By: Christian Esparza

1. Trevor Lawrence ”“ Jacksonville Jaguars

Lawrence had a rookie season to forget in Jacksonville as he struggled under Urban Meyer and his distractions on their way to a 2-11 record. Thankfully, Meyer was fired after the season ended. Since then, the Jaguars have done a good job at giving Lawrence support to get the most out of their franchise quarterback. First, the Jags hired Doug Pederson, who led the Eagles to a Super Bowl Championship in 2018, as their new head coach. Not only did Pederson win a Super Bowl in Philly, he did it on the back of Nick Foles. Additionally, the Jaguars brought in Christian Kirk to be a true WR1 for Lawrence. Reports from camp this summer make it sound like Lawrence has impressed, so you will want to go after him now before his price drives too high in dynasty. 

2. Tua Tagovailoa ”“ Miami Dolphins

Tua is another quarterback who has seemingly been given the tools he needs to succeed. The Dolphins made huge waves in the offseason by bolstering the wide receiver group, the running back group and the offensive line. On top of that, they brought in Mike McDaniel, one of the best offensive minds in the league, as the new Head Coach. The arrow is pointing up in Miami, so hop on the Tua train while you can. 

3. Malik Willis ”“ Tennessee Titans

Although Willis was not drafted until the third round in April’s 2022 NFL Draft, it is impossible to ignore the hype that surrounded the signal caller out of Liberty University. This is a dynasty move that would require patience as Ryan Tannehill is firmly entrenched as this team’s starter, at least for the majority of 2022. Beyond that is anyone’s guess, but there seems to be a good chance that Tannehill is not on this team much longer. His performance in last year’s playoffs was borderline pathetic and it is clear that Tennessee wanted an upgrade. Willis offers elite rushing upside a la Jalen Hurts and Justin Fields and boasts a tremendous arm to boot. His accuracy and decision-making are questionable, which is why he fell to the third, but his leadership and physical tools should help him see the field. Stash Willis now while you still can. 

The post Three sleeper quarterbacks in dynasty appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Christian Esparza

1. Pat Freiermuth ”“ Pittsburgh Steelers

As a rookie for the Steelers last year, Freiermuth hauled in 60 receptions for 497 yards and seven touchdowns. He was clearly one of Pittsburgh’s primary endzone weapons and that always bodes well for fantasy football, even if that production can’t be replicated year to year. While Pittsburgh enters a new era at quarterback, having Freiermuth at tight end as an established “safety valve” will no doubt be good for whoever is under center. Freiermuth was TE13 overall with about nine points per game last season, but will no doubt improve in year two as tight end is notorious for being hard for rookies to adjust to. It won’t be long before Freiermuth is close to 800 yards and double-digit touchdowns every season. 

2. Isaiah Likely ”“ Baltimore Ravens 

He likely has had a huge preseason for the Baltimore Ravens. Throughout the summer the fourth-round pick out of Coastal Carolina has quickly emerged as a top target for Lamar Jackson. He also put up over 100 receiving yards in Baltimore’s second preseason game. Of course, Mark Andrews is firmly entrenched as TE1 in Baltimore but don’t let that deter you from any shares of Likely. Baltimore’s depth at the receiver position is extremely thin, so it’s very “Likely” that the Ravens run two tight end sets, especially with how the rookie has looked throughout the summer. Baltimore is sometimes okay with being a bit unconventional, and they will do whatever they need to get the best 11 players on the field. It likely could surprise this season. 

3. Greg Dulcich ”“ Denver Broncos 

Denver’s current “starter” at tight end, Albert Okwuegbunam has shown flashes but has been unable to consistently put it together on the field or stay healthy. This led to the Broncos selecting Dulcich out of UCLA in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Dulcich is an athletic tight end who can succeed at all three levels in the passing game and create yards after the catch as well. He does need some refinement to his game, which makes Denver a great landing spot for him as he will not be expected to start as a rookie. If things go according to plan, Dulcich will be one of the better young tight ends by 2023. 

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By: Christian Esparza

1. Tee Higgins ”“ Cincinnati Bengals (WR 11, ADP 32)

Higgins finished 2021 as WR24 overall, bolstered by a 43.4 performance in week 16 against a decimated Ravens secondary. Higgins is a good wide receiver, don’t get me wrong. But for him to be drafted as WR11 feels incredibly rich. There is no sense in drafting someone this high who is not even the WR1 on his own team. 

2. Jaylen Waddle ”“ Miami Dolphins (WR 16, ADP 44)

Waddle put together a sneaky-good rookie season last year in which he averaged over 15 ppr points per game. Especially through his mid-season tear, Waddle was a true weapon for Miami. Things look a lot different for Waddle with the Dolphins having traded for Tyreek Hill, a player who does a lot of the same things Waddle does. To make matters worse, Miami’s new head coach Mike McDaniel will be implementing his offense from last year’s 49ers team. That scheme saw San Francisco pass the ball on just 51% of their plays ”“ 29th in the league. It’s hard to imagine the Dolphins supporting two top-20 receivers with this type of offense, especially with Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback. 

3. DK Metcalf ”“ Seattle Seahawks (WR 19, ADP 51.5)

Does this one really depend on who takes the starting snaps in Week 1, Geno Smith or Drew Lock? The funny thing is, Metcalf actually had his best stretch of games when Smith was under center last year replacing an injured Russell Wilson. Over those four games, Metcalf averaged over 19 points per game. Lock of course comes in from the Denver Broncos, where he has notoriously struggled the past two seasons. But again, we don’t know who is going to be Seattle’s starting quarterback. If things were that easy, Head Coach Pete Carroll would have committed to someone by now with Week 1 less than two weeks away. Instead, Carroll commented that he does not feel the need to name a starter, even by the team’s final preseason game on Friday, Aug. 26. The bottom line is: be careful with DK Metcalf. 

4. Chris Godwin ”“ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (WR 25, ADP 71)

As noted in an earlier article, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers feel weird this year. Quarterback Tom Brady just returned from an 11-day absence that was revealed to be a pre-planned vacation to the Bahamas with his family. This means the Bucs had to go throughout a large chunk of their camp without QB1. As far as Godwin goes, he is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in January. Although things are looking good for Godwin to be back on the field by the start of the regular season, Godwin will not be 100%. Simply due to the nature of the injury, it may take an additional season for Godwin to truly return to form. There is a very good chance he does not finish the season as a top-24 receiver. 

5. Kenny Golladay ”“ New York Giants (WR 53, ADP 141)

Since signing a four-year, $72 million dollar contract in 2021, Golladay has been one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL. Golladay didn’t even crack 90 total fantasy points last year as he just did not seem to fit in with the New York Giants and quarterback Daniel Jones. That seems to be the case again this year, as reports out of training camp make it sound like Golladay has been less than impressive. He is listed as a starting wide receiver on the depth chart, but that could change as the season goes on. At his ADP, you would have much better luck taking a swing on an impressive rookie like George Pickens or Romeo Doubs. 

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By: Christian Esparza

As your fantasy draft begins to wind down and your starting roster is filled, you want to go after players that can play a variety of roles for you. The flex position is unique in that it can generally be filled by a running back, wide receiver, or a tight end. This gives you maximum flexibility when bye weeks and injuries come up, allowing you to generally put the best skill players into your lineup. 

These are the five biggest flex sleepers in 2022:

1. AJ Dillon, running back ”“ Green Bay Packers (ADP 107) 

If you listen to any one thing I have to say this year, it needs to be this. AJ Dillon is one of the best values in all of fantasy football right now. In 2021, Dillon posted over 1,100 yards from scrimmage and seven total touchdowns, and there is reason to believe both of those numbers will be higher this season. 

With the Packers trading away Davante Adams and not having a star receiver for Aaron Rodgers to throw to, it is looking like both Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon will see a lot more work. Jones is likely to see snaps as a slot receiver, which means Dillon will see more time in the backfield. Rodgers even recently said he thinks 50 catches each for Jones and Dillon is “realistic.” 

Additionally, Dillon is the primary redzone and goal line back for the Packers. He and his quads should have plenty of opportunity to plow into the endzone. The Packers love what AJ “Quadzilla” Dillon has to offer, and you should too. Take Dillon in the eighth round and reap the benefits. 

2. Chris Olave, wide receiver ”“ New Orleans Saints (Rookie, ADP 124)

Olave was the 11th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and joins a Saints team that was on the cusp of playoff contention last season. Michael Thomas is a huge unknown at this point, but Olave should still see a lot of targets even if Thomas is healthy. Olave was regarded as one of the best route runners in his draft class and will immediately provide quarterback Jameis Winston with a lethal weapon in the slot. Olave also offers upside as a downfield threat with nice 4.39 speed. He has a chance to be the most productive rookie receiver in 2022. 

3. Chase Edmonds, running back ”“ Miami Dolphins (ADP 120)

Edmonds spent the first four years of his career in Arizona, and will now play in Miami after signing there in free agency. He was one of three running backs that the Dolphins brought in, with Raheem Mostert and Sony Michel joining him. 

The interesting thing is, there is a chance that all three backs have a role cutout for them under new Head Coach Mike McDaniel. Look deeper though and you will realize a few things: First, Edmonds signed a two-year $12 million dollar deal. Even his yearly average of $6 million a year is more than Mostert and Michel combined. Second, Edmonds was one of the first running backs to sign a deal in free agency. It can be implied that the Dolphins clearly have a role cut out for Edmonds. He currently has an average draft position of 120 according to ESPN. That’s a good price for a player that should eclipse 1,000 total yards in 2022. 

4. Jakobi Meyers, wide receiver ”“ New England Patriots (ADP 137) 

Meyers scored double-digit fantasy points in nine of games played in 2021, a season in which he only scored two total touchdowns. His 83 catches on 126 targets for 866 yards were all team-highs for the Patriots. It will be interesting to see how the addition of Davante Parker will impact Meyers’s production, but Meyers has the advantage of already having chemistry with quarterback Mac Jones. Parker will likely take a lot of the red zone targets in New England, which will not really be an issue for Meyers anyways. If you need a solid bench player that can step in and be your flex when needed, Meyers is worth consideration. 

5. George Pickens, wide receiver ”“ Pittsburgh Steelers (Rookie, ADP 154)

Pickens has made waves in recent weeks as one of those dudes that just “has that dawg in him.” Pickens has been making waves across the fantasy community all summer as he has consistently made plays throughout Pittsburgh’s training camp. In the Steelers’ first preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks, Pickens caught three balls for 43 yards and a touchdown. 

While at the University of Georgia, Pickens was known for being a big and strong receiver that can win jump balls and physically dominate most corners. Had he not missed most of the 2021 college season due to a torn ACL, Pickens likely would have been one of the first receivers drafted. Instead, he fell to the second round and was the 11th receiver taken in the draft. There is a lot of hype surrounding George Pickens right now, and you should capitalize on it immediately. 

The post Five flex sleepers in 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Christian Esparza

If you are serious about winning your fantasy football league, you need to know which players to take and which ones to avoid. Of course, that’s a lot easier said than done. It’s impossible to know for certain who will and won’t perform on Sundays, but it can be said that some players do carry more risk than others. Here is a list of five players whose risk outweighs their reward in 2022. 

5. Tom Brady or his receivers

We start things off with sort of a gimme, grouping Tom Brady, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Russell Gage and Julio Jones into one. But there’s reason(s) to be weary of what is going on in Tampa Bay right now. 

First off, Brady is taking a 10-day absence from training camp to “deal with personal things.” The absence was reportedly pre-approved by the Head Coach Todd Bowles, so what’s the issue? Well first off, Brady is notorious for being more prepared than any other player on the field. He has never been one to miss time for personal matters; this is a new territory. Him being away takes away reps with his receivers, including new additions Gage and Jones. With Brady now 45 years old, it is fair to wonder if this is the worst possible time of the year for him to take time off. 

As if that was not enough, none of Evans, Godwin and Gage are fully healthy. Evans and Gage are dealing with hamstring issues ”“ which have a tendency to be naggy throughout the season ”“ while Godwin is coming off a torn ACL. The only healthy one here is the 33-year old Jones who has dealt with his fair share of injuries in the past. Not to say they will be “bad” picks, but Evans and Godwin especially won’t be the fantasy players they have been in years’ past. Take a Bucs receiver at your own risk. 

4. Aaron Rodgers

The back-to-back MVP finished third in points scored among quarterbacks in 2020, and fifth in 2021. Rodgers is currently the seventh ranked quarterback in ESPN leagues with an average draft position of 75, but Rodgers may not even crack the top-10 this year. One of the biggest storylines of the entire offseason was Green Bay trading away Davante Adams, who of course was Rodgers’s favorite target. While it’s very unlikely losing Adams will make the Packers a bad team, or Rodgers a bad quarterback, I would feel very uncomfortable with him as my QB1 in fantasy football. There are several other quarterbacks you should consider taking instead of Rodgers. 

3. Derrick Henry

Henry was one of the most dominant players in 2019 and 2020, totaling over 3,500 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns over those two seasons. He was on pace to continue his carnage in 2021, until he suffered a Jones fracture in his foot that caused him to miss nine games. There is a lot of speculation regarding this injury, and if it could have been caused over time by all the carries Henry has accrued since high school. If it was indeed a stress fracture, Henry could see his production rapidly decline. To make his situation even worse, the Titans traded away star receiver A.J. Brown, leaving aging veterans and unproven young players as Tennessee’s only receiving threats. Henry could see a lot of stacked boxes in 2022. Take someone else in the first round. 

2. Najee Harris

Harris finished as RB4 overall in 2021 thanks to his insane volume. He led the NFL with 381 total touches, but he really didn’t perform as well as he should have. Harris only averaged 3.9 yards per carry and 6.3 yards per reception for a grand total of 4.4 yards per touch on his way to 1,667 scrimmage yards. For reference, Ezekiel Elliot also led the league with 381 total touches in 2018. Elliot was able to put up 2001 total yards on 5.3 yards per touch, over 300 more yards on the same amount of touches. 

Of course, Harris was a rookie. Much of his first season was spent adjusting to the speed of the NFL and learning the scheme at full speed. While he is unquestionably the bell-cow back in Pittsburgh, it is unlikely he reaches close to that same volume in 2022.  Harris led the league with 34 checkdown targets last season, a product of playing with an aging Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers also drafted George Pickens, giving them another target besides Dionte Johnson and Chase Claypool in the passing game. It’s highly unlikely that Najee Harris repeats as a top-five fantasy back in 2022. 

1. Javonte Williams

Another running back entering their second year in the NFL, this is a classic case of having the talent but not having the situation. If you are a dynasty player, go ahead and stop reading now because this does not apply to you. Williams has the potential to be one of the top fantasy backs in the league, just not in 2022. 

Currently being drafted as RB12 in ESPN leagues at an ADP of 26, Williams is being taken far too early for his situation. When the 2021 season ended, it looked like Williams would be the primary back for the Denver Broncos from here on out. But then they brought back Melvin Gordon III in free agency, who finished with more points than Williams last year. 

Of course, Gordon III is another year older while Williams appears primed to break out, but that is not the case just yet. They brought Gordon III back for a reason, and the two have been splitting reps all camp. While the two won’t split carries exactly 50/50 like they did last year, it seems like 65/35 is the highest percentage Javonte Williams will get. That would have been only 263 of 406 carries last season; not a great number for a player who does not offer much receiving upside. 

Another point to look to is how Denver Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett utilized his running backs while in Green Bay. In 2021, AJ Dillon actually finished with more carries than Aaron Jones, due to the latter missing games with injuries. Those missed games aside, and the two split relatively evenly. Again, even if Gordon III does not split evenly with Williams, he will eat away enough to make you regret drafting Williams in the third round. 

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