Gerald Everett is impressing his new team early. Several people feel he’s ready for a career year. Will he be the latest tight end breakout? Let’s dig into his 2022 fantasy football outlook.
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Gerald Everett possibly due for ‘career season,’ per The Athletic
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Gerald Everett “could be poised for a career season” during his first year with the team, according to Daniel Popper of Th Athletic. (Source: The Athletic)
Fantasy Impact: Everett replaces veteran Jared Cook, meaning Los Angeles will now have a more explosive YAC option at the tight end position than they have had in years past. Popper notes that the Chargers plan to get Everett involved with a variety of looks “from screens to flat routes to jet sweeps.” The 27-year-old had a strong 2021 campaign with Seattle, catching 48 passes for 478 yards and four touchdowns while finishing as the TE21. With a bigger role in store, Everett has borderline top-12 tight end upside.
Gerald Everett 2022 Fantasy Football Outlook
Gerald Everett was solid during stretches of the 2021 season, particularly after Russell Wilson returned from injury. The ex-Rams tight end ranked as the TE9 in fantasy points per game (PPR) from Weeks 10-16 while running a route on 74% of dropbacks.
Everett proved he can be a featured No. 1 tight end for the Chargers coming off a career year. He achieved career-highs in receptions (48) and receiving yards (478) and wreaked havoc with the ball in his hands, forcing 11 missed tackles after the catch – sixth-most among tight ends.
His peripheral metrics in Seattle’s offense – 12% target share, 63% route participation and 17% target rate per route run – were nearly identical to Jared Cook on the Chargers’ offense last season.
Cook finished as TE16 overall which seems like Everett’s fantasy floor heading into 2022. The tackle-breaking tight end finished the 2021 season just .4 points per game short of Cook’s average (8.3 versus 7.9) despite playing in an offense that ranked dead last in pass attempts per game (29.1).
L.A. ranked third in that category last season (39.6).
Breakout tight ends are generally athletic players who earn above-average route participation in high-powered offenses. Everett fits the profile of next season’s star at the position.
– Andrew Erickson
2022 Consensus Best Ball Rankings
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