It’s that time of year folks, draft season! This is the best time of year when you draft your teams in the hopes that with a good draft you can win your league. Just remember championships aren’t won at the draft, playing the waiver wire all year is also a crucial factor. Below we’ll discuss a few players that I want to leave every draft with and a few players I have no interest in whatsoever. This is nothing against these guys as players, it’s strictly due to where they are going in fantasy drafts that make me inclined to pass.
Follow:
Travis Etienne
Etienne is currently going in the late 5th round/early 6th. I think this is an incredible value. Yes, James Robinson could potentially take away touches. But, it’s going to take a few weeks for James to get his old role back. I envision this backfield playing out similarly to the Cleveland backfield. Robinson getting most of the carries and Travis getting the passing down work. The Jags will play from behind more times than not so I really like Etienne here. I think he has top 10-12 RB upside. He also has a rapport with Jags QB Trevor Lawrence from their college days. Etienne can be a poor man’s Alvin Kamara if he can stay on the field.
Lamar Jackson
Lamar had a down year last year, as he struggled to come back from an ankle injury. Lamar is currently going as the fourth Quarterback off the board in drafts. With his passing ability as well as his rushing ability you are getting a QB and RB all in one. If he can stay healthy he could very well have 1,000 yards rushing. He’s also going back and forth in contract negotiations with the Ravens and it’s becoming more and more likely he’ll play out the year without a contract extension. He’s going to have a chip on his shoulder with his disappointing season last year and playing for a new contract that ends at the end of the season. Back in 2019 when he won MVP he threw for 3,127 yards, 36 passing touchdowns, and added 1,206 rushing yards as well as 7 TDs. That is definitely feasible this year for him. He’s going to be hungry this season and put up video game numbers.
Chris Godwin
Godwin is my favourite value of the 2022 draft season. He is currently coming off a torn ACL but so far has progressed well in rehab. He’s currently going between the 7th and 8th rounds right now. When he’s healthy he is a top ten WR in fantasy. Between the 20s he is Tom Brady’s favourite target. Before his injury, he led the Bucs in catches and yardage. It may take a few weeks to get back to his normal self which is totally fine. You’re getting a WR1 in the 7th round, not many players that are going near him have that same upside. Godwin has a proven track record of performing at a high level.
AJ Dillon
I am huge on AJ Dillon this season. Mr Quadzilla is in for a HUGE year! Packers head coach Mike Lafluer came out last week and said both Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon can be 1A RBs. AJ is currently going in the 6th round. With the departure of Davante Adams, both RBs in this offense will need to step up. AJ had a quiet first half but then had a monster second half last year. He can be a high-upside RB2 with an expanded role. Rodgers will pass the ball to both Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. Dillon being their goal line back also will help in the TD department.
Fade:
Amari Cooper
Cooper is Mr Consistent, always a top 20-25 Fantasy wide receiver each year. However this year in a run-heavy offense along with Deshaun Watson being suspended for eleven games that should change. Jacoby Brissett is an average QB in a run-heavy offense featuring Nick Chubb. He is currently going in round 5 and that just isn’t worth it for me. He goes from playing with Dak Prescott to Jacoby Brissett, that doesn’t instill confidence. There are plenty of other names I would like that are going near him. Names like Brandon Cooks, Amon-Ra St Brown, Courtland Sutton, and Marquise Brown just to name a few.
Miles Sanders
Sanders always tends to be hyped up every year. He shows flashes every year but he’s never consistent in doing so. In such a run-heavy offense he just doesn’t put the numbers you would expect him to. This is another guy going in round five that I’m not high on at all. In twelve games last year he had 137 carries for 754 yards and 0 TDs. I don’t think the Zero touchdowns will happen again this year but with Jalen Hurts as the Quarterback he’s going to be the red zone running back. Every year we try to hype him up and view him as a potential breakout candidate. No thank you! Miles is also battling a hamstring injury at the moment and Head Coach Nick Sirianni has had many updates for him. Fade Miles and draft Kenneth Gainwell as his backup in the later rounds.
DK Metcalf & Tyler Lockett
Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll came out the other day and announced Geno Smith to be the week 1 starter. And as a result, I want nothing to do with these two in fantasy. I don’t see any consistency in the QB play this year. Pete Carroll loves to run the ball. Tyler Lockett was already viewed as a boom-bust WR in fantasy even with Russell Wilson as QB. Now with Geno Smith as QB, it might be even worse. No disrespect to Geno he just isn’t a great QB, he is a game manager who needs a good run game. I would fade both of them at their current ADP and pick a wideout in a safer offense.
-Phil O’Brien
Twitter: @bruins4life487
Photo: All-Pro Reels. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.