Awesome. You have landed the #2 pick in Fantasy Football. This means you already have a leg up on most of your league mates, but you still need to make the right selections in your draft to take full advantage of the hand that you’ve been dealt.
Round 1 Pick 2:
Jonathan Taylor (Yahoo Average Draft Position (ADP) 1.1): Someone left Jonathan Taylor for you here by not picking him at #1? Great! Pick him here. The best combination of risk and reward.
Christian McCaffery: (Yahoo ADP 4.9): Christian McCaffery has been a disappointment for his drafters the past 2 seasons as he’s had a variety of injuries. But when he’s been on the ground he’s produced at the most prolific pace of any player in fantasy. Can we guarantee he’s going to be healthy? No. But if we could, he would be picked a spot higher than this. McCaffery might be worth the risk at this spot.
Also Read: Picking from the #1 draft spot in NFL Fantasy Football, 0.5 ppr leagues
Austin Ekeler (Yahoo ADP 3.8): Austin Ekeler might be a bit undersized at 5-10, 200 pounds for a true three down role in football but he more than makes up for that by garnering all of the high value Running Back (RB) touches for one of the most explosive offenses in the league. He finished #2 in RB fantasy points per game behind Taylor last year and there’s a strong case to be made to pick him at #2 this year.
Cooper Kupp: (Yahoo ADP 3.8): Cooper Kupp led all Wide Receivers (WRs) in every major statistical category last year. Amassing more than 21 fantasy points a game, Kupp guided plenty of managers to fantasy championships. If he performs at the same level, Kupp will be a great first addition to your team here. Some managers might be scared off by the elbow injury to his Quarterback (QB) Matthew Stafford, but by most accounts the injury is not going to impact Stafford’s regular season.
Justin Jefferson: (Yahoo ADP 6.4): Justin Jefferson is firmly in conversations around who’s the #1 WR in fantasy football, along with Cooper Kupp. He’s the alpha in a high octane Vikings offense. His main competition for targets is an ageing Adam Thielen. He has a new head coach in Kevin O’Connell, who masterminded Cooper Kupp‘s ascension as the Rams’ offensive coordinator last year and has promised to make the Vikings offense more pass heavy. Last year, Jefferson finished third in target share and first in air yards share. He’s a good pickup at this spot.
Round 2 Pick 23:
Deebo Samuel (Yahoo ADP: 20.2): Deebo Samuel finished as fantasy’s #3 wide receiver last season and fresh off a big contract extension, is finally being paid like it as well. He lines up as a WR and sometimes as an RB in the explosive Kyle Shanahan offense in San Francisco. There are some questions with a new QB in Trey Lance, but drafting Deebo at this spot has all of the uncertainty baked in with plenty of upside.
Alvin Kamara (Yahoo ADP: 22.2): Alvin Kamara is a fantasy stud, and he’s been that way for a number of years now. He finished as the overall RB1 in fantasy in 2020 before taking a step back in 2021 due to the muddled offense in New Orleans last year (he still finished 12th). He has a potential suspension to worry about in 2022 due to a confrontation in a Las Vegas casino during the Pro Bowl Weekend last year. But the most likely scenario is that the suspension, if any, will happen in 2023. If so, he should easily blow past this ADP.
Saquon Barkeley (Yahoo ADP: 23.1): A combination of injuries and an inept coaching staff have derailed Saquon Barkeley‘s fantasy seasons the past two years. But the Giants have a new coaching staff now. Brian Daboll, the new head coach, was the juggernaut Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator last year. Saquon also seemed to have turned the corner on his injuries, and the Giants have made investments in their offensive line. On talent alone, Saquon should be one of the NFL’s top three RBs. Hopefully he translates that potential into fantasy production this year.
Mark Andrews (Yahoo ADP: 24.5): The Baltimore Ravens offense will continue to be explosive this year, just as it has been the past few years with QB Lamar Jackson at the helm. Mark Andrews is the top target for Jackson and will continue to garner a large portion of the team’s target share, like the 25% share he received last year. The other options at Tight End (TE) after this point are much lower in quality, so if you can get the position filled for your roster here, go for it.
Other targets:
Josh Allen (Yahoo ADP 20.4), Javonte Williams (Yahoo ADP 22.9), Keenan Allen (Yahoo ADP: 30.2)
Round 3 Pick 26:
Mark Andrews (Yahoo ADP: 24.5): Mark Andrews in round 2 is pretty good. In round 3, he’s an absolute steal. Don’t overthink it.
AJ Brown (Yahoo ADP 34): AJ Brown moved teams this past offseason, going from a tepid Tennessee Titans offense to a developing offensive powerhouse in the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s going to continue to be the alpha in Philly, but his new team is not as run dependent, which means there should be more targets to go around. His main competition for those targets is sophomore DeVonta Smith. On talent alone, AJ has always been one of the top 5 wide receivers in football. This year he should finally get a chance to realise his potential in terms of fantasy football production.
Keenan Allen (Yahoo ADP 30.2): Keenan Allen just keeps putting together great fantasy football seasons every year despite not getting his due from the fantasy community. He was #14 in fantasy points per game last year, #8 in 2019 and #12 in 2018. He’s 30, and on the older side for WRs, but hasn’t shown signs of slowing down yet. He’s his superstar QB Justin Herbert‘s top target, in a high octane offense. Pick him up here if he’s still available.
Other targets:
James Conner (Yahoo ADP 31.9), Tee Higgins (Yahoo ADP 30.3)
Round 4 Pick 47:
Diontae Johnson (Yahoo ADP: 47.2): Diontae Johnson will be thrown to either by Mitchell Trubisky this year, or by one of the other QBs competing for the job in Pittsburgh such as Kenny Pickett. While these all seem underwhelming options, we should remember that Ben Roethlisberger was well below average in QB performance during the last year of his tenure in Pittsburgh. That resulted in a finish of WR8 anyway. He’s a good pick at this ADP.
Mike Williams (Yahoo ADP 49.4): Mike Williams had a really hot start to the season last year. He was overall WR1 for the first 5 weeks. He was bothered by niggles and cooled off considerably for the rest of the season though, producing as WR40 weeks 6 through 17. He’s now signed a big deal to stay in LA and play with superstar QB Justin Herbert. Keenan Allen will garner his share of targets in this offense, but “Big Mike” will get his. He should deliver good value at this ADP with potential for upside.
Travis Etienne (Yahoo ADP 51.4): Big things were expected of Travis Etienne last year. He was drafted by the Jaguars from the same college team as the overall #1 pick in last year’s draft, QB Trevor Lawrence, pairing them in the NFL. Etienne was injured in the preseason and had to undergo Lisfranc surgery, which nuked his 2021 season. In the meanwhile Lawrence had his own struggles in 2021, struggling to adapt to the NFL with an underperforming coaching regime. All of that changes this year. There’s a new coaching staff and a fully healthy Etienne in Jacksonville. James Robinson, who would have created competition at RB for Etienne is himself recovering from a torn Achilles. So the path for fantasy production for Etienne is clear.
Other targets:
Courtland Sutton (Yahoo ADP 53.3), JK Dobbins (Yahoo ADP 56.1)
Round 5 Pick 50:
Diontae Johnson (Yahoo ADP: 47.2): Good in round 4. Excellent here. Thank your lucky stars and pick him.
Mike Williams (Yahoo ADP 49.4): See above.
Travis Etienne (Yahoo ADP 51.4): See above.
Courtland Sutton (Yahoo ADP 53.3): Courtland Sutton came back from a torn ACL last year and put up big numbers to start the season. But he was held back by poor QB play (Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock) and a crowded backfield. Enter Rusell Wilson. Wilson has made fantasy stars out of Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf the last few years in Seattle. He should do the same to Sutton and fellow WR Jerry Jeudy in Denver this year. If you get Sutton at this price, go for it.
Other targets:
JK Dobbins (Yahoo ADP 56.1), DK Metcalf (Yahoo ADP 55)
Round 6 Pick 71:
Brandin Cooks (Yahoo ADP 74.2): Brandin Cooks finished as the WR16 in half ppr last year. Yes, he’s got unheralded QB Davis Mills as his quarterback this year. But he produces for fantasy year after year regardless of his situation. You’re not going to get WRs that give you a 1000 receiving yards this late in drafts. Lock him up here if you get him.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Yahoo ADP 72.7): Fact: Clyde Edwards-Helaire is the starting running back for the high octane Kansas City offense led by QB Patrick Mahomes. Also fact: Edwards-Helaire disappointed in his sophomore year last year, playing only 10 games and yielding ~10 points per game for his managers. Sure, Kansas added Ronald Jones this year, who does threaten to eat into Edwards-Helaire’s workload. But at this ADP, you’re not expecting RB1 or even RB2 production. If you get him here, Edwards-Helaire should outperform his ADP.
Marquise Brown (Yahoo ADP 74.8): “Hollywood” Brown is now in Arizona. And from a fantasy perspective, there could not be a better situation. The Cardinals have lost their alpha DeAndre Hopkins to a 6 game suspension to begin the season. This means that in a receiving corps that has ageing veterans Zach Ertz, AJ Green and sophomore unproven rookie Rondale Moore, Brown should get a pretty heavy workload to begin the season. Even after Hopkins returns, Brown should continue to have a pretty well defined role in this offense led by well regarded QB Kyler Murray. Barring a Murray injury, expect Brown to overperform at this ADP
Other targets:
Gabriel Davis (Yahoo ADP 73.7), Amari Cooper (Yahoo ADP 76.7), Darnell Mooney (Yahoo ADP 94.9)
Round 7 Pick 74:
Brandin Cooks (Yahoo ADP 74.2): He’s available as late as this? Awesome. Go get him
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Yahoo ADP 72.7): An even better value than round 6. Draft him if available.
Marquise Brown (Yahoo ADP 74.8): See above
Gabriel Davis (Yahoo ADP 73.7): Gabriel Davis carved out a consistent role for himself in the last 6 games of the 2021 season, and finished as WR23 in that span. He’s now had another offseason to establish chemistry with stud QB Josh Allen in the explosive Buffalo Bills offense. Opposite him is one of the best WRs in the game – Stephon Diggs, who will command plenty of defensive attention. This should leave Davis with a clear path to fantasy production in 2022. He’s a good addition here, especially for drafters who prioritised positions other than WR earlier in the draft.
Also Read: Top 15 team defenses heading into the 2022 NFL season
Other targets:
Amari Cooper (Yahoo ADP 76.7), Darnell Mooney (Yahoo ADP 94.9)
Round 8 Pick 95:
Darnell Mooney (Yahoo ADP 94.9): There are many reasons to love Mooney this year. Both him and his QB Justin Fields enter into their second NFL season and are poised to take another step at this level. No more Allen Robinson, who’s taken his talents to LA. This means that Mooney is now going to be the focal point of the receiving game. If you get him this late, don’t overthink it.
Tony Pollard (Yahoo ADP 94): Playing behind Ezekiel Elliott in the Dallas backfield, Tony Pollard finished as RB28 in half ppr, thanks to his efficiency and receiving role. He will give you RB3 production even if the status of the backfield remains the same, which will justify this ADP. If, however, Elliott gets injured or Pollard surpasses him, getting Pollard here could win you your league.
Rhamondre Stevenson (Yahoo ADP 96.9): Rhamondre Stevenson had a very productive season in 2021 despite being in a Bill Belichick system, which is notoriously conservative with rookie RBs. James White has retired, which means his receiving role is likely going to go to Stevenson. In addition, Stevenson has a three down skillset, which means that if anything were to happen to Damien Harris, picking Stevenson here could win you your league. Whether you didn’t prioritise RB earlier or are just in it for the upside, this is a good spot to pick Stevenson.
Other targets:
Trey Lance (Yahoo ADP 106.7), Hunter Renfrow (Yahoo ADP 97.2), Elijah Moore (Yahoo ADP 98.6)
Round 9 Pick 98:
Darnell Mooney (Yahoo ADP 94.9), Elijah Moore (Yahoo ADP 98.6), Rhamondre Stevenson (Yahoo ADP 96.9): If you get any of them here, go for it
Trey Lance (Yahoo ADP 106.7): Remember that 2019 season from Lamar Jackson which drove most owners to fantasy championships behind his more than 1200 yards rushing and more than 3100 yards passing? That is the ceiling with Lance this year. Nuff said!
Other targets:
Hunter Renfrow (Yahoo ADP 97.2), Kenneth Walker (Yahoo ADP 102.6)
Round 10 (Pick 119):
Drake London (Yahoo ADP 121.5): Drake London was picked #8 by the Atlanta Falcons in this year’s NFL draft, the first WR taken. It made sense for the WR needy Falcons to do so, given London’s pedigree in college football. He’s going to step into a big role this year despite being a rookie, with only TE Kyle Pitts as competition in Atlanta. If you’re looking for upside late, look no further.
Julio Jones (Yahoo ADP 124.1): There’s no one better than GOAT QB Tom Brady to revive Julio Jones’ career, just as he’s done in earlier seasons with Randy Moss and Antonio Brown. You’re getting Julio for nothing here, so don’t expect a WR1 or even WR2 season here. But if he stays healthy, Julio should return WR3 value with upside, which is a steal at this ADP.
Also Read: Top 15 offenses heading into the 2022 NFL season
Robert Woods (Yahoo ADP 124.4): Robert Woods has performed consistently at WR2 or better in the last few years. But he’s changing teams this year, is now over 30 and is also coming back from an injury. Still, given that he has limited competition in Tennessee aside from rookie Treylon Burks, and did not show any signs of slowing down before his injury last year, there’s a lot of value to be had at Woods’ current ADP.
Other targets:
Michael Carter (Yahoo DP 123.5), Darrell Henderson (Yahoo ADP 124.5), Alexander Mattinson (Yahoo ADP 125)
Targets for Round 11 and later:
Chris Olave (Yahoo ADP 126.8), Kadarious Toney (Yahoo ADP 128), Sony Michel (Yahoo ADP 128.6), Garett Wilson (Yahoo ADP 129.1), Isiah Spiller (Yahoo ADP 130.6)
