Here are late-round draft picks our analysts are targeting in their 2022 fantasy football drafts. You can find all of the players they are targeting and avoiding through the links below, which are included in our full 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.
Players to Target & Avoid
- Matthew Freedman: (Target | Avoid)
- Pat Fitzmaurice: (Target | Avoid)
- Derek Brown: (Target | Avoid)
- Andrew Erickson: (Target | Avoid)
- Joe Pisapia: (Target | Avoid)
Beyond our fantasy football content, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you prepare for your draft this season. From our free mock Draft Simulator – which allows you to mock draft against realistic opponents – to our Draft Assistant – that optimizes your picks with expert advice – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football draft season.
Trey Lance (QB – SF)
The Trey Lance era has finally begun after reports surfaced that the 49ers have decided to move on from Jimmy Garoppolo… even if he remains on the roster.
Garoppolo’s shoulder surgery is the only reason he hasn’t been traded. Once he is deemed healthy, I’d presume he gets moved to a QB-needy team or to a roster that sustains an injury at the position.
That sets the stage for Lance to start in Year 2 and smash for fantasy football.
Lance only started two games but showed off the rushing that excited fantasy managers during draft season. The 49ers’ first-year signal-caller averaged 22.4 expected fantasy points and 60 rushing yards per game.
He’s got league-winning upside as a late-round quarterback often available outside the top-12 drafted quarterbacks.
– Andrew Erickson
Justin Fields (QB – CHI)
Justin Fields has plummeted to QB17 in ADP. Everyone is afraid of the situation in Chicago. But don’t forget that a washed-up Cam Newton went from irrelevant to a top-12 ranked QB in one week last year because of rushing production.
Fields finished as a top-12 fantasy quarterback in his last four full games in 2021, averaging 21.7 fantasy points per game. He also averaged 56 rushing yards per game over his last six. All in all, Fields averaged 35 rushing yards per game during his rookie season. The last three rookie QBs to do so? Newton, Josh Allen, and Robert Griffin III. They all finished as top-12 fantasy quarterbacks in their second seasons, with the two former QBs finishing top six.
It won’t take long for the narrative to spin on the talented Fields after he starts the season hot out of the gates. Five of the Bears’ first six matchups are against secondaries that are the weak part of their respective defense, lost talent in free agency, and/or are unproven. In Week 1, Fields takes on the 49ers. He rushed for over 100 yards against them last season.
– Andrew Erickson
Tua Tagovailoa (QB – MIA)
With a stocked skill position depth chart and remade offensive line, Tua Tagovailoa is set to prove all the haters wrong. The Tagovailoa shade has been an interesting subject to dissect because it has little merit from a numbers standpoint. Last year Tagovailoa was an efficiency machine, ranking 12th in under pressure accuracy, fifth in clean pocket accuracy and sixth in deep-ball accuracy per Playerprofiler.com.
Yes, he rarely went deep last year, ranking 33rd out of 35 qualifying quarterbacks in deep passing rate, but problems along the offensive line and a lack of receiving weapons are also part of the equation. Tagovailoa suffered behind a line that was 14th in adjusted sack rate while throwing to a depth chart that consisted of a banged-up DeVante Parker, Jaylen Waddle, Mike Gesicki and replacement-level players. The additions of Tyreek Hill, Cedrick Wilson, Terron Armstead and Connor Williams will help immensely. The Dolphins will run the ball a good bit this year, but that doesn’t mean Tagovailoa can’t continue his highly efficient ways and outproduce his ADP.
– Derek Brown
Daniel Jones (QB – NYG)
In Superflex leagues or in formats where it makes sense to draft a backup QB, Jones is an appealing off-brand option. But, unfortunately, the three-year veteran has become a fantasy football pariah, in part because this guy drafted him:
How I feel about the keyboard analysts right now: pic.twitter.com/G7GfUCxis0
— Dave Gettleman (@dave_gettleman) March 13, 2019
Jones was coached by Joe Judge, Jason Garrett and Freddie Kitchens last year. That’s not a recipe for success. He now comes under the tutelage of new Giants HC Brian Daboll, who turned Josh Allen from a scatter-armed project into the most fearsome offensive weapon in the league.
Jones is no Allen, of course. Allen has a cannon attached to his shoulder. Jones’ arm is more of a slingshot. But like Allen, Jones is a dangerous runner. He also has an interesting group of receivers in Kadarious Toney, Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson.
As Konami Code quarterbacks go, Jones is a cheap one, and the coaching change offers hope that he will take a significant step forward.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
FantasyPros Staff Consensus 2022 Redraft Fantasy Football Rankings
