Although it is about two months until many fantasy football leagues' drafts, it is never too early to create a guide for the avid competitor. Whether you are constantly atop your pool or just struggling through consecutive losing seasons, you will find a key to jump the competition in this article.
The NFL rookies are often overlooked for their fantasy value as many expect them to receive limited playing time due to inexperience. However, they are often some of the most valuable players for a fantasy team as they play with determination and effort to prove themselves in the big leagues.
The Quarterbacks:
Who is expected to be best: Kenny Pickett
Image Via TribLIVE
Kenny Pickett was the first quarterback taken in the 2022 NFL Draft and is therefore expected to do the best. The Panther alum will be staying close to home to play his rookie season. In his senior season as a Pittsburgh Panther, Picket threw for an amazing 4,319 yard and 42 touchdowns. This led him to finish third in the Heisman voting. While achieving this awesome feat, Pickett was also very efficient, throwing only 7 interception over his twelve games. With these numbers it is no wonder he went in the first round. Pickett will also be surrounded by a very young receiving corps in George Pickens and Chase Claypool. Expect Pickett to have a good season, but the youth of the Steelers may be their downfall. This will be the only thing keeping Pickett's season going from good to great.
Who will be the best: Desmond Ridder
Image via Cincinnati Bearcats
Ridder does not even compare to Pickett in the stats categories, however he will be a much more efficient player in the NFL for three reasons. Firstly, the NFC South is by far an easier division to play in than the AFC North. Pickett will be facing Super Bowl hopeful Bengals, the newly revived Browns, and the always strong Ravens. On the other hand, Ridder and the Falcons will be facing the GOAT in Tom Brady, who has a much weakened receiving corps this season, an injury prone Saints team, and a team consistently near the bottom of the league in the Panthers. Secondly, Ridder is used to throwing to below average receivers and the catching ability of professional receivers will give him a big edge. Meanwhile, Pickett threw to Biletnikoff winner in Jordan Addison and will gain almost nothing with professional receivers. Lastly, Ridder's speed will serve him well as he was the fastest quarterback at the combine with a 4.52 time on his 40-yard dash. This compares well to Lamar Jackson and Russell Wilson, who are already considered some of the best in the game.
The Running Backs:
Who is expected to be best: Breece Hall
Image via New York Post
Hall is a dynamic play maker who is able to stretch the field and also play at wideout. He will almost definitely be very good this season. The only problem is that Kenneth Walker III will be better. If you could get either RB in your fantasy draft, it would be a good start to the season. The downfall of Hall may just come from his offensive line. He is used to playing behind a pretty good offensive front, however, in New York he will be playing behind one of the worst. The Jets' offensive line cannot protect the quarterback well, let alone open holes for their running backs to run through. Other than the offensive line, Hall will be very productive and worth a pick in your fantasy league.
Who will be the best: Kenneth Walker III
Image via 247 Sports'
Kenneth Walker is an effect ball carrier with explosive speed. He ran for 1,636 yards in his final season with Michigan State and averaged a whopping 6.2 yards per carry. He also ran for 18 touchdowns to boost his resume even more. This led Walker to finish 6th in the Heisman voting and jump on to the RADARs of many NFL scouts. He will be the best rookie RB in fantasy for two reasons. To begin with, at his time with the Spartans he ran behind an average at best offensive line. This compares well too the Seahawks, who have a middle of the row offensive line. This is when Walker's ability to create holes and run with speed shines through. Walker ran a position best 4.38 40 yard dash to firmly cement his explosive speed. Secondly, Walker has proved how well he can play against top tier defensive ends. In one game, Walker faced Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, who went second and forty-fifth respectively. In this game Walker went off for 5 touchdowns and 197 rush yards. Walker is a solid pick for any fantasy league and may end up being a solid RB1 choice by the end of his rookie season.
The Wide Receivers:
Who is expected to be the best: Christian Watson
Image via Zone Coverage
Watson does not jump off the page as a wide receiver that can do a ton of damage. The idea that he will be worth a pick actually stems from the fact that he will be catching passes from Aaron Rodgers. Watson is a middle of the row receiver with average yards after the catch. The difference maker for Watson will definitely be catching passes from a 4-time MVP. In his senior season at North Dakota State, Watson went for 800 yards receiving and averaged 18.6 yards per catch. This will translate into many fantasy points as long catches tend to rack up more points. Christian Watson will be a solid pick for a rookie wide receiver just not the best one.
Who will be the best: Jameson Williams
Image via Detroit Jock City
Jameson Williams was by far the most productive receiver to enter the draft. The only contingency on him being the best fantasy wide receiver is how well he recovers from his torn ACL. The Lions took a big risk in drafting Williams, not knowing if he would be ready for the season, but it is going to pay off big time. In his final season of college football, Williams exploded for 1,572 yards and nearly 20 yards per catch. Williams also has big play potential, going 94 yards for a touchdown at one point during last season. He is the type of player that thrives no matter the quarterback and can make acrobatic catches. Paired with Amon-Ra St. Brown, the Lions will be a big play team and their opponents will not be able to cover both wideouts adequately. Williams is very worth an early draft pick in fantasy leagues this fall.
The Tight Ends:
Stick with the veterans:
Eventually this class of tight ends may be great, however they will need some work. Look for the tight ends of this year to be big names in 3-4 years, just not by the end of this year. The best bet for fantasy is to stick with those that have experience. Many of the guys with experience are able to pump out consistent games week after week. Players such as Mark Andrews, Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and even Dallas Goedert would be good options for TE1. Avoid the rookies this year but they show promise for the future.
Keep an eye on the players of this year as they may soon be superstars. Whether you get your first option or your third option this draft class has unparalleled depth and may just contain dynasty players for your fantasy team in the future.
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