Wide receiver is the deepest position in fantasy football, which is why it’s a tough job to narrow the list down to five must-have receivers in 2022.
Embed from Getty ImagesJustin Jefferson (MIN)
Jefferson is currently listed as the No. 2 receiver off the board and the sixth player off the board, according to FantasyPros ADP. Jefferson is coming off a 2021 season where he posted a 108-1,616-10 line on 167 targets in what was considered a run-first scheme in Minnesota.
That offense scheme has been scrapped with the arrival of new head coach Kevin O’Connell. Vikings’ quarterback Kirk Cousins isn’t an elite quarterback but he has been more than serviceable during Jefferson’s career. The Vikings also have Adam Thielen, Irv Smith, K.J. Osborn, and Dalvin Cook in the offense but Jefferson is the unquestioned top offensive option.
Jefferson could be primed to take another step forward this season thanks to his supreme talent and new aggressive offensive philosophy in Minnesota.
Michael Pittman (IND)
Pittman got WR1 treatment in 2021 and delivered despite being a part of one of the least pass-oriented offenses in the league. Pittman garnered a 24 percent target share, which was eighth in the NFL. He produced an 88-1,082-6 line with Carson Wentz as his quarterback.
The Colts were a bottom-six team in the league in pass attempts in 2021. Matt Ryan now leads the Colts’ offense, which gives Pittman the potential to finish the season as a Top 12 receiver. The other rece
Ryan has shown he can fuel top-end fantasy receiver seasons with Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. The Colts are expected to throw more in 2022 and with a lack of other proven receiving options, Pittman could be in line for a huge year.
Brandin Cooks (HOU)
Cooks continues to produce at a high level regardless of the quarterback and I think his success continues in 2022. Cooks has finished worse than the fantasy WR20 only once since 2015, and that was due to injury.
He has earned over 1,000 receiving yards six times with four different teams during that span. Cooks finished 2021 with 90 catches, 1,037 yards, and six touchdowns on 134 targets in 16 games.
Texans’ quarterback Davis Mills and Cooks showed flashes in the last month of the season. Cooks was top-10 in fantasy points per game (15.0) during that time, according to FantasyPros.
Houston selected wide receiver John Metchie in the second round in April’s draft but Metchie was diagnosed with Leukemia and expected to miss the entire 2022 season.
That leaves Cooks, along with Nico Collins, Brevin Jordan, and Phillip Dorsett as the top options in the passing game.
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Cooks should see plenty of targets again as the top option on a team that will likely be throwing the ball often late in games.
Allen Robinson (LAR)
Robinson is no longer on an offense coached by Matt Nagy. That sentence alone raises his fantasy value a little. Add the fact that he slides in as the No. 2 receiver on the Rams’ offense and Robinson could rebound in a big way from a disappointing 2021 season.
Robert Woods suffered a torn ACL a few days before the Week 10 game and up to that point, he was WR 12 in points per game (15.2), according to FantasyPros.
Odell Beckham Jr. played well in the No. 2 role down the stretch of the regular season and the playoffs. He was possibly on his way to winning Super Bowl MVP before he suffered a torn ACL.
Robinson has impressed his coaches so far in training camp. Robinson will have Cooper Kupp taking defensive attention away from him, which opens the potential for a comeback season for the 28-year-old.
Embed from Getty ImagesRashod Bateman (BAL)
The Ravens traded Marquise Brown to the Cardinals and that move opened up Bateman to have a potential breakout season.
Baltimore didn’t make any moves in the offseason that would challenge Bateman as the top option on the outside.
Tight end Mark Andrews is expected to lead Baltimore in targets but it’s not unrealistic to see Bateman somewhere around a 22 percent target share when you factor in Brown’s departure with his 24.7 percent share.
If Jackson continues to grow as a passer and Bateman firmly establishes himself the No.1 option at receiver, expect the second-year pro to easily outperform his eighth-round ADP.
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