With the 2022 NFL Draft officially in the rearview mirror, we can finally assess who landed in ideal scenarios and improved their fantasy value in the process. Talent wins out and is the most important part of evaluating inbound rookie players, but landing spots do matter, and it’s important to determine which players landed in systems that can allow them to flourish.
Today, let’s look at five wide receivers selected by teams that were the best matches for fantasy football value moving forward.
Chris Olave was one of the most polished and pro-ready wide receivers heading into this year’s NFL Draft, and landing with the New Orleans Saints will allow him to showcase his talents immediately. The Saints were desperate for someone who could demand a healthy share of targets opposite of Michael Thomas, and Olave fits the bill perfectly. He’s a smooth, fluid athlete who can win at all three levels of the field and, maybe most notably, can shine in a downfield role.
While Jameis Winston might not be the most efficient or prolific option at quarterback, we have seen him show a willingness to push the ball downfield on countless occasions. Olave will also benefit from opposing defenses not being able to key in on him alone since he’ll be sharing the field with Thomas and Alvin Kamara out of the backfield.
At multiple points this offseason, the New York Jets made it clear that they intended to add another playmaker for Zach Wilson. After missing out on both Tyreek Hill and Deebo Samuel, the Jets opted to select Garrett Wilson with the tenth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Potentially the best route runner in his draft class, Wilson is a prime candidate to come in and be a productive receiver for the Jets’ young offense from day one.
Similar to Olave, he finds himself in a situation where there are other receivers around him (Elijah Moore and Corey Davis) to help pull coverage away from him in his rookie season. There are over 120 vacated targets in the Jets’ offense following the departures of Jamison Crowder and Keelan Cole. If Wilson can stay healthy, it’s reasonable to expect he can eclipse 100 targets as a rookie, and a top-24 finish at the wide receiver position is in play. He is locked in as a high-end WR2 in dynasty formats with the potential for even more.
After deciding to trade Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders leading up to the NFL Draft, it was an absolute must for Green Bay to add another wide receiver for Aaron Rodgers and the offense. The Packers are betting on traits with Christian Watson, as he’s not the most refined receiver in the class. Still, he walks into a situation offering a massive opportunity led by a four-time NFL MVP in Rodgers.
Outside of adding Sammy Watkins during free agency, the Packers’ most notable move to replace Adams is the drafting of Watson. He is going to get as much work as he can handle. The size-speed phenom will be aided in his adjustment from North Dakota State to the professional ranks by playing with one of the best quarterbacks of all time.
It’s easy to see the dream marriage here. Similar to how Watson landed with a premier quarterback in Rodgers, Skyy Moore finds himself in the enviable position of landing with one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Patrick Mahomes. In what was one of the craziest offseasons in recent memory regarding player movement, the Chiefs opted to move on from superstar wide receiver Tyreek Hill, and Moore is the major addition to begin rebuilding their wide receiver room.
The Chiefs also signed JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency, who will undeniably receive work in the short term, but Moore is the future of the wide receiver position for the Chiefs. There are areas of Moore’s game that still need work, but he can step in from day one and be a credible deep threat at worst. The potential is there for so much more, and he will get every opportunity to prove it with plenty of targets available following Hill’s departure.
If you’re sensing a theme here, it’s that opportunity is king, especially when paired with a premier quarterback. Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs headline the Bills passing attack, but other receiving options are going to need to be relied upon regularly. This team threw the ball over 650 times in 2021, and they don’t look set to slow down the pace any time soon. There are over 180 vacated targets following the departures of Cole Beasley and Emmanuel Sanders, so multiple players are going to need to step into that opportunity.
While Gabriel Davis looks set to see an expanded role, Khalil Shakir could easily establish himself as the primary option out of the slot before the season’s end. He can handle a healthy share of receiving work, as evidenced by racking up 77 receptions for 1,117 yards for Boise State in 2021. During the offseason, the Bills did add Jamison Crowder, who will likely start the season as the slot receiver for the Bills, but Shakir is the future of that role on a high-powered Buffalo offense.
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