It’s important to be aware of expert rankings and average draft position (ADP) as you look ahead to your 2022 fantasy football draft. You can capitalize in early drafts, dynasty leagues, and best ball drafts by understanding which players are likely to rise up draft boards ahead of Week 1. Here are six players expected to rise in ADP ahead of the start of the 2022 fantasy football season.
Rankings noted using FantasyPros half-PPR Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) and Consensus ADP.
6 Players Who Will Rise in Draft Rankings
Jacoby Brissett (QB – CLE): Deshaun Watson suspension
ECR QB38 | ADP QB335
With a Watson suspension looming over the Browns organization, the relationship between Mayfield and the team that drafted him has become “extremely awkward.” Mutual interest between the Seahawks and Mayfield has been reported, but regardless of Mayfield’s situation, the Browns would be “expected” to move forward with Brissett as the team’s starter should Watson see a lengthy suspension. “There is concern from the NFL Players Association” that Watson may face a season-long suspension, in which case, the Browns would trust Brissett to be the team’s starter. In Brissett’s two full seasons starting with the Indianapolis Colts in 2017 and 2019, Brissett finished as a low-end QB2 both years. Brissett is currently being drafted at QB40, according to FantasyPros average draft position, and could potentially see an entire season’s worth of action.
Mark Ingram (RB – NO): Alvin Kamara suspension
ECR RB60 | ADP RB57
While Mark Ingram isn’t a young pup, the veteran running back can still provide fantasy value this season. Alvin Kamara is reportedly facing a six-game suspension. For however long Kamara is suspended, Ingram will step into his featured role for the Saints. Last year, Ingram started three games for an injured Kamara. He averaged 13.3 rushing attempts and 5.7 targets for 82.3 scrimmage yards and 11.4 fantasy points per game in those contests, scoring over 12 fantasy points twice. Despite missing a game during that span because of injury, Ingram was the RB27 in the four weeks Kamara was sidelined. Ingram is an excellent late-round target for those who use a Zero RB strategy as he can provide low-end RB2 production early in the season.
Will Fuller (WR – FA): Free agent, signed before season
ECR WR79 | ADP WR81
Fuller is still a free agent, but I bet he’ll sign with a team by August, and when that happens, his draft position and consensus ranking will rise, so I’m looking to get ahead of that now. For his career, Fuller has averaged 9.2 yards per target. Over the past five years, Fuller hasn’t played more than 11 games in any season, so he’s the human embodiment of a red flag – but his 166-2,501-22 receiving stat line for the past half-decade prorates to 1,037 yards and nine touchdowns over a 17-game season. You can’t ignore Fuller’s upside at his price.
Kadarius Toney (WR – NYG): Not traded, Sterling Shepard Achilles
ECR WR47 | ADP WR45
Kadarius Toney is a wild card. With offseason rumblings that he could be dealt and an offseason knee surgery to pile on top, Toney is a boom or bust type proposition for 2022. When Toney was on the field last year, there’s no denying that he flashed immense upside. In 2021 among all wide receivers with 100 or more routes, only Cooper Kupp, Davante Adams, A.J. Brown, Antonio Brown, and Toney finished with a 29% target per route run rate (or higher) and at least 2.20 yards per route run.
K.J. Osborn (WR – MIN): More 3-WR sets, new offense in MIN, Adam Thielen aging
ECR WR82 | ADP WR74
K.J. Osborn flashed at times during the 2021 season, but never more so than when he filled in for Adam Thielen. From Weeks 13-17, the second-year pro averaged 12 half-PPR fantasy points per game to go along with six targets.
If Thielen starts to break down entering his age 32-season, Osborn would be the prime benefactor.
Robert Tonyan (TE – GB): Return from injury, no Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling
ECR TE16 | ADP TE16
Robert Tonyan wasn’t particularly effective last season before his injury – only two games with over 10 fantasy points and TE29 in fantasy points per game – but the path to upside exists in an offense led by Aaron Rodgers.
Don’t be too quick to forget that Tonyan caught 11 touchdowns in 2020, and there are many red-zone opportunities left with Adams removed from the equation. The new Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver has earned 28 red-zone targets over the last two seasons – most by any player.
As long as Tonyan remains just outside the middle-range tight end ADP, he is definitely worth an 11th or 12th round selection. With so much ambiguity regarding which wide receiver will emerge from Green Bay, the right answer might be just drafting Tonyan instead.
FantasyPros Staff Consensus 2022 Redraft Fantasy Football Rankings
If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant, which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
