The 2022 NFL season is upon us, and it’s time for fantasy football players to get their cheat sheets ready for their drafts. Looking at the best player rankings from around the internet, the following top players could offer value on draft day.
Jonathan Taylor, IND
A massive workhorse for the Wisconsin Badgers, Taylor had 926 rushing attempts in his three seasons. He was also an active receiver with 80 career receptions. The combination of durability and receiving prowess make him an elite RB prospect.
The Indianapolis Colts have Marlon Mack to start the season, but he has missed games over the last two years. If Taylor gets an opportunity, he may make it to the top early 2022 fantasy football rankings.
Cooper Kupp, LAR
Kupp was a revelation in his rookie season, catching 62 passes for 869 yards and five touchdowns despite missing two games. He’s a slot receiver, but he plays outside as well, and he’s poised for an even bigger year. Kupp had 14 catches on 17 targets for 190 yards in Week 3 of the preseason — you can’t ignore that kind of performance.
He’s among the top receivers in most rankings, and if you’re looking for a breakout candidate at wide receiver — or just a player who is going to be productive every week — Kupp is one of your best bets.
Christian McCaffrey, CAR
It’s no surprise that Christian McCaffrey is the top option for running back in fantasy football. He was a first-round pick in almost every draft last year, and he finished among the top players in all of the fantasy on the strength of his 1,387 rushing yards and 651 receiving yards.
McCaffrey did most of his damage as a receiver, hauling 116 passes for 867 yards and four TDs. His 120 targets were second only to DeAndre Hopkins among all pass-catchers, and he led all running backs in receptions.
Derrick Henry, TEN
Henry led the NFL in rushing yards (1,540) and rushing touchdowns (16), and he finished second among running backs in fantasy points (310.4). He also caught 18 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns. Henry rushed for 377 yards and four touchdowns in the postseason on 88 carries (4.3 yards per carrying).
Henry is a physical running back who can run through tacklers, but he also has good speed to run away from defenders. Last season, he had 27 runs of 15 or more yards and averaged 4.3 yards after contact. He is a good receiver out of the backfield.
Austin Ekeler, LAC
Ekeler is doing his best to give his team a reason not to draft a running back in the first round. He’s been a PPR monster as the change-of-pace guy behind Melvin Gordon, and if Gordon leaves after the season, there’s a good chance Ekeler would be the favorite for RB1 duties.
All those factors lead to Ekeler having an extremely high floor and ceiling for the rest of the season. Consequently, his name features prominently on the fantasy football draft kit.
Final Thoughts
Football is all about taking risks. This may be the most cliche statement in fantasy football, but it’s true. Fantasy owners need to take risks if they want to win championships.
That being said, there are certain players you should not take a risk on drafting this season. Before you draw, be sure to analyze their situation so you don’t regret your pick.
