Skip to main content

8 Best Ball League Winner Wide Receivers (2022 Fantasy Football)

8 Best Ball League Winner Wide Receivers (2022 Fantasy Football)

Several factors go into building a winning best ball team. One of those factors is identifying which players will let your team down and bust. Another is knowing which players have league-winning upside, especially in the later rounds. Today, we’ll focus on the former and identify the top best ball league winners.

The average draft position (ADP) used for this article comes from Underdog Fantasy.

Beyond our fantasy football content, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you prepare for your draft this season. From our free mock Draft Simulator – which allows you to mock draft against realistic opponents – to our Draft Assistant – that optimizes your picks with expert advice – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football draft season.

CTA

Rashod Bateman (WR – BAL): ADP 53.7

After trading away Marquise Brown during the NFL Draft, Bateman will step into the No. 1 wide receiver role. While Mark Andrews remains Lamar Jackson‘s go-to target, Bateman will see a massive uptick in targets this season. Despite reports that the Ravens will add a veteran wide receiver at some point in the coming weeks, fantasy players should jump at the chance to draft Bateman. Brown saw a 26.7% target share last season, 10.9% more than any other wide receiver on the team. Meanwhile, Bateman averaged 10.5 fantasy points per game in the four games with over six targets last year. As a result, Bateman could see enough volume to finish the year as a top-15 wide receiver.

DJ Chark (WR – DET): ADP 153.6

Last year was a waste for Chark as he missed most of the season. The last time Chark was a difference maker for fantasy teams was in 2019. He averaged 7.9 targets and a career-high 12.6 fantasy points per game that year. More importantly, Chark averaged 1.6 fantasy points per target that year compared to 1.2 fantasy points in the rest of his career. Now in Detroit, Chark will have a chance to return to his old self. The Lions lack reliable wide receivers other than St. Brown. Meanwhile, the rookie Williams likely won’t be ready until the second half of the season. If he can quickly build a rapport with Goff, Chark could turn into a league-winning wide receiver.

Romeo Doubs (WR – GB): ADP 214.8

I have been one of Doubs’ biggest fans all offseason long. Despite losing their top two wide receivers from last year’s squad, the Packers didn’t draft a replacement until the middle rounds when they grabbed 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. If he continues to impress the coaching staff, Doubs’ ADP will continue to rise.

Christian Kirk (WR – JAC): ADP 89.1

Last year Kirk had arguably the best year of his career with 77 receptions for 982 yards and 169.12 total fantasy points scored, all career-highs. He had an 18.1% target share last season but should have an even larger share this season. The Jaguars made Kirk their prize addition this offseason and believe he can be Trevor Lawrence‘s No. 1 weapon in the passing game. Kirk averaged 1.64 fantasy points per target last year. By comparison, he averaged 1.41 fantasy points per target for the rest of his career. The Jaguars will be in a negative game script a fair amount this season. If Lawrence can make a sophomore leap, Kirk has top-20 upside.

Now’s the time to try your new secret weapon for your draft: Draft Intel! Draft Intel analyzes up to 5 years of drafts and breaks down all your league-mates’ draft tendencies. See who waits at quarterback, how people approach the early rounds, and tons more insights to get an edge in your draft. Best of all, it’s totally FREE! Check out your league’s Draft Intel today!

CTAs

Kadarius Toney (WR – NYG): ADP 86.8

While Toney’s rookie season was far from ideal, there is still hope for the former Florida Gator. Toney averaged only 6.3 fantasy points per game last season, but he showed promise. He averaged 1.1 fantasy points per target in his four games with over five targets last year. Furthermore, the Giants improved their offense in the offseason. They hired Brian Daboll as their new head coach and improved Daniel Jones‘ offensive line. More importantly, Sterling Shepard is coming off a torn Achilles, and Kenny Golladay has been inconsistent the past few years. Thus, Toney has limited competition for targets. Toney has a pathway to a low-end WR2 finish if he can stay on the field.

Chase Claypool (WR – PIT): ADP 105.1

Pittsburgh has a history of developing wide receivers into fantasy impactful players. After losing JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington in the offseason, the Steelers used a pair of draft picks on their replacements. However, neither is an ideal target in best ball or redraft leagues. Instead, you should draft Claypool. After scoring nine touchdowns as a rookie, he scored only two last year, finishing fourth on the team. However, he is due for a bounce-back third year. Roethlisberger lacked the arm strength to push the ball downfield to Claypool as he averaged 11.5 air yards per target. Whether it’s Mitchell Trubisky or Kenny Pickett under center, Claypool should have the best year of his career this season.

DK Metcalf (WR – SEA): ADP 53.4

DK Metcalf’s situation has drastically changed from a year ago. Russell Wilson is in Denver, and Geno Smith is the favorite to replace him as Seattle’s starter. Metcalf averaged 14.9 fantasy points per game in the three games without Wilson last year. Furthermore, he averaged 2.48 fantasy points per target in those contests. While Metcalf needed a 16.7% touchdown rate to produce those averages, he needs only one downfield reception to score double-digit fantasy points. Some weeks he will struggle without Wilson. On other weeks Metcalf will have massive performances thanks to his big-play ability. While he won’t be the most consistent fantasy receiver, Metcalf’s upside is hard to pass up at his current ADP.

Kyle Philips (WR – TEN): ADP 215.9

Do not disregard your last-round pick simply because it’s the last pick. Anyone who took a dart throw at Cordarrelle Patterson with their last-round pick probably won their league last year. While Treylon Burks gets all the attention as Brown’s replacement, don’t sleep on the fifth-round pick. The former UCLA star has a realistic shot at earning meaningful snaps as a rookie. Woods is coming off a torn ACL and recently turned 30 years old, while Burks has struggled to stay on the field during camp. During the pre-draft process, some compared Philips to Hunter Renfrow. If he builds a connection with Tannehill during training camp, Philips will become the steal of the draft with your final pick.


SubscribeApple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio

If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, be sure to 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 – that allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.

 

More Articles

FantasyPros Dynasty Football Podcast: How Much is Your First-Round Draft Pick Worth?

FantasyPros Dynasty Football Podcast: How Much is Your First-Round Draft Pick Worth?

fp-headshot by FantasyPros Staff | 2 min read
3 Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Running Backs (2024)

3 Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Running Backs (2024)

fp-headshot by Anthony Corrente | 2 min read
Fantasy Football Mock Draft: FFPC Best Ball Picks (2024)

Fantasy Football Mock Draft: FFPC Best Ball Picks (2024)

fp-headshot by Tom Strachan | 3 min read
3 Fantasy Football Draft Picks to Avoid: Tight Ends (2024)

3 Fantasy Football Draft Picks to Avoid: Tight Ends (2024)

fp-headshot by Mike Fanelli | 2 min read

About Author

Hide

Current Article

4 min read

FantasyPros Dynasty Football Podcast: How Much is Your First-Round Draft Pick Worth?

Next Up - FantasyPros Dynasty Football Podcast: How Much is Your First-Round Draft Pick Worth?

Next Article