Last week I wrote about how the 2021 Rookie Running Backs were not met with a ton of excitement. However, this wide receiver class was met with much excitement. That excitement was shared by the NFL franchises who selected three wide receivers in the top 10 and a further two more in the first round.
In this part of my 2021 Rookie Review, I look back at this talented wide receiver class from a fantasy football perspective and see how they performed in 2021. I will also delve into what their outlook is for 2022.
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Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN)
- Team: Cincinnati Bengals
- Draft: Round 1, Pick 5
- 2021 ADP: WR29
How did he do?
Ja’Marr Chase came into draft season as almost a bit if a laughing stock. Just days before the start of the season, after a camp that raised several on his ability to produce due to some significant drops, Chase commented “The ball is different because it is bigger. It doesn’t have the white stripes on the side so you can’t see the ball coming from the tip point so you actually have to look for the strings on the ball at the top, which is hard to see because whole ball is brown and you have the six strings that are white. But for the most part, just have to get used to it and find out what I am comfortable with catching.”
These comments did not exactly instill confidence in fantasy football players. He was going in the 6th/7th round of fantasy drafts as the WR29 off the board. What followed was one of the greatest steals in recent fantasy football history. He finished as the WR5 in PPR scoring, putting up the greatest wide receiver rookie season on record. 1,455 Receiving Yards and 13 Receiving Touchdowns later, and Chase was not only entering the record books and steering the Bengals towards their first Postseason win since 1991, but he was also winning fantasy managers who took the plunge and drafted him a fantasy championship.
In championship week alone, Week 17, Chase put up 266 Receiving Yards and three touchdowns, which equated to 55.6 PPR points. He was 20 points clear of any player in any position. Chase was the literal definition of a league winner.
If he was struggling to catch the ball, then he showed he was a quick study and was able to rectify these issues immediately. He scored four touchdowns in his first three games. And Joe Burrow, who played with Chase at LSU, showed why he was so eager to have him become a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. All in all, Chase showed everyone why he was the first wide receiver selected off the board in the NFL Draft, and why NFL Scouts and GMs know a lot more about NFL Players than casual fantasy football players.
What is his 2022 outlook?
Ja’Marr Chase will be drafted as a top 12 fantasy wide receiver in 2022. What we saw with Justin Jefferson in 2021 drafts, going in the mid to late second round, is what we can expect for Chase in 2022. Chase has shown he is going to be the main target, in a high volume offense, and he has delivered record numbers in his rookie year. Just as we didn’t see any regression from Justin Jefferson in 2021, it is highly unlikely we will see much regression in 2022 from Chase. Potentially the 13 touchdowns might go down slightly. However, it is perfectly reasonable to see an uplift in targets, receptions and yards from Chase in 2022.
If you want Ja’Marr Chase on your team in 2022, you will need to spend major draft capital to get him.
Jaylen Waddle (WR – MIA)
- Team: Miami Dolphins
- Draft: Round 1, Pick 6
- 2021 ADP: WR44
How did he do?
Jaylen Waddle was another example of a player who outperformed expectations for wide receivers. Waddle returned a WR13 finish, which is remarkable for someone who you could draft in the ninth round of fantasy drafts last year.
The two concerns coming into the season around Waddle was his size, and the Miami Dolphins offense being potent enough to make him fantasy relevant. Waddle showed the size was not an issue, on his way to 140 targets and 104 receptions in 16 games last year. And, whilst there were some concerns about the Dolphins offense, and these turned out to be well founded, it didn’t matter. Because, Waddle, as I have mentioned, was given 142 targets in his rookie season. That equates to the 10th highest amount of total targets in 2021. However, he also had a 24.8% target share, which was 17th amongst all receivers in 2021.
The reason why Waddle finished just outside the top 12 Wide Receivers was because his Average Depth of Target (aDOT) was just 7.0, which was the 3rd lowest of anyone with 100+ targets in 2021. In fact, only Cole Beasley (5.6) and Hunter Renfrow (6.8) had lower aDOT’s amongst the 39 Wide Receivers and Tight Ends with 100+ targets in 2021.
Nevertheless, it seems Waddle is going to continue to get the lions share of targets in Miami for the next few years. And, because some of these numbers standing out at a little low, he could surprise folks in 2022.
What is his 2022 outlook?
As mentioned, he has a low aDOT, which should be something the Dolphins will look to improve with a new coaching staff. With Flores gone, if a new offensive minded coach is brought in, this should assist Waddle in getting to the next level.
Another area for positive regression is touchdowns. Waddle managed just six receiving touchdowns. What is more telling is that the Dolphins were historically bad as a redzone offense. Waddle hosted a 20.3% target share in the red zone for the Dolphins. That amounted to just 15 targets. He hauled in 12 of those 15, scoring on six of them. If the Dolphins can be better in the red zone, and pass more there, then opportunities will automatically open up for Waddle.
Waddle could very easily be a draft steal in 2022. If he hovers around the round 4-6 range of ADP that I currently expect him to be, then I expect him to outperform his ADP. There is a lot of room for his yardage and touchdowns to go up next year. As to whether he will become a WR1 in 2022 remains to be seen. However, there is definitely a path to a top 15 finish at the position in 2022.
DeVonta Smith (WR – PHI)
- Team: Philadelphia Eagles
- Draft: Round 1, Pick 10
- 2021 ADP: WR31
How did he do?
Smith flashed in parts during his rookie year. It certainly was not a bust. However, for those who just missed out on Chase or passed on Waddle to draft him, there will be a sense of disappointment in his rookie season. Smith finished the year as the WR30 with a stat line of 64-916-5.
In truth, his season was perfectly fine. However, for an alpha receiver on his team, there was certainly a few red flags that we need to be aware of. First off, Smith only had two 100 Yard+ receiving games. His next best outing was only 80 receiving yards. These numbers don’t exactly point to elite production.
And, whilst he did manage three WR1 games in 2021, he only managed two WR2 games. He finished outside the top 50 Wide Receivers in scoring nine times in 17 weeks. That is a concern when thinking about Smith for next year. However, one thing that definitely stood out was his aDOT of 15.2. This was, by far, the largest aDOT of anyone with over 100 targets in 2021.
All in all, a decent first season. However, there are some question marks going into 2022.
What is his 2022 outlook?
We can see Smith has the durability and talent to make it as an elite receiver in this league. And, with that high aDOT, he also has a large target share. His 22.1% target share is ranked inside the top 24 Wide Receivers.
So, the big questions that need answering are:
- Who will be his quarterback next year? and
- How can they get Smith involved more in the passing game
As it stands, the noise coming out of Philadelphia is that Hurts will remain the starter next year. However, with the Eagles having three 1st round draft choices in 2022, they are certainly a team to keep an eye on early in this draft. They could end up drafting a Quarterback with one of those three 1st round picks.
As for how they can get him more involved, that is something they will need to work out. In their playoff exit to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card Round, they didn’t target Smith at all in the first half. By the time Smith got involved in the game, the game was effectively over. They will need to find way to get the ball downfield more. However, they will need to find a way to use him in the intermediate passing game. Especially if Hurts is going to remain as the starter in 2022.
In truth, I would expect Smith’s ADP to be similar to what it was this year. He has the opportunity to be a low end WR2 with some positive regression in the touchdown column. However, he certainly will have some regression in his aDOT coming. If Smith can get himself more targets, he can be in that WR2 conversation come December.
Kadarius Toney (WR – NYG)
- Team: New York Giants
- Draft: Round 1, Pick 20
- 2021 ADP: WR81
How did he do?
It was a very bumpy season for Toney as he adjusted to life in the NFL. There was a lot of question marks when the Giants took Toney with their 1st round pick. For starters, they had just signed Kenny Golladay to a huge contract in Free Agency. Wide receiver was not a position of need for the Giants.
Ultimately, that backed up depth chart showed, as Toney started just four games, whilst playing in 10. He finished with an unimpressive 39-420-0 line for the year. He did record one top-five WR scoring finish. However, he only recorded two more WR3 weeks or better finishes on his way to a WR89 finish.
The truth is, Toney was always going to be a development project, who was going to need time to adjust. He was not as polished as the three wide receivers ahead of him.
Also, the Giants had their own issues. They fired Jason Garrett, their Offensive Coordinator, midseason, and lost Daniel Jones to a season-ending injury. They were a disaster down the stretch. In fact, Toney only played one of the last seven games due to a shoulder injury.
Needless to say, it was a disappointing season.
What is his 2022 outlook?
In truth, there isn’t going to be a huge market for Toney. He did flash for two games, including having 189 receiving yards off 10 catches in Week 5 vs. Dallas. However, Golladay is still there, as is Shepard and Slayton, so it may be hard for Toney to carve out enough of a role to warrant a pick in the first 10 rounds of fantasy drafts in 2022.
However, whilst we wait to see who his new Offensive Coordinator is for 2022, he could be one of those dart throws late in drafts worth trying out for a week or two. If he flashes in camp, and can really get on the same page with Jones, he will have some relevant fantasy weeks in 2022.
Rashod Bateman (WR – BAL)
- Team: Baltimore Ravens
- Draft: Round 1, Pick 27
- 2021 ADP: WR76
How did he do?
Rashod Bateman caught some major camp buzz with the way he was performing early on in camp. However, he sustained an injury and missed the first five games of the season, whilst he spent time rehabbing on injured reserve.
However, he was available for the remaining 12 games of the season, starting just four. In truth, this season is very hard to judge. Due to missing a good amount of camp, and the entire preseason, Bateman was effectively learning on the job from Week 5. As a result, he was able to only haul in 46 of his 68 targets for 515 yards and one touchdown.
Bateman put up one WR2 week, but four WR3 weeks on his way to a WR70 finish. He certainly flashed in moments of the season. However, with the injury to Lamar Jackson, he struggled to really impress and show fantasy owners why he was a 1st round NFL Draft choice.
What is his 2022 outlook?
Assuming Bateman is healthy coming into camp, we will have a proper chance to assess what he is likely to become in this Baltimore Ravens offense. Bateman is likely to be the 3rd read for Jackson, behind Andrews and Brown. However, there will certainly be a role for Bateman.
After getting some time with Lamar Jackson and playing more with him, Bateman will have the opportunity to carve out a role for himself. And, it should be a fantasy relevant role.
Despite the Ravens being a low volume passing offense, due to the lack of available weapons in the passing game, there is a path to where Bateman could have a legitimate shot at being a top 36 Wide Receiver in 2022. He has the college production, draft capital, and backing of an Offensive Coordinator who knows how to scheme guys open. We just need to see Bateman play with Lamar Jackson some more.
Elijah Moore (WR – NYJ)
- Team: New York Jets
- Draft: Round 2, Pick 34
- 2021 ADP: WR58
How did he do?
Elijah Moore was just starting to make some waves before a quad injury cut short his season. He played 11 of the first 12 games of the season, and ended up as the overall WR50 in PPR, with a line of 43-538-5. He also added a rushing score, and 54 rushing yards on the ground.
Moore had two top-three WR week finishes, including being the WR1 in PPR in Week 9. He was also the WR3 overall in Week 11 and the WR8 in Week 13, the week his season ended. In fact, after the Jets bye week in Week 6, Moore never finished below WR40.
Moore was really coming into his own and was earning the trust of the coaching staff, whilst also starting to build a rapport with new franchise Quarterback Zach Wilson.
Moore certainly validated his draft selection. Now, its about what he can do in his Sophomore season.
What is his 2022 outlook?
On the whole, extremely positive. His great showing after the bye, plus the continuity of having the coaching staff return, and the trust of his quarterback will be important. The Jets really missed him down the stretch.
If you drafted him in Dynasty formats, he is certainly a strong hold. He is even a buy candidate, for the right price. If you can acquire him for a second round pick then I would certainly be advocating that deal.
As for redraft, he should be somewhere around the WR2/3 range. I do feel that given his profile post-bye, he could be one of those darlings that catches fire and sees his ADP rise to as high as the 4/5th round in redraft come August. At that price, he might be a bit of a stretch. However, certainly, he could certainly be an absolute bargain, if he stays in that round seven to nine range.
Rondale Moore (WR – ARI)
- Team: Arizona Cardinals
- Draft: Round 2, Pick 49
- 2021 ADP: WR62
How did he do?
Rondale Moore had an extremely tough first year as a pro in the NFL. For starters, he was on a team that came out of the blocks like they had a train to catch. Whilst some were hoping Moore would ascend into the role vacated by Larry Fitzgerald this offseason, it turned out Moore was merely another wide receiver buried on the depth chart, alongside other recent picks like Andy Isabella.
However, in the first two weeks, Moore really came out of the blocks too. In Week 1, he caught four passes for 68 yards. And, he followed that up with catching seven passes for 114 yards in Week 2. However, that was the end of the high period for Moore, as he added just another 253 yards in his remaining 12 games of the season. He only broke the 50 receiving yards barrier twice more, with a high of 59 yards receiving in Week 5.
Moore’s season just fell flat as he struggled to become productive in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. And, as the Cardinals started to have their fortunes changes due to the injuries of key players, such as Kyler Murray, Moore was just left to offer minimal contributions here and there.
All in all, there is not much to shout about from Moore’s rookie season.
What is his 2022 outlook?
Whilst he didn’t really produce in 2021, his fortunes could change rather quickly in 2022. Christian Kirk, the team’s leading receiver in 2021 is a Free Agent, as too is A.J. Green.
March will be a really interesting time for the Cardinals. Will the Cardinals be in for a big name Wide Receiver in Free Agency? Or, will they try and re-sign Kirk and Green? In truth, until we know what the wide receiver depth chart looks like in Arizona, it is tough to predict where Moore will finish in 2022. Despite finishing as WR64, there is room for him to come up from there. However, he is not worth spending a draft pick inside the first eight rounds on until you know more about his situation and where he will be on the depth chart.
Because, whilst he has yet to really validate why he was selected in the second round, he does have excellent college production and metrics that, when utilized, will really help this offense. However, we will need to wait and see before we can have any real confidence in Rondale Moore for 2022.
D’Wayne Eskridge (WR- SEA)
- Team: Seattle Seahawks
- Draft: Round 2, Pick 56
- 2021 ADP: WR117
How did he do?
In truth, this season will be seen as a possible redshirt season at best, and a sign that this pick was another wasted one by the front office as its worst-case scenario.
I have to admit, when I saw Eskridge drafted this high, and by Seattle who did not have a first round or third round pick, I was more confused than anything. With Lockett and Metcalf under contract, this seemed like a frivolous pick.
As a result, fantasy managers also agreed, and didn’t draft Eskridge in most leagues. Their skepticism was proved right. Eskridge missed eight games with a concussion (that is not a good sign moving forward) and only finished with 10 catches for 64 yards and a touchdown. In fact, on just four carries on the ground, he almost matched his receiving production, breaking off a 30 yard run against Detroit in Week 17 to finish with 59 rushing yards.
All in all. A disappointing season.
What is his 2022 outlook?
In truth, he can be forgotten about in most league formats. Whilst he has great speed and athleticism, with Lockett and Metcalf under contract, it is hard to see where Eskridge gets a significant enough role moving forward.
Whilst he will see more opportunities, Seattle is just not a strong enough offense to support three relevant wide receivers in fantasy football in 2022.
Tutu Atwell (WR – LAR)
- Team: Los Angeles Rams
- Draft: Round 2, Pick 57
- 2021 ADP: WR131
How did he do?
Atwell had one of the worst rookie wide receivers we have seen for a very long time. Despite being active for eight games, he played a total of 10 offensive snaps and did not catch a single pass.
His season was ended just after Halloween with a shoulder injury that required surgery. Also, to really compound the misery, his team signed Odell Beckham Jr. after his release from the Cleveland Browns. With the Rams all in, and going strong in the post-season, it seems very likely Beckham will be back for 2022.
What is his 2022 outlook?
There isn’t one for Atwell. If OBJ returns to L.A. as expected, he will be buried behind Kupp, Woods, Beckham Jr., and Van Jefferson on the depth chart. He is un-draftable in most formats as things stand in 2022.
Josh Palmer (WR – LAC)
- Team: Los Angeles Chargers
- Draft: Round 3, Pick 77
- 2021 ADP: WR84
How did he do?
Palmer had to remain patient for his opportunities, playing on just over 50% of the offensive snaps only once in the team’s opening 12 games. However, over the team’s final five games he went for 18-185-3 whilst there was some uncertainty with Keenan Allen and some injury problems he was having. In that time, he finished inside the top 32 wide receivers in weekly scoring three times.
Palmer certainly showed why he was selected in the 3rd round of the draft and flashed with some great route running and decent speed. As he showed this season, his role will be that third wide receiver who will see an increased role if Allen or Mike Williams go down at any point.
What is his 2022 outlook?
Palmer will be seen as a late draft upside play at best. He will have a role in 2022. Mike Williams is a Free Agent. However, I would expect the Chargers to bring him back after an excellent season. Should he not come back, then I would expect the Chargers to go after one of the big names in Free Agency at wide receiver. Either way, Palmer will have a role, that could see significant upside in this high-powered offense. Especially if there is any injuries or slumps from those ahead of him in the depth chart.
He is worth having a look at late in drafts, depending on what the situation is in terms of depth charts. He could take a leap forward in 2022. Especially if Herbert continues to perform at such a high level.
Dyami Brown (WR – WAS)
- Team: Washington Football Team
- Draft: Round 3, Pick 82
- 2021 ADP: WR109
How did he do?
It was a strange year for Washington and for Brown. For starters, they lost their starting QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to what turned out to be a season-ending hip injury in Week 1. Then, it was just a case of trying to remain competitive from week to week.
As the changes in quarterback occurred, Brown’s role changed too. In the first five weeks of the season, Brown’s snap share was 93%, 87%, 65%, 42%, and 80%. After Week 5, things changed for Brown, and he was phased out. He only caught four more passes for the rest of the season, whilst only reaching a peak of 34% snap share, which he hit twice.
Brown was left out in the cold. And unfortunately, there is nowhere to hide with a 12-165-0 season long stat-line when you play in 15 games. He was usurped on the depth chart by DeAndre Carter, who flashed at times. And also by Cam Sims, who also flashed at times, making some big plays along the way.
Whilst Brown was not as disappointing as Free Agency signing Curtis Samuel, he doesn’t quite have the excuses Samuel does for his lack of production.
What is his 2022 outlook?
Maybe a change in quarterback changes in his fortunes. However, it was clear that there was not a lot of faith or trust shown in Dyami Brown in his rookie year. He can certainly bounce back. However, I would be steering away from him in all formats right now.
Amari Rodgers (WR – GB)
- Team: Green Bay Packers
- Draft: Round 3, Pick 85
- 2021 ADP: WR82
How did he do?
In short, it just never got off the ground. Whilst I am sure all the Green Bay Packers fans and beat writers were waiting to celebrate a A. Rodgers to A. Rodgers touchdown pass, in truth, we never even got close to it.
The Packers seem to take a lot of wide receivers who just never produce in the early years of their contracts. And Rodgers is another name to add to that list. He finished with a stat-line of 4-45, whilst also having one carry for 11 yards. In fact, he mainly was used as a punt returner, whilst also sometimes returning kicks.
All in all, a season absolutely nobody will probably ever remember, outside of the Amari Rodgers family.
What is his 2022 outlook?
Well, we might see a A. Rodgers to A. Rodgers touchdown pass in 2022. I certainly wouldn’t rule it out. However, Amari Rodgers does not have any fantasy relevance in 2022 as it stands right now. However, should Aaron Rodgers depart, maybe his time on the scout team with Jordan Love will have made him a candidate to vault forward and up the depth chart in 2022. We have seen it before and likely could see it again here. He is a Dynasty hold for me.
Nico Collins (WR – HOU)
- Team: Houston Texans
- Draft: Round 3, Pick 89
- 2021 ADP: WR83
How did he do?
It is fair to say that Nico Collins landed in a tough spot in Houston. Their star quarterback Deshaun Watson was holding out for a trade, and then caught up in legal difficulties that led to him being subject to trade talk for much of the season, as well as being a healthy scratch for every single week of the NFL season.
He then had a constant change of quarterbacks, as the team started with Tyrod Taylor, before he was hurt and he was replaced by 3rd round rookie quarterback Davis Mills (more on him next week). However, the team ended up going back to Taylor. And then Taylor was benched for Mills, who looked productive towards the end of the season.
That is always going to tough on a rookie wide receiver. It was also made worse that there was not a ton of veteran presence on this team either. Other than Brandin Cooks, the Texans were bereft of talent at most positions.
However, when Collins’ number was called, he certainly contributed. And in a positive way. He ended up with 33-446-1 on the season, from 14 games. Which, considering everything, is a reasonably healthy return.
From Week 7 onwards, he only dropped below a 60% snap share just once (59% in Week 11 vs Tennessee). It shows he had the trust of the quarterbacks and the coaching staff.
What is his 2022 outlook?
On the surface, it does look like he will be a contributor in 2022. However, this team is in turmoil. We do not, as of yet, know who will be the coach of the team (as Coach Culley was fired at the end of the 2021 season), who the starting quarterback will be, or what this roster will even look like in 2022.
Last season, the Texans signed more Free Agents than any other team. And, some Texans beat writers expect it to be similar again this year.
Whilst we know Collins can play, and contribute, I would hold off doing anything with him until we know more about the Deshaun Watson situation. And, I would advise waiting for the draft to see what else the Texans are likely to do.
Having said all that, I do believe he could be a potential steal in Dynasty right now. Many people will cite the above as reasons to sell. However, if Watson remains in Houston, and they don’t add much to this wide receiver room, Collins could have WR3 value come draft season. I wouldn’t pay a king’s ransom for him. But if you can tempt someone into a third or late second for him, he could be worth a gamble.
Anthony Schwartz (WR – CLE)
- Team: Cleveland Browns
- Draft: Round 3, Pick 91
- 2021 ADP: WR139
How did he do?
Schwartz had a difficult season in 2021. He only caught 10 of his 23 targets for 135 yards and a touchdown. He wasn’t alone with struggles in Cleveland. Baker Mayfield took a step back in 2021, and the Browns finally sent Odell Beckham Jr. packing after a couple of disruptive, yet unspectacular years in Cleveland.
In truth, there isn’t a lot to glean out of Schwartz’s season. Especially given the whole offense struggled at getting the ball downfield and through the air.
However, there are some alarming concerns when it comes to looking at Schwartz going forward. First, he never played on 60% of snaps in any game this season. Whilst that might not have been a surprise when OBJ was on the roster, the fact he didn’t get more playing time after he left is a concern.
Then there are his workout metrics. According to PlayerProfiler.com, Schwartz tested in the 23rd percentile in burst score, 32nd percentile in agility score, and 31st percentile in catch radius. Seeing as all of these are huge telling when you have a quarterback who struggles with accuracy and throwing the deep ball.
Schwartz is a speedster, and there is no doubt he was taken due to his 4.32 40 time. However, this Browns offense is not suited to Schwartz’s profile or traits.
What is his 2022 outlook?
Sadly, it’s hardly likely Schwartz will garner himself a role that will make him fantasy relevant. He has blistering speed, and he could even have the odd week or two that he really pops off. However, it is unlikely he is going to provide any stability or reliability to your fantasy roster in 2022.
I have no doubt most fantasy players will leave him alone, just like they did last year.
Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR – DET)
- Team: Detroit Lions
- Draft: Round 4, Pick 112
- 2021 ADP: WR71
Amon-Ra St. Brown is the reason why fantasy analysts have a job. Of all the dart throws in this list for drafts last summer, he was the one analysts were pushing on players to take a punt on.
St. Brown fell down draft boards due to a pretty poor 40 time at the combine, clocking a 4.66. However, he was in the 86th percentile for burst and showed great agility also.
The other thing that people liked about him was he was on the Lions. The Lions in 2021 were always going to be terrible and lose a lot of games. That meant a lot of pass attempts. However, they had no truly recognized WR1 going into the season. Which meant, if St. Brown could flash and make plays, he would get the ball more.
It certainly took some time. If you were a St. Brown owner in redraft, you probably dropped him quite early. And for good reason. In Dynasty, you would have held him on your taxi or your bench, and not given him another thought.
The Lions through 12 games were terrible. They were 0-11-1 and people were talking about them as one of the truly worst teams the NFL has ever seen.
However, ever so slowly, they started to believe and get confidence. And then in Week 13, everything changed, for both the Lions and for St. Brown.
St. Brown became the hero as he caught the winning touchdown as he finished with a 10-86-1 day. The confidence of catching the game-winning touchdown as time expired only began to grow the confidence of St. Brown. That day, a potential star was born in the NFL.
In those final six games, St. Brown went for 51-560-5 with 61-1 on the ground and a 2pt conversion. His weekly fantasy finishes in that span, starting from that game against the Vikings in Week 13 went as follows: 6th, 26th, 6th, 6th, 2nd, and 9th. Over that span, he finished just below Cooper Kupp as the WR2 in scoring, a full 25 points ahead of Davante Adams in 3rd.
Oh, and to make this span even more impressive, he did it at times with Tim Boyle, long-time Packers backup, throwing him the ball in multiple games due to an injury to starter Jared Goff.
St. Brown will be a player that won a lot of fantasy fans championships in 2021. And, as such, he will be drafted rather highly this year.
What is his 2022 outlook?
All signs point to St. Brown becoming a star in 2022. He will want to show folks that his finish towards the end of the season, and his rookie 90-912-5 season was no fluke.
There is likely to be significant changes in 2022. Will Jared Goff be under centre? Will more weapons be added to this offense? Will Swift take away targets from St. Brown? What will the Lions do in Free Agency?
These are all legitimate questions that will determine the ADP of St. Brown for 2022. However, there is one thing that can be guaranteed. And that is he will be drafted in all formats in 2022, unless he gets injured.
In Dynasty formats, his value will never be higher. You might get some really good offers for him. If you are likely to get multiple picks, including a 1st round pick, then you are going to have to seriously consider it. His value isn’t likely to go up in 2022.
However, there was something about the way he dominated down the stretch that just reminded you of some of the greats to ever play the position.
I would be tempted to just hold him unless someone came in with something crazy. And just watch what happens in 2022. Because there is nothing better in fantasy football than having fun and exciting players on your roster.
And, with Amon-Ra St. Brown, you certainly have fun and exciting in spades.
I hope you enjoyed this deep dive of the Wide Receiver 2021 Rookies. I will be back next week with the 2021 Quarterbacks and Tight Ends.
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Adam Murfet is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Murf, check out his archive and follow him @Murf_NFL.
