2022 NFC: Fantasy Football Factors
In these articles I look at a player or players from each team that could either be a difference maker on your fantasy teams, or be someone who could play a factor on other players from that team that you may want to draft. I try to avoid more obvious, bigger name players. I hope this helps you with your studying and I wish you luck in your upcoming drafts!
Arizona: Trey McBride
Taking a Tight End from Arizona is a risky fantasy move since their system is built around using more Receivers to spread opposing defenses out, but McBride is basically just a really big Receiver. At 6’4”, 246 pounds he ran a 4.54 forty. I’m hoping we’ll get to see Arizona use him on the outside in preseason because he'd be a big mismatch against smaller Corners, and it would raise his chances of making an impact in fantasy land as a rookie.
Atlanta: WR1
The Falcons drafted Drake London in the first and many believe he’s a lock to take the WR1 role, but I have my doubts about his potential. They also traded for Bryan Edwards and signed Auden Tate. I realize neither of those names really inspire hope, but either one could become the WR1 for Atlanta if they are able to pick up the playbook faster than London. Of course Kyle Pitts will be the #1 target in the offense and Cordarrelle Patterson has a legitimate shot at being the #2 target, but whoever lands that WR1 role could be looking at lots of volume and may be worth a late pick.
Carolina: Matt Corral
Nothing is written in stone yet, Darnold could still land the starting job or the Panthers could still make a trade for a veteran, but I really like Corral. If Darnold wins the starting job, don't draft him. If the Panthers trade for Mayfield or Garoppolo, then draft that guy. And if Corral wins the job he should definitely be on your radar. He averaged 9.1 YPA over the course of his career at Ole Miss (10.2 in 2020). He also tallied over 500 rush yards in back to back seasons and had 11 rushing touchdowns in 2021. He’s a big play waiting to happen and Carolina has the weapons to help him accomplish that.
Chicago: Khalil Herbert
I mentioned it in my fantasy rankings and I’m going to say it again here: David Montgomery is inefficient and inconsistent. Herbert was more efficient than Montgomery during the stretch he started while Montgomery was hurt last season. The new coaching staff should make it an open competition and I wouldn’t be surprised if Herbert wins the starting job or at least brings it closer to a 50/50 split. Considering Chicago’s lack of talent behind Mooney at Receiver, seeing a lot of time out of the backfield will likely result in a lot of touches and targets.
Dallas: Jalen Tolbert/James Washington/Noah Brown/Simi Fehoko
Gallup is currently expected to miss just a few games to start the season, but having heard that before and seen what happens after, I think we’re more likely to see him miss 6-8 once the minor setbacks finally subside. Dallas’ offense is explosive, which makes a starting Receiver role very fruitful, so we should all be watching the battle for the WR2 spot. Most believe it’s between Tolbert and Brown with a few people suggesting Washington; Fehoko is my add to the list of candidates. Washington wasn’t able to succeed at the Receiver factory in Pittsburgh, I don’t see that being any different here. Brown’s been waiting his turn for the past four years and Tolbert was a second round pick this season, so both absolutely have a shot at taking the spot. I really like Fehoko who adds a size-speed dimension the other three don’t (he’s 6’4, 222 with a 4.42 forty). This will be an exciting non-QB battle to watch.
Detroit: Jared Goff
We’ve seen what peak Goff can do when he has plenty of weapons around him and the full faith of his Head Coach (that would be 2018 when he finished as QB7 in fantasy football). I’m not saying we’re going to see him do that again, nor am I saying that Dan Campbell and crew view him as their guy going forward (though they had enough faith not to draft Willis, Ridder or Corral). I’m merely stating that he has the ability to raise up the guys around him when those players are capable of reaching a higher level. That would be D’Andre Swift, T.J. Hockenson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, D.J. Chark and Jameson Williams (though I don’t see Chark or Williams doing particularly well in this system).
Green Bay: Christian Watson/Romeo Doubs/Samori Toure
I’ve written this for what feels like a dozen times at this point, but here I go again: At least one, if not two of these rookies, are going to end up as the starters for Green Bay this season. Maybe not right off the bat, though if I was Matt LaFleur I would start them, as long as they have a grasp on the playbook. Cobb and Watkins are good veteran presences, but they’re no longer stars. Allen Lazard hasn’t done anything in his career to suggest he’s ready for the WR1 role, so why would he suddenly do so now? My money is 100% on Doubs becoming the WR1, and if I were to bet, I would say at some point, probably closer to the midway point in the season, Watson steps into the other starting role. Both should be on your radar as late-round sleepers.
LA Rams: Allen Robinson
We know Stafford and Kupp are going to get theirs, but what about Robinson? He’ll only be 29 at the start of the season, and prior to last year's issues in Chicago he posted back to back 1100+ yard seasons. Was last year solely due to the problems he had with the front office? If it was then Robinson is a 4th-6th round pick, easy, so it’s an important discernment that needs to be made.
Minnesota: The Defense
The Vikings defense has the look of a fantasy powerhouse unit, and also the look of a defense that’s going to let you down every week. On one side you’ve got a healthy Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith rushing the passer as well as the exciting new pairings of Lewis Cine with Harry the Hitman and Jordan Hicks with Eric Kendricks. On the other side you still have a mess at Corner which caused a lot of problems for them late in games last year. Are you willing to risk it?
New Orleans: Jameis Winston
It’s really simple: Had Winston played all 17 games last season he would’ve finished the year at about 3,156 yards, 37 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. And that was without Michael Thomas. This year he’ll have MT, Chris Olave and Jarvis Landry. *GASPS* Winston might actually be a real MVP dark horse…
NY Giants: Saquon Barkley
Since his rookie season he’s had two ankle injuries and a torn ACL that have cause him to miss 20 games in three years. Since that first ankle injury he hasn't looked anything like he did as a rookie. BUT, expectations have never been lower and he’s in a contract year. If he was going to have another big year it would be this one, and as long as people are drafting intelligently in your leagues you should be able to take him in round 4 or later (personally, I'd go later).
Philadelphia: Kenneth Gainwell
Gainwell was a stud when Philly gave him the opportunity to play. If they recognize that and use him more this season his fantasy value is going to shoot up, which in my opinion makes him worth a late round pick regardless. Now, if rumors start to spill out that Philly is looking to increase his load and use him more in a 50/50 timeshare, his stock would rise even more, especially for you zero-RB drafters out there.
San Francisco: Trey Lance & Deebo Samuel
Two for the price of one for you. Both are very interesting fantasy assets. Lance because of his dual-threat abilities and his sky high ceiling from a fantasy perspective, but there’s also the risk that comes with the unknown. And Samuel because of what he did last year, how much his rushing played into his fantasy output last year, and the potential holdout if he doesn’t get a new contract. He’s viewed as a top ten player at the position, but he could very well finish outside the top 20 this year, even lower if he does miss playing time.
Seattle: The Running Backs
Pete Carroll loves to run the ball and with Russell Wilson gone you better believe he’s going to be running it A LOT! How the touches will shake out between Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny and Kenneth Walker is anyone’s guess. Carson has dealt with a string of injuries, recently culminating in the picture that circulated earlier this offseason of the plate in his neck. He hasn’t played a full season as a pro yet, matter of fact, he’s only played 16 games total over the last two years. Penny has also had injury problems since entering the league, but he’s coming off his best season ever which saw him eclipse 130 yards on the ground in four of Seattle’s final five games of the season. He also averaged 6.8 YPC or more in each of those four games, which is completely insane. And then there’s the highly touted, second round pick, who demonstrated his own big play ability at Michigan State. I think we’ll see all three early on and then one or two down the stretch as injuries set in, which makes Walker my safe pick, but I think Penny may have the highest ceiling of the bunch this year.
Tampa Bay: Rachaad White
I thought I might end up standing alone at the ledge of “White is going to significantly eat into Fournette’s production,” but I’ve seen several others with this take in recent weeks! White’s a decent size back with better athleticism than Fournette and he’s smoother as a Receiver. In redraft leagues he should be taken in the double digit rounds with the idea that he could be a late-round pick that ends up helping you make a late season run to the championship. If you’re in a dynasty league and have a 7-12 pick, don’t be afraid to take him in the first round.
Washington: Logan Thomas
First thing to keep an eye on is, is he healthy? If the answer is yes then draft away as a low-end TE1. McLaurin is obviously going to get his, and some will say “oh but what about Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel? There just aren’t enough targets to go around.” Samuel’s had one good season and that was in Carolina and he's struggled to stay healthy basically every other year. I don’t think Dotson is going to have a good pro career (he was removed from my draft board). Thomas on the other hand has already shown he’s capable and Wentz likes his Tight Ends.
