Fantasy Football 2022: Preseason Mock Draft Strategy, Rankings and Analysis
Want to try a risky fantasy football strategy that might not work out? That's what mocks are for. It's a great way to try different approaches in a risk-free setting because the drafts don't matter and are only used for practice.
There are a bunch of different strategies that fantasy managers have tried to use to assemble the best roster possible, and some work better than others. Their effectiveness can also change on a yearly basis, given the depth of position groups will also vary.
This year, there are quite a few ways you can be successful in a fantasy football draft. So you'll have various options to consider for your league, which will be holding its draft sometime before the NFL opener on Sept. 8 (if it hasn't already).
After a look at the latest top-40 points-per-reception rankings, we'll break down a few different strategies that you may want to utilize in fantasy football drafts this year.
Top-40 PPR Rankings
1. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
2. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers
3. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
4. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
5. Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
6. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
7. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans
8. Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills
9. Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
10. Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
11. Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings
12. D'Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions
13. Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
14. Leonard Fournette, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
16. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
17. Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers
18. Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers
19. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
20. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
21. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys
22. Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns
23. James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
24. Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens
25. Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
26. Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
27. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
28. DJ Moore, WR, Carolina Panthers
29. Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos
30. Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
31. A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
32. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts
33. Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos
34. Brandin Cooks, WR, Houston Texans
35. Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
36. Marquise Brown, WR, Arizona Cardinals
37. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
38. Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
39. Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
40. Allen Robinson II, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Take 2 Running Backs to Start
Some people like the zero-RB strategy in which you wait to draft running backs while stacking up on the top players at other positions. But that's less likely to work out this year. In fact, it's better to nab a pair of star RBs in the first two rounds if possible.
That's especially the case if you have a top-five pick. Jonathan Taylor is the clear-cut choice at No. 1, while Christian McCaffrey, Austin Ekeler and Derrick Henry are all in the mix in the top five. Those are star RBs capable of huge numbers if they remain healthy.
Then, you'll have to wait a bit before picking late in the second round. But at that point, running backs such as Leonard Fournette, Aaron Jones and Nick Chubb could still be on the board. These are RBs who have been undervalued a bit this preseason.
It's incredibly difficult to find running backs who will have sizable workloads late in the draft. But you should be able to find sleepers at other positions. That's why it's best to start off with RBs in each of the first two rounds, as long as you're not reaching for a player who shouldn't go until later.
Which Tight Ends Are There in 3rd Round?
Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews are the top two tight ends for fantasy heading into 2022, and it's not even close. That's why some managers will consider taking them at some point during the first two rounds.
But what if they don't? What if Kelce and/or Andrews are still on the board in the third? At that point, they're must-draft players, because they are clearly better than all others at the position and can give you a huge advantage over your competition.
Maybe a tight end like Kyle Pitts should also be in consideration if you're picking late in the third round. But other than that, nobody outside of that trio should be taken early, and if you miss out on all three, wait to grab a TE until later in the draft.
That's why it's important to keep an eye on when/if Kelce and Andrews get drafted. Because if they make it through the first two rounds, you'll be getting tremendous value on either in the third.
Wait out the Quarterbacks
Never draft a quarterback in the first three rounds this year. If you do, you're reaching by a lot. Especially because there are going to be plenty of talented QBs available later on, so it's better to stack up at the other positions early.
Sure, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Patrick Mahomes and a few others make up the clear top few tiers of quarterbacks. But there are going to be players who will be close to them in total points by the end of the year still on the board during the middle rounds.
Per Fantasy Football Calculator, Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers have an average draft position in the seventh round in 12-team PPR leagues. Matthew Stafford, Dak Prescott and Tom Brady have ADPs in the eighth round, while Trey Lance (a potential breakout candidate) isn't getting taken until the ninth.
These are all players who should end up as a QB1 or at least an upper-end QB2. So it's fine to wait out the early quarterbacks while drafting the best RBs and WRs available, then picking up a QB a bit later on.