Is Malik Willis Starting in 2022? Where Should I Draft Willis for Fantasy Football

Former Liberty quarterback Malik Willis was projected to go as high as the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft before ultimately slipping to the third round.

The Tennessee Titans selected him with the 86th pick, as the third quarterback off the board. Before the fall, Willis drew significant fantasy football intrigue in dynasty formats, especially in Superflex leagues.

So will Willis start in 2022, and what is his fantasy football outlooks? Let's take a look

Malik Willis 2022 Fantasy Football Outlook

There’s still plenty of debate on whether or not he’s worth drafting in dynasty, but should we pay attention to him in redraft? Ultimately, some people see the landing spot with the Titans as favorable for Willis.

Even after two and a half strong years from Ryan Tannehill, his job security seems somewhat in question, at least among NFL fans. Since Willis was once viewed as a first-round pick, he’s gaining more hype than the typical third-rounder.

However, history tells us that third-round quarterbacks rarely break through. Since 2010, Colt McCoy, Ryan Mallett, Nick Foles, Russell Wilson, Mike Glennon, Sean Mannion, Garrett Grayson, Cody Kessler, Jacoby Brissett, C.J. Beathard, Davis Webb, Mason Rudolph, Will Grier, Davis Mills, and Kellen Mond have been drafted in the third round.

Of course, Wilson has gone on to have a potential Hall of Fame career, but he’s clearly an exception to the rule. McCoy, Glennon, Kessler, and Mills each started at least eight games in their rookie season, but all were either drafted to be the starter or were put in a starting role thanks to an injury or suspension.

Should You Draft Malik Willis in 2022 Fantasy Football?

No matter how you feel about Ryan Tannehill, he’s led the Titans to three straight playoff berths and has sat near the top of the NFL in most efficiency stats and wins.

He’s arguably the best Titans-era quarterback since Steve McNair, so unless Tannehill’s level of play falls well below league average or he suffers an injury, it's hard to see a path for Willis taking the field as the Titans’ starter in 2022.

In fact, the Titans listed Willis as the third-string quarterback on its first unofficial depth chart of the preseason. We can expect Willis to eventually take hold of the backup role, but for now, nothing is set in stone. Willis is still a fun gamble to take in dynasty leagues, but hold off in seasonal league formats.

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