NFL Fantasy – Top 5 Wide Receivers 2022
In the previous days, you could read on our website about which quarterbacks and running backs are the best for NFL fantasy this year.
In this article, we’ll break down which wide receivers you should pick for your fantasy team, which wide receivers you should avoid, and which wide receivers are the best sleepers.
Top 5 Fantasy Wide Receivers 2022
Cooper Kupp
It’s hard to argue against Cooper Kupp being the best wide receiver in the NFL right now. He broke several records last season with 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns. In the playoffs, he had 33 catches, the most in league history.
Allen Robinson arrival to the Los Angeles Rams and Matthew Stafford’s injury problems could have a little impact on Kupp’s numbers, but it will be a sensation if he is not a top 5 wide receiver at the end of the season.
Ja’Marr Chase
Almost all the Cincinnati Bengals offensive superstars will be hot commodities in fantasy drafts this year. Ja’Marr Chase was offensive rookie of the year last season after he had 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Chase has young superstar quarterback Joe Burrow behind him, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t continue with exceptional form. If Chase stays healthy, there is no doubt that he will mark the next decade as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL.
Justin Jefferson
Justin Jefferson has two Pro Bowl seasons under his belt, even though the Minnesota Vikings haven’t played up to their potential. The 23-year-old wide receiver had 1,616 receiving yards last season, and only Cooper Kupp was better.
With 34 deep targets, he was in first place in that segment, and there is no doubt that Jefferson will continue to be the first option for Kirk Cousins downfield passes. Now, when a completely new coaching staff is in town with head coach Kevin O’Connell, we should expect the Minnesota Vikings offense to be even more productive.
Stefon Diggs
In both previous seasons, Stefon Diggs has been a top 10 wide receiver in fantasy numbers. Considering the Buffalo Bills not-so-best ground game, the ball will mostly find its way to wide receivers again.
Diggs has the potential to catch over 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2022, so having him in your fantasy team can’t be a mistake. Diggs didn’t have problems with injuries throughout his career, which is extremely important information.
Tyreek Hill
Unlike Davante Adams, who will have competition in the form of Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow in Las Vegas, Tyreek Hill will be the true superstar of the Miami Dolphins. He has been one of the best wide receivers in the NFL since 2017, and that won’t change.
Patrick Mahomes will no longer throw balls to him, but the number of targets will increase significantly. It’s a bit unbelievable, but Hill was only 58th in target share last season and those numbers will increase drastically during his time in Miami.
Five „Good“ Wide Receivers You Should Avoid This Season
DK Metcalf
It’s pretty risky to draft DK Metcalf (or Tyler Lockett) in your fantasy team this season. Although he impressed over the past two years, Metcalf will no longer have Russell Wilson throwing him balls.
With Geno Smith or Drew Lock behind the line of scrimmage and with Pete Carroll’s conservative approach, balls will go to wide receivers mostly only on third downs. Metcalf’s numbers will drop drastically, and it’s not realistic for him to reach double-digit touchdowns or 1,000 yards this season.
Diontae Johnson
It’s a bit surprising to see Dionate Johnson this high (top 15) in the wide receiver rankings before the start of the new season. Although he played great last year, it should be mentioned that he played as WR 2. Now when he will be the primary target, it is questionable how he will manage in his new role.
That conversion never went well with Juju Smith-Schuster, plus now Ben Roethlisberger is gone. On top of that, the Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the worst offensive lines and Mitch Trubisky will throw interceptions more often than quality downfield passes.
DeAndre Hopkins
Although he was projected as one of the best wide receivers last year, DeAndre Hopkins had his weakest season since entering the NFL. To be fair, he had some issues with multiple injuries and missed seven games, but 572 yards in 10 games is too low for his standards.
In addition, Hopkins failed a drug test and will miss six games due to suspension. It is questionable in what condition he will return and what kind of role he will have, but taking chances with him on fantasy this year is not worth it.
Amari Cooper
Amari Cooper had several injuries over the past few seasons, and his best days are behind him. Last year was the weakest in his time with the Dallas Cowboys, and it will be difficult to make any progress at the start of the campaign with the Cleveland Browns.
Deshaun Watson will miss at least six games due to suspension (possibly the entire season), and this will drastically affect all players on the Browns offense, including Cooper.
Hunter Renfrow
Hunter Renfrow had the best season of his career last year. He caught over 1,000 yards for the first time and added 9 touchdowns. With Josh McDaniels as new head coach, the Las Vegas Raiders offense should be even more lethal, plus Davante Adams is now in town.
Most of the throws will go to Adams, while Renfrow will be the third option after tight end Darren Waller. Either way, Renfrow will most likely stagnate and not repeat numbers he had in 2021.
Sleepers
Allen Lazard
Now when Davante Adams is no longer in the state of Wisconsin, the audition is open for Aaron Rodgers No. 1 target. It is known how much A-Rod has little trust in rookies and new wide receivers, so it’s to be expected that someone from the system improves drastically.
The most logical choice is Allen Lazard. He had 513 yards and 8 touchdowns last year, and those numbers could increase drastically this season. If you are able to get him in later draft rounds, you could hit the jackpot.
Courtland Sutton
Courtland Sutton had over 1,100 receiving yards in 2019, even though the Denver Broncos quarterbacks were Joe Flacco and Drew Lock. He missed the following season with a torn ACL but was solid again last year with 776 yards.
Now when the Broncos finally have an offensive minded head coach Nathaniel Hackett, and Russell Wilson under center, the wide receivers will benefit the most. Sutton could explode, but also drafting his colleague Jerry Jeudy is an equally good choice.
Michael Thomas
It’s a bit chaotic and funny to see that Michael Thomas is below 30th place in almost all wide receivers rankings. In the period between 2016 and 2019, Thomas dominated. In 2019 he broke multiple NFL records, including most receptions (149) in a single season.
Without a doubt, Thomas is one of the best wide receivers in 21st century. He barely played the last two years due to injuries, but if we look at his performances during training camp, another 1,000+ yards season is a certainty if he stays healthy.
Darnell Mooney
Probably the only player on the Chicago Bears offense worth having in a fantasy team this year is Darnell Mooney. He had 1,055 yards receiving last season, and now that Allen Robinson has signed with the Los Angeles Rams, Mooney will have all the space he needs to shine.
Justin Fields will feel much more confident this year with the new coaching staff around, and the connection with Mooney is something that is expected to be the beginning of new powerful duo in Bears offense.
Rashod Bateman
With Hollywood Brown departure to the Arizona Cardinals, Rashod Bateman is projected to be the number one wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens. Last year’s first-round draft pick finished the season with 515 yards, but he is expected to make a big jump now that he has much more space.
Also, the Ravens should include wide receivers even more in their offensive sets this season, which Bateman should benefit from. If you can draft him as your third wide receiver, that would be a great option for your fantasy team.
