held under 200 passing yards in five of his seven starts. Nine of those 13 TD tosses came in two games. Not to mention, Winston is also recovering from a torn ACL. Losing Sean Payton is also a major concern, but the Saints do have some intriguing weapons. Michael Thomas is back running routes and the addition of Jarvis Landry and first-round rookie Chris Olave gives New Orleans a deep and talented receiving corps. A top-5 schedule also awaits Winston, but fantasy drafters would be wise to approach with extreme caution. Most Difficult Schedules Zach Wilson (New York Jets) – No truth to the rumors that Wilson spent the offseason hiding out from Steve Stifler, but he remains a polarizing prospect. Accuracy was a big concern in Year One and will need to improve in a hurry for Wison’s career to stay (get) on track. Fortunately, there is some good news. The Jets have compiled some intriguing young skill position talent to surround Wilson. Elijah Moore is a favorite of the community and the 2022 NFL Draft brought even more reinforcements. The Jets nabbed Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall, but they’ll need Wilson to play far better. Unfortunately, that may be difficult in 2022 as Wilson faces the league’s toughest QB schedule. Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) – Clearly we’re not fading Lamar Jackson this year. He’s simply got too much upside. However, it will be interesting to see how the muscle Jackson reportedly added this offseason affects his game. 2022 is also a contract season for Jackson, who is poised to command the highest quarterback contract in the NFL next year. Overall, the Ravens have the second most difficult schedule for their quarterbacks. In addition to six games against the tough AFC North foes, Jackson will face seven opponents that allowed 17 or fewer fantasy points to the position last season. Jackson is an obvious QB1 but being wary of a tough schedule might help undecided fantasy managers choose between Jackson or players with an easier slate. Like Russell Wilson, Jalen Hurts, or even Tom Brady. Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) – Speaking of elite passers with a tough slate, Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid will have to revamp the Kanas City offense without Tyreek Hill. Mahomes should be fine the schedule is another reason to be wary. Mahomes is expected to be more of a dink-and-dunk passer in 2022. The Chiefs also have a
2022 Fantasy Football Stacks
2022 Fantasy Football Stacks: Ranking all 32 Teams The draft season is here, so it’s time to look at the top 2022 fantasy football stacks by ranking all 32 teams in 2022. Stacking, or pairing multiple players from one NFL
The draft season is here, so it’s time to look at the top 2022 fantasy football stacks by ranking all 32 teams in 2022. Stacking, or pairing multiple players from one NFL team, has become all the rage in fantasy football. Especially in best-ball leagues.
It’s not a strategy without risk, but loading up on the top offensive teams can lead to high-scoring rosters. But not all teams should necessarily be stacked and many have non-traditional QB/WR1 pairings.
For those looking to stack teams this season, here are the rankings for all NFL teams. I’ve included each quarterback with their top-3 fantasy options per FFWC high-stakes advanced ADP. I also included a contingency, late-round pick from each squad, as some stacks will be extremely hard to accomplish in standard 12-team drafts.
Elite Fantasy Football Stacks
Los Angeles Chargers
| QB | ADP | PLAYER 1 | ADP | PLAYER 2 | ADP | PLAYER 3 | ADP | CONTINGENCY PICK | ADP |
| Justin Herbert | 62.2 | Austin Ekeler (RB) | 5.8 | Keenan Allen (WR) | 23.8 | Mike Williams (WR) | 33 | Josh Palmer (WR) | 139.6 |
The Chargers are loaded with phenomenal young talent, so much so that it would be difficult to build a QB-RB-WR stack, but not impossible. Austin Ekeler would have to be nabbed in Round One, while Keenan Allen is usually selected late in the 2nd. If you miss out on Allen, Mike Williams is a good consolation prize. In FFWC high-stakes drafts, Justin Herbert is currently QB2, so be prepared to take him early. WR3 Josh Palmer could be a sleeper to top 60 grabs and Gerald Everett is poised to be a late-round gem.
Cincinnati Bengals
| QB | ADP | PLAYER 1 | ADP | PLAYER 2 | ADP | PLAYER 3 | ADP | CONTINGENCY PICK | ADP |
| Joe Burrow | 104.3 | Ja’Marr Chase (WR) | 5.5 | Joe Mixon (RB) | 14 | Tee Higgins (WR) | 23.5 | Tyler Boyd (WR) | 104.9 |
No issues ranking the Bengals ahead of the Chargers. Both rosters are loaded with elite young playmakers. Only a lucky break or two with a late draft slot would allow fantasy managers to start Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Mixon. More likely, a Mixon/Tee Higgins stack would be more feasible. Tyler Boyd might be the top WR3 in the league. Another name to remember is TE Hayden Hurst, who was a top-10 fantasy starter in 2020.
Buffalo Bills
| QB | ADP | PLAYER 1 | ADP | PLAYER 2 | ADP | PLAYER 3 | ADP | CONTINGENCY PICK | ADP |
| Josh Allen | 40.2 | Stefon Diggs (WR) | 11.2 | Gabriel Davis (WR) | 53.2 | Devin Singletary (RB) | 84.4 | James Cook (RB) | 96.3 |
A Josh Allen/Stefon Diggs stack is going to win plenty of leagues in 2022. Of course, building it means committing an early draft pick on Allen and potentially bypassing running backs. Interestingly, Buffalo themselves have an excellent dead-zone RB sleeper in Devin Singletary. It won’t be easy to secure both Buffalo backs but an Allen/Diggs/Singletary stack would be money. Gabriel Davis also works as the WR2 if you miss out on Diggs, and slot man Jamison Crowder is a significant upgrade over Cole Beasley. Also, the Bills enter this season as the Super Bowl favorites and have a roster loaded with fantasy football stacking potential. Load up early and often.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| QB | ADP | PLAYER 1 | ADP | PLAYER 2 | ADP | PLAYER 3 | ADP | CONTINGENCY PICK | ADP |
| Tom Brady | 109.6 | Mike Evans (WR) | 15.3 | Leonard Fournette (RB) | 19.9 | Russell Gage (WR) | 62.5 | Chris Godwin (WR) | 63.7 |
Even with Chris Godwin looking very iffy, the Bucs still offer No. 1 overall upside. Tampa ran the third-most snaps per game in 2021 and should be fine with Byron Leftwich calling plays. Tom Brady to Mike Evans has resulted in 27 combined TDs since 2020. If Godwin misses time, as expected, that duo should once again be among the league leaders. Leonard Fournette was a league-winner last season but was allowed to test free agency and reportedly adhered to the Eddie Lacy offseason conditioning plan. That and the presence of Rachaad White makes Fournette somewhat risky. Tampa signed Russell Gage to a 3-year, $30 million deal for a reason. Gage is going to be heavily involved and makes for a terrific stack with Brady for fantasy managers who miss out on Evans. Keep an eye on the starting tight end battle in camp. Tight Ends Kyle Rudolph, Cameron Brate, and rookie Cade Otton offer a ton of late-round upside.
Los Angeles Rams
| QB | ADP | PLAYER 1 | ADP | PLAYER 2 | ADP | PLAYER 3 | ADP | CONTINGENCY PICK | ADP |
| Matthew Stafford | 128.5 | Cooper Kupp (WR) | 3.5 | Cam Akers (RB) | 40.6 | Allen Robinson (WR) | 45.2 | Tyler Higbee (TE) | 177.1 |
The defending champions have the potential to be better in 2022 after signing Allen Robinson. Anyone who paired Matthew Stafford with Cooper Kupp last season knows the benefits of loading up on Sean McVay-led squads. Robinson’s ADP has slowly crept up but he’ll be a popular stack with Stafford. I have expressed my reservations about Cam Akers and remain convinced McVay is going to use more of a committee backfield than he showed in the postseason. Moreover, LA had the league’s top pass-blocking line last season per PFF and is among the early favorites. With the and mostly back together, the Rams remain a good team to invest in.
Potential League Winners
WHAT OTHER Fantasy Football Stacks should you target?
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2022 Fantasy Football Breakouts
Finding each season’s deep sleepers is one of the favorite activities for fantasy football fans. Identifying 2022 fantasy football breakouts can also lead to a championship-caliber roster. Breakouts are the players with opportunity or other factors that can lead to
Here are some players that have the potential to break out in 2022.
Tua Tagovailoa (QB) Miami Dolphins
This one is a no-brainer. The Dolphins drastically improved their offensive line this offseason, most notably adding elite tackle Terron Armstead and guard Connor Williams. If the line gels, it will make all the difference in the world after being the worst line in the NFL last season. On top of that, they also added Tyreek Hill and Cedrick Wilson at wide receiver. With elite weapons like Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Mike Gesicki, and an improved line a monumental improvement from Tua seems inevitable. Perhaps more important than all of that is Mike McDaniels implanting his system that looked so great in San Francisco.
Trevor Lawrence (QB) Jacksonville Jaguars
Despite a miserable rookie season, I still believe in Lawrence’s talent. I like him enough to put him on this list over the likes of Trey Lance and Justin Fields. While I don’t love anything the Jags did this offseason in terms of it bringing any sort of long-term success to the organization in real life, the situation has improved for Lawrence’s fantasy outlook. The team invested in the offense haphazardly, but still improved the line while adding weapons like Christian Kirk and Evan Engram. While those aren’t world-beaters, it’s better than what he was working with last season. The addition of the next guy on this list may be the biggest benefit of them all though.
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2022 Fantasy Football Deep Sleepers
Editor’s Introduction: Mark Morales Smith has an eye for talent. He identified Antonio Gibson with Jamaal Charles ability when literally nobody was talking about him in early 2020. He’s a draft scout in his spare time and he sat down
There is no set definition for what a ‘sleeper’ is but when you see one, you know it. As a general rule, a sleeper is defined as a late-round or unheralded player that outperforms their ADP. Training camps and preseason might not have started but fantasy football draft fervor certainly has. And with it, there is plenty of interest in finding out the 2022 fantasy football deep sleepers to target.
Here are some of those players currently being targeted in double-digit rounds who look like solid deep sleepers to prioritize in the latter rounds.
Tua Tagovailoa (QB) Miami Dolphins
With Tua, we are still trying to figure out if he’s the issue in Miami or if subpar weapons and the worst offensive line in football are the issues. Many advanced stats seem to point to the latter with the offensive line being the biggest culprit , Tua has been an above-average quarterback in the rare instance he’s had a clean pocket to throw from. His lack of deep attempts can also be equated to the terrible line and a system that forces him to throw quick passes to negate the onslaught of pressure.
This offseason the Dolphins have addressed these issues by adding an elite wideout in Tyreek Hill and one of the best tackles in the game in Terron Armstead among other offensive line additions. We know Hill is going to be elite, however, we still have to see the offensive line gel. But on paper, they should be much improved.
The combination of Hill and Jaylen Waddle should be deadly for an accurate quarterback like Tua. In a Mike McDaniel system, they should get the ball in space often and do most of the heavy lifting for Tua. Many people seem to ignore that Hill, even with Mahomes, received the bulk of his yards last season from screens, crosses, and dump-offs. Even moreso than his new teammate Jaylen Waddle. I would go as far as to say that I anticipate Cedrick Wilson and Mike Gesicki to average more air yards this season and be utilized as the primary deep threats. Wilson on the outside and Gesicki down the seam.
If McDaniel is what we believe he will be coming from San Francisco, the offensive system should be much improved. That alone should improve the offensive line and rushing attack. Which in turn should make Tua’s life much easier and open things up for him. We will see this year who he really is and my bet is he’s a better player than we’ve seen so far in Miami.
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NFC Training Camp Battles to Watch
One step outside tells you the summer is here. Along with the rising temperatures, the NFL rumor mill is heating up. Before we know it, the preseason will begin. But before it does, we need to know what NFC training
Not every NFC squad has a battle that is noteworthy, but every team does have something fantasy-relevant that football fans should monitor.
In addition to our committee backfield article, here are battles for all 16 NFC teams that fantasy enthusiasts should keep an eye on this summer. Also, check out our AFC Training Camp Battles to Watch.
Arizona Cardinals – The looming six-game suspension for WR DeAndre Hopkins will lead to a big void in targets. If Rondale Moore moves inside full-time, as expected, he should have a huge role. Christian Kirk’s big 2021 showing came via the sixth-highest slot rate in this league. RB James Conner also has a rather checkered injury history, so if Darrel Williams wins the club’s RB2 job, he has significant value if Conner misses games again.
Atlanta Falcons – Atlanta arguably has the league’s thinnest roster. That lack of depth and talent certainly extends to the receiving corps. The Falcons’ 193 vacated targets at wide receiver is the fifth-most in football. Drake London and TE Kyle Pitts should be locks for 120-plus looks but the rest of the depth chart is wide open. Also, monitor the backfield. Cordarrelle Patterson will open the season…
WHAT OTHER NFC TRAINING CAMP BATTLES SHOULD FOOTBALL FANS WATCH?
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Fantasy Football News & Notes
It might only be the beginning of summer but there are plenty of fantasy football news & notes brewing. Staying up-to-date on these happenings is an important part of being prepared. Our customizable 2022 fantasy football rankings are constantly being updated as news breaks on and off the field. The FullTime Fantasy Podcast is also an integral part of the process. Here are some of the current NFL happening that the well-informed fantasy football fan should be aware of this week. 2022 Fantasy Football Rankings Update Our initial rankings have been published for a while but part of maintaining solid projections is constant updates. Be assured that this is part of the process, as the FullTime staff is in constant communication and working together to present the most accurate rankings available anywhere. Here are some of the big movers in our projections from early July and other fantasy-relevant news & notes. Quarterbacks Baker Mayfield (Carolina Panthers) – The Panthers sent a conditional fifth-round pick to Cleveland for the disgruntled former starter. This is a great deal all around for both squads, but especially for Carolina. Mayfield now comes in as our QB16 while Sam Darnold has been relegated back to anonymity. Mayfield is a significant upgrade for all of Carolina’s receivers. Especially Rashard Higgins, who had a solid rapport with Baker in Cleveland. D.J Moore is now right outside WR1 territory. Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) – We’ve been 2-3 spots higher on Prescott than the general consensus. Prescott had his best season as a passer in 2021 and finished as the overall No. 7 QB. That production came with his worst showing on the ground- running for a career-low 146 yards and one score. A year removed from surgery and reportedly in the best shape of his life, Prescott should contend for top-5 fantasy numbers. Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns) – It is almost certain that Watson will be suspended for a minimum of one year, so he’s been removed from our projections. Jacoby Brissett is now Cleveland’s presumptive starter but that’s a downgrade for most of the Browns’ pass catchers. Jameis Winston (New Orleans Saints) – Winston was able to make some throws without a brace on his injured knee this week. While that is an encouraging development, Winston continues to be a big fade for me. Check out the FullTime Fantasy Podcast for some of my reasons why I’m avoiding the Saints’ signal-caller in 2022. Running Backs Alvin Kamara (New Orleans Saints) – Pro Football Talk indicated that the Saints are expecting a suspension of “at least” six games for their star running back. Kamara was arrested and faces charges in an assault case from this year’s Pro Bowl. The hearing was moved to August 1st, so we may have more clarity before the draft season really kicks off. for now, Kamara looks like a fade, while Mark Ingram could be poised to be an excellent late-round target. Cam Akers (Los Angeles Rams) – Akers continues to be a guy I’m fading because I just don’t see him producing many touchdowns with his minimal red-zone contributions. He also looked awful in the postseason. Granted, he’ll be healthier entering 2022, but the addition of WR Allen Robinson and RB Kyren Williams are also factors. I’m very interested to see how many looks Williams gets this summer and to see if Sean McVay gives Akers those valuable red-zone looks. For now, I’m approaching with extreme caution. Ronald Jones (Kansas City Chiefs) – There was a report that Jones is a legitimate contender to lead the Cheifs in carries but we remain skeptical. Jones didn’t attract much attention on the open market and had to settle for a one-year deal with the Chiefs. Part of the problem is that Jones is prone to mistakes, fumbles, and is a poor receiver. That doesn’t sound like the kind of back that will thrive in Andy Reid’s system. For now, we expect Reid to employ a frustrating committee that will be led by Clyde Edwards-Helaire. I suppose there is little downside to targeting Jones at his current ADP but he remains pretty low for now until we see how things shake out in August. Wide Receivers Mike Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – It is looking more likely that Chris Godwin is going to open the season on the PUP list. Then, TE Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement. That means Evan, who has caught 27 touchdowns from QB Tom Brady in the past two seasons, is poised to see an even larger target share. Evans now comes in as our WR5, while Davante Adams slides down to WR7. Michael Pittman (Indianapolis Colts) – With some adjustments, Pittman has moved into our top 10. Last year, Pittman ran the third-highest route rate of any wideout and boasted an impressive 1.95 yards per route run. Plus, the addition of QB Matt Ryan can’t be understated. From 2008-2020, the No. 1 receiver in a Ryan-led offense averaged over 159 targets. Pittman checks all the boxes to be this season’s third-year WR breakout, and we’re all-in. Jaylen Waddle (Miami Dolphins) – I’m interested to see how the Dolphins divide up targets this summer. For now, I’m cool on Waddle because I don’t see any way that QB Tua Tagovailoa can support a pair of WR2s. Miami brought in Tyreek Hill and Cedrick Wilson who combined to command some 221 targets in 2021. Additionally, the club signed RB Chase Edmonds to take more ‘safety valve’ targets away from Waddle. I was impressed with Waddle’s rookie campaign, but with it being some volume-driven, I’m skeptical if he can repeat it. Rondale Moore (Arizona Cardinals) – Math indicated I’m back for another run at my boy Rondale. The formula Christian Kirk + the league’s 8th-highest slot rate – DeAndre Hopkins for 6 games = Moore sophomore breakout. TIL there are a significant portion of fantasy football leagues that didn’t have Rondale Moore rostered in Week 2 and I’m all kinds of hurt/bitter/concerned. Like- do you even read what I’ve written? pic.twitter.com/5akX6JMskn — #TagsStrong💪#SFB12 (@JodySmithNFL) September 23, 2021 If you have time to prepare, make
AFC Training Camp Battles to Watch
One step outside tells you the summer is here. Along with the rising temperatures, the NFL rumor mill is heating up. Before we know it, the preseason will begin. But before it does, we need to know what AFC training camp battles to watch ahead of our fantasy football drafts. Not every AFC squad has a battle that is noteworthy, but every team does have something fantasy-relevant that football fans should monitor. In addition to our committee backfield article, here are battles for all 16 AFC teams that fantasy enthusiasts should keep an eye on this summer. Baltimore Ravens – WR Rashod Bateman has become a popular breakout candidate for good reason. But after Bateman, the Ravens don’t have any proven wideouts. Devin Duvernay will compete for a job in three-wide sets, but James Proche ran 86.4% of his routes from the slot in 2021; the 10th-highest rate in the NFL. Baltimore’s backfield is also worth watching. J.K. Dobbins is expected to lead the way but might not see a preseason snap as he recovers from a torn ACL. Gus Edwards routinely outplays his ADP and the Ravens will use multiple backs. Edwards looks like a very good late-round value once again. Buffalo Bills – As Super Bowl favorites, the Bills don’t have a lot of question marks in their high-powered offense. It will be exciting to see how WR Gabriel Davis performs as the club’s No. 2 wideout. Off the heels of his four-score playoff performance, Davis is being targeted rather high in drafts. That makes him a candidate to be a rather risky boom/bust option. Jamison Crowder should be an upgrade over Cole Beasley out of the slot. Also, we’ll watch Isaiah McKenzie who is also making a play for that role. Keep an eye on second-round rookie RB James Cook, who could be a solid PPR option. Incumbent starter Devin Singletary should maintain most of the carries and offers top-15 upside if he retains short-yardage work. Cincinnati Bengals – Looking for a real sleeper tight end? Hayden Hurst will take over the starting role vacated by C.J. Uzomah. Even playing a reserve role in Atlanta, Hurst was far better than Uzomah in most metrics last season. Uzomah earned 63 targets en route to a top-20 fantasy finish a year ago. Drew Sample caught 40 balls in this offense in 2020- most of which was without QB Joe Burrow. Hurst has a real shot at 75 targets and could even contend for TE1 numbers. Cleveland Browns – Everything in the Cleveland passing attack is up for grabs. QB Deshaun Watson is looking at a likely year-long suspension at a minimum. With Jacoby Brissett poised to be the starter, it’s a downgrade for the offense overall. Rooke WR David Bell has impressed and could offer some upside as the big slot receiver. Donovan Peoples-Jones should start on the perimeter opposite of Amari Cooper. David Njoku finally has the chance to be the full-time starter but has lost some luster without Watson under center. Denver Broncos – We’ll watch how new QB Russell Wilson builds a rapport with his talented teammates. The biggest question in the passing game is which wideout will emerge as Wilson’s favorite- Courtland Sutton or Jerry Jeudy. Also, we expect Javonte Williams to take on a larger share of carries, so watching Melvin Gordon‘s role will be crucial. Houston Texans – Outside of Brandin Cooks, the Texans don’t have many established pass-catchers. Nico Collins is the favorite for WR2 duties and a decent target share. Rookie John Metchie is battling cancer and is unlikely to play in 2022. Our thoughts are with Metchie. The Texans will also have a competition for lead-back duties between Marlon Mack, Rex Burkhead, and rookie Dameon Pierce. Mack is the favorite to open the season but a committee backfield looks likely. Indianapolis Colts – Can WR Parris Campbell finally stay healthy? Campbell has been an “offseason standout” once again but has missed 34 of his possible 49 games so far. In OTAs, Campbell was running with the first team and flashed a good rapport with new QB Matt Ryan. Campbell is the favorite to earn slot duties while second-round rookie Alec Pierce is expected to start opposite Michael Pittman. We’ll monitor how Ryan divides his targets this summer, as the Colts offer a ton of offensive and fantasy potential. Jacksonville Jaguars – It’s another complete re-start in Jacksonville. Fortunately, Doug Pederson should be a significant upgrade for the entire offense. The Jags spent big money to upgrade weapons for sophomore signal-caller Trevor Lawrence, who needs to show rapid growth for that money to be well-spent. Keen an eye on all three wideout spots and how Pederson rotates TEs Evan Engram and Dan Arnold. Pederson has a history of heavily featuring his tight ends. Doug Pederson’s TEs in PPR pts/game: 2013- Fasano 6.8 (39th) 2014- Kelce 11.5 (9th) 2015- Kelce 11.8 (9th) 2016- Ertz 13.1 (3rd) 2017- Ertz 14.6 (3rd) 2018- Ertz 17.5 (2nd) 2019- Ertz 14.4 (4th) 2019- Goedert 9.9 (13th) 2020- Goedert 10.6 (10th) Evan Engram current ADP TE24 — #TagsStrong💪 (@JodySmithNFL) June 21, 2022 Kansas City Chiefs – Another excellent offensive-minded coach with an influx of new talent, Andy Reid will have to rebuild his playbook for the Chiefs to remain serious contenders. With Tyreek Hill gone, Juju Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore, and holdover Mecole Hardman will all compete for targets. The backfield is also unsettled, with Ronald Jones competing with Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Las Vegas Raiders – The Raiders declined to extend RB Josh Jacobs and added promising rookie Zamir White to the fold. Will they choose to load Jacobs up with all the touches he can handle on his way out the door or go full-blown committee? As for the passing attack, the biggest topic will be the rapport between QB Derek Carr and newly acquired WR Davante Adams. Los Angeles Chargers – There has been some talk of trying to limit Austin Ekeler‘s workload, so watching the preseason role for fourth-round rookie Isaiah Spiller will be imperative. Spiller was considered to be the draft’s No. 2 RB before slipping after an uninspiring Combine. Josh Palmer should be the clear WR3 and has a lot of late-round value appeal. Miami Dolphins – Miami
Player Profiler Championship Draft Review June 2022
Recapping an early Player Profiler Championship Draft. The end of June means that the annual football sabbatical for many is nearing an end. As temperatures heat up, so does the interest in fantasy football drafts. But for high-stakes fans, drafts have been underway for some time. Our Player Profiler Championship Draft Review June 2022 recaps some of the early excitement. Partnered without friends at PlayerProfiler, the Player Profiler Championship boasts a $50,000 Grand Prize and the BEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT OF ANY NATIONAL CONTEST, ANYWHERE! The PlayerProfiler Championship (Formerly Online Championship) is a fantasy football contest comprised of individual leagues of 12. The best teams from each league will compete in weeks 15-17 to be crowned PlayerProfiler Champion and Grand Prize Winner. It’s a full 12-person league with 20-man rosters and full PPR scoring. The starting lineup consists of 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, and 2 FLEX (non-QB) spots. Waivers run weekly in a blind bid format. Let’s see how the final Player Profiler Championship Draft from June went down and see who will enter the 2022 fantasy football season as the favorite to win the coveted title with our Player Profiler Championship Draft Review June 2022. Just a glance at the initial draft board shows the different strategies at work. A full third of the league chose a single quarterback, which makes sense in a league with weekly FAAB bidding. One drafter chose to select only one tight end while the number of wideouts rostered varied from seven to a whopping 11. With so many different approaches, I’ll pick out some of the selections that stood out to me while referring to my own 2022 fantasy football projections and the latest FFWC ADP. Draft Bargains David Montgomery (6.04, RB22) – The RB15 in fantasy points per game last season, Montgomery is set to enter unrestricted free agency after the season. That frees up Chicago’s new regime to give Montgomery plenty of touches in what is likely his final season there. Chicago’s offense is still hard to handicap this early, but Montgomery looks like a good bet to exceed 300 touches. That makes Montgomery a very good bargain in the sixth round. Tyler Lockett (7.07, WR40) – Lockett has been a reliable producer who is plummeting down draft boards because of the uncertain status of Seattle’s quarterback group. That concern is warranted, but Lockett has three consecutive 100-plus target seasons and should continue to be peppered with looks in a Seattle offense that should be playing from behind plenty. I’m a fan of the value of Lockett as a tremendous WR4. Clyde Edwards-Helaire (8.02, RB32) – Injuries have played a big part in CEH’s underwhelming first two seasons. He’s fully healthy now and I expect the third-year back to play a big role in the new-look Kansas City offense. In the seven games last season that Edwards-Helaire topped double-digit carries, he averaged 14.2 PPR points per game. That figure would have ranked 21st overall last season. Edwards-Helaire is also a far better pass-catcher than Ronald Jones, so I envision the far-more-versatile CEH easily emerging as the Chiefs’ best back and a solid fantasy value in 2022. Tom Brady (10.7, QB9) – High-stakes players are clearly willing to wait to draft their quarterbacks and that strategy paid off. Lamar Jackson (9.05), Jalen Hurts (9.07), and Kyler Murray (10.3) all started a nice QB run of potential top-5 signal-callers that were taken in the 9th and 10th rounds. Brady just finished as the overall No. 2 fantasy QB and should once again be a reliable and safe option. Questionable Selections Jaylen Waddle (3.04, WR14) – Waddle finished his rookie campaign as the WR12 after soaking up a surprising 142 targets but there’s little chance he will replicate those numbers in Year Two. The Dolphins signed Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert, and Sony Michel to fortify their 30th-ranked ground game. Edmonds just happens to be an excellent receiver, too. Miami also spent big money to acquire Tyreek Hill and Cedrick Wilson, who combined to command 220 targets in 2021. Ranking 44th in yards per route run and 194th in ADOT, Waddle doesn’t offer the big-play or TD upside of several wide receivers drafted after him. That list includes A.J. Brown, Terry McLaurin, and DK Metcalf. Alvin Kamara (3.06, RB13) – Snagging a consistent RB1 like Kamara as RB13 is normally a steal. But it’s been speculated for months that the Saints’ starter is looking at a lengthy suspension. That makes this pick awfully risky. Showing that risk, rumors began circulating right after this selection that Kamara could be forced to sit for up to six weeks. That’s a devastating loss for any fantasy roster, but Team 6 only took one other running back before Round 13. Scary little depth for a position that is hard to fortify on the waiver wire. Hunter Renfrow (5.01, WR25) – High-stakes drafters think differently; particularly in a format that requires a minimum of three and as many as five potential starting wideouts each week. But, looking at high-stakes FFWC ADP, Renfrow is normally available well into the sixth round. That makes him quite a reach in the top of the fifth. With Davante Adams now in Vegas, Renfrow has little shot of repeating his lofty target or touchdown numbers from 2021. I thought all of the other receivers taken in Round 5 should have gone before Renfrow, except Christian Kirk. James Cook (7.04, RB27) – Cook’s current FFWC ADP is 98.3, some 22 spots after he was taken in this draft. As good as Devin Singletary was down the stretch a year ago, taking an undersized change-of-pace back ahead of the presumptive starter seems egregious. This pick could turn out to be a steal if Cook were to unseat the incumbent, I just don’t see that happening. Top Contenders Team 7 – A pair of potential top-10 RBs, four solid PPR receivers, and an elite TE gives Team 7 an outstanding core. Pairing DeVonta Smith with Hurts and landing RBs Rashaad Penny and Gus Edwards was also nice. I think this team was well