Draft Prep For Fantasy Football: D.J. Moore Leads Top Wide Receivers To Target Based On ADP
So far this summer, we’ve talked about quarterbacks, running backs, and tight ends to target or avoid heading into the 2022 Fantasy Football season. One position we haven't spoken about is wideout. Today, we’ll take a look at five wide receivers who are all expected to be selected in the fifth round or later yet we believe they are undervalued based on their current Average Draft Positions (ADP).
Please note that their ADPs are based on PPR fantasy football formats.
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Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers To Target Based On ADP
WR D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers (ADP: 52.08)
Over the last few seasons, Moore has become the Panthers’ best wideout. In each of the last three seasons, Moore has produced at least 1,100+ yards and four touchdowns. While he’s only had 14 touchdowns combined in his first four seasons in the league, Moore is the Panthers’ best route-runner. He’s also been forced to play with some pretty mediocre quarterbacks over his young career.
Last season, Moore produced a career-high catch percentage of 67.1%. His catch percentage has improved progressively over the last three seasons, which is an encouraging sign for a powerful wide receiver entering his fifth NFL season. While end-zone touchdown opportunities may be fed to Christian McCaffrey, Moore should tally 5+ touchdowns and more yardage this upcoming season. The Panthers brought Baker Mayfield down to Carolina who should start at quarterback in place of Sam Darnold. This is an automatic upgrade at quarterback for the Panthers, which could benefit Moore’s production in 2022. He is certainly worth drafting in the late-fourth or early-fifth round of 2022 fantasy drafts, as he is improving as a player and the Panthers have a huge upgrade at quarterback heading into this season.
WR Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears (ADP: 69.24)
With Allen Robinson headed to the Rams, Darnell Mooney is the Bears' best receiver on their current depth chart. In his second season with the Bears, Mooney finished his 2021 campaign with 1,055 yards and four touchdowns despite some shaky quarterback play from Andy Dalton and Justin Fields. Though the Bears have acquired wide receivers Byron Pringle and Equanimeous St-Brown this offseason, Mooney is their most athletic and explosive pass catcher heading into 2022. Considering Fields is expected to make significant progress in his second year as a professional quarterback, snagging Mooney in the sixth round is an excellent value pick.
WR Marquise Brown, Arizona Cardinals (ADP: 73.60)
After another great season with the Baltimore Ravens in 2021, the Arizona Cardinals added Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to their receiving core this offseason. Last season, Brown reached 1,000+ receiving yards and six touchdown catches. In his first three NFL seasons (2019-2021), Brown recorded 2,361 receiving yards for 21 touchdowns. Though Lamar Jackson won’t be throwing Brown the ball in 2022, Kyler Murray will get that privilege and he’s no slouch under center. In fact, Murray’s skills as a deep-ball passer may translate more to Brown’s game as he excels as a deep target. Expect Brown to have a big year alongside DeAndre Hopkins in Arizona as the Cardinals continue to build their passing game with Murray under center. Hopkins is suspended for the first six games of the 2022 regular season, which will open up the field vastly for Marquise Brown at least until Week 7. And once Hopkins returns from his suspension, Brown will see a ton of open space given the number of double-teams Hopkins typically sees from opposing defenses. Drafting Brown in the sixth or seventh round is an absolute steal in PPR formats.
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WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions (ADP: 90.18)
Up in Detroit, Amon-Ra St. Brown has become the Lions’ best option in the passing game after a surprisingly successful rookie campaign. In 2021, St. Brown caught the ball 90 times for 912 yards and five touchdowns and he kept getting better as the season progressed. Although the Lions selected Alabama star wideout, Jameson Williams, with the No. 12 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, St. Brown has developed chemistry with Jared Goff while Williams still needs time to get back into NFL shape and develop a rapport with his quarterback. That often takes time for rookies so St. Brown should remain at the top of the wide receiver depth chart, especially since, Williams tore his ACL in the College Football Championship Playoffs and is still recovering. Until Williams can suit up, St. Brown should see 10 targets a game with T.J. Hockenson the only other player Goff can trust to haul in his passes. Once Williams does get healthy, he will help prevent opposing defenses from double-teaming St. Brown if he gets to be unstoppable. He already proved that he might be one of the best route runners in the NFL after just one season. Considering the Lions will most often be playing from behind, selecting the second-year wideout in Detroit in the eighth round would be a victory for any fantasy owner in a PPR league.
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kansas City Chiefs (ADP: 96.92)
JuJu Smith-Schuster was injured in 2021 for the Steelers and only caught 15 passes for 129 yards on the season. After the Kansas City Chiefs dished Tyreek Hill over to the Miami Dolphins, Smith-Schuster was one wideout available for hire who has now made his way to the Chiefs. Smith-Schuster had a monster season in 2018 when he caught 111 passes for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns. However, he hasn’t been able to replicate those numbers since. In 2018, he was the second option in the passing game behind Antonio Brown. In 2020, he also did well with 831 receiving yards and nine touchdowns but it was still a bit underwhelming.
If healthy, Schuster could become one of, if not the best option for the Chiefs at wideout in 2022. Considering opposing defenses will be paying most of their attention to Travis Kelce, JuJu could surprise some folks and deliver immense value in fantasy football this upcoming season.
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