The 2022 fantasy football season is upon us. Finding fantasy football sleepers is never easy, but late-round selections often dictate success. The goal of this article is to identify five wide receivers that are being selected below their current ADP that may end up winning your league.
Kadarius Toney, WR, Giants
ADP-WR44
One of my favorite buy-low candidates in fantasy football this year is Kadarius Toney. Toney only played ten games in 2021, mostly due to injury. Rumors were swirling that the Giants were looking to move Toney before the NFL draft, which never happened.
The Giants return a lackluster group of wide receivers. Golladay, Slayton, Shepard, and second-round pick Wan’Dale Robinson. Toney is the most athletic and explosive out of all their wideouts. Toney had a stretch during weeks 4 and 5 last season where he looked like a league winner, much like Odell Beckam Jr. his rookie season.
Kadarius Toney’s success depends on the success of Daniel Jones. Jones is in a contract year and has struggled throughout his career. I trust offensive genius Brian Daboll to utilize Toney in a variety of ways. Expect him to outplay his ADP of WR44 and, if healthy, potentially make his way into the top 25.
Russell Gage
ADP-WR42
The Buccaneers lost Chris Godwin to a torn ACL in week 15. The Buccaneers also lost Antonio Brown in week 17 due to reasons only known by Antonio Brown. Rob Gronkowski announced his “retirement” in the offseason as well. Per Adam Schefter regarding Godwin,
“They are hopeful that he’ll be ready for opening day,” Schefter said of Bucs officials.
“So that’s encouraging. They’ll chart him, monitor him, track him during the summer, see how he’s coming along. Obviously [they’re] not going to rush him back. Probably would be surprised if we saw him in any preseason games, and I think the goal will be to see if he’s ready for opening day, which I don’t think is out of the question right now.”
Gage’s ADP was rising with the assumption that Godwin would likely be placed on the PUP for a minimum of six weeks. While the news on Godwin is encouraging for the Buccaneers, it limits Gage’s role in the offense.
Gage still has the potential to be a key member of the Buccaneer’s elite offense. In seven games last year Antonio Brown had 42 receptions for 545 yards and 4 touchdowns. All those numbers were accumulated in only 7 games. I expect Gage to take over more of that role in the Bucs offense, which bodes well for his projections.
Christian Kirk, WR, Jaguars
ADP-WR46
Christian Kirk jumped ship to the Jaguars in the offseason for a huge contract. Kirk is coming off his best season in the NFL totaling 77 catches for 982 yards and 5 touchdowns. He should immediately step into the same role for the Jaguars in 2022. Last season Kirk had the 2nd most receiving as a slot receiver in the NFL.
Trevor Lawrence had an awful first year in the NFL. Expect Lawrence to make a jump with a new head coach and a more pass-happy offense. Kirk should benefit directly as a security blanket for Lawrence.
Currently, Christian Kirk is being drafted behind Treylon Burks, Tyler Lockett, and Hunter Renfrow. Expect Kirk to push for WR2 status on most fantasy teams this year.
Kirk finished 2021 and ranked as the WR26 with a crowded wide receiver group in Arizona. Does dropping twenty spots in ADP from his ranking last year make any sense? No. Draft Christian Kirk with confidence at his ADP.
Jahan Dotson, WR, Commanders
ADP-WR71
Terry McLaurin finally ended his contract dispute with the Commanders and is back as the clear-cut number one wide receiver. Curtis Samuel also returns after missing nearly all of the 2021 season due to injury. Dotson has an opportunity, as a rookie, to step in opposite McLaurin in two WR sets.
ESPN’s John Keim reports that Washington Commanders’ rookie WR Jahan Dotson has looked “sharp” in minicamp and that he “has been able to develop a solid connection with QB Carson Wentz.”
Wentz has struggled to support multiple wide receivers, but Dotson has a great opportunity to log a lot of snaps immediately. Dotson is one of the most pro-ready receivers in the 2022 NFL Draft and should play a big role for the Commanders. WR71 is a free space in a fantasy draft. Roll the dice on Dotson in the later rounds of drafts.
Allen Lazard, WR, Packers
ADP-WR47
The Packers lost one of the best receivers in the NFL in Davante Adams this offseason. Additionally, Marquez Valdes-Scantling also signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. Two players gone in free agency accounted for 224 targets for the Packers in 2021. Allen Lazard is the most likely candidate to take on a big portion of those targets in 2022.
The Packers selected Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs in the 2022 NFL Draft. Randall Cobb and Amari Rodgers round out the rest of the wide receiver group in Green Bay. The rookies for Green Bay likely will need some time to develop rapport with Rodgers, Cobb is 32 years old, and Amari Rodgers needs to prove he can be a factor.
Aaron Rodgers had this to say about a role for Lazard,
“Excited about Allen Lazard,” Rodgers told reporters on June 7. “He’s been our dirty work guy for most of his career here. Now he’s getting an opportunity to be a No. 1 receiver. So, I’m not worried at all about him stepping into that role. I talk to him a lot. I know how he takes care of his body. I know he’ll be ready when he’s here.”
Allen Lazard has shown that he can shoulder the load of a part-time filler #1 WR for the Packers. Expect Lazard to outperform his ADP of WR47 with insane upside as the likely WR1 for the potent Packers offense.