2022 Sleepers
Photo Credit: arizonasports.com
This offseason has been a crazy one with several star players being sent to different teams. While it is easy to fall in love with the big names there is a lot of players that have fallen to the low points, and even off, of your draft boards. Here are some of our experts most liked picks for sleepers in 2022s fantasy football draft.
Tua Tagovailoa
QB Miami Dolphins
Positional ADP 17.6
When I try to evaluate players that could be sleepers I think of two factors: Do they have good weapons and do they possess the ability to get the ball to those weapons. I think Tua checks both those boxes. New Head Coach Mike McDaniels has implemented his running back by committee approach by adding Sony Michel, Raheem Mostert, and Chase Edmonds which should relieve some pressure off of Tua. Jaylen Waddle looks to improve on his stellar rookie season last year. Oh and the Dolphins went and grabbed superstar WR Tyreek Hill from the Chiefs. The biggest reason why Tua has fallen so far in drafts is because he has been very inefficient at deep throws, which is what Cheetah specializes in. Tua put this to sleep by having a spectacular training camp which included several bombs to his new target. Tua remains one of the most accurate passers in the short and intermediate parts of the field and if he continues to improve his long ball then he should outplay his value as a fantasy QB.
Daniel Jones
QB New York Giants
Positional ADP 27.3
A lot of Daniel Jones slander has been in part due to a terrible offensive coaching staff with Jason Garrett and head coach Joe Judge. Kenny Golliday also proved he was not worth a big contract last season. This year Daniel Jones is paired with QB guru Brian Daboll, who helped Josh Allen overcome several similar struggles and Jones. Jones also still has weapons in Kadarious Toney and Darius Slayton. Also star RB Saquan Barkley has a full offseason to heal and the Giants made improvements to a dismal O Line. Daniel Jones also has the running ability to provide some fantasy value. If Daboll can revamp this offense, Jones could be on the biggest benefactors.
Tyrion Davis-Price
RB San Francisco 49ers
Positional ADP 66.0
It is no secret that the 49ers love the RB by committee approach. Kyle Shanahan has has a different starting running back in each of his 4 seasons as a coach and looks to continue this trend with Eli Mitchell. Mitchell remains the lead back going into this season but the Niners still spent a 3rd round draft pick on him. Trey Sermon and Jeff Wilson make it difficult to trust Price on a week to week basis but if Price ends up being the hot hand come playoffs, fantasy managers may have the perfect grab and stash player come playoffs.
Jamaal Williams
RB Detroit Lions
Positional ADP 52.0
D'Andre Swift is one of my favorite players in fantasy football this year. Swift still struggles sometimes with making the right cut though, which brings me to Williams. Dan Campbell and Jamaal Williams are a perfect combo who's energy bounces off each other (as displayed in Hard Knocks). Williams should get plenty of opportunities to show his skills, which should include goal line touches. Should Swift miss a couple games, Williams immediately becomes the lead back behind one of the better offensive lines in football.
Khalil Herbert
RB Chicago Bears
Positional ADP 49
Herbert exploded onto the scene last season, showing that he can be a more efficient runner than David Montgomery. Montgomery is going into the final year of his contract and should he not run efficiently behind the bears the rough Bears offensive line, then Herbert could easily steal plenty of opportunities from him. I expect Herbert to put up career highs this season, especially if Montgomery does not elevate the Bears offense.
D'Ernest Johnson
RB Cleveland Browns
Positional ADP 68.5
If Kareem Hunt is trade D'Ernest Johnson will immediately be top the waiver wires. Johnson averaged 11.9 fantasy points per games in the weeks Chubb was out and if Chubb misses a couple of games due to injury and Hunt is out of the picture the backfield will be his. He will be behind one of the strongest offensive lines in football and will benefit with Stefanskis run heavy system, especially if Jacoby Brissett or Josh Rosen is the QB. If the Browns end up paying Hunt, then Johnson immediately becomes one of the cheapest trade targets for other teams and could find himself in an opportunity where he can get more opportunities. Johnson was impressive in his showings last season and I think he still has more to show.
George Pickens
WR Pittsburgh Steelers
Positional ADP 62.5
George Pickens is a dawg. Pickens has been the highlight of the Steelers training camp, even with 3 different QBs in the competition for the starting job. Pickens is a great blocker, great hands, and can make big plays, which should keep him on the field. Claypool has struggled with maturity issues and has not used his athleticism well which could favor Pickens in targets. Diontae Johnson should remain the target favorite in Pittsburgh but look for Pickens to receive a lot of looks, especially if he keeps his streak going.
Rondale Moore
WR Arizona Cardinals
Positional ADP 57.0
Rondale Moore enters this season replacing Christian Kirks role where Kirk managed to put up a productive season. When Moore played last season he was promising, showing he could make plays when he had the ball. With Hopkins out the first 6 games Moore could find himself Kyler Murrays favorite. The Cardinals acquired Marquise Brown from the Ravens, but Brown struggled with consistency and health. Moore is a super athletic receiver that could take advantage of his new role this season.
Michael Gallup
WR Dallas Cowboys
Positional ADP 65.0
If Gallup can return to his healthy form he will return to an offense that now has plenty of targets up for grabs. CeeDee Lamb and Dalton Schultz will receive their fair share of targets but Gallup steps into the WR2 role where last team he was the WR he caught 66 passes for over 1,100 yards.
Braxton Berrios
WR New York Jets
Positional ADP 106.0
Just hang on with me here. This is one of the bigger gambles. If Zach Wilson makes a full recovery I expect this offense to take a step up from last season. We saw Wilson take strides towards the end of last season. Flacco has looked like an aged fine wine in training camp and has shown he still has enough in the tank. Now to Barrios. Barriors put up a fairly productive season last year despite being in a limited role. He now signed a 2 year deal with the Jets and expects to see an increased role in the slot. I am optimistic for a Hunter Renfrow like elevation where he is moving around a lot and gets open touches, specifically some red zone targets. I would not draft Berrior expecting a big play threat with Elijah Moore, Garrett Wilson, or Corey Davis on the field, but it is realistic that he sees plenty of targets as a heavy favorite in the slot. You do not draft sleepers because they will be a safe pick, but instead because they have the possibility to blow up.
Robert Tonyan
TE Green Bay Packers
Positional ADP 19.0
Robert Tonyan will see an increased role this season after watching the departure of WR Devante Adams. Robert Tonyan is already a reliable red zone threat for Aaron Rodgers and should see an increased target share with a weak receiving core. He is a proven target for Rodgers and I expect him to improve from last year.
Moe Alie-Cox
TE Indianapolis Colts
Positional ADP 33.0
Jack Doyle is gone which leaves the TE1 spot wide open for Alie-Cox to take. Cox caught 8 passes for over 110 yards in two games while Doyle was gone, and now tie Matt Ryan at the helm Cox should continue to be a reliable weapon, especially in the red zone.
Philedelphia Eagles
D/ST
Positional ADP 19.6
Philly has a fairly easy schedule with the hardest teams being played are Arizona (Without D-Hop), Pittsburgh, and Tennessee. Philly still plays in one of the weakest divisions where every matchup could favor the defense. Philly is typically not drafted very high but can be a great matchup plug and play defense from week to week.