Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022 Fantasy Football i Athlon Sports Football Bundle

Paying careful, daily attention to the stock market can be a painful exercise, especially in this uncertain climate. Wild fluctuations have been the norm this year (although the changes have mostly trended in one direction of late). It’s usually best for your mental health to keep your eyes trained on the big picture and not live or die with the daily oscillation. Fantasy owners don’t have that luxury. In this hobby — and let’s face it, at this point it’s more of a lifestyle than a hobby — paying close attention to those frequent (sometimes daily) fluctuations in a player’s value is essential. Rather than wait for the dust to settle, you need to know what insiders are saying about Trey Lance’s readiness to take over the 49ers’ quarterback position…

Fantasy managers in redraft leagues get to start each season with a clean slate. However, players are often still dealing with injuries that linger from the previous season. Some NFL players have surgery in the offseason to clean up or fix injuries. These players are on the mend, and fantasy managers need to be aware that they may start the season on injured reserve (IR). Also, some of these players may have a slow start to the season due to the long rehab process. Keep an eye as the preseason progresses to see where some of these players should be drafted. DANIEL JONES QB, New York Giants Fantasy managers are still waiting for Jones to put together the season that the Giants think he is capable of. In three years…

01 CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY HT: 5-11 | WT: 205 | AGE: 26 CAROLINA PANTHERS EFP: 318.0 BYE WEEK: 13 ATHLON’S TAKE It’s fine if you want to skip over McCaffrey. But if he stays healthy this year, there’s still no RB with a higher ceiling. It’s reasonable to be uncomfortable around McCaffrey after he left us for 23 games over the past two years with ankle, hamstring, thigh and shoulder injuries. When he stayed on the field, though, he was the same guy. His 20.1 half-PPR points per game across five full outings last year would have ranked third among running backs. His 27.3 per game in 2020 did lead the position. The Panthers haven’t changed much, adding a mere third-round challenge to Sam Darnold and adding D’Onta Foreman to the backfield.…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS How should Lamar Jackson be valued in drafts this year with Marquise Brown gone and a deep backfield in place? Highly, as usual. In 2019, the Ravens had a deep backfield in place and a limited group of wide receivers, and Jackson won the league MVP award. Sharing carries with J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards in 2020, Jackson led the team in rushing (1,005 yards), ran for seven scores and threw for 26 more. By retaining offensive coordinator Greg Roman, and by drafting two receiver-type tight ends this year, the Ravens have declared that they want to get back to their 2019 formula. That should boost Jackson’s fantasy value. Is there a clear-cut RB1 or is this more…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS What will the offense look like under head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy? With speed to burn at wide receiver, including Darnell Mooney and rookie Velus Jones Jr., the Bears want to utilize a vertical passing attack, provided they can protect Justin Fields. As a rookie, Fields showed impressive accuracy on deep throws. The run-zone concept hopes to utilize the vision, quickness and tackle-breaking ability of David Montgomery. What are your expectations for Fields in his second season? Expectations are tempered by a supporting cast that hasn’t been significantly upgraded. But Fields should turn the ball over less (12 fumbles and a 7:10 TD-to-INT ratio last year) and take fewer coverage sacks by getting rid…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Is Ezekiel Elliott still the clear-cut lead horse in this backfield? Tony Pollard was the better running back last season, averaging 5.5 yards per carry to rank second among qualifying running backs. He had 169 touches for 1,056 yards while playing only 35 percent of the snaps. Elliott played 65 percent of the snaps and had 284 touches for 1,289 yards. Elliott said after the season that he played through a knee injury, so that might have played a part in his having the second-fewest touches and yards in his career. He remains the best blocker among the backs, so he likely still sees the most playing time. But Pollard’s playing time and touches have gone up each…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Any concerns about Aaron Rodgers with Davante Adams now in Vegas? As GM Brian Gutekunst reminded reporters at draft time, quoting his predecessor/mentor Ted Thompson, “Ted always used to say, ‘You’ve got to have some pass-catchers around here.’” So while even the most ardent team-first staffers admitted that the club in no way got better by trading away the most productive wide receiver since the start of the 2016 season, Rodgers is still a four-time NFL MVP who makes marginal receivers serviceable, solid receivers good and good receivers great. Rodgers will still put up big numbers if healthy. Will AJ Dillon get enough carries to be a flex option without an Aaron Jones injury? When Packers head coach…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS How much improvement are you expecting from Trevor Lawrence? Lawrence has more experienced receivers with speed like Christian Kirk and Zay Jones and versatile tight end Evan Engram, who can line up outside, so his completion rate should improve (59.6 percent last season). A better offensive scheme under head coach Doug Pederson, who will be the play-caller, and offensive coordinator Press Taylor will allow Lawrence a better chance to get the ball out quicker and avoid the poor decision-making that led to a league-high 17 interceptions with only 12 touchdown passes. Travis Etienne Jr. or James Robinson — which running back finishes with the most fantasy points in 2022? Etienne will likely start the season as the starter…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Keenan Allen or Mike Williams – which wide receiver finishes with the most fantasy points in 2022? For the past decade, Allen has been a reliable target and fantasy option, but he often leaves managers wanting more because of his steady average of 10-12 points per game. Williams offers more upside, and he finally gained trust after producing a breakout season in 2021. Williams is poised to have another 1,000-yard receiving season with double-digit TDs as Herbert’s favorite target. Allen still has the label of being the Chargers’ No. 1 wide receiver, but Herbert often looks for Williams in the red zone and in crunch time. Other than Austin Ekeler, is there another fantasy-relevant RB on this roster?…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS If he’s healthy, will RB Dalvin Cook get 300 carries this season, or will he share more of the workload? Even if he stays healthy and plays an entire season, which he has never done, he won’t get 300 carries. Mike Zimmer’s run-run-run edict is over. Plus, new head coach Kevin O’Connell will spread the carries around more to Alexander Mattison and Kene Nwangwu. The Vikings even drafted another running back, Ty Chandler, in the fifth round. Will Justin Jefferson repeat as a top-five fantasy wide receiver? Yes. Jefferson will only get better in this new offense as his elite talent continues to mesh with NFL playing experience. The guy loves football and knows that if he keeps…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS What will the Giants’ offense look like this season under new head coach Brian Daboll? Expect the offense to be wide open with a lot more passing and a lot more movement, especially from quarterback Daniel Jones. The scheme will mostly be what Daboll brought from Buffalo, but with elements of what new OC Mike Kafka learned in Kansas City. Those are two high-octane, pass-heavy offenses, which is what the Giants are likely to try to be. And they might even succeed if the offensive line is actually fixed, which they think it is. What should fantasy owners expect from Saquon Barkley this season? Assuming he’s healthy, which is always a big if, he should look a lot…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS What kind of impact do you see wide receiver George Pickens making as a rookie? The Steelers know how to pick ‘em at wide receiver, and they got a first-round talent a little later in the former Georgia Bulldog. That said, there are a bunch of other mouths to feed in that Steelers receivers room, most prominent among them Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool. Throw in TE Pat Freiermuth and RB Najee Harris, and it’s fair to expect some challenges ahead for Pickens when it comes to consistent fantasy output, especially when considering the Steelers’ uncertainty at QB. True or false — Freiermuth’s numbers (60 rec., 497 yds., seven TDs) will decline in 2022. False. The tight end…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS A year older and with a reconfigured offensive line, will Tom Brady continue to produce like an elite fantasy quarterback? Brady will be 45 in October, and he was hit 17 times by the Rams in the NFC divisional playoff loss. Suffice it to say he doesn’t want to ever lead the NFL again in pass attempts like he did last season with 719. Former head coach Bruce Arians isn’t around to call all the downfield shots. New head coach Todd Bowles is in agreement with Brady to bring balance back to the offense. So passing for 5,000 yards, as he did for only the second time in his career, appears unlikely. However, 35-40 touchdowns are still very…

Quarterbacks 1. Caleb Williams USC 2. C..J. Stroud Ohio State 3. Malik Cunningham Louisville 4. Hendon Hooker Tennessee 5. Sam Hartman Wake Forest 6. Bryce Young Alabama 7. Dillon Gabriel Oklahoma 8. Will Rogers Mississippi State 9. Tanner Mordecai SMU 10. Brennan Armstrong Virginia 11. Garrett Shrader Syracuse 12. John Rhys Plumlee UCF 13. Quinn Ewers Texas 14. Dorian Thompson-Robinson UCLA 15. Jake Haener Fresno State 16. Cameron Ward Washington State 17. Aidan O’Connell Purdue 18. Grayson McCall Coastal Carolina 19. Clayton Tune Houston 20. Collin Schlee Kent State 21. Frank Harris UTSA 22. Devin Leary NC State 23. Anthony Richardson Florida 24. Tyler Van Dyke Miami (Fla.) 25. Jarret Doege WKU 26. Tyler Shough Texas Tech 27. Jaxson Dart Ole Miss 28. Jaren Hall BYU 29. Chevan Cordeiro San…

JONATHAN TAYLOR, RB, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS As far as who will finish as the No. 1 back, I think there are compelling cases to be made for Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry if you look past the injuries. But the No. 1 pick is really a question that asks: “Who do you feel safest about coming into the season?” And the guy who led the NFL in rushing yards by almost 600, led in rushing touchdowns by three and remained involved in the passing game to the tune of 51 targets is the answer. Jonathan Taylor will find himself with a new quarterback in Matt Ryan, but the Colts should continue using him as the main piece of their offensive identity. The weak AFC South should continue to let them ground-and-pound…

QUARTERBACKS 1. KENNY PICKETT STEELERS ← PITT Pickett brings his small hands and big arm right next door from the Panthers’ facility to the Steelers — they share the same complex. Fumbles could be a problem as he works with the larger NFL ball, but he has the clearest shot to playing time of any of this draft’s quarterback prospects. After the draft, Mike Tomlin said he had a chance to start Week 1. It might not be pretty right away, but the Steelers have a good skill-position corps that should give Pickett QB2 streamer value if he doesn’t implode. 2. MALIK WILLIS TITANS ←LIBERTY This is a great landing spot for Willis, who has the highest upside of any quarterback prospect in this class. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like there…

Free agency and trades impacted the quarterback position harder than it has in many years during this offseason. We finally found resolutions on a couple of big-name quarterbacks in the trades of Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson, and the fallout of the Watson trade in particular created wave after wave of cascade effects with some of the finalists being forced to settle for backup plans. The Falcons lost their quarterback over what didn’t happen. Baker Mayfield continues to be stuck in limbo deep into our publishing deadline. Tom Brady retired and then unretired. All it took was 40 days of retirement to lure him back to the field. LAMAR JACKSON BUY And then there were the wide receivers: Davante Adams left the Packers to head to play with college teammate…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Kyler Murray’s numbers were down across the board, although he did miss three games due to injury. How much of a rebound are you projecting for 2022? Losing DeAndre Hopkins for the first six weeks of the season doesn’t help, but if Murray can stave off injuries and raise his level of play to what Kliff Kingsbury expects, he should easily pass for more than 4,000 yards and flirt with at least 40 touchdowns. Another full season with center Rodney Hudson and a mostly intact offensive line, not to mention getting reunited with Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, will help allow Murray to raise his overall level of play. A new contract will only serve as added motivation. How much…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Is there more than one fantasy-rel evant RB on this roster, or are there just too many mouths to feed? The depth chart entering training camp says too many mouths to feed. Granted, Devin Singletary came on strong over the final half-dozen games of 2021, helping fuel an offense that put up 83 points in two playoff games. But Singletary isn’t expected to build on his 870 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, not with a parade of players in the wings that includes Zack Moss, Duke Johnson, and rookie James Cook. Watch for Cook. His pass-receiving skills will add a needed wrinkle in Buffalo. Will Dawson Knox repeat as a top-10 fantasy TE? The Bills have added former first-round…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Have we seen Joe Burrow’s ceiling, or does he have another level in him? The ceiling is probably what he did during the final part of the 2021 regular season, when he was objectively the NFL’s best stat-producing quarterback. Sustaining that kind of production or something close to it — 355 yards per game, 12 TDs and just two INTs over the final five games — would be the possible next stop for a quarterback who will be playing behind an improved offensive line and throwing to one of the league’s most talented groups of playmakers. Is Joe Mixon a safe bet for more than 300 touches again? If Mixon can stay healthy, there’s no reason to think…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS What are your expectations for Russell Wilson in his first season with the Broncos? Looking at Wilson’s aggregate numbers over the past five seasons, there is no reason the nine-time Pro Bowler cannot throw for 4,200 yards and 35 touchdowns. He will be working with an offensive-minded head coach for the first time, leaving him with more power and influence over the game plan. Can Wilson make Jerry Jeudy or Courtland Sutton a top-12 WR in 2022? Wilson will make Jeudy and Sutton better, but it remains unlikely either cracks the top 12. While Jeudy’s numbers have been underwhelming in his first two seasons, including zero touchdowns a year ago, he is more poised to break out than…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Is there a fantasy-relevant running back on this roster? There are far too many remaining questions about Houston’s run game to risk drafting a Texans RB. They shouldn’t be as terrible as they were in 2021, when they averaged their second-fewest yards per carry in franchise history (3.4). But there’s a “see-it-to-believe-it” sense around free-agent signee Marlon Mack, who was buried on Indianapolis’ depth chart last season and was unable to show whether he was back to form from his Achilles tear in 2020. If you’re looking for a backup who might get you some key points as a red-zone touchdown scorer, keep an eye on rookie Dameon Pierce. What are your expectations for John Metchie III as…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Which Chiefs wide receiver would you target in fantasy drafts? Targets may get spread fairly equally among deep-threat Marquez Valdes-Scantling, slot dynamo JuJu Smith-Schuster and second-round pick Skyy Moore. Smith-Schuster is the safest bet for sure production week in and week out, if healthy. MVS may see his production wax and wane more as the primary big-play threat, but he also may put up the biggest numbers in the end. Moore would be a great late middle-round addition and could be a terrific pickup in keeper leagues. And don’t forget about Mecole Hardman Jr. Bottom line: None are WR1 material, but all could have value as low-end WR2 or WR3, particularly in deeper leagues. Will Clyde Edwards-Helaire or…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Do you think Matthew Stafford can duplicate his 2021 production or are you worried about some regression? In signing Stafford to a contract extension through age 38, the Rams bet on the QB avoiding a fall-off anytime soon. Head coach/offensive guru Sean McVay will keep finding new ways to exploit Stafford’s skills. This year, that started with signing big-target wide receiver Allen Robinson II. How do you see Robinson fitting into this offense? Robinson’s knack for going above and around defenders to catch passes should improve the Rams’ efficiency in the red zone, where they ranked mid-league in touchdown percentage in 2021. Robinson essentially replaces Robert Woods, whose skill set was more similar to Cooper Kupp’s. Assuming…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS What are your expectations for Mac Jones in his second season? A big bump in his touchdown numbers — he had 22 as a rookie. New England has added outside speed with receivers DeVante Parker and rookie Tyquan Thornton. This will open up the middle of the field for Jones’ favorite targets — tight end Hunter Henry (50 catches) and slot receiver Jakobi Meyers (83). Will Damien Harris be given a heavier workload this season? No. The Patriots have nice depth in the backfield, and there will be a rotation to keep legs fresh. Harris will be the lead dog, but expect Rhamondre Stevenson, James White and rookies Pierre Strong Jr. and Kevin Harris to all get touches.…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS With a stronger supporting cast and a year of experience under his belt, what are your expectations for Zach Wilson? He’s going to be better, if only because he set such a low bar statistically last season. He should be MUCH better, but lot of that is on him, not his supporting cast. Wilson last season had just nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 13 games. Presuming he stays healthy — which isn’t a lock for a quarterback his size — he has a legitimate chance to at least double that touchdown total, considering the upgraded pieces around him. Corey Davis or Garrett Wilson – which wide receiver finishes with more fantasy points this year? This is a…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Jimmy Garoppolo or Trey Lance – which quarterback finishes with the most fantasy points this season? Lance. It would be stunning if he’s not the 49ers’ starting QB. And he’ll have more value than Garoppolo based on his running ability. In Lance’s first career start, his 89 rushing yards were the third most by a 49ers QB since 1990. Will Deebo Samuel repeat as a top-five fantasy WR? Yes. The 49ers might not use him quite as extensively as a running back, but head coach Kyle Shanahan has made it clear they won’t abandon his dual role. Worth remembering: In mid-November, just before Samuel began regularly lining up in the backfield, his 882 receiving yards were the most…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS After Derrick Henry missed more than half of last season, will the Titans try to lighten his workload? Over the past three seasons, Henry has amassed 900 carries for 4,504 rush yards and 43 rush TDs, while hauling in 55 catches for 474 receiving yards and another two receiving TDs. King Henry has accounted for 46 TDs in his last 39 games while averaging roughly 128 yards from scrimmage per game. That’s a one-man offense, on the gridiron or in fantasy. Although the Titans drafted Michigan’s Hassan Haskins and return Dontrell Hilliard, expect the 28-year-old Henry to approach 300 carries and threaten to lead the league in rushing again, health permitting. Even a “lightened” workload by Henry’s standards…

1. Not Joshin’ Around 2. Baby Got Dak 3. Working From Mahomes 4. My Kupp Runneth Over 5. Tua Much, Tua Little, Tua Late 6. Conner Among Thieves 7. That’s Amari! 8. Hurts So Good 9. Fresh Prince of Helaire 10. Lamarvel Cinematic Universe 11. Can You Smell What Dalvin’s Cooking? 12. School of Dawson Knox 13. Can’t Fight This Thielen 14. Silence of the Lamb 15. Najee By Nature 16. McLaurin F1 17. Mixon It Up 18. Pop It, Lockett, Drop It 19. The Moore the Merrier 20. Kamara Chameleon 21. Call of Jeudy 22. Charknado 23. Hide and Zeke 24. One for the Mooney 25. Say Hello to my Kittle Friend 26. Friends and Etiennemies 27. Josh Jacobs Ladder 28. Ain’t No Waller-Back Girl 29. Got My JuJu…

In what has arguably been the wildest offseason ever, there has been a landslide of player movement since the start of the new NFL year in March. While some of it was expected because of free agency, there have been quite a few surprises involving several high-profile quarterbacks and two shocking trades that went down during the draft. There’s no way to cover everyone in a single article, but here are some key players in new uniforms and how the changes could impact their value this season (either for better or for worse). Note: For a deeper dive on quarterbacks Deshaun Watson, Carson Wentz and Russell Wilson please see “QB Stock Watch” on p. 32. DAVANTE ADAMS WR, Las Vegas Raiders A first-team All-Pro each of the past two seasons,…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Marcus Mariota or Desmond Ridder – which quarterback starts the most games in 2022? It seems like the Falcons are in a tough spot at quarterback, at least for 2022. Mariota has more NFL experience, but he’s not started a full season since 2018 and has injury concerns. But if the team feels like Ridder has long-term starting potential, throwing him to the wolves might be a fool’s errand with a team that’s probably not quite ready to contend yet. Training camp could be key, as Ridder will have a chance to show if he’s ready or not. It’s easy to guess a 50/50 split at the moment, as long as Ridder looks the part. But if Mariota…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS After two injury-plagued seasons, is Christian McCaffrey still a first-round fantasy pick? Absolutely. It’s worth taking a shot on McCaffrey, who has missed 23 of his past 33 games due to various injuries. Still, given his workload, McCaffrey may post better numbers in just half a season compared to what many RBs will in a full one. Yes, it’s a risk. But gambles like this, if they work out, are the sort that win a lot of leagues. For what it’s worth, McCaffrey will report to camp in superb shape as usual. Other than DJ Moore is there a fantasy-relevant pass-catcher on this roster? No. Moore is a viable starter, with his three straight 1,100-yard receiving seasons and…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Is new Brown Amari Cooper a legitimate WR1 for fantasy purposes? In terms of volume, yes. Cooper is easily the most talented and the most proven of the Browns’ wide receivers, and even with almost every facet of the pass game having been remade, Cooper is a safe bet to become the most targeted Browns’ receiver and to lead the team in touchdown receptions. Whether Cooper is going to get a bunch of chances to create big plays remains to be seen, but he projects for at least 10 targets every game. Assuming both stay healthy, how will the carries be distributed between Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt? Over the past two seasons, head coach Kevin Stefanski has gone…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Will D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams split the carries again or will the balance tilt more in 2022? Despite sharing carries with Williams, Swift was a top-10 fantasy back until suffering a shoulder injury on Thanksgiving. His durability remains a question mark after missing seven games his first two seasons, but his playmaking ability — Swift scored three TDs of 40-plus yards last season and ranked second among RBs in catches per game (4.77) — is worth an early-round draft selection. DJ Chark, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams — what is the pecking order for the Lions WRs? St. Brown looks like a solid No. 2-3 WR option in PPR leagues, as he still figures to lead…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS What are your expectations for Matt Ryan in his first season with the Colts? Before last year, Ryan eclipsed 4,000 passing yards with 20 TDs the previous decade. Now he has an NFL rushing champion and one of the better offensive lines. Expect 4,000 passing yards and 25 TDs. Parris Campbell or Alec Pierce – which Colts wide receiver finishes with the most fantasy points in 2022? The last time the Colts selected a wide receiver in the second round, it was Michael Pittman Jr., who had a breakthrough season in 2021 in his second year. Like Pittman, Pierce also is a large target with speed. Sure, rookies need to adjust, but is it realistic to have any faith…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Reunited with Davante Adams, can Derek Carr make a big leap in 2022 and become an elite fantasy QB? Carr has shown that when playing alongside high-level weapons, and with stability from the sideline, he can produce reflective numbers. Adding Adams to an offense that features Darren Waller, Hunter Renfrow and a loaded backfield won’t just put back intact what the Raiders had early last season; it will be a major upgrade. If Adams and the rest of Carr’s core weapons stay healthy, his numbers will reflect it. Will Josh Jacobs continue to get the bulk of the carries, or will he share the workload more? He will get the bulk, but with an asterisk. Provided Jacobs stays…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Will Jaylen Waddle be helped or hurt by Tyreek Hill’s presence? A little bit of both. There’s no way Waddle will match the 140 targets he had as a rookie with Hill set to take many of those away from him after Miami’s next-most-targeted wide receiver in 2021 was DeVante Parker, with 73 in 10 games. Waddle may find it difficult to reach triple-digit receptions like last season (104, an NFL rookie record), but he may be more efficient with his targets, besting the 1,015 receiving yards and six touchdowns he hauled in. Hill will draw more attention from opposing defenses, opening up space for Waddle to collect yards after catch or even some deep-ball opportunities, which were…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS What are your expectations for quarterback Jameis Winston upon his return from a torn ACL? This answer is less about Winston’s health, which the Saints believe won’t be an issue, than it is about his usage. There was a lot to like about Winston’s injury-shortened 2021, but the Saints seemed hesitant to truly let him cut it loose. While it’d be unreasonable to expect him to match his 14:3 touch-down-to-interception ratio over a full season, some better receiving weapons should result in more chances for Winston to sling it. What kind of a bounce-back campaign are you expecting from RB Alvin Kamara this season? Kamara wasn’t bad in 2021; he was just all the Saints had. Defenses could…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS Can DeVonta Smith make the sophomore leap with A.J. Brown as his new running mate? Brown’s arrival won’t hurt Smith’s development at all. In fact, with defenses paying significant attention to the newcomer, it could well allow Smith to see more single coverage and less attention from rivals’ top corners. Smith is going to improve, and while he might not experience a significant increase in catches from last year’s 64, he should score more than the five TDs he registered in 2021. Is Kenneth Gainwell more than just Miles Sanders’ handcuff? It’s unlikely Gainwell will supplant Sanders as the Eagles’ main back in 2022, unless Sanders’ recent trend of suffering injuries continues. Gainwell’s short term future is as…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS How different will this offense look with a new quarterback at the controls? Whoever that is, and it will probably be Drew Lock, the offense should be more pass-minded. The Seahawks have two of the best receivers in the NFL, so why waste them? Those two probably haven’t been used enough in recent seasons, so Lock, who stands five inches taller than the departed Russell Wilson, should have every opportunity to stand tall in the pocket and deliver the ball a lot. Can Tyler Lockett or DK Metcalf still be a strong WR2 with the quarterback change? Lockett is probably the second option now behind Metcalf, and the Kansas State product has a history of getting open. He makes…

INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AN NFL TEAM INSIDER FIELDS KEY FANTASY QUESTIONS What are your expectations for Carson Wentz? For all the knocks on Wentz, what mattered to the Commanders was his strong arm and willingness to use it. And he could not have landed in a better situation: He has a head coach and coordinator (Ron Rivera and Scott Turner, respectively) who believe in him, a drama-free lock on the QB1 job, an offensive line that should excel at pass protection, and a collection of targets that arguably ranks as the best in his career. If he stays healthy and avoids sacks, this could be a prolific season for Wentz. Can Antonio Gibson repeat as a top-10 fantasy running back? Asking the multi-talented Gibson to repeat his 2021 production…