Ekeler finished second with 343.8 PPR points in 2021. The Chargers have a top-12 offensive line according to PFF and a top-five offense according to 21 stats (scoring and yardage), so the fantasy goodness should carry over to 22 as long as Professor Ek stays healthy. Swift has big upside due to his receiving chops, but he needs to avoid nagging injuries to meet expectations. Harris finished with 1,200 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Etienne is also returning from major injury, and James Robinson is still expected to play a significant role in the Jaguars backfield. Dobbins, RavensKareem Hunt, BrownsRashaad Penny, Seahawks. 1 in PPRs with just 30-40 catches. The Panthers recently traded for Baker Mayfield, so the Carolina offense could be in for some major positive regression this season. In one fewer game Henry had 46 more carries and averaged almost 20 more rushing yards per game (126.7). Steelers 20, Buccaneers 18: Najee Harris wasn't overly impressive (with 49 total yards on 16 touches and a receiving TD), but consider the matchup. . Christian McCaffrey, Najee Harris,Damien Harris,James Conner,Josh Jacobs. 1 overall, Chris Towers had his eye on upside and highest ceiling overall Most Fantasy Football drafts tend to follow a relatively similar pattern, especially early on. Both teams are looking to establish the run, keep the game simple and let their defenses do their jobs. And though his numbers took a slight dip from his 1,900-yard (from scrimmage) season in 2020, he was still able to mount a third consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season and averaged less than 11 yards per game shy of a 100-yard per game average. Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers 14. 4 back with upside. Mitchell could be a 1,000-yard back in San Francisco, but durability issues and the emergence of Trey Sermon in camp make him a risk-reward No. Najee Harris and Jonathan Taylor are both underperforming this season but both backs are capable of taking over a game. Will they use this as a rallying point and win a very winnable game or is there just no fight left? He was well on his way last year, catching 18-of-20 targets, but a broken bone in his foot changed everything. For any redraft strategy, a manager must maintain fluid rigidity. Yes, its an oxymoron. Copyright 2010- FantasyPros.com It is virtually impossible to take Chubb down on first contact, or second, and if he gets into the open field -- it's good night, Nancy. It feels like forever ago when everyone was wondering if Cook would live up to his potential. Tier 11 High HandcuffsRaheem Mostert, DolphinsAlexander Mattison, VikingsJamaal Williams, LionsKenneth Gainwell, EaglesIsaih Pacheco, Chiefs Khalil Herbert, BearsRex Burkhead, TexansRachaad White, Buccaneers. With each reception counting for a point or even just a half-point, a strong three-down receiving back jumps way up in value. Barkley has high RB1 potential, but hes failed to meet expectations the past few years. All Rights Reserved. 1 PPR back. Pierce, who looks like the Texans No. section: | slug: 2022-fantasy-football-draft-prep-cooper-kupp-najee-harris-fall-unexpectedly-in-flex-league-12-team-ppr-draft | sport: football | route: article_single_fantasy | McCaffrey has missed all but 10 games the last two year due to injuries, but he averaged around 30 fantasy points per game in 2018 and was over that total in four games last season. - Super Bowl VIEW ADVICE Start Over | Edit Players Summary Game Log Stats Projections Points Targets Notes Expert Voting Can't Decide? Harris tallied 954 yards rushing, 219 yards receiving, and 9 TDs in the fantasy season. Harris will share work with Stevenson, but I like the latter's upside as a pass catcher in New England. We should expect something closer to his 332 rush, 1811 rushing yards, 18 TD season in the next few years. Andrew Erickson, Awesome tool on @FantasyPros that I have been re-introduced to: The Boom or Bust Report, Mixon and Jonathan Taylor were the only RBs to post 7 top-six weekly finishes in 2021. pic.twitter.com/dAKDV29zFG, Andrew Erickson (@AndrewErickson_) May 17, 2022, We all know the deal with CMC. The case for Jonathan Taylor over Nick Chubb. Last season, Taylor was the best running back in fantasy, averaging 22 PPR fantasy points per game (ppg). 6 or 7 -- and even then he's a risk. Saquon BarkleyAaron JonesJavonte WilliamsNick ChubbEzekiel ElliottJames Conner. Even with Tony Pollard in the mix, I can still see Zeke having a productive 2022 campaign in the stat sheets. There are a number of ways to value players when deciding who to draft for fantasy football, but utilizing tiers has become a more common approach in the last 10 years. Bijan Robinson is the number 1 rated RB - no surprise there. That December, when the weather got colder and defenses started wearing down, he bumped up to 5.9 yards per carry. Hes younger, healthier, and has a better offensive line. Robinson and Gordon are projecting as the second options in their respective backfields. Jonathan Taylor | Indianapolis Colts 2. . Najee Harris or Jonathan Taylor Who Should I Start? 10, while FantasyPros grades Indys schedule as a three out of five. Last season, Taylor was the best running back in fantasy, averaging 22 PPR fantasy points per game (ppg). CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: fantasynews | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | He also added 467 receiving yards and three touchdowns through the air. He has phenomenal vision, burst, and cutting ability. He led the NFL in rushing yards (1,811), rushing touchdowns (18), yards from scrimmage (2,171), and total TDs (20). He's also coming off a season where he scored just six times. They have each been complete busts through four weeks of the NFL season. The former two-time NFL rushing champ was off to a blazing start to the 2021 season that saw him as fast, quick and decisive as he's ever been, but he was slowed by injury in the back half of the season that made many forget what he was doing prior to that point. Expectations are this will not be a direct split, but Gordon should still take enough of the pie to hurt Williams fantasy output. 1 or No. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts 12. Don't let the fact he battled through injury in 2021 throw you off of what is the glaringly obvious: Henry remains atop the mountain of best running backs in the NFL. 2, well go with Harris by a nose-hair over Ekeler just because of volume and injury history. I like that the Panthers are already putting him in preseason bubble wrap to make sure hes full-go for Week 1. Not everyone agrees on the exact order the top players should be going off the board in, but there's a pretty strong consensus, to the point where you rarely find yourself surprised by much. That gives him an automatic edge over Henry, a workhorse back who suffered an injury to one of his most vital body parts. He added one catch for 10 yards. This has been a common theme over the course of his career and certainly during his 2,000-yard rushing season. 1 pick in our first mock draft of 2022. Taylor is not just the No. If he does get the trade he wants, then his value could skyrocket this offseason. Alabama Running Back Najee Harris Career Alabama Highlights (so far)Najee Harris has all the qualities of being an incredibly entertaining running back to wa. By using a tiered approach, fantasy managers can see where the next drop-off in talent is and make decisions about whether they need to invest in the current tier or if theyre able to wait. Etienne is a popular breakout candidate, but will James Robinsons return slow his rocket ship to stardom? My highest-graded team was team 7, who took Jonathan Taylor in the first round and ended up with another potential RB1 in Rhamondre Stevenson, to go along with an elite bounce-back candidate in Mark Andrews. Running back rankings for 2022 dynasty fantasy football leagues . Tier 1 The EliteJonathan Taylor, ColtsChristian McCaffrey, Panthers. 2 overall seems like a damn good option, and it's tough to blame anyone who ranks Pittsburghs back over Ekeler. Pollard should see enough touches to have stand alone value in Dallas. 98 RB Damien Harris NE 10 $12. That left me with Taylor as my pick at No. Will we see him back to his old self in 2022? However, he's got a stronger WR2 in Michael Pittman and RB2 in David Montgomery to make up for the gap there. Taylor's carried the rock 20-plus times in both games since Jeff Saturday took over as interim head coach, but the offense might have more success through the air this week as Taylor could be. Meanwhile, you should not underestimate the value of Patterson in PPR formats. Cuff options: Jonathan Taylor, Jordan Wilkins, Marlon Mack Review: The Colts' line is among the best when healthy, and early injuries worries have been somewhat abated. With both expected to be ready for Week 1 in 2022, many fantasy owners have been wrestling with the decision of which top-tier RB to choose if they land the No. Gainwell could even push Sanders for touches, and Mostert would see more work if Edmonds were to go down, but he's clearly in the top two in Miami's backfield rotation. Taylor Made (Jonathan Taylor) Hot Chubb Time Machine (Nick Chubb) Best fantasy team names for top wide receivers. The short answer, of course, is that you cant really go wrong either way. Jonathan TaylorChristian McCaffreyAustin Ekeler. In his rookie season, Harris led the NFL with 381 touches, and his 1,667 scrimmage yards trailed only Taylor among RBs. Walker's (hernia) status for Week 1 is in question, but he's still very draftable as a No. Najee Harris, PIT ADP 8.08. Already a premium subscriber? No, I'm a California resident looking for the California Consumer Privacy Act form. Since the age of running backs really isnt a factor in redraft, more of them are viable to be your Hero RB. In his absence, Zack. Jonathan Taylor vs. Derrick Henry: Which top-tier fantasy RB should go No. He also took Kupp in the fourth round of that one, and he very well could end up with a similarly productive duo this time around. Steelers 17, Colts 14, Sign up for the Steelers Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Taylor is a threat to take it the distance from anywhere on the field, and has shown to be much better at catching passes than most had thought when he was coming into the league. Cook has been an elite fantasy back and he could see more chances as a pass catcher under new coach Kevin OConnell. Fournette is set to be a three-down back for the Buccaneers in 2022, but there are growing concerns around the strength of Tampa Bays offensive line. Harris was inefficient but was utilized heavily in the run and passing game, which should remain. He's rushed for 33 touchdowns with the longest carry being for 62 yds. Has played in 34 regular-season games (34 starts) Has recorded 2,234 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns on 579 attempts and added 115 catches for 696 yards and six receiving touchdowns. Elevating Ekeler to the starting role has paid off like gangbusters in tandem with the drafting of Justin Herbert, and his dual-threat ability that also allows him to be an effective receiver out of the backfield truly does take defensive pressure off of wide receiver Mike Williams. Injuries are an inevitable part of fantasy football, especially at running back. His sheer all-purpose yardage numbers and TD volume make him a cant-miss pick, especially considering his age (23) and his health (he played all 17 games last season). Translation: They matter, and in a major way. CMC has played just 10 games total over the past two seasons. He has a pre-athletic testing score of a 96.5 overall prospect score RBs who had a 90 or above in past years: Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, Breece Hall, Najee Harris, Travis Etienne, Derrick Henry, Zeke, Fournette. He has carried the ball 272 times to the tune of 3.8 YPC. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. In his absence, Zack. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings 3.. For all of the hubbub about Tony Pollard, a justifiable nod to the potential of the Cowboys backup, it's still Elliott's throne in Dallas and for good reason. While Taylor proved his ability as a pass catcher out of the backfield last season, it remains to be seen if Henry will ever truly materialize as a stud receiving back. The first surprise came with the No.