The 2022 NFL Draft is in the books, and it was one of the wildest ones I’ve ever seen myself. Players went much earlier than expected, and players fell much later than expected. For fantasy managers, there were lots of players that went from definite starters to definite bench warmers.
Not only did a lot of players go late in the draft, but there were also a significant number of players that didn’t get drafted at all. Some of these players were likely drafted in the second or third rounds of drafts prior to the draft, but now they’re on the fringe. With that in mind, here is my single-round draft of UDFA players you should look at with your last pick.
1.01 – Justyn Ross (WR – KC)
If you’re looking for a longshot player with tons of upside, look no further than former Clemson WR Justyn Ross. That already high upside went up even further once he signed with the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes. He’s not guaranteed to make the roster, and his health issues cause me some concern, but if you’re looking at the UDFA group he’s easily the cream of the crop to me.
1.02 – Abram Smith (RB – NO)
Next up is my top UDFA running back in this class: Abram Smith. He lands with New Orleans and has the potential to make the roster based on the depth chart he’s stepping into. The Saints have Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram currently on the roster as their starting options. Behind that, it’s muddy, and Abram showed that he was talented enough at Baylor to carry the load if given the chance. If he shines in OTAs and in the preseason, he should make the roster and be in line for carries should an injury happen ahead of him.
1.03 – Carson Strong (QB – PHI)
The top QB in the UDFA class is easily Carson Strong out of Nevada. He also lands in one of the places where the current QB could be on a short leash in Philadelphia. If Jalen Hurts struggles at all, they could easily turn to Strong to see what they have in him. The Eagles also just traded for stud WR AJ Brown. If Strong were to get some starting snaps, Brown is a terrific weapon to lean on for the rookie. His upside makes him easily worth a look late in drafts.
1.04 – ZaQuandre White (RB – MIA)
The other Z White in this draft was ZaQuandre out of South Carolina. While Zamir went to the Las Vegas Raiders in the fourth, ZaQuandre was left wanting after the draft. He was eventually signed by the Miami Dolphins, and that landing spot drives him up to fourth in my draft here. White could become a part-time starter as soon as this year, much like how current teammate Philip Lindsay went from undrafted to fantasy relevant. Who better to teach him how than Lindsay himself, right? He’s a deeper flier, of course, but someone I think can return the value of a late-round rookie pick if things fall the right way.
1.05 – Jalen Wydermyer (TE – BUF)
Wydermyer was one of my favorite tight end prospects entering the NFL Draft, but apparently, the NFL teams saw something I didn’t. He ended up being left behind and had to wait until after the draft to get a contract. When he did, he landed with the Buffalo Bills, a team that is a perennial contender but who also has plenty of depth at tight end. Along with fantasy riser Dawson Knox, the team also signed OJ Howard in free agency. This makes Wydermyer’s path to fantasy relevance a little tougher, but it’s possible that he shows what he’s got, and another team snipes him from the Bills’ practice squad before the season. These players are long shots, so I don’t mind taking a shot on a TE in TE premium leagues, at least.
1.06 – Master Teague (RB – CHI)
Teague is a strange one. Two years ago, he looked like a solid first or second-round option, but now that he’s in the NFL, he gets zero draft capital to speak of. He does, however, land in a situation that could give him a chance to shine if the cards go the right way. He’s going to have to beat out some stiff competition to make the Bears’ final roster, but he might do enough to warrant some attention from other teams in the process. Much like Wydermyer, I’m banking on the talent here and feel like he’s a top-six UDFA option as of today.
1.07 – Jerrion Ealy (WR – KC)
The Chiefs running back room was already a little cloudy heading into the draft, but now it’s a full-on storm. The team drafted Isiah Pacheco in the 7th round of the draft and then signed Ole Miss RB Jerrion Ealy as a UDFA. The team plans on starting Clyde Edwards-Helaire, but the depth chart behind him is chock full of potential players for fantasy. Ronald Jones and Derrick Gore both showed flashes of talent last year as well. That being said, Ealy has a shot to prove all the doubters wrong and make the 53-man roster, in my opinion.
1.08 – D’Eriq King (QB/WR – NE)
The pure Swiss Army Knife. That’s how many have described King. He went undrafted potentially because he isn’t a pure wide receiver in terms of what the NFL usually looks for, but he’s also not a pure quarterback. His potential upside at either position gives him some value that other players just can’t get to. The Patriots signed him as a UDFA, potentially as a receiver, but honestly, who knows. Whatever position he plays, he’s someone I’m keeping an eye on as the next Taysom Hill archetype. Lots of potential and a crazy high ceiling.
1.09 – Kalil Pimpleton (WR – DET)
Pimpleton’s dreams of being drafted were dashed when he wasn’t selected, but his dream of playing NFL ball is still alive. On top of that, he’s playing for his hometown Lions. Pimpleton has played his entire career in the state of Michigan, most recently at Central Michigan University. If nothing else, being signed to your local team has to get the competitive juices flowing, which makes him worth a flier to me later in some drafts where I want to go for a lottery ticket option.
1.10 – Max Borghi (RB – IND)
Ah, what could have been. After his monstrous 2019 season, Borghi was a top 10 running back in some devy circles. Unfortunately, he was hit with the injury bug, which derailed his entire 2020 campaign, albeit a short season anyway. He returned in 2021 and ran for 5.5 yards per carry over 12 games but didn’t really do enough to impress the scouts to get drafted. He’s seen the top, but now that he’s at the bottom, he should have the drive to get back there, making him a good flier pick in Indianapolis. He won’t take the job from Jonathan Taylor, but he could be a good change of pace option if he makes the roster.
1.11 – Charleston Rambo (WR – CAR)
1.12 – Kevin Austin (WR – JAC)
These last two receivers are on the list primarily because they landed with teams that could provide them with an opportunity to show off in the preseason. Both Rambo and Austin are talented enough to play at the top level, but their games both need a little refining to become fantasy relevant. If all of the cards fall right in the offseason, they could squeak onto a roster and be worthy of being rostered in fantasy as well. Keep an eye on them as we start to see reports out of training camps.
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