2022 fantasy football tips – Page 12

Jacksonville Jaguars running backs: What to expect in fantasy football

Will one back emerge as the primary weapon in Duval County?

Coming off yet another unmitigated disaster of a season, the Jacksonville Jaguars at least head into 2022 with the appearance of stability after Urban Meyer’s embarrassing tenure. To replace Meyer, the Jags tabbed Doug Pederson as their head coach; Pederson compiled a 42-37-1 record in five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and led the team to a Super Bowl title in 2017.

While this is a breakdown of the Jaguars running back situation, it’s important to note the presence of Pederson because of what his Eagles tenure tells us about how he likes to use his backs. During those five years in Philly, Pederson never had an running back top 180 carries or 900 yards in a single season. As such, we should expect a committee approach in Jacksonville. Now the questions become who will lead that committee? And what type of fantasy value should we anticipate?

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Dak Prescott vs. Jalen Hurts: Which quarterback should you draft?

If you had to draft one in fantasy football, which would it be?

The battle to win the NFC East is expected to be a two-horse race between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles. Perhaps no two players will have as much of a say in which team ends up with the NFC crown as quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Jalen Hurts.

Prescott has been handsomely compensated to bring a Lombardi Trophy back to Dallas for the first time since Troy Aikman was at the wheel. Hurts is facing a watershed season in his career to prove he can be a complete quarterback instead of a runner with a quarterback’s number. With Hurts getting more weapons and Prescott losing his most seasoned one, the battle is closer now.

Fantasy football: Russell Wilson can get the most out of Denver’s wideouts

How will this deep WR corps shake out for fantasy footballers?

One of the biggest moves of the offseason was the Denver Broncos’ acquisition of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in late March. While the price was steep — three players and five draft picks — the veteran provides the team with stability at a position that has been in constant flux since Peyton Manning retired after winning the Super Bowl in 2015.

Even though Wilson leaves behind one of the NFL’s top one-two punches in Seahawks wide receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, the cupboards aren’t exactly bare in Denver where they have a trio of former early-round picks in Jerry Jeudy (1st in 2020), Courtland Sutton (2nd in 2018), and KJ Hamler (2nd in 2020) as well as Tim Patrick. Hamler appears to be on the outside looking in for targets right now with the other three likely serving as Wilson’s top targets in 2022.

Fantasy football preview: Green Bay Packers wide receivers

Post-Davante Adams, how will Green Bay’s receiving corps shake out?

For the past four seasons, the connection between Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Davante Adams was arguably the best in football. A year ago, it seemed that partnership might dissolve amid Rodgers’ drama with the team.

While those fences were mended, Adams was dealt to the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason after not coming to terms on a long-term pact. In addition, No. 2 receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling departed in free agency, signing with the Kansas City Chiefs.

With his longtime safety net and premier deep threat both gone, Rodgers will need to adjust on the fly to a group that’s primarily a mix unproven and past-their-prime options. The biggest additions are second-round pick Christian Watson, who rated as one of the best pure athletes at receiver in the past 30-plus years, and Sammy Watkins, the talented but oft injured veteran. Holdovers include Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Amari Rodgers.

While it’s always possible that a second-year jump from Rodgers or unexpectedly quick ascension from someone like fourth-rounder Romeo Doubs could shake things up, for now we’ll focus on the quartet of Lazard, Watson, Cobb, and Watkins.

Fantasy football injury outlook: WR Jameson Williams, Lions

When can fantasy football owners expect Williams’ debut?

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (knee) is not expected to be on the field when training camp opens for rookies Saturday, July 23. The first-round pick in April’s NFL draft ranks among the top players at the position, so it’s no surprise the coaching staff isn’t keen on rushing their franchise weapon back too soon from a January ACL tear.

Head coach Dan Campbell was asked on June 9 about Williams’ expected availability for camp, responding, “I don’t see him being ready for training camp. I don’t see that. I’m very hopeful, but I don’t see it. We’re going to do this thing the right way and when he’s ready, he’ll be ready. But, no, I don’t feel like you’re going to see him out there Day 1,” Campbell said.

Typically speaking, a player is physically recovered from knee reconstruction between six and nine months, which would put Week 1 of the regular season in jeopardy on the long end of things. Modern science has assisted players in returning sooner than in the past, where needing nine months to a year generally served as the target range.

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The tricky part no one can forecast is just how long it takes an individual player to trust the repaired knee and feel comfortable making all of the necessary football moves without giving it a second thought. In a game of inches, any fraction of time invested in hesitation can make all the difference.

When can fantasy footballers expect to see Williams back on the field? On the long end of things, Week 7 at Dallas would be the conservative approach if the Lions opt to put him on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list. However, the recent revamping of the Reserve/Injured list rules means three weeks on the sidelines is the likelier outcome given the time frame we’ve established for Williams.

In that even, the Alabama standout will miss home games against Philadelphia and Washington as well as a trip to Minnesota before an Oct. 2 return to Motown to face Seattle. Based on projections, Philly is a poor matchup, Washington leans favorable, and Minnesota is a modest one with a slight lean toward the rookie’s favor.

Williams will suffer from missing most if not all of the offseason. The value of building chemistry with quarterback Jared Goff cannot be overstated, and there’s only so much a rookie can glean from mental reps within the playbook.

Fantasy football outlook

Factoring in Campbell’s lack of assurance about Williams’ return for camp and no immediate need to rush him back, fantasy footballers should not count on the first-round rookie making a splash before midseason. The likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown, DJ Chark Jr., Josh Reynolds, Quintez Cephus and Kalif Raymond will be available to hold down the fort. That’s not to say Williams won’t be on the field prior to the midway point, but it’s going to potentially take that long before he’s remotely comfortable physically and mentally with the speed of the pro game.

For now, barring a miraculous change in his prognosis, Williams is a upper-end bench addition in most formats. He has WR3/flex appeal as the season winds to a close, perhaps just in time for a late push toward the fantasy playoffs.

Which receiver should be chosen second in fantasy football drafts?

Is this one closer than the average draft position suggests?

There is little debate as to which wide receiver is going to be the first one to come off draft boards or fetch the highest asking price in auctions. Coming off his monster 2021 season, it’s hard to argue that it would be anyone other than Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams.

The question then becomes who checks in at No. 2? That is up for debate, and three candidates are looking to be that guy – Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders, Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings and Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals. Each one can make a strong case for being the next player to come off the board as a roster cornerstone piece.

Before we get any more words on the page, the overall consensus in ADP solidly favors Jefferson. Is it presumptuous, or is the third-year Viking an unquestioned lock after reviewing all of the key factors at play?

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Setting fantasy football expectations for Cleveland Browns receivers

Just what should we expect from the new-look Cleveland receiving corps?

Let’s begin with the elephant in the room: Nobody knows exactly what’s going to happen with new Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson in terms of discipline. There are rumors that the league wants a “significant” suspension, perhaps the entirety of the 2022 season, amid the two dozen civil suits filed against Watson (20 of which were recently settled). Again, though, that’s a rumor, and even once a suspension is handed down there could still be an appellate process to navigate. It’s a mess.

Making things even messier is the team has alienated former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield to the point that he’s unlikely to ever suit up for the Browns again. In that scenario, a Watson suspension would lead to journeyman Jacoby Brissett getting the nod. Brissett is a prototypical game manager, and his insertion into the lineup would dampen the outlook for Cleveland’s passing attack.

The lone silver lining is it sounds as though the NFL would like to have the Watson situation resolved in its entirety before camp opens July 27, so hopefully we’ll get clarity soon.

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Is there more than meets the eye to Baltimore’s receiving corps?

On the surface, Baltimore’s receiving corps doesn’t offer much for fantasy. Is that accurate, though?

Despite being the first wide receiver to top 1,000 yards for the Baltimore Ravens since Mike Wallace in 2016, Marquise Brown was traded to the Arizona Cardinals on draft day in exchange for a first-round pick. That move can be interpreted in one of two ways: Either the team was convinced Brown wasn’t a true No. 1 receiver, or Rashod Bateman is ready to take a leap.

Perhaps it’s a bit of both.

Regardless, between the Brown deal and Sammy Watkins signing with the Green Bay Packers, the Ravens find themselves minus two of their top three receivers in terms of yardage from 2021. Of course, the caveat to that is the presence of tight end Mark Andrews (107-1,361-9), who is the real No. 1 option in Baltimore no matter what’s happening outside.

Still, Brown and Watkins were collectively targeted 195 times last season, and those passes will have to go somewhere else in 2022. Let’s see what options quarterback Lamar Jackson will have as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.

Searching for fantasy football help in Seattle’s backfield

Seattle’s backfield presents risk-reward decisions for fantasy footballers.

Even with a decade straight of top-shelf quarterback play, Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has always liked to feature the run. In fact, during the 10 seasons that now-Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson was under center, the Seahawks finished in the top five in rushing yardage six times. The last two seasons they finished 11th and 12th, respectively. Don’t be surprised if moving on from Wilson doesn’t lead to Carroll leaning back into his comfort zone with a heavy dose of the ground game.

Athletically, Drew Lock is probably a better fit for a dynamic ground game than Geno Smith as he’s an underrated athlete who could threaten defenses as a runner. Either way, though, expect Seattle’s backs to get a lot of work once the season kicks off. Rookie running back Kenneth Walker III and holdovers Rashaad Penny and Chris Carson (neck) could all be factors, though all three carry an element of risk.

Fantasy football reaction: Rob Gronkowski retires again

Gronk has retired once more, so where can fantasy owners turn for production?

For the second time in three offseasons, star tight end Rob Gronkowski has opted for stress-free pool parties rather than grueling two-a-days under the summer sun.

While during Gronk’s time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had not resembled the height of his fantasy football production, the departure of Tom Brady‘s BFF opens the door for someone to step up. This is especially true over the first couple of months of the season as standout receiver Chris Godwin recovers from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered late in the 2021 season.

Where will the vacated targets be directed, and is there any fantasy value to be found?