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8 Final Round Targets (2022 Fantasy Football)


 
Deep sleepers are the kind of players you should focus on at the end of your draft. These are athletes who are typically lesser known in casual leagues but have a good chance of delivering value compared to their average draft position (ADP). This is arguably a better strategy than taking a kicker or a defense with your last pick. The player you take could gain value if the incumbent starter gets injured in the preseason, they could move up the depth chart before the season, or the coach could hint that they are in store for a bigger role than anyone expected.

Whoever you select towards the end may not have the upside to win you a title on their own, but they can become reliable starters or flex options who can make a difference when you need them to come through. Getting enough of these late-round gems is how leagues are won. So, who are the best final-round targets, you ask? Our featured experts have come to tackle that question for you. Read on to see who they’re looking at with their last pick.

Fantasy Football Redraft Draft Kit

Q1. Which one RB outside the top 60 in half-PPR RB ADP do you plan on targeting in the final rounds of all your drafts and why?

Tyrion Davis-Price (SF): Consensus ADP – RB61 | 197th Overall
“I didn’t think too highly of Tyrion Davis-Price before the 2022 NFL Draft, but his initial burst and long speed — 77th percentile 40-yard dash and 73rd percentile 10-yard split time — opened my eyes to his potential in the 49ers offense, as did the most critical metric regarding his Year 1 projection: Round 3 draft capital. And above all, the 49ers offense breeds an efficient running game like no other that can easily open lanes for the rookie’s speed. It’s not hard to envision a scenario where the 49ers are forced to turn to their physically bruising rookie running back in the wake of a potential injury to an undersized Elijah Mitchell in 2022 or just use the two in tandem. San Fran’s coaching staff liked the way Davis-Price bullied defenders in the fourth quarters of games at the college level, so it’s easy to picture him in a similar “finisher” role in the pros. And historically speaking, the 49ers’ fantasy RB to roster in fantasy football is rarely the first one off the draft board. ”
Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)

Tyrion Davis-Price is a guy I’ve written about a lot recently, but until his average draft position gets to where it should be, I’ll keep on writing. In his five years with the 49ers, HC Kyle Shanahan has had five different No. 1 running backs. That doesn’t mean Elijah Mitchell won’t have success in 2022, but he’s not built like a lead back at 5-foot-10, 200 pounds, and the 49ers might consider him replaceable given his 2021 draft capital (pick No. 194). As for Davis-Price, he’s built like a lead back (6-foot-1, 219 pounds), he’s athletic (4.48-second 40-yard dash), and he has significant draft capital (pick No. 93). Davis-Price has a real chance to earn playing time as a rookie.”
Matthew Freedman (FantasyPros)

“Elijah Mitchell is a running back I’m avoiding at ADP. The rookie, Tyrion Davis-Price, is one of the reasons why. The 49ers invested a third-round pick on him despite having success utilizing Mitchell last year. Coach Shanahan has shown in the past that he likes to mix up his backfield. Davis-Price’s athleticism will allow him to earn the backup role at first, but he has what it takes to become the goal line back in this offense at the very least.”
Mauricio Gutierrez (Estadio Fantasy)

Kenyan Drake (LV): Consensus ADP – RB63 | 210th Overall
“Someone. Please help me. I can’t stop drafting Kenyan Drake. I’ve tried to quit him. I have. Drake is incredibly cheap exposure to what we think will be one of the best offenses in the NFL. Las Vegas looks prepared to deploy a committee this year. Drake should own the passing downs from Week 1. Last year he was sixth in yards per route run among running backs, per PFF (minimum 20 targets). Drake also flashed enough juice on early downs last year that he could eat into Josh Jacobs’ work here as well. Drake should have an ADP near the handcuff tier, but he doesn’t. Exploit this value as much as possible. ”
Derek Brown (FantasyPros)

Matt Breida (NYG): Consensus ADP – RB76 | 274th Overall
“Despite inquiries into bringing back Devontae Booker, I believe the Giants want to use Matt Breida to spell Saquon Barkley. He has tons of speed and is a good receiver, so a Barkley injury could result in some Breida spike weeks. ”
Bo McBrayer (Going For 2)

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.

Q2. Which one WR outside the top 65 in half-PPR WR ADP do you plan on targeting in the final rounds of all your drafts and why?

K.J. Osborn (MIN): Consensus ADP – WR78 | 226th Overall
“Minnesota Vikings WR 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. Osborn also cracked starting lineups as a fantasy WR3 at a 44% clip and posted just one fewer top-24 finish than his veteran teammate during the entire 2021 season. If Thielen starts to break down entering his age-32 season, Osborn would be the prime beneficiary in a more pass-happy, fantasy-friendly Vikings offense under new head coach and play caller Kevin O’Connell. The Rams ran 11 personnel at a league-high 86% of offensive plays last season; Minnesota ran 11-personnel at the fifth-lowest rate in the league.”
Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)

Will Fuller (FA): Consensus ADP – WR82 | 252nd Overall
“Will 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.”
Matthew Freedman (FantasyPros)

Jalen Tolbert (DAL): Consensus ADP – WR67 | 191st Overall
“The Cowboys have 31.1% vacated targets and 44.4% vacated targets inside the 10-yard line. Most of those targets are WR targets. Amari Cooper is gone, and Michael Gallup is probable to start the season on the PUP list. Tolbert could earn the starting role opposite CeeDee Lamb and that’s huge in a prolific offense. In every one of his three years in college, he averaged at least 17 yards per catch. In 2021, he was sixth in deep targets. He has very good speed and acceleration.”
Mauricio Gutierrez (Estadio Fantasy)

Wan’Dale Robinson (NYG): Consensus ADP – WR85 | 261th Overall
“Wan’Dale Robinson’s ADP is set to climb after he’s been setting camp on fire. Take advantage of the field’s oversight. With Sterling Shepard‘s health still up in the air, Robinson could be the Giants’ full-time slot all season. Last year he was fourth in yards per route run and 10th in yards after the catch as the fifth-highest graded collegiate wide receiver, per PFF (minimum 50 targets). In an offense screaming for playmakers, Robinson could challenge for the team lead in targets this season. ”
Derek Brown (FantasyPros)

Nico Collins (HOU): Consensus ADP – WR90 | 276th Overall
“Nico Collins has oodles of potential. The Texans entrusted two rookies last year to be their QB and X-receiver, with Davis Mills impressing enough to earn the reins going forward. Collins is a big body who wins at contested catches. He comps to Courtland Sutton and even registered higher success rates than Sutton last season, according to Reception Perception. One step forward from both Mills and Collins in 2022 would obliterate their respective ADPs.”
Bo McBrayer (Going For 2)


CTAs

Thanks to the experts for sharing their advice! For more of their insight, be sure to follow each pundit on Twitter (click their names above) and visit their respective sites.


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