Joe Pisapia’s Perfect 2022 Fantasy Football Draft

The 2022 NFL season is approaching, which means it’s time to prepare for your fantasy football draft. Of course, there’s no better way to do that than to practice drafting with our free mock draft simulator! Beyond our tools, we will have you covered throughout the draft prep season with our content.

The goal of every fantasy football manager is to complete the perfect draft. Impossible, you say? Let’s call it a stretch goal and strive for fantasy football glory. Here’s Joe Pisapia’s perfect 2022 fantasy football draft.

Joe Pisapia’s Perfect 2022 Fantasy Football Draft

Approach to Round 1

Early-Round Players to Target

• Justin Jefferson (WR – MIN): I want elite wide receivers that give me weekly floor and upside. Justin Jefferson clearly has shown he can be your fantasy cornerstone.
• Derrick Henry (RB – TEN): I still believe in Derrick Henry. He’s simply not built like any other backs who have faded under massive workloads, nor does he have the same college tire tread many of his peers enter the NFL with, like Saquon Barkley.

Mid-Round Players to Target

• Dalvin Cook (RB- MIN): Dalvin cook may miss a game here and there, but he’s an all-purpose yard monster and his TD total should restabilize in this new, more aggressive Vikings offense.
• Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN): As hard as it is to believe, Ja’Marr Chase has room to improve in 2022. His rookie season was stunning, and he could very well end up the WR1 overall this season.

Late-Round Players to Target

• Davante Adams (WR – LV): If Davante Adams makes it to the turn, I’ll take him every single time. He’s still elite, and Derek Carr is capable of keeping him in elite fantasy relevance.
• D’Andre Swift (RB- DET): The Lions are going to run the ball and play defense. they’re also going to throw a ton to D’Andre Swift. That means he could have top 5 overall upside by season’s end.

Approach to Round 2

Early-Round Players to Target

• Javonte Williams (RB – DEN): Melvin Gordon aside, I’m investing in the younger, more explosive back in the Denver offense, and that’s Javonte Williams.
• Stefon Diggs (RB – BUF): The sequel fell short of the unsustainable year one in Buffalo, but Diggs is still about as steady an investment as you can make.

Mid-Round Players to Target

• CeeDee Lamb (WR – DAL): Perhaps I was a year early on CeeDee Lamb, but I am going back down the WR1 well again with him based on talent and available target share.
• Nick Chubb (RB – CLE): Nick Chubb may finally have a QB who can move the chains and open up more scoring opportunities for him.

Late-Round Players to Target

• Javonte Williams (RB – DEN): Javonte Williams is poised to take over the bulk of the Denver backfield in a much improved offense year over year. He’s earmarked for a RB1 finish at a perfect discount.
• Leonard Fournette (RB – TB): A good back who plays in a good offense. Sometimes you just have to keep it simple.

Approach to Round 3

Early-Round Players to Target

• Josh Allen (QB – BUF): Josh Allen is a fantasy difference-maker. Sure, you can wait on QB, but if you know the player pool, you can draft Allen and make it work.
• Mark Andrews (TE – BAL): Mark Andrews is the TE1 coming into the season for me, and he’ll be leaned upon quite a bit in the Baltimore passing attack.

Mid-Round Players to Target

• Michael Pittman (WR – IND): Matt Ryan should make Michael Pittman Jr. a low-end WR1, and that’s a great value in Round 5.
• Mike Williams (WR- LAC): When Mike Williams finally stays healthy this year, he will become the alpha in the Chargers passing game. Keenan Allen is still the steady floor, but Williams can be the boom stick in 2022.

Late-Round Players to Target

• Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL): Kyle Pitts has barely scratched the surface of his potential. Although I don’t like the QB situation in ATL, he’s a massive advantage at the TE position.
• Jaylen Waddle (WR – MIA): Has a very real chance to lead MIA in all receiving categories regardless of Tyreek Hill coming to town.

Round 4 Target

• AJ Dillon (RB – GB): The Aaron Jones window is closing, and AJ Dillon proved he’s up for the work running, receiving and around the goal line. It’s time to invest in the next man up.
• Travis Etienne (RB – MIA): Travis Etienne is the pass catching back, the premium back and the healthiest back on the Jaguars offense. Don’t let James Robinson scare you away from drafting him.

Round 5 Target

• J.K. Dobbins (RB- BAL): The lead back in a run heavy attack set to get goal line work…where do I sign up? Oh Round 5? Cool.
• Gabriel Davis (WR – BUF): Gone are the straggly WRs holding back Gabriel Davis’ growth. He has red zone appeal and more targets in front of his than last season.

Round 6 Target

• Michael Thomas (WR – NO): There’s just too much upside to not draft Michael Thomas in this range. Jameis Winston can get him the football, all Thomas needs to do is get on the field again.
• Jalen Hurts (QB – PHI): The Eagles did a wonderful thing bringing in A.J. Dillon into the fold this off-season. He’s the difference maker WR Hurts desperately needed.

Round 7 Target

• Rashod Bateman (WR – BAL): Rashod Bateman has a unique opportunity in year two for a true breakout and the talent to pull it off.
• Tony Pollard (RB – DAL): Tony Pollard has a meaningful role in the offense, with the upside for even more should Zeke fall off any further.

Round 8 Target

• Hunter Renfrow (WR – LV): Just because Davante Adams is in town doesn’t mean Hunter Renfrow will disappear. Slot receivers are new head coach Josh McDaniels’ specialty.
• Rhamondre Stevenson (RB – NE): Stevenson already showed he’s the bigger, faster back who also catches passes. This New England backfield could be his sooner than later.

Round 9 Target

• Trey Lance (QB – SF): Trey Lance has a top 5 QB fantasy ceiling and is walking into a far better roster than Jalen Hurts was last year as the “darling” fantasy QB of ’21. If you draft Lance, a back up “safe” QB is advised, but he’s the home run swing to take.
• Dameon Pierce (RB – HOU): Dameon Peirce appears to be the three down back in Houston. Regardless of this offense’s shortcoming, that’s very valuable in fantasy.

Round 10 Target

• Chris Olave (WR – NO): Chris Olave is the healthiest WR the Saints have heading into the season.
• Allen Lazard (WR – GB): Who’s the one guy left on the Packers who Aaron Rodgers trusts? It’s Allen Lazard.
• Brian Robinson (RB – WAS): Robinson had a nice season at Alabama and has an opportunity to minimum the goal line back in Washington, with room to grow.

Round 11 Target

• Cole Kmet (TE – CHI): Cole Kmet could easily be the #2 target in the Bears offense, and young QB’s love to check down to the TE position historically.

Round 12 Target

• George Pickens (WR – PIT): Pickens is getting a ton of buzz this camp and if Kenny Pickett makes his way under center sooner than later, Pickens could be a pleasant late round surprise.

Round 13 Target

• Skyy Moore (WR – KC): There’s a path for Skyy Moore to be the No. 1 WR in the Chiefs’ offense this season, and it’ll cost you very little to find out.

Final Round Targets

• Rome Doubs (WR – GB): Sure, this preseason could be a mirage, but if it’s not, the Doubs could be very valuable.
• David Njoku (TE – CLE): A free TE, David Njoku has all the makings of a TE1 now that he has a QB.
• K.J. Osborn (WR – MIN): K.J. Osborn was very good when Adam Thielen was absent last year and could have a huge season if Thielen misses time again.

Joe Pisapia’s 2022 Redraft Fantasy Football Rankings