What’s better than rankings from one top fantasy football expert? Rankings from ALL the top fantasy football experts! You can find just that in our FantasyPros Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR). Let’s take a look at players our experts are targeting.
12 Players the Experts Are Targeting
Quarterbacks
The 49ers have said they are moving on to Trey Lance as their starter in 2022. In the brief two-game sample of Lance starting last year, we got a glimpse at the biggest factor for his fantasy ceiling: the rushing upside. In those two games, Lance averaged 12 carries and 60 yards on the ground as the QB20 and QB10 in weekly scoring. Even with Garoppolo at the helm, the 49ers were sixth in EPA per play and second in yards per play. Lance’s legs give him a top 12-15 fantasy quarterback floor with top-five upside should he light it up through the air.
Running Backs
Breece Hall lands with the New York Jets and should get all the volume he can handle. Michael Carter was immensely productive when healthy and given the opportunity last year, but this type of draft capital speaks volumes. New York deployed inside and outside zone runs on 60% of their rushing snaps last year (per PFF). These run designs are Hall’s bread and butter, as he registered a 36% missed tackles forced rate on outside zone runs in 2021 (per PFF). The Jets should have no issues springing him into space with an offensive line that was 11th in open field yards last season (per Football Outsiders).
A.J. Dillon been the epitome of efficiency since entering the NFL. He is PFF’s fifth-highest-graded running back (90.1).
Rhamondre Stevenson experienced a very successful rookie season that should not be overlooked. After fully escaping the Bill Belichick doghouse in Week 9, Stevenson earned top grades across the board.
He was PFF’s third-highest graded running back (84.2). Stevenson also ranked 13th in rushing yards and in yards per route run (1.41). For fantasy, the rookie running back was the RB25 in total points scored, eight spots behind his backfield teammate Harris.
There’s a high ceiling for Stevenson, especially if you ask former Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich. The ESPN analyst went as far as saying that Stevenson “…will be one of the better, if not one of the top three, running backs in the league based on what I saw with his strength, explosion and catch-and-run ability.”
Despite inking Leonard Fournette to a new three-year deal, resigning Giovani Bernard, and still having incumbent Ke’Shawn Vaughn on the roster, the team spent a third-round draft pick on Rachaad White. White followed up his final season at Arizona State, where he racked up 3.38 yards after contact per attempt and 2.25 yards per route run (ninth, minimum 20 targets per PFF) by blowing up the combine. White finished with an 84th percentile speed score and 87th percentile burst score. This looks like a crowded backfield on paper, but the team has shown the willingness to utilize one back as a do-it-all rusher and receiver. This would leave White as the Uncle Len backup plan with workhorse upside if the injury bug bit Fournette.
Isaiah Spiller might have fallen to the fourth round, but the landing spot could be a fantasy gold mine. Austin Ekeler is entering his age 27 season and can become an unrestricted free agent in 2024. If the team chose to move on from him next year, they could save nearly six million dollars against the cap by cutting him. Ekeler has dealt with an ankle sprain, concussion, quad strain, hamstring strain, and knee hyperextension costing him six games since 2020. The Chargers have scoring chances to go around as they were second in red-zone scoring attempts per game last season. Since Melvin Gordon‘s departure, the Bolts have been yearning for a running mate to team with Ekeler. Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree weren’t up to the task, but Spiller could be. With the opportunity to earn a role in year one, Spiller could be a nice dynasty equity gain and trade chip midseason, even if you aren’t a believer in the talent.
Wide Receivers
Gabriel Davis averaged 19.8 fantasy points per game (PPR) and 16.0 expected fantasy points per game in his last six games while running a route on 88% of dropbacks as the Bills finally emphasized his playing time in the offense.
As a strong bet to earn the No. 2 wide receiver job come opening day, Davis has a legitimate shot to be a reliable fantasy option in a Josh Allen-led offense in 2022.
The Baltimore Ravens traded Marquise Brown to the Arizona Cardinals this offseason, opening the WR1 role on offense. Bateman has the opportunity to step in and be the true No. 1 wide receiver for Lamar Jackson (QB – BAL) in 2022 and beyond.
With Brown’s 23% target share departure, Bateman can seize a massive role for fantasy as a high-end WR2. 2022 is Shoddy B breakout SZN.
Drake London arrives in Atlanta to give Kyle Pitts a run for his money as the Falcons’ target leader in 2022. In his final season at USC, London gobbled up looks, averaging a mind-melting 14.8 targets, 11 receptions, and 135.5 receiving yards. He’s primed to vacuum up opportunities in his rookie season as a versatile wide receiver that ranked fifth in yards per route run among FBS wide receivers last year (minimum 50 targets per PFF). The rookie wide receiver explosion in recent years could easily continue with the London liftoff this season.
It remains to be seen how the Giants’ new coaching staff is viewing Kadarius Toney heading into Year 2. They were rumored to trade the polarizing wide receiver before the NFL Draft, and the selection of Wan’Dale Robinson early in Round 2 isn’t a vote of confidence that is going to see an ultra-expanded role in Year 2.
However, what is clear with Toney is the talent. He flashed future target-magnet potential after commanding a 25% target rate per route run in 2021 – tied for 7th best in the NFL in 2021.
This is a best-case scenario for Treylon Burks‘ dynasty hope. Burks now assumes the possible top spot in the Titans’ passing attack. This scheme was designed for a similar archetype of wide receiver before him in A.J. Brown. Burks, the question has never been raw talent, but how that talent would transition to the NFL. The A.J. Brown treatment with screens and yards after the catch opportunities should be paramount for Todd Downing.
Tight Ends
Albert Okwuegbunam tied for the third-highest target rate per route run in the NFL last season (23%). Now entrenched as the presumed full-time starter with Noah Fant traded to the Seattle Seahawks this offseason, the uber-athletic tight end can break out in Year 3.
It bodes well in Albert O’s favor that Noah Fant finished last season as the TE12 while the duo played in 14 games together.
FantasyPros Staff Consensus 2022 Redraft Fantasy Football Rankings
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