The 2022 NFL season is less than two months away. While the Scott Fish Bowl is wrapping up, it’s too soon to start redraft leagues. Instead, Best Ball drafts are an excellent way to fill your fantasy football desires in the offseason. Furthermore, you can scratch the fantasy itch without adding a dozen new leagues to manage come the fall.
Like every other form of fantasy football, it is critical to find the best values throughout the draft. So let’s look at the best value in each round of an 18-round Best Ball draft.
The ADP used for this article comes from Underdog Fantasy.
Round 1 – Dalvin Cook (RB – MIN): ADP 9.2
Last season was a down one for Cook. The veteran averaged 14.6 fantasy points per game last year, his lowest average since his second season. However, Cook had over 1,150 rushing yards for the third straight year. He also averaged 4.7 yards per rushing attempt, matching his career average. The reason for Cook’s struggles was a lack of touchdowns, and he had only six last season after scoring 29 rushing touchdowns the previous two years. With a new offensive-minded head coaching running the show in Minnesota, Cook could end the year as the overall RB1.
Round 2 – D’Andre Swift (RB – DET): ADP 15.3
Swift has struggled to stay healthy so far in his career, yet he has been productive when he’s on the field. After averaging 12.8 PPR fantasy points per game as a rookie, Swift averaged 13.7 per contest last year. He has finished both years as a top-20 running back despite missing at least three games each year. More importantly, Swift has plenty of room to grow in his game. He has back-to-back RB2 seasons to start his career despite averaging only 132.5 rushing attempts per year. Furthermore, Swift has only 17 touchdowns in 26 career games. After adding some weight this offseason, Swift should stay healthy and have a top-10 or better finish in 2022.
Round 3 – Mike Williams (WR – LAC): ADP 28.2
Coming off the best year of his career, Williams signed a three-year contract worth $60 million with the Chargers. Last year, he had over 120 targets, 75 receptions, and 1,100 receiving yards for the first time in his career. More importantly, Williams was the WR10 last year, ahead of teammate Keenan Allen. Despite rumors that the Chargers would add a wide receiver early during the NFL Draft, they didn’t add any wide receivers in the draft or sign a veteran in free agency. Williams has too much upside to pass up in the third round, especially with Justin Herbert under center.
Round 4 – Cam Akers (RB – LAR): ADP 45.7
Last year was a lost year for Akers. While it’s impressive that he returned only six months after suffering a torn Achilles, Akers didn’t look 100% during the playoffs. However, fantasy players should be encouraged by how Akers ended his rookie season. He averaged 13.2 fantasy points per game over his final five games in 2020. Akers then had 46 rushing attempts for 221 yards and two touchdowns and averaged 4.8 yards per rushing attempt in the Rams’ two playoff games that year. With Sony Michel in Miami and Darrell Henderson‘s injury history, Akers has no threat to his feature role this season.
Round 5 – Darnell Mooney (WR – CHI): ADP 57.5
After a solid rookie season, Mooney broke out last year. He ended the season as the WR24, averaging 10.5 fantasy points per game. Furthermore, he was a top-24 wide receiver despite scoring only four receiving touchdowns. However, Mooney’s production improved once Allen Robinson got hurt. He averaged 9.4 targets and 11.7 fantasy points per game in the five games without Robinson. Over a 17-game pace, Mooney would have ended the year as the WR15. When the Bears let Robinson leave in free agency, they did very little to replace him. Meanwhile, Justin Fields is locked in as the starter this year and ready to go. Expect him to target Mooney plenty this season, making the former fifth-round pick a top fantasy receiver.
Round 6 – Dalton Schultz (TE – DAL): ADP 66.5
Last year Schultz broke out and ended the year as the TE3, averaging 10 fantasy points per game. After scoring 18.7 total fantasy points in the first two years of his career, Schultz is an emerging fantasy star. He averaged 1.63 fantasy points per target last year. More importantly, his targets increased by 14.4% from 2021 to last season. Now that Amari Cooper is in Cleveland and Michael Gallup is recovering from a torn ACL, Schultz should have an increased workload this year. Fantasy players should grab Schultz at his current ADP.
Round 7 – Trey Lance (QB – SF): ADP 78.9
While he played sparingly last season, Lance was productive when given a chance. He started two games last season for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo. Lance also played the entire second half of the Week 4 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks after Garoppolo suffered an injury right before halftime. In those 2.5 games, Lance scored 54 fantasy points. Adjusting for playing only 10 quarters of football instead of 12, Lance averaged 21.6 fantasy points per game last season in a situation where he was the starter. Thanks to his supporting cast and rushing ability, Lance will become a fantasy superstar.
Round 8 – Christian Kirk (WR – JAC): ADP 85.7
Kirk set the entire NFL offseason world on fire when he signed with the Jaguars. Now he has to prove he’s worth the money. Last year, Kirk had the best year of his career, finishing at the WR26. However, he averaged 10.1 fantasy points per game in the seven contests without DeAndre Hopkins. Furthermore, he scored 10.8 or more fantasy points in three of those seven contests. Kirk will see plenty of targets as the No. 1 receiver in Jacksonville, and he is in line for a massive target share as Trevor Lawrence‘s go-to wide receiver.
Round 9 – Kenneth Walker (RB – SEA): ADP 105.1
The Seattle backfield has been one of the more talked about groups from fantasy football fans this offseason. Rashaad Penny is coming off his historic finish to last year. Now, there are reports he will see 20 rushing attempts per game. However, there is zero chance that happens for the entire season. Penny has missed 43.1% of the games in his career because of various injuries. Meanwhile, Walker will reportedly handle the receiving role out of the backfield. While everyone goes crazy for Penny, take advantage of the Walker dip and grab a potential league-winning running back outside the top 100 picks.
Round 10 – Ronald Jones (RB – KC): ADP 119.7
Fantasy players need to avoid Clyde Edwards-Helaire at his current ADP. However, they should take a draft Jones at his ADP. Last year Jones played only 19.2% of the snaps in Tampa Bay and wasn’t given a chance to produce for fantasy teams until Leonard Fournette suffered an injury. However, Jones scored 15.1 fantasy points and 0.69 fantasy points per touch in the one healthy game he played without Fournette last year. Meanwhile, Edwards-Helaire has struggled to stay healthy, missing 30.3% of the games in his career. The last time he played at least 40% of the snaps in a season, Jones was the RB16. If Edwards-Helaire misses significant time, Jones could end the year as the top-10 running back.
Round 11 – Dameon Pierce (RB – HOU): ADP 129.1
Houston was an ideal landing spot for a rookie running back, given the current players on the roster. Veterans Marlon Mack and Rex Burkhead are Pierce’s competition for the starting role in Houston. However, they shouldn’t keep Pierce off the field as a rookie. Mack has 37 touches over the past two years, while Burkhead had one game with over 47 rushing yards last season. Furthermore, there have been reports that Pierce could take over as the lead back sooner than later. He could quickly earn the starting role and become a steal at his current price. Rarely can you find running backs with low-end RB2 upside outside the top 100 picks. However, Pierce has that level of upside.
Round 12 – K.J. Osborn (WR – MIN): ADP 141.7
After not seeing a target as a rookie, Osborn stepped up last year for the Vikings. He averaged 9.3 fantasy points per game last year on 82 targets, and his seven receiving touchdowns were third-most on the team. More importantly, Osborn stepped up his play when Adam Thielen missed time. Over the final five weeks of the year, Thielen played only 16 snaps because of injuries. During that span, Osborn averaged 5.6 targets and 11.2 fantasy points per game while scoring four of his seven touchdowns. Thielen has missed 11 games over the past three years. If he misses significant time in 2022, Osborn could become a league winner.
Round 13 – Jameis Winston (QB – NO): ADP 152.4
Despite a lack of weapons, Winston had 14 passing touchdowns and only three interceptions in seven games last year before tearing his ACL. He scored over 25 fantasy points in two of those contests. Instead of drafting a quarterback with one of their two first-round picks, the Saints used the draft capital on Chris Olave and Trevor Penning, giving Winston help on offense. Furthermore, they signed Jarvis Landry this offseason and should get back Michael Thomas after he missed the entire 2021 season. Winston was the QB14 on a points per game basis last year. Thanks to his trio of weapons, he has top 10 upside this season.
Round 14 – Khalil Herbert (RB – CHI): ADP 161.6
Despite being a sixth-round pick, Herbert was a productive fantasy player last year. He averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game in the four games David Montgomery missed. Furthermore, he was the RB16 during the four weeks Montgomery was out. At the very least, Herbert is one of the top handcuffs in fantasy football. Yet, Herbert could have more value this season. Chicago’s new offensive coordinator, Luke Getsy, came from Green Bay. Last year, they used a two-running-back situation. Getsy could decide to use both Montgomery and Herbert this season as a 1-2 punch. Take a late-round chance on Herbert.
Round 15 – Darrel Williams (RB – ARI): ADP 170.2
While Edwards-Helaire got all hype in the Kansas City backfield heading into last season, Williams was the running back to shine. He ended the year as the RB22, averaging a career-high 10.1 fantasy points per game. Williams also showed he could play a role in the passing game last season, averaging a career-high 2.8 receptions for 26.6 receiving yards per contest. Meanwhile, the Cardinals lost Chase Edmonds and his 10.2 fantasy points per game average from last season in free agency. Williams could fill that role next season. Furthermore, James Conner has struggled with injuries in his career. If Conner misses time, Williams becomes a league winner in that Arizona offense.
Round 16 – Deshaun Watson (QB – CLE): ADP 187.3
The Watson situation is a complex and ugly issue on and off the field. However, there is no denying his fantasy production. Watson has been a top-five fantasy quarterback the past three years he has played. Furthermore, he was on pace for the overall QB1 finish as a rookie before tearing his ACL in practice. Despite missing nine games with the injury, Watson threw 19 touchdown passes and averaged 24.1 fantasy points per game that year. While the weapons in Cleveland aren’t elite, Watson has the pieces around him needed to return to his elite fantasy form. Grabbing Watson as your QB2 gives your team plenty of upside this late in the draft.
Round 17 – Brian Robinson Jr. (RB – WAS): ADP 194.9
Even after re-signing J.D. McKissic, Washington used a third-round pick on Robinson. They didn’t use that high of a draft pick to give him 2-3 rushing attempts per game. Instead, Robinson will see consistent touches as the Commanders try to lighten Antonio Gibson‘s workload. Gibson has only missed three games in his NFL career but has repeatedly gotten slowed down by shin and toe injuries. Robinson will likely steal some early-down work and goal-line attempts from Gibson. Furthermore, Robinson becomes a league winner if Gibson misses significant time with an injury.
Round 18 – Romeo Doubs (WR – GB): ADP 214.3
Despite losing their top two wide receivers from last year’s squad, the Packers didn’t draft a wide receiver in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Instead, they waited till the middle rounds to grab Christian Watson and Doubs. Meanwhile, Doubs had over 2,100 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns in his final 20 games at Nevada. He won’t turn into the next Davante Adams, but Doubs could become the new No. 1 wide receiver in Green Bay this season. Furthermore, there have been several reports so far this offseason of Doubs impressing during camp. He is a total wild card, but if Doubs impresses during camp, his ADP will be at least 75-100 spots higher next month.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
