Fantasy Football 2022 Rookie Rankings: Honorable Mentions
We have had time to digest the NFL draft, peruse depth charts and dig into the picks a bit. Now it’s time for the real work to begin for fantasy owners – preparing for draft season. As always, my prep begins in earnest post-draft, as I start thinking about these newcomers and the effect they’ll have on the existing players. These five rookies probably won’t be super impactful in 2022, but they have a chance. Keep them in mind as fliers when draft day hits later this summer, and keep tabs on their progress throughout the preseason.
Alec Pierce, WR, Indianapolis Colts (Round 2, No. 53 overall)
Pierce, at 6’3, 218 lbs., didn’t exactly have the raw production of most slam dunk NFL receivers. He put up 52 receptions, 884 yards and eight touchdowns at Cincinnati and helped them to the College Football Playoff, where he got shut down by Alabama. Pierce is a burner for a big receiver, and he has a 40-inch vertical jump which should make him a very appealing red zone target for Matt Ryan. He also landed in a high-quality offense which offers him a clear path to playing time. Yes, the focal point is running the ball with Jonathan Taylor, and Michael Pittman Jr. is the obvious WR1, but his competition for WR2 duties is beatable. Parris Campbell can’t stay healthy, Ashton Dulin is a gadget-esque receiver, and as of this writing T.Y. Hilton isn’t in the picture. Pierce has Mike Evans-ish traits, and could be a major weapon for Ryan right away.
George Pickens, WR, Steelers (Round 2, No. 52 overall)
Pickens is a prospect without much production to refer to. A physical specimen at 6’3, 200 lbs., Pickens turned heads with a 4.47 40-yard dash and 33 inch vertical leap, confirming the athletic gifts that helped him dominate in the SEC as a freshman. Pickens walked into Georgia and put up 49 catches, 727 yards and eight touchdowns as a true freshman. As a sophomore he only played eight games, and while 36 catches and 513 yards aren’t eye-popping, he also scored six more touchdowns. He’s been injury prone, but the tools are there for Pickens to be a baller, and the Steelers know how to pick badass WRs. Right now the path to fantasy-relevant opportunity is depressing his stock. Diontae Johnson is an absolute target hound, and Chase Claypool duplicates what Pickens brings to the table. Still, a guy talented enough to dominate SEC DBs as a freshman could force his way into the picture, so he’s a worth monitoring in training camp despite the crowded receiver room and unappealing QB options.
Isaiah Spiller, RB, Chargers (Round 4, No. 123 overall)
Spiller was one of the higher-rated RBs in most mocks, but his landing spot and draft capital indicate an uphill battle for fantasy relevance. The Chargers figure to have an elite offense, but they also have a fantasy superstar at RB in Austin Ekeler, who, if healthy, completely neuters Spiller’s ceiling. Spiller has a very clear path, however, to being the direct backup to Ekeler, which can become a very valuable player should Ekeler get hurt. Last season Justin Jackson likely won managers fantasy titles when he put up a monstrous game while Ekeler sat out due to COVID protocols, and Ekeler has never played every game of a regular season in his career. Spiller ran for more than 1,000 yards in each of his final two seasons in the SEC, scored 10 touchdowns as a freshman, and has caught at least 20 passes in all three seasons at Texas A&M. He’s a very good RB and will produce if given the chance. The question remains whether he’ll receive that opportunity.
David Bell, WR, Browns (Round 3, No. 99 overall)
The Cleveland Browns are one of the most run-heavy offenses in football, and still have the most loaded RB room in the league, but they didn’t make Deshaun Watson the highest-paid QB to neuter his impact on the field. Amari Cooper was brought in to spearhead the pass catching group, and the No. 2 role is up for grabs. Donovan Peoples-Jones and Anthony Schwartz failed to separate themselves in 2021, and Bell was a highly productive player at Purdue. The knocks on Bell are that he doesn’t have elite physical traits, but that did not stop him from producing 1,286 yards and six touchdowns last year. He’s never scored fewer than six touchdowns, and surpassed 85 receptions in both of his full seasons. Perhaps his physical limitations cap his ultimate ceiling, but he’s overcome them and proven himself to be a quality receiver at the college level, and if given the opportunity to play a lot he’ll be catching passes from one of the NFL’s elite QBs.
Kenny Pickett, QB, Steelers (Round 1, No. 20 overall)
Pickett was a bit of a surprise as the first QB off the board, and he was the only QB taken in Round 1. Pickett’s situation is unclear, because it’s unusual for teams to spend first round capital on a QB – especially one considered “NFL ready” like Pickett is – and not have them immediately take the reins. Unlike the 49ers drafting Trey Lance, a raw prospect who didn’t have many games under his belt in college and also played at a Division II school, Pickett spent five years in college, and started for four seasons at Pitt. Pickett is already 23 years old, and he posted major production in 2021, tossing 42 touchdowns against only seven interceptions. There are BIG red flags; he’s old for a prospect, his hands are very small, and 2021 marked a quantam leap in production after being completely mediocre for his whole college career. Pickett is going to one of the NFL’s best organizations and he’s surrounded by skill position talent, so it’s possible he’s a quality streaming option if he wins the job.