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We all want to see who our favorite teams select in the early rounds, and as fantasy leaguers, we will be heavily invested in where skill position players will be taken in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Those who play in dynasty formats, such as the ones offered by the Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC) have marked the NFL Draft dates on their calendars as they anticipate rookie drafts.
Seasonal fantasy leaguers will also be very interested in where the top rookies are taken. To properly prepare you for what to expect and look for as a fantasy player in the 2022 NFL Draft, we provide an in-depth viewing guide for the event.
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Where will Breece Hall and Other Top RBs Be Drafted?
The Iowa State running back is going to be the first pick off the board in many FFPC dynasty drafts. Hall is clearly the most promising fantasy running back in the rookie class. Not only is he versatile, but he also runs with tremendous sheer determination, a trait that set Marshawn Lynch apart as a fantasy standout.
Many fantasy league managers would like to see Hall drafted by the Bills at No. 25 overall, as he would become a major TD producer for the best offense in the AFC. He could be a second-round pick in seasonal drafts in such a situation. But also watch to see if the RB-needy Texans or Falcons select Hall if he falls to the second round. Hall would be a centerpiece of the Houston offense and may play a larger role if he lands there at No. 37 overall.
If he ends up in Atlanta at 43rd overall, Hall would be playing in a better offense than Houston and can score more frequently than he might with the Texans.
Breece Hall at #25? ?#BillsMafia #GoBills
Via @NextGenStats pic.twitter.com/kGlYRFazNN— Built in Buffalo (@BuiltInBuffalo_) April 26, 2022
Kenneth Walker III and Isaiah Spiller are also good candidates to be drafted by the Bills, Texans, or Falcons, three of the most RB-needy teams heading into the 2022 NFL Draft. The Cardinals could also be in play for an RB at No. 55 overall. Any running back taken by Arizona could end up in a timeshare with James Conner, and that situation would dent the initial appeal of an RB that is taken by the Cardinals.
We should be closely observing what the Bills, Texans, and Falcons will do at running back because those are three of the top destinations for potential RB impact in dynasty leagues and possible initial contributions in seasonal formats.
Unpredictability at QB for Superflexers
There are widely varying opinions on when the top quarterbacks will be taken. The consensus is that this year’s class is lacking in higher-end talents. But there are a half-dozen teams (Detroit, Carolina, Atlanta, Seattle, New Orleans, and Pittsburgh) that appear to be strong candidates to take a quarterback in the first two rounds.
The glaring needs for these teams are going to win out over any perceived comparisons to other QB classes or the lack of potential star passers in this year’s group of newcomers. If these teams don’t take one of the top QBs available, then their only alternatives are to see if they can rejuvenate Baker Mayfield or hope Jimmy Garoppolo stays healthy.
While there may be no Joe Burrow or Justin Herbert in this year’s bunch, we can look at some pro comparisons to see that these QBs can at least be respectable starters in the NFL. Kenny Pickett has been compared to Matt Hasselbeck, and Desmond Ridder has been compared to Alex Smith. Any team that drafts them would be very satisfied if one of those QBs turns out to be as steady as Hasselbeck or Smith.
Plus, let’s remember that Russell Wilson was drafted in the third round, and Dak Prescott was taken in the fourth. So any of this year’s rookie QBs could exceed expectations. Many FFPC players and dynasty leaguers play in superflex leagues, and those who also participate in two-QB formats will be very interested to see who drafts Malik Willis, who obviously has the most fantasy upside of any of the incoming players at the position. Desmond Ridder could also prove to be a quality dual threat type with fantasy promise.
Where these QBs land as rookies will also determine how productive they can be as second QB starters early in their careers. Whoever ends up in Seattle will immediately have the advantage of working with DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Noah Fant. Willis could also sit behind a veteran for a year if he is drafted by the Saints or Steelers, whereas he could compete for a starting job sooner in Carolina or Seattle.
Superflex and two-QB fantasy players are getting ready to strap in for a fun QB ride with seemingly random turns on Thursday.
Rookie Wide Receiver Fits
We may see more than five wide receivers taken in the first two rounds, as this is regarded as a deep and impressive class. In FFPC leagues and many other dynasty formats, you can start more than two wide receivers. So we will be watching where the top ones will end up to determine who we may want to take as soon as the first round of rookie drafts.
What we should consider are the best landing spots based on what a team may need. The Falcons could be the first team to take a WR at No. 8 overall. Garrett Wilson may be the most complete WR in the 2022 NFL Draft and would be very busy as a rookie and in his first few seasons in Atlanta.
The Jets already have a potential downfield threat in Elijah Moore, so taking a big wideout such as Drake London to be a very dependable target would make a lot of sense at No. 10 overall. Jameson Williams can be an ideal speed complement to Terry McLaurin at No. 11 in the first round. The Eagles might also opt for a big target such as Treylon Burks with one of their two first-rounders as a good partner for DeVonta Smith. The Saints may want a complete wideout who can do it all, and Chris Olave would be a good target in that regard.
Drake London #USC should Jets draft him at #10? ? pic.twitter.com/XvuGYAviRv
— IB THE GAMBLER ? (@incarceratedbob) January 19, 2022
Of course, we will all be watching closely to see who the Packers and Chiefs possibly take in the first round at WR. Burks would shoot up dynasty draft boards as an ideal fit with Aaron Rodgers, and Jahan Dotson can have immediate upside if he does end up In Kansas City.
Some teams will simply take the highest-rated WRs on their boards. Guys who land with Philadelphia and New Orleans will have satisfactory QB situations to work in as rookies. Wide receiver will be the busiest position to watch early for fantasy purposes in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Don’t Forget the Tight Ends
Tight end is a premium position in the FFPC, so we have to keep an eye on where Trey McBride and Greg Dulcich are taken. Neither will likely be first-rounders in rookie drafts, but landing spots will certainly determine their initial dynasty outlooks. If the Packers tab a tight end, they could boost the appeal of the player taken. Indianapolis could also possibly use a TE as another important piece of its offense.
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