-2022 NFL Schedule -Strength of Schedule
MOCK DRAFT
Ask the Commish.Com 2022 Draft Kit
Tyler Boyd was a victim of circumstances more than anything else in 2021, with two alpha wide receivers in the Bengals offense leaving him nothing but scraps. The Bengals slot receiver commanded just a 15% target share and target rate per route run. The target rate per route ranked dead-last among 73 qualifying players last season that commanded at least 100 targets. It's clear that Boyd can't be viewed as much working as a clear ancillary piece of the Cincinnati passing attack. Tight end C.J. Uzomah's departure does open up the potential that Boyd could shoulder a larger target workload, but his upside remains extremely limited while Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are healthy.
The difference between having Geno Smith/Drew Lock at quarterback versus Russell Wilson cannot be overstated enough. It's a horrible situation to be in and puts D.K. Metcalf in a tough spot. Although the alpha wideout did rise to occasion under a small sample size last season, averaging 14.9 fantasy points per game (15th - same as his final season-long standing) without Wilson at quarterback for three games. But I am suspect that removing their quarterback that led the NFL in yards per attempt (10.4), passer rating (133.6) and passer rating from a clean pocket (130.9) before his finger injury is going to create a much larger impact over a 17-game sample size.
OK, moving from all-world Patrick Mahomes in KC to unproven Tua is an obvious reason for concern. But even minus the downgrade at the QB position, it is worth noting that Hill is coming off a season in which he posted a career-low in yards after the catch per reception (4.3, 42nd) and yards per route run (2.14, 11th). Getting back to the Miami move... Tagovailoa has yet to show that he can properly fuel a fantasy WR1, so it's hard to expect Hill to deliver a top-5 season with a lesser passer. Especially with Tagovailoa's lack of a confident deep ball, a prominent running game, and Jaylen Waddle also heavily involved in the offensive game plan. Sure, Hill will have his weeks when he is peppered with low-value targets in PPR formats, but the massive downfield touchdowns will happen much less frequently.
Dud is probably too strong of a term to use here, since we do have Adams projected to finish as a top 10 fantasy WR. While we do not believe that Adams' high level of play will stop in Las Vegas, his fantasy stock does get dented going from Rodgers to Derek Carr. It's unlikely that Carr hyper-targets Adams to the length of a 28% target share as Rodgers has done for so many seasons. Incumbent Raiders pass-catchers Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow represent more target competition than Adams has ever played with since becoming the alpha in Green Bay.
The veteran has never played in a pass-happy offense, and that doesn't necessarily project to change too drastically if the Eagles run back their operation ground and pound from a season ago. Still, Brown's talent has yet to hold him back amid a poor situation - WR5 in fantasy points per game in 2020 - and that shouldn't stop in Philly. He will be the alpha dog for the Eagles and remain a fantasy WR1 in 2022 fantasy leagues. Brown finished fourth in yards per route run (2.72) and in target rate per route run (28%) despite battling injuries last season.
The 32-year old wideout has made his hay in fantasy because of his "ability" to find the end zone 24 times since the start of 2020, but it's something that just isn't sustainable in the long term. Based on Thielen's targets and yardage totals, his total TD number should be closer to 16. Justin Jefferson is an ascending rocketship that will only see his TDs rise entering Year 3, most likely coming at the detriment of Thielen. Not to mention, AT's age may finally be catching up to him after he posted his lowest PFF receiving grade and yards per route run since he first became a starter back in 2016.
Mecole Hardman will see an expanded role after the Tyreek Hill trade, but too often he has failed to fire when asked to take a step forward in the No. 1 WR's absence. The Chiefs adding a plethora of WRs in free agency along with second-rounder Skyy Moore in the NFL Draft hints they aren't expecting a massive leap for Hardman. My advice is to not get overly aggressive drafting a player that has yet to rid the role of a gadget player since entering the league. Because although the thought of a speedy wide receiver attached to Patrick Mahomes is enticing the on-field production really has not been there for Hardman even from a spiked-weeked perspective. Case in point, he has finished a a top-18 weekly WR in PPR once in three years to go along with a handful of 18-20th overall finishes.