11 undervalued fantasy football targets for 2022 season
Fantasy football managers love projecting breakout stars and sleeper picks. How about slightly undervalued targets? These players might not get the same offseason fanfare as the mainstream sleepers, and they’re not as buzzy as the big breakout candidates, but these undervalued fantasy football prospects could help you win your draft – and league – this fall.
1. RB AJ Dillon
(Samantha Madar/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
Dillon is being drafted as RB25 this offseason and his teammate Aaron Jones is being drafted as RB13. That’s despite the fact that they had a near-even split in touches last year (221 for Dillion and 223 for Jones) and similar production (Jones had 74 more yards from scrimmage and three more touchdowns). Jones is the name, but there’s a genuine two-back rotation in Green Bay, and Dillon shouldn’t be overlooked.
2. RB Damien Harris
(The Record, USA TODAY Network)
Fantasy managers clearly don’t trust the Patriots’ backfield rotation, which is understandable. Bill Belichick’s RB usage is often impossible to predict, but Harris did finish as RB8 last season. Even if New England’s backfield usage could fluctuate week-to-week, Harris shouldn’t be drafted 20 spots lower than his actual rank from last year (his ADP is RB28). Harris is the Pats’ most likely candidate to get goal-line carries and he scored 15 times last year. It might be unrealistic to expect that many TDs again in 2022, but he has the clearest path to rushing TDs in New England’s backfield.
3. RB Kenneth Walker III
(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Chris Carson’s neck injury forced him to retire this summer, and the Seahawks probably knew that was a possibility when they used a second-round pick to select Walker in April’s draft. Caron’s retirement combined with Rashaad Penny’s history of injuries means Walker could end up becoming Seattle’s primary running back by mid-season. Playing in an offense that loves to run, Walker should be able to outperform his average draft position of RB36.
4. WR Brandin Cooks
(Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports)
Regardless of who’s playing quarterback, Cooks always seems to have an excellent fantasy floor. He’s caught at least 80 passes for 1,000-plus yards and at least five touchdowns in three of his last four seasons. He’s being slightly undervalued this summer, getting drafted as WR25 after finishing as WR20 last year.
5. WR Allen Robinson II
(Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Robinson had a disappointing season last year, catching just 38 passes for 410 yards and one touchdown. He had consecutive 1,000-yard seasons before that, though, and he’s now joining Matthew Stafford in a Rams offense that produced multiple fantasy-relevant receivers last year. Robinson should have a bounce back year.
6. WR Allen Lazard
(Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports)
Lazard is being drafted as WR51 this offseason after finishing as WR44 in 2021. After the Packers traded Davante Adams to the Raiders, there are more balls to go around in Green Bay and Lazard will be among the candidates to get an uptick in targets. The Packers did select Christian Watson in the second round of this year’s draft, but Lazard’s experience in Matt LaFleur’s offense should give him an advantage in the competition to top the depth chart in 2022.
7. WR Tim Patrick
(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
Patrick finished as WR40 in 2021 and he’s now being drafted as WR64. He could end up being a great value pick this year, especially compared to teammates Courtland Sutton (WR26 ADP) and Jerry Jeudy (WR32 ADP). Patrick’s being drafted much lower than his teammates despite posting better numbers than them over the last two years. Patrick will also benefit from the arrival of new quarterback Russell Wilson.
8. TE Logan Thomas
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Thomas is a risky pick coming off a knee injury, but he’s going off the board as TE23 so most fantasy managers aren’t counting on him to start. After a big breakout season in 2020, Thomas missed 11 games due to various injuries in 2021, and fantasy managers are now reluctant to draft him. That’s understandable, but new Commanders QB Carson Wentz has helped produce fantasy-relevant tight ends in the past and Thomas has big upside if he returns to full health.
9. TE Albert Okwuegbunam
(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
The Broncos just used a second-round pick on Greg Dulcich, but he’ll likely have a limited role as a rookie, especially with better blocking tight ends above him on the depth chart. “Albert O,” on the other hand, is poised to step up as the team’s new TE1 this year following the Wilson trade that sent Noah Fant to Seattle. Wilson’s arrival will put all of Denver’s offensive weapons in the fantasy spotlight, and Okwuegbunam will get an opportunity to claim the 90-plus targets Fant totaled in each of the last two seasons. Okwuegbunam is being drafted as TE17.
10. QB Trey Lance
(Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports)
Lance is being drafted as QB14, which isn’t outrageously low, but it’s very easy to picture him finishing as a top-10 QB now that he’s the full-time starter in San Francisco. He’s surrounded by talented playmakers at WR and TE, and the 49ers always have a backfield full of productive RBs. That supporting cast could help Lance have a breakout year, and his rushing ability will give a huge boost to his fantasy outlook.
11. QB Jameis Winston
(Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports)
Winston missed 10 games in 2021 with ACL and MCL injuries. Before that, he was on pace to finish at QB14 in fantasy. Winston’s now being drafted as QB22 despite being surrounded by talent in New Orleans. He’s an excellent QB2 option with high upside if injuries don’t hold him back.
(Press Association via AP Images)
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