Fantasy Football 2022: 5 Rookies You Need to Target in Your Draft
Fantasy football season is officially on the horizon, and we have plenty of new names and faces you need to get to know as we head into the 2022-23 NFL season. This year’s rookie class is loaded with talented skill players who should be able to make an impact with their new teams from Day 1.
So, let’s take a look at the five rookies you need to target in your upcoming fantasy football draft.
Drake London — WR, Atlanta Falcons
PPR ADP (average draft position): 98.5
Drake London was the first offensive skill player selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, so it’s no surprise he tops this list. The eighth overall pick out of USC enters a perfect situation for immediate fantasy success, as the Atlanta Falcons lost Russell Gage and Calvin Ridley from last year’s roster.
The WR depth chart in Atlanta is a barren wasteland. Olamide Zaccheaus, Bryan Edwards, KhaDarel Hodge, and Geronimo Allison are currently the top four names on the depth chart, so it shouldn’t be hard for a player of London’s skill level to carve out a role in this offense from the jump.
The Falcons will be playing from behind a ton this season, which means plenty of pass plays and plenty of opportunity for garbage time fantasy points. London could be the main beneficiary of that opportunity, and you can grab him in the 8th or 9th round of your draft for a 12-team league.
Treylon Burks — WR, Tennessee Titans
PPR ADP: 111.7
Here’s another rookie who could realistically finish with the most WR fantasy points on his team this season. Treylon Burks is almost an exact replica of A.J. Brown in terms of size (6-foot-2, 225 pounds), and the rookie out of Arkansas should be able to fill his spot starting in Week 1.
Volume is king in fantasy football, and Burks should get plenty of it from Ryan Tannehill this season.
Christian Watson — WR, Green Bay Packers
PPR ADP: 154.0
Sensing a theme here?
With Davante Adams now in Las Vegas, there are 169 targets up for grabs in the Green Bay Packers offense this season. Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Sammy Watkins will pick up most of the slack, but Christian Watson should be next in line.
The second-round pick out of North Dakota State started training camp on the active/PUP list because of an offseason knee surgery, but he should be ready to go by Week 1. Target Watson as a late-round flier and a valuable stash piece on your fantasy team.
Breece Hall — RB, New York Jets
PPR ADP: 51.7
There always seems to be a rookie running back who wins the starting job in camp and finishes his first season as a top-10 fantasy player at the position. Last year it was Najee Harris. The year before it was Jonathan Taylor.
This year should be the year of Breece Hall.
The second-rounder out of Iowa State is already the favorite to win the starting job with the New York Jets. Hall won’t be cheap to acquire (going in the middle of the fourth round in 12-team PPR leagues), but if he slips to the 5th or 6th in your draft, don’t hesitate to scoop him up.
Tyrion Davis-Price — RB, San Francisco 49ers
PPR ADP: 173.5
Here’s a much cheaper option who has a chance to finish as the top rookie RB in fantasy this year. Elijah Mitchell is the clear-cut starter for the San Francisco 49ers heading into the season, but he missed six games last year due to a variety of injuries. If he misses more time in 2022, Tyrion Davis-Price will be ready to pounce and steal the job.
We know Kyle Shanahan isn’t a fan of Trey Sermon, and Jeff Wilson Jr. and JaMycal Hasty almost strictly work as third-down pass-catchers. Davis-Price just needs to overtake Mitchell and he’ll be the starter in one of the most prolific rushing offenses in the NFL.
All ADP figures courtesy of FantasyPros.
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