Jalen Hurts. With favorable matchups against the Giants, Panthers, Jaguars, Jets and Falcons, the Ravens might have better luck in close contests this season. This offense is downright frightful to opposing defenses, meaning the No. -- Trotter, Describe the QB situation in three words: Potentially a mess, Deshaun Watson is suspended for 11 games. Tristan H. Cockcroft: Irv Smith Jr. A lot of them. -- Bowen, Courtland Sutton has a 1,000-yard season and Pro Bowl trip on his rsum and looks like the Broncos' WR1. Former first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene did not take the step forward the Dolphins hoped for this summer and would represent a clear target for opposing offenses if he had to start games this season. Bold prediction for 2022: The Eagles will win the NFC East. The 6-foot, 247-pound back can hammer the ball between the tackles with the footwork to scoot past defenders. In year two, we saw him flash his fantasy potential with his rushing ability but saw that his passing ability still needed work. These 10 players could reach an elite fantasy level in 2022. The season will be a success if second-year QB Zach Wilson makes a leap. Stephania Bell: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers Eric Moody: Aaron Rodgers With Jimmy Graham gone, the third-year tight end can expect to inherit those red zone opportunities and cement himself as a foundational player in the Bears' offense. Kmet caught 60 of 91 targets last season. -- Louis-Jacques, Fantasy breakout candidate: Chase Edmonds, RB, "Breakout" might be a little strong, but Edmonds is my "bang for your buck" choice since he is currently being drafted outside the top 32 RBs in ESPN leagues. Look for the team to re-sign Mayfield to a multiple-year extension after the veteran jump-starts the offense this season. -- Bowen, Kmet more than doubled his targets, catches and yards from his rookie season to Year 2. He had his best year when Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue were with him. His competition is Rex Burkhead, and after one breakout game in the preseason, really it was just five touches, Pierce took over that starting gig. Keith Lipscomb: James Conner 2022 NFL Draft: Day 1 fantasy football recap. Michael Carter is a very talented back who could have standalone value even if Hall remains healthy. He has already shown his chops at training camp and earned a reputation for good footwork, impressive hands and otherworldly body control. He had career highs in receptions (77) and receiving yards (982) last season, but based on training camp and his play in the preseason (eight targets and five catches in two quarters), he should not have trouble surpassing both if he stays healthy. But if anything was to happen to Hall, he has RB1 upside. Can the Lions fix their defense? The top 15 RBs in terms of total points last season scored, on average, 12.1 touchdowns, and the presence of Gordon on this roster, not to mention a potentially more open offense to cater to Wilson, makes it tough to assume Williams reaches that threshold. 1 overall draft pick plays close to his 2020 level -- when he had an 11-5 record and a playoff win -- there's enough talent around him on offense and the defense is good enough to make Carolina a playoff contender. It's the coverage traits and the physical profile of Surtain that vaults him into the discussion of the league's top cornerbacks. -- Getzenberg, Fantasy breakout candidate: WR Gabe Davis, With more anticipated volume in one of the league's top offenses, Davis has serious breakout potential as a No. Most important discovery at camp: Saquon Barkley is back. Wentz represents a solid upgrade and gives the Commanders potentially their best passing attack since they had Kirk Cousins in 2017. 1 corner, coach Bill Belichick referred to Davon Godchaux as "one of the best defensive linemen in the league," while Matthew Judon and Josh Uche have been disruptive pass-rushers. Derek Brown (FantasyPros). Keith Lipscomb: Trevor Lawrence Washington not only will have one of the easiest schedules this season, but its defense will face the fifth-easiest slate of offensive opponents (per offensive efficiency). The Chiefs will have to make a decision on his fifth-year option at the end of this season, and the addition of rookie Isiah Pacheco to the running back group could lead the Chiefs to decline that option if Edwards-Helaire doesn't produce. Will the Philadelphia Eagles win the NFC East? Joe Kaiser: Darnell Mooney, WR, Chicago Bears -- Ben Baby, Anyone who watched the Bengals for five minutes last postseason knew the offensive line needed to improve its pass blocking. The dynamic in San Francisco is expected to change in 2022, and assuming Lance is the Week 1 starter, he's undervalued as QB13. Projected draft round: 6th. -- Tim McManus, Adding to Hurts' comfort level is the presence of Brown, who was acquired from the Titans on the first night of the draft for first- and third-round picks. After missing his entire rookie season with a foot injury, the former first-round pick has flashed on preseason tape in Year 2. He's also a deft pass-catcher who connected with former college teammate and current Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence on 95 passes for 1,083 yards and seven receiving TDs from 2018 to 2020. So, who has the best shot at significantly outperforming their draft cost? Plus, they will be playing a very easy schedule this season. Bold prediction for 2022: No. The Niners won't ask Trey Lance to be the focal point of a team with championship aspirations. He has overhauled his staff to add more experience and strengthened the overall roster. London is the best bet to be this year's breakout rookie receiver. Over the last six games of the 2021 season, he averaged 19.5 fantasy points for a Seahawks team that relies heavily on the running game. Cousins has a coach in Kevin O'Connell that not only believes in him, but has the kind of even-keeled personality that almost certainly fits him best. Significant improvement in that area doesn't fall solely to Karlaftis, one of the team's two first-round picks this year, but he needs to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. That could mean massive volume on a team that is expected to trail often. Mar 1, 2023. If the offensive line can correct the array of mistakes on display in the preseason and give Najee Harris room to run -- along with protecting the quarterback -- the Steelers will do enough offensively to support a stacked defense. This season will be a positive if Wilson improves significantly in every area and leaves no doubt that he has the talent, durability and mental makeup to lead the Jets to a championship. He's a fluid route runner who ranks third in Ohio State history with 176 receptions and fifth in receiving yards with 2,711. Kyle Soppe: Joshua Palmer, WR, Los Angeles Chargers. Edge rushers Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones will feast so long as the retooled secondary -- with new cornerbacks Rock Ya-Sin and Anthony Averett -- can cover -- Gutierrez, Adams is the best receiver in the NFL, and rejoining his old Fresno State running mate in Carr -- along with a modern playcaller in Josh McDaniels -- is expected to pay off with another playoff appearance. Gabriel Davis, WR, Buffalo Bills (Bye Week: 7) Davis is on so many of these "breakout stars" lists that expectations for the Bills wide receiver are going to be . Why the Packers' transition to Jordan Love, whenever it happens, will require patience, Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe, A new home for Michael Thomas? The second-round pick out of Penn State brings a playmaking element to Chicago. Eric Moody: Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars They do have home games against the Falcons, Giants and Jets, but overall, it's too tough of a schedule to envision seven-plus wins. Eric Karabell: Trevor Lawrence The Panthers have mismanaged the quarterback position during Rhule's time in charge. Brown and Antonio Brown. -- Bowen, Can a breakout player be a guy who was a Pro Bowler last season? Bold prediction for 2022: Leonard Floyd will lead the team in sacks. -- Bowen, Hurst is a fluid tight end who should give the Bengals a great receiving option as teams look to stop Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase. Najee Harris. If we assume his ACL issues are truly behind him, then that long-awaited true breakout is possible. The Patriots are going through a major transition in offensive philosophy after the departure of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Warrants out for arrest of draft prospect Carter, Out of dark, Rodgers vows decision coming soon, Bengals not trading Higgins: 'Find your own' WR, Bucs to cut Fournette; RB says it was his request, Seahawks consider QB at No. No one expects a title or even the playoffs this year; we're talking about 2023 and beyond. Describe the QB situation in three words: HOF to meh. For the first time in his NFL career, Tua Tagovailoa is being surrounded with elite talent. Jalen Hurts, Deebo Samuel and Cordarrelle Patterson were just a few players who broke out in a big way for fantasy managers last year. -- Getzenberg. Davis brings a ton of upside in that role. 3 in Arizona behind DeAndre Hopkins and Larry Fitzgerald. He and Davis Mills spent much of the summer working out together and further developing the chemistry that started to build last winter. As in, the Seahawks are going from a likely Hall of Famer in Russell Wilson to a pair of options that aren't all that inspiring. Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros), Gabriel Davis screams breakout season for the 2022 year. -- Bowen, Describe the QB situation in three words: Alright, alright, alright, Dak Prescott is healthy. He is running more decisively and harder than last year post-ACL injury. -- Legwold, Chubb was the Broncos' No. Kmet saw a total of just 12 red zone targets last year, with only six end zone targets. With Davante Adams departing in the offseason, the Packers wide receiver core has become a curious one for fantasy football enthusiasts. Which QB or TE has the best shot of having a breakout year in 2022 and why? Every year, Garoppolo leads or is top-three in passing yards that come after the catch, meaning he makes quick, short throws and the receivers then get to work. The problems started when 2020 first-round pick Mekhi Becton lost the left tackle job to George Fant, then suffered a season-ending knee injury at right tackle. -- Woodyard, Fantasy breakout candidate: D'Andre Swift, RB, Swift is already quite valuable in fantasy, but the upside is there -- should he stay healthy and earn more volume -- to become one of the top running backs in the league. Talent and opportunity are aligned nicely here. Thibodeaux had a strong start to the summer after being a top-five pick in April, but it would be counterproductive to have him at anything less than 100% given his dependance on that explosive first step. He can be much like Hurts was in 2020, which is a better fantasy QB than real-life QB. He can be a big factor as a downfield option or in the red zone. If they can do that and avoid a second-half swoon, this season could end with a playoff appearance. And he failed to log a single touchdown. The former Pro Bowl wideout knows he is on a one-year, "prove-it" deal, and he sees a big opportunity to be an impact player. The Colts feature one the best run games with Taylor behind an upper-tier offensive front, and the pass game will be much more efficient with the addition of Ryan. Aaron Rodgers, the reigning back-to-back MVP, has proven throughout his career that he can fuel WRs to top-tier fantasy . The Colts, ever reluctant to invest significantly at cornerback, broke with their recent tendencies and got aggressive by signing Gilmore in March. Waller was limited to 11 games due to injury last season, causing his numbers to plummet compared to the season before, when he finished with 107 receptions, 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns. Pickens fell in the draft after an ACL tear in his right knee in 2021, but he has shown no lingering effects from the injury. Daniel Dopp: Dawson Knox Our panel comprises the following ESPN Fantasy writers and editors: Stephania Bell, Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Tristan H. Cockcroft, Daniel Dopp, Joe Kaiser, Eric Karabell, Keith Lipscomb, Liz Loza, Eric Moody, Kyle Soppe and Field Yates. Best shot of having a breakout player be a big factor as a downfield option or in the offseason the., ever reluctant to invest significantly at cornerback, broke with their tendencies... 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