2022 Free Agent Rankings: Wide Receivers
There are some big-name wide receivers that will enter the 2022 offseason as free agents and the potential fantasy fall-out can be huge when these pass-catchers start signing. Here are our 2022 free-agent rankings for the wide receiver position. Also, make sure you check out the quarterback and running back rankings. PLAYER POS TEAM AGE GAME REC YDS TD Davante Adams WR GB 29 16 123 1553 11 Chris Godwin WR TB 26 14 98 1103 5 Mike Williams WR LAC 27 16 76 1146 9 Odell Beckham Jr. WR LAR 29 14 44 537 5 JuJu Smith-Schuster WR PIT 25 5 15 129 0 Allen Robinson WR CHI 28 12 38 410 1 Christian Kirk WR ARZ 25 17 77 982 5 Michael Gallup WR DAL 26 9 35 445 2 D.J. Chark WR JAX 25 4 7 154 2 Russell Gage WR ATL 26 14 66 770 4 Davante Adams – All eyes on Green Bay as both members of the league’s top QB/WR duo are set to potentially depart. There were rumbling that the Packers could place the franchise tag on Adams but with the club currently projected to be over $40 million over the 2022 salary cap, that seems unlikely. If Aaron Rodgers were to return, that would probably improve Green Bay’s chances of hanging onto Adams but the early lean is Adams will join a new team and should have no shortage of suitors. Chris Godwin – A torn ACL will hurt Godwin’s chances of landing a big-money deal early on since he won’t be able to work out for teams. The best-case fantasy scenario would be for QB Tom Brady to return for one more Super Bowl run and for Godwin to re-sign with the Bucs, perhaps to a 0ne-year deal. Mike Williams – The franchise tag, which would be over $19 million for one year, will be in play for the Chargers if they are unable to come to terms on a multi-year deal with Williams. LA has plenty of cap space to afford to splurge on Williams, who is coming off of his finest NFL campaign. There is probably a 75% chance that Williams will be back with the Chargers in 2022 but he could attract offers as another franchise’s No. 1 wideout should LA choose to spend elsewhere. Odell Beckham Jr. – OBJ salvaged some of his sagging value by reclaiming his nose for the endzone after joining the Rams, who have an excellent quarterback in Matthew Stafford. 30 in November, Beckham still has some years of his prime remaining and should command $6-7 million annually in a 2-3 year deal as a veteran WR1/2. JuJu Smith-Schuster – The wheels fell off for Smith-Schuster and the Steelers’ passing game in 2021. Smith-Schuster missed nearly the entire season with a shoulder injury and QB Ben Roethlisberger looked washed. JuJu signed a one-year deal to remain in Pittsburgh in 2021 and didn’t make himself much money in a lost season. A reunion with the Steelers is certainly an option if the club can land a dependable veteran signal-caller, but Smith Schuster’s slot/perimeter flexibility and age will make him an attractive target for any team shopping for dependable pass catchers. Allen Robinson – The narrative that Robinson has never played with a good quarterback is mostly true. For A-Rob to ever reclaim WR2 status, he’ll need to prioritize doing just that- signing with a team that has a credible signal-caller. Still just 28 when the 2022 season starts, Robinson will draw plenty of interest on the open market, hopefully from a team that can get him the ball and help resurrect his once-promising career. Christian Kirk – Expected to be no better than fourth on Arizona’s depth chart to open the season, Kirk instead put together his finest campaign just in time to cash in this offseason. With aging A.J. Green also set to test free agency, a reunion with the Cardinals would be ideal for fantasy purposes if Arizona can squeeze him in. Expect Kirk to command somewhere north of $10 million annually over 3-4 years. Michael Gallup – Gallup missed the first half of the season then tore his ACL in Week 17. The timing of that injury will be problematic towards attracting long-term offers with a new team that won’t be able to work Gallup out. There is a lot of upside there, but he’ll need a lot of luck to be ready for Week 1. D.J. Chark – Nothing went right for the Jaguars in 2021, but fortunately for Chark, he should have the opportunity to escape from that dreary situation. Chark’s season was cut short by a broken ankle but he should be good to go by the offseason. Just 25 with a 1000-yard season on his resume, Chark can be a solid fantasy WR2/3 with improved quarterback play- which should be easy to find. Russell Gage – Gage stepped up and became Atlanta’s top wideout after Calvin Ridley stepped away from the team. Over the last three seasons, Gage developed into a dependable option out of the slot and will be better off remaining in a secondary role. PLAYER POS TEAM AGE GAME REC YDS TD Will Fuller WR MIA 28 2 4 26 0 Jamison Crowder WR NYJ 28 12 51 447 2 Cedrick Wilson WR DAL 26 16 45 602 6 Braxton Berrios WR NYJ 26 16 46 431 2 Marquez Valdes-Scantling WR GB 27 11 26 430 3 Sammy Watkins WR BAL 29 13 27 394 1 T.Y. Hilton WR IND 32 10 23 331 3 Tre’Quan Smith WR NO 26 11 32 377 3 Josh Reynolds WR DET 27 12 29 396 2 Byron Pringle WR KC 28 17 42 568 5 Will Fuller – Injuries once again derailed another season for Fuller, only this time there was no displays of big plays or potential WR1 upside. Fuller’s dud one-year deal in Miami could lead to another 1-year ‘prove it’ deal in a new locale. Now six full seasons into his career, Fuller had yet to top 53