It’s never too early to begin your fantasy football prep and start figuring out what expert consensus rankings you can’t agree with. We’re still ahead of the NFL Draft and the uncertainty that brings, which means there’s tons of value being overlooked right now. We’re early enough in the year to where the consensus may still be penalizing players too harshly for disappointing seasons. Some out there may also fail to fully realize how much particular athletes’ circumstances have changed and rank them higher than they should, especially if they overachieved in 2021. Which players do our featured experts disagree with their peers on the most? Find out below!
Q1. Which half-PPR RB consensus ranking do you disagree with the most?
Nick Chubb (CLE): ECR – RB9 | Leonard Fournette (TB): ECR – RB12
“Nick Chubb is too high at RB9. Yes, he’s the best pure rusher in the class, but the underwhelming receiving usage and limited workload make it difficult for me to buy him as a top-eight guy. He was RB10 in points per game last season and has never finished better than RB6 in full-point PPR per game scoring. Leonard Fournette is ranked too low at RB12 after ranking fifth in fantasy points and fourth in expected fantasy points per game before his Week 15 injury, leading all running backs in receptions (62) over that span. ”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
James Conner (ARI): ECR – RB16
“James Conner sitting outside the top 12 running backs in ECR (RB16) is blasphemous. He’s the RB11 in my rankings, and I could even be too low on him. As the Cardinals’ starter in Weeks 9-14, he was the RB2 in fantasy scoring. He averaged 21.8 touches and 114.4 total yards per game. Conner was also 10th in routes run (100, per PFF) among running backs in this stretch. He’s reprising his role as their do it all workhorse, and as such, he’s a locked-in top 10-12 option among running backs. ”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
Elijah Mitchell (SF): ECR – RB22
“Elijah Mitchell for what he was able to do last season is too low to be RB 22. Mitchell is in one of the best offenses for running backs, and with the departure of Raheem Mostert, the starting role is his to take. He was able to produce six RB1 performances in just 11 games played and eight games over 80 rushing yards. The hopeful new mobile starting quarterback in Trey Lance should help open running lanes for Mitchell to succeed.”
– Steven Pintado (The Fantasy Coaches)
Damien Harris (NE): ECR – RB16
“It seems fanciful to have Damien Harris at RB23. So much of his 2021 fantasy value was derived from his 15 touchdowns. James White was out all season, and Rhamondre Stevenson spent the first quarter of the regular season in Bill Belichick’s doghouse after a Week 1 fumble. Now, White is going to take most of the passing-down snaps, and Harris is going to share early-down work with Stevenson, who might be the better player. Harris is unlikely to score 10 touchdowns, let alone another 15, and his yardage outlook is murky.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Alvin Kamara (NO): ECR – RB10
“I can’t get on board with Alvin Kamara as a top-10 RB any longer. Aside from the potential suspension that may come due to the incident on Pro Bowl weekend, there are more far-reaching concerns about the Saints’ offense. Kamara only averaged 3.7 rushing yards per game last year behind a slowly-degrading offensive line that just lost Terron Armstead in free agency. The QB isn’t mistake-free Drew Brees but Jameis Winston coming off ACL surgery, and Sean Payton isn’t there to man the ship either. Kamara also has missed multiple games due to injury in two of the past three seasons. All told, there are too many red flags to ignore.”
– Pierre Camus (RotoBaller)
Saquon Barkley (NYG): ECR – RB18
“Saquon Barkley: A fluke ankle injury ruined Barkley’s 2021. With HC Brian Daboll in place and still no legit RB competition rostered, Barkley’s 2022 outlook looks much better. Keep in mind that the Giants can upgrade the O-line with 1 of their 2 first-round selections. Only 25 and in a contract year, I can see Barkley delivering a top-10 season.”
– Kevin English (Draft Sharks)
Q2. Which half-PPR WR consensus ranking do you disagree with the most?
Allen Lazard (GB): ECR – WR58
“While Green Bay is poised to add a wide receiver in the draft (or multiple), currently, that’s just a projection and not reality. This leads me to Allen Lazard’s ranking (WR58). Lazard is my WR43, and you can make an easy case to push him higher. Even with the team adding more pass-catching talent in the upcoming weeks, he could still be the leading guy. Since 2019 (per PFF), Rodgers has peppered the short areas of the field, with targets ranking inside the top 13 in passing attempts within nine yards of the line of scrimmage. Over this same span, Lazard has been hyper-efficient close to the line, ranking, 25th, first, and seventh in yards per route run (per PFF, minimum 20 targets). Lazard is a WR4 with the upside for much more in 2022. ”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
Tyreek Hill (MIA): ECR – WR9
“Tyreek Hill at WR9 is way too rich for my blood. it’s undeniable that going from Patrick Mahomes to Tua Tagovailoa is a massive downgrade for Hill. Tagovailoa has yet to show that he can properly fuel a fantasy WR1, so it’s hard to expect Hill to deliver a top-10 season with a lesser passer. Especially with a prominent running game and Jaylen Waddle also heavily involved in the offense game plan. Hill was WR7 in points per game last season with Mahomes; Waddle ranked 21st. ”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Allen Robinson (LAR): ECR – WR29
“Allen Robinson is the WR29 in early consensus rankings but I have him at WR20. There’s no way a receiver who is 28 years old and a year removed from 102 catches for 1,250 yards has simply fallen off. It’s clear that the coaching staff and A-Rob not wanting to play there under the franchise tag were the real issues. With Matthew Stafford as his QB, the best he will ever have had the pleasure of catching passes from, and Cooper Kupp drawing defensive attention away, it wouldn’t surprise me if Robinson had the best season of his career.”
– Pierre Camus (RotoBaller)
Chris Godwin (TB): ECR – WR19
“It pains me to fade Chris Godwin, but his ECR is WR19, and I have him at WR31 in my half-point PPR rankings. Godwin tore his ACL on Dec. 19. It’s not a lock that he’ll be ready to go for Week 1, and even if he is, it’s entirely possible he won’t be at 100% for the first month or two. The Buccaneers’ offseason signing of WR Russell Gage may have been at least partly inspired by doubts about Godwin’s early-season availability. Even if that’s not the case, Gage represents additional target competition for Godwin, who was already sharing targets with Mike Evans. I’m completely off Godwin at this price.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Treylon Burks (Rookie): ECR – WR83
“Treylon Burks: Burks projects safely inside Round 1, so his immediate usage will likely be sizable. Beyond the draft capital, I think he has the ideal size (6-2, 225) and skill set to make a year 1 impact. (The A.J. Brown comps are lofty but realistic.) Pre-draft, Burks is a top-60 WR for me — and I expect him to rise come May.”
– Kevin English (Draft Sharks)
Amari Cooper (CLE): ECR – WR20
“Amari Cooper’s talent and opportunity in Cleveland is being overlooked. The number one target on the offense is sitting at WR21 in the rankings. We still don’t know about Deshaun Watson, but the more I’m hearing that playing a 17-game season is more likely. Watson has been able to continually produce top-tier wide receivers over his career. A receiver that is likely to see 120-plus targets in a strong offense should be higher in rankings.”
– Steven Pintado (The Fantasy Coaches)
Thank you to the experts for naming their early rankings standouts. Be sure to give them a follow on Twitter if you’re not already doing so and check out our latest podcast below for more great advice.
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