Biggest NFL Fantasy Sleepers in 2022

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Summer is winding down, summer vacations before school and fantasy draft time. I have been doing some mock drafts and fantasy studying to limited success, so I’m looking to push my real team in the right direction. Every year brings a new crop of studs, sleepers and fades. This is who I’m looking to as possible sleepers past the obvious big names.

Gabriel Davis, WR, Bills

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Gabriel Davis is a breakout fantasy stud that just needed opportunities. Davis has been Buffalo's 3rd WR option in his first 2 seasons and hasn’t been consistently impactful. But the Allen/Davis connection turned it on late in the season then had a monster AFC Divisional Round performance (8 catches, 201 yards, 4 TDs). Davis should see more targets as Buffalo's No. 2 wide receiver with Beasley and Sanders moving on. Davis’ fantasy stock is at an all time high, he’s a legit WR2/WR3 in 12-manager leagues.

Marquise Brown, WR, Cardinals

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The Cardinals made a big draft day trade to acquire Hollywood Brown from the Ravens. Brown had a nice season on a run-first offense by having 1,000+ yards receiving. Brown could have a bigger campaign in Arizona this season. With DeAndre Hopkins serving a 6-game suspension, Brown will likely be Murray's #1 option for the first 6 games. What’s really interesting is the fact that Brown will be reuniting with college teammate Kyler Murray. I like Brown as a WR2/WR3 for the first half of the season and a solid flex option afterwards.

Derek Carr, QB, Raiders

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Derek Carr has always been a sneaky QB1 in 10-12 manager leagues and this year will be no different. Carr has had way too many head coaches and systems to learn, but new head coach Josh McDaniels has a pretty good track record for QBs. Carr had a nice season even with injuries to elite TE Darren Waller. Waller is healthy, Hunter Renfrow is a problem in the slot and now Carr has a solid WR named Davante Adams to work into his offense. The weapons on offense will see Carr go from a backup fantasy option in 10-manager leagues to a legit fantasy QB1.

Trey Lance, QB, 49ers

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It’s hard for me to name Trey Lance as a sleeper when I watch ESPN proclaim him a legit MVP candidate. The 49ers traded a lot to get Trey Lance and he is set to replace Jimmy Garoppolo as starting quarterback. Lance played a handful of plays last season but the 49ers’ offense will have a full offseason to plan to Lance’s strengths. Kyle Shanahan will design runs for Lance, and in spite of the fact that Lance hasn’t played a lot of football in the past 2 years, he’s going to do wonders in this offense.

Chase Edmonds, RB, Dolphins

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Chase Edmonds was a solid back in Arizona but a change of scenery will benefit his production. Edmonds split carries in Arizona but can have a bigger role in the Dolphins’ offense. Edmonds averaged 4.7 yards per carry for the Cards as he split carries with Jon Connor. New head coach Mike McDaniel comes from a run-heavy offense in San Francisco and Edmonds will be a nice pick up because of mere volume. Edmonds has a shot to be a top 10 RBs, but I see him as a flex option or bye-week starter at the least.

Travis Etienne, RB, Jaguars

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We had to wait a full year to see what Travis Etienne will do once reunited with Trevor Lawrence. Etienne missed his rookie season with a bad foot injury, but 2022 will see Etienne go to work. Etienne has been positioned as a Swiss Army knife; lining up as a WR and RB as he works with stud RB James Robinson. Etienne Is going to be a PPR beast out of the backfield, he’s a deep league late draft pick for me. If you’re in a 8-10 manager league, keep him on your waiver wire but don’t wait too long.

Austin Hooper, TE, Titans

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TEs are a hard position to draft for if you don’t get the top 8 at the position. The Titans let Jonnu Smith leave for New England last year and he was missed as Tannehill’s safety net. Hooper has been a sneaky receiver at times but misused in Cleveland. The loss of A.J. Brown and Julio Jones leaves Tennessee looking for pass catchers. Someone has to catch passes and why not Hooper, he was a Pro Bowl TE with Atlanta.

Elijah Moore, WR, Jets

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Elijah Moore was always popping up in my weekly fantasy picks and for good reason. Moore dealt with multiple injuries, but when he was healthy he was a week to week stud. Moore was a daily fantasy gem from Weeks 7-14 as he averaged 15+ points per game in most PPR leagues. The only thing holding Moore back is the fact he plays for the Jets (HA-HA-HA) and the inconsistent play of QB Zach Wilson. But he has so much upside that you can’t pass on him, he’s the Jets WR1 and I expect him to be a top 30 WR this season (if healthy).

Tim Patrick, WR, Broncos

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Denver’s dynamic duo Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy is good on paper and we all expect them to live up to that potential with QB Russell Wilson. However, Tim Patrick will see a nice bump in production for a variety of reasons. Patrick quietly averaged 700+ yards the last 2 years, and with the Noah Fant trade he’ll see more targets. Factor in the preseason injury issues to Sutton and Jeudy, Patrick will be Wilson’s more reliable target. Patrick is a deep league pickup and a WR3 in most leagues.

UPDATE: Tim Patrick sustained a torn ACL in practice and is done for the 2022 season.

Christian Watson, WR, Packers

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Green Bay lost WR Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the offseason, you may have heard about it. The Packers didn't do anything in free agency to replace their stars, but someone has to catch balls from Rodgers. 2nd round pick Christian Watson is in line to be a big option in his rookie year. Watson has impressed the team through offseason minicamp and needs to roll that over into the season for Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers has laid the law down for preseason drops but Watson is too talented to let that bother him. Look for Watson to be a flex option this season.

Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Dolphins

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Tua Tagovailoa came into the NFL with a lot of promise from Alabama to Miami. But his first two NFL seasons have been a mess, from benchings, flirtations with Brady/Watson and mediocre stat lines. But there's reason to be hopeful with the Dolphins hiring Mike McDaniel. The Dolphins have hopefully fixed the offensive line, adding Tyreek Hill, Chase Edmonds, and Cedrick Wilson. This must be the year that Tua puts it all together or the Dolphins will be in the market for a new signal caller. I don’t see Tua as a QB1 in fantasy, but he has potential as a deep league starter if he remembers the ‘Bama days.

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