NFL

Hunter Henry should still finish as a top 10 TE, but did only average 9.7 (No. 15 among qualified tight ends) Fantasy Points Per Game last season. This shows that he will probably be boom or bust, and also TD dependent. But it is Mac Jones second year, and they had a solid connection. So it really depends more on what the Patriots offense looks like next season.

Dalton Schultz is now the clear No. 2 target in Dallas behind CeeDee Lamb. Even Ezekiel Elliott is regressing, which should lead to more pass attempts. Schultz already had 104 targets in a year with at least five other receiving threats, so it stands to reason that he should get at least 100 targets again. The Cowboys had the second-most passing yards in the league last season, which is a good sign. As long as the passing attack stays dangerous, Schultz should have another fantastic season.

There has been a different leading rusher every single year in San Francisco since Kyle Shanahan has been head coach. Even more concerning, only one of those RBs (Carlos Hyde) played the entire season. However, Elijah Mitchell had the highest amount of yards out of any of those guys in just 11 games. Trey Sermon still hasn’t proven himself, and Raheem Mostert joined the Dolphins. If the 49ers don’t bring in another RB, and Mitchell stays healthy, he should have a pretty impressive 2022 season.

The Falcons understand that Cordarrelle Patterson is older and has injury concerns. That’s probably why he had such a low Snap Share. Despite that, he put up over 1,000 yards and 11 TDs. He and Kyle Pitts are the entire Falcons offense at this point in time. Even with Matt Ryan gone, Patterson can still be utilized the same way with Marcus Mariota. The Snap Share should go up, so hopefully he can stay healthy and produce the same way.

Second-year sensation Justin Herbert continued to improve upon his 2020 Rookie of the Year season in 2021 by throwing for 5,014 yards and 38 touchdowns. The offense has tons of weapons for Herbert to find, plus he can run the ball too, sporting the third-most red zone carries among QBs last season. The weapons are there, and 2022 will be Year 2 under Brandon Staley. All positive signs for growth for the players and the team as a whole.

Instead of bolstering the offensive line that led to Joe Burrow’s injury, the Bengals front office decided to reunite him with LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase with the No. 5 pick. It was a choice that changed the trajectory of the organization for years to come as Chase and Burrow’s connection helped lead the team to the Super Bowl. Chase will be in his second year, and earned a much larger Target Share than he got last season. Burrow had the 15th-most pass attempts (520) last season, that number should go up, meaning more fantasy points. The Bengals should remain contenders as long as he is behind the helm.

Last season, the Green Bay Packers finished No. 17 in the NFL with 446 rushing attempts. That marks their lowest finish in the Matt LaFleur era. Though at No. 12 in 2020 and No. 13 in 2019, they’ve been right around league average each season. If they’re a high-volume rushing team on the aggregate, that’s generally because they’ve made smart (read: pass-heavy) decisions on their way to gaining leads that they are then able to nurse with the run game. We should expect that trend to continue in 2022.

Overall, I’m not investing heavily in any Green Bay running back in dynasty right now. Jones is near the end of his run. Dillon remains in a Tony Pollard-like limbo as a startable asset with super-handcuff upside. One that may never see the planets align in a way that results in him being fully unleashed.

The 17th WR taken in the 2021 NFL Draft finished as the third best 2021 rookie WR, behind Ja’Marr Chase and Jaylen Waddle. Amon-Ra St. Brown finished the season with an impressive six-week run, averaging 25.18 Fantasy Points per Game. Though the ceiling we saw at the end of last season is not the same ceiling he would have next season if everyone is healthy. To add to that, the Lions signed D.J. Chark and it is unclear how the targets will be distributed.

As long as he stays healthy, I can’t think of a single reason as to why Cooper Kupp wouldn’t have a WR1 season next year. It’s hard to imagine he repeats with a Triple Crown, but you have to think that Matthew Stafford will improve in his second year with the Rams. There’s even an argument to be had that he will throw more passes next year. All signs point to another highly productive year for Kupp next season.

In 2021, the New York Giants finished No. 25 in the league in total rushing attempts. It’s the highest they’ve ranked in that category in the four years of the Saquon Barkley era. Daniel Jones is likely starting at quarterback in 2022. Meaning you could make reasonable arguments for the Giants being both below- or above-average in rushing attempts. This is one of those situations where we really won’t know until we know.

I’m staying far away from Saquon Barkley at his current price in dynasty. The Barkley believers are staunch and the Barkley believers are many, so it’s likely you’ll be able to find a trade partner willing to give you a palatable deal in exchange for a player they view as having elite upside. Don’t get caught holding the bag on an athleticism-reliant running back who may no longer have the athleticism necessary to be effective.

With the 2022 NFL draft looming, many fantasy managers are looking to rookie drafts to replenish rosters. Breece Hall, Treylon Burks, and more headline this year’s draft class. But not all top rookies will be immediate booms for fantasy purposes. Amongst the teams making Day 1 and 2 selections, there are a few that provide great situations for incoming rookie playmakers. In this piece, I discuss the teams who will be fantastic spots for the top rookie playmakers in fantasy.

Green Bay has five selections on the first two days of the NFL draft, including two first round picks. It has prime opportunity to snag a top WR; with the likes of Garrett Wilson, Drake London, and Treylon Burks generating buzz to go in round 1. Any top selection contains the alpha traits to command a heavy Target Share and has the advantage of playing with an MVP, boosting the future rookie playmaker’s stock further. A top rookie receiving playmaker will be a smash for fantasy purposes.

The Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams blazed up with 420 (No. 23) rushing attempts last season. That marked their lowest finish in the Sean McVay era. We should expect the Rams to have a relatively pass-focused attack once again in 2022. Given the quality of the offense overall, there are certainly fantasy points to be had in this backfield.

Cam Akers offers one of the most high risk-high reward profiles among players currently going in the top three rounds of startups. It’s either a total “that sign can’t stop me because I can’t read” display of ignorance or a complete big dick move to take him there. I’m not sure I’ve got the stones to do it. Conversely, I’m hopping all over the upside that Darrell Henderson carries in the 12th round.

The Jets are in on what seems to be a small batch of players, Garrett Wilson Kayvon Thibodeaux, Sauce Gardner, and Drake London. Joe Douglas takes Thibodeaux and 4 and comes back for the Wide Reciever at no. 10 with Wilson.

After many many hours of Film Analysis, mixed with the results of the last month attending the NFL Combine and Reese’s Senior Bowl, I am ready to release the Top 300 Prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft. This list can change as new things come in, some would call “this is a Bayesian process” and while these prospects workout at their Pro Days this month and take Top-30 visits with NFL teams, things will change. But ever so slightly.

Things that are taken into account to come up with the below draft grades, you may wonder? 1. Film, 2. Athletic Profile, 3. Cody’s DAWG Rating(off-field actions/energy and on-field actions/energy), 4. Role in College vs NFL and how it will translate.