After dropping a whole lot of negativity and skepticism yesterday, it's now time to shift gears to the hopeful side of the Fantasy Football pre-draft prediction pieces. Here are my picks for the most undervalued players at every major position for the 2022 season along with a quick bonus section for the sickos who are looking to throw up some prayers in the final rounds of their drafts. Hope you enjoy.
Quarterback: Trey Lance (49ers) (Yahoo!: 101.1, ESPN: 110.2)
By providing reliable QB1 output at a high-end QB2 price, Jalen Hurts ended up on a lot of winning fantasy rosters last season. With a similar skill set (mobility that ensures a solid weekly rushing floor combined with unpolished passing that will lead to erratic performances through the air), pretty comparable ADP and a strong supporting cast/coaching staff that will help put him in the best possible spot to make plays, Lance has a great chance to be this year's answer to Hurts.
Also in the Running: Derek Carr (Raiders), Kirk Cousins (Vikings), Matt Ryan (Colts)
Running Back: Tony Pollard (Cowboys) (Yahoo!: 94.1, ESPN: 100.6)
Although he only scored 2 offensive TD's, Pollard provided standalone fantasy value in 2021 by registering 1,056 scrimmage YDS (719 rushing/337 receiving) on only 171 touches. Considering Ezkiel Elliott's questionable standing with the coaching staff after his underwhelming 2021 campaign and the Cowboys thinner than usual crop of proven playmakers, there's no reason to believe that Pollard won't be able to secure a workload that's at least comparable to what he had last season. And in the not exactly unrealistic scenario that Elliott gets hurt or benched at any point this season, Pollard's standing on the RB hierarchy could skyrocket all the way up to high-end RB1 levels. Pretty good floor/ceiling situation for a guy whose ADP is currently sitting somewhere in the late 8th to mid 9th round range.
Also in the Running: Rhamondre Stevenson (Patriots), Rashaad Penny (Seahawks), Dameon Pierce (Texans)
Wide Receiver: Darnell Mooney (Bears) (Yahoo!: 94.0, ESPN: 72.3)
Don't let the inherent hopelessness of the supremely untalented 2022 Bears bury the bright light of Mooney. The 24-year-old has already proved he can succeed as a top wideout on a team that has little in the way of viable secondary receivers with his 2021 campaign (81 REC/1,055 YDS/4 TD) and he's 1 of only 2 pass-catchers (tight end Cole Kmet is the other) that's projected to be on the Bears opening day roster that has any sort of established rapport with Justin Fields. Given his talent and the degree of opportunities he's going to have as the WR1 on a shit team that's going to regularly find themselves in garbage time situations, Mooney could be in for a full-blown explosion this season.
Also in the Running: Allen Robinson (Rams), Tyler Lockett (Seahawks), Russell Gage (Buccaneers)
Tight End: Zach Ertz (Cardinals) (Yahoo!: 91.5, ESPN: 99.0)
There sincerely may not be a more appealing Cardinal to me than Ertz. He played his best football in a few years following his trade to Arizona from Philadelphia last October, his target share should increase exponentially while DeAndre Hopkins is on the shelf for the opening 6 games of year and his price tag is pretty cheap for a guy who is still more than capable of putting up 700+ YDS/4-7 TD's in a season. If the board doesn't grant me the opportunity to take Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, Kyle Pitts or George Kittle early on, Ertz is my preferred TE1.
Also in the Running: Pat Friermuth (Steelers), Cole Kmet (Bears), David Njoku (Browns)
Defense/Special Teams: Ravens (Yahoo!: 129.7, ESPN: 116.5)
Calling the Ravens defense undervalued may be a stretch for a group that's ranked within the top 7 on both of the biggest fantasy sites, but since they have a legit chance to finish in the top 3, I ultimately decided to make them my pick here. Considering all of the players they have returning to the lineup (Marcus Peters, Marlon Humphrey) after finishing last year on IR, the exciting new additions they made (Marcus Williams, Michael Pierce, Kyle Hamilton) in the offseason and the hiring of longtime defensive assistant Mike Macdonald-who was with the team from 2014-20 before departing for the University of Michigan in 2021-as the new DC, the Ravens appear to be in line to become a multi-faceted terror that doesn't allow a lot of points and picks up enough sacks/takeaways to be among the highest scorers at the position most weeks.
Honorable Mentions: Eagles, Bengals, Dolphins
BONUS SECTION:
10 Rookies and 2nd Year Players Who Are Worth Taking Late-Round Fliers On:
Tyler Allgeier, RB (Falcons)
Nico Collins, WR (Texans)
Romeo Doubs, WR (Packers)
Isaiah Likely, TE (Ravens)
Rondale Moore, WR (Cardinals)
Skyy Moore, WR (Chiefs)
Kyle Phillips, WR (Titans)
George Pickens, WR (Steelers)
Brian Robinson Jr., RB (Commanders)
Jalen Tolbert, WR (Cowboys)
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