As we get set to kick off Week 1 in the 2022 NFL season let’s take a second to drop a few bold predictions. Some of these may be more reasonable than others, but I believe all 10 of them have a chance to come true. Without further adieu, here are my 10 Bold Predictions for the 2022 fantasy football season.
George Pickens will finish as a Top-12 Wide Reciever
This was Diontae’s team last season, but with a change at QB the target share in Pittsburgh is up for grabs. Enter, George Pickens! Pickens had a great college career at the University of Georgia. He destined to be a top draft pick before being derailed by an ACL tear in 2021 and never fully regained his status. This caused Pickens to slip to the Steelers, who historically find diamonds in the rough at WR. It was evident early in the preseason that Pickens was that guy, having the ‘my ball’ mentality. Pickens will likely start the season sharing with Diontae. But as the season progresses Pickens will emerge as the alpha in the passing game.
D’Andre Swift will be the highest scoring Running Back in the NFC
The Detroit Lions are still in a rebuild, but show every indication of heading in the right direction. The offensive line may be the best in the league; and they figure to be a much improved team led by Swift. D’Andre Swift is a rare back in the league; having rushing and passing upside as well as the bulk of the teams goal line work. Swift could set a career high in yards, receptions and touchdowns this year. He should be among the best in the NFC for the duration of the season.
Zeke will finish as a Top 12 Running Back
This should not be a bold take, but here we are. After a down 2021 by Zeke’s standards (still top 12), fantasy football managers were quick to jump on the narrative that Zeke was washed and Pollard is the new RB1 in Dallas. This is not the case.
Jerry Jones has made it clear that Ezekiel Elliott is their guy. And, even if this is his final ride, he will still finish the season as a RB1 again. If Zeke is fully recovered from last season’s injury and is able to stay healthy a top 5 finish is not out of the question in what could be Zeke’s Swan Song with the Cowboys.
DJ Moore will be a Top 5 Wide Receiver
DJ Moore has finished with over 1,100 receiving yards in three straight seasons. But due to brutal quarterback play, he has yet to top 4 touchdowns in a single season. That should change this year.
Admittedly, Baker Mayfield is no Hall of Famer; but he is a guaranteed upgrade from Sam Darnold with a TD rate that more than doubles him. Having Baker should lead to a substantial increase in yards, receptions and touchdowns for DJ. A season of 120 catches, 1400 yards and 10 TD’s is not out of the range of outcomes for Moore. A WR1 overall finish in fantasy football is more than possible if things break right for the budding superstar.
Trey Lance will be a Top 7 Quarterback
This one was inspired by a debated that raged at my work league live draft after a few beverages were consumed. While it was met with skepticism by most, there were a few Lance truthers in the crowd. I myself do not qualify as a Lance truther; but with his insane rushing ability he immediately has a Lamar-level ceiling if he is able to become an elite passer as well.
Even if he is only able to become an average passer, a top 7 finish in fantasy football is very much in the cards for Trey Lance. The 49ers are loaded with weapons and have one of the best play callers in the league. They are certain to run a scheme that caters to Lance’s strengths and will score early and often against most opponents.
Courtland Sutton will be a Top 12 Wide Receiver
As I recently stated in my Week 1 Start/Sit blurb, I believe that the Broncos will unleash Russell Wilson this year; letting him cook at a level he’s never done before. Once Russ is fully cooking I believe his favorite ingredient will be Courtland Sutton.
Sutton has the skill-set that matches up perfectly with Russ; and the two have shown great chemistry throughout camp and the preseason. This Broncos offense could be the best team in the best division in football and figure to have a season full of divisional shootouts. Sutton has broken out before and could set career highs in this mile high offense. All it could take is a few breakfasts with Wilson and we could have this season’s Cooper Kupp.
Cole Kmet will be a Top 5 tight end
In 2021, Cole Kmet was top 10 in tight end targets with 93. This translated to a modest 60 receptions for 612 yards. However, he finished outside the top 12 in total fantasy football points due to him scoring 0 TD’s for the season.
Kmet now faces almost no target competition. With Justin Fields primed to take a step forward, Kmet figures to be the beneficiary. Kmet’s already elite TE target share figures to increase leading to a top 5 level of catches and yards. If Kmet can manage to haul in 4-5 touchdowns he will be a surefire top 5 TE.
Tee Higgins will Outscore Ja’Marr Chase
This one is perhaps the spiciest of the bold predictions.
If you look back at the stretch of the 2021 season in which both players were on the field at the same time, Tee Higgins outscored Chase. Chase was an elite WR during the stretch where Higgins was sidelined; but his production was far more modest with Higgins healthy. I believe this is indicative of things to come. Higgins will manage to outscore Chase this year if they both stay healthy.
Tua will Finish as a Top 12 QB
This prediction is not necessarily something that I believe will come true as much as it is one that better come true. Waddle, Gesicki, Tyreek, Edmonds, Mostert. If Tua can’t finish as a top 12 QB in fantasy football this season then it’s time to label him a bust; because he will likely never see a lineup as good as the teammates around him in 2022.
The Dolphins added Tyreek Hill in the offseason; whose speed paired up with that of Waddle matches up to exactly what Tua did best at Alabama. He is not an elite quarterback. What he does best is to get the ball to fast and talented receivers in space and let them do all the work. He will never have a better speed duo than Waddle and Hill; and this is likely his do or die season. Finish as a QB1 or the Dolphins should go back to the drawing board at QB.
Dameon Pierce will finish outside the Top 24 Running Backs
The talent is there for Dameon Pierce, that was never the question. Even when being criminally under-used at the University of Florida, anyone (besides his own coaches) could see he was the man. The problem here is that this is not Florida, it’s the Texans.
This team figures to be a bottom 5 offense and will lack any significant touchdown upside. Add in the fact that Rex Burkhead figures to steal passing downs and short yardage work and there is no way Pierce meets his 4-5th round ADP. The talent is there. Unfortunately, Pierce will lack the ceiling and weekly consistency until the Texans offence crawls out of the basement.
