Fantasy Football 2022: Dynasty Draft Rankings, Keeper Advice and Team Names

We're in the thick of the NFL preseason, which means that real, meaningful football is on the horizon. It also means that fantasy football is nearly here.

While fantasy isn't as big as the NFL game itself, it has become ubiquitous in the football world—and it comes in many different flavors. From traditional season-long formats to daily fantasy sports (DFS) games, there is a style of fantasy for everyone.

For those who enjoy the challenges of long-term roster building, there are dynasty and keeper leagues. These formats are not for the lightly invested, as decisions can have consequences that last for years.

Keeper leagues are a great way for newcomers to get a taste of multi-year fantasy, as rebounding from a bad season can be relatively simple. Managers typically keep only one or two players from season to season, but there is a strategy involved when considering whom to keep and when to redraft.

Dynasty leagues are for the truly committed. Championship rosters are crafted over years, not weeks or months, and suffering through losing campaigns is generally part of the process—not unlike NFL roster-building.

Below, you'll find some tried-and-true keeper and dynasty strategies, a look at the latest dynasty and keeper positional rankings and some creative team-name suggestions for those looking to start fresh with a new squad in 2022.

All rankings and strategies are for point-per-reception (PPR) scoring formats.

Quarterback

1. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

2. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

4. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

5, Russell Wilson Seattle Seahawks

6. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

7. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

8. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

9. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

10. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

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Running Back

1. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

2. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers

3. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings

4. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers

5. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans

6. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals

7. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers

8. D'Andre Swift, Detroit Lions

9. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns

10. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

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Wide Receiver

1. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams

2. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

3. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

4. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders

5. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins

6. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

7. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

8. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

9. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers

10. Drake London, Atlanta Falcons

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Tight End

1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

2. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

3. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons

4. Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders

5. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

6. T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions

7. Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks

8. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

9. Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears

10. Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills

We're not going to dive too heavily into traditional draft strategies here, though the basic rules are as follows: Draft high-volume running backs and receivers early, draft defenses and kickers late, and make your late-round selections with a purpose. Don't autodraft players late simply to fill out a roster. Instead, target potential sleepers, grab injury insurance and target bye-week fill-ins.

If you're new to fantasy, dynasty leagues probably aren't the best place to start. However, keeper leagues shouldn't be too daunting for first-timers, as they are fairly straightforward—simply keep one or two elite players and redraft the rest of the roster.

This doesn't mean that there isn't strategy involved in keeper leagues, though, and it's critical to pay attention to the rules and what other managers are doing.

In most leagues, keeping one player will cost a first-round selection, while keeping a second will cost a second-rounder. The trick is to keep players more valuable than your draft slot. For example, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has an average draft position (ADP) of 1, according to FantasyPros. If Taylor is on your roster, and you're picking eighth in the order, then keeping him is common sense.

If, however, Nick Chubb was your top 2021 producer, it probably isn't worth using a keeper slot on the Cleveland Browns back. His ADP is 16, meaning he'll likely be available in Round 2.

Typically, the lower you are in the draft order, the more valuable a keeper is going to be.

Here's where paying attention to the competition comes in. Say the manager drafting right before you has Taylor on their roster but hasn't filled a keeper slot by draft day, it can be worth giving up your keeper slot to try landing him. As in traditional fantasy drafts, it's all about maximizing value.

Dynasty drafts are a different entity altogether. Traditional draft strategies will work for an inaugural dynasty draft—though a premium should be placed on younger players. After that, though, drafts usually only involve incoming rookies and lower-tier players who aren't already on rosters.

If you're heading into Year 1 of a dynasty league, you'll want to focus on players who will be around for many years. Taking third-year signal-caller Justin Herbert will have more long-term value than selecting 45-year-old Tom Brady. Second- and third-year players like Taylor and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase are ideal Year 1 targets. They've proven enough on the pro field to warrant a high pick but are young enough to be centerpieces for the next several years.

Remember to prioritize quarterbacks and receivers in dynasty leagues. While running backs generally produce more consistently, they also have shorter career spans. Three-time Pro Bowler Todd Gurley didn't play past 26. A pass-catcher like Chase could play at a high level well into his 30s.

In initial drafts, managers should strive for a solid mix of immediate production and youth while avoiding players on the cusp of retirement.

Once a dynasty league is past its initial year, drafting becomes about building for the future. Yes, you should look for rookies likely to produce immediately—players like Drake London, Chris Olave and Breece Hall are great examples for 2022—but you also want to prepare to replace aging players.

Pay attention to how your players are aging and how they're likely to be used. Is Dallas Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott your top back? It's already time to start thinking about a replacement. He's 27 years old, barely topped 1,000 rushing yards last season and will share backfield duties with Tony Pollard.

"There's plenty of room for Pollard when Zeke's in there," Cowboys franchise owner Jerry Jones told reporters this offseason. "Pollard needs to get the ball."

Elliott may be a serviceable option in 2022, but managers should be prepared to pivot to a different back in a season or two. Drafting a rookie back like Hall or Kenneth Walker III can potentially provide that ability.

Trades often come into play in dynasty leagues, as managers move future selections for draft capital and/or veteran payers. When approaching drafts or the trade market, consider whether your team is rebuilding, looking to fix a few problem areas or ready to win.

Is your squad a piece or two away from a championship? Package a few picks and go get what you need to contend for the next few seasons. Has your team finished at the bottom over the last two years? Take the opposite approach.

Remember, it's about building a dynasty. Suffering through a bad season isn't fun, but it's rewarding when multiple championships are waiting on the other side.

You Mad, Burrow? (Joe Burrow)

Justin Credible (Justin Herbert)

What's Up, Mahomes (Patrick Mahomes)

Kyler on the Loose (Kyler Murray)

Tua Legit to Quit (Tua Tagovailoa)

Return of the Mac (Mac Jones)

Fields of Dreams (Justin Fields)

Pickett Fence (Kenny Pickett)

Nuthin' But Najee Thing (Najee Harris)

Chubbthumper (Nick Chubb)

Gibson, Les' Ball (Antonio Gibson)

Lights, Kamara, Action (Alvin Kamara)

Jonathan Taylor Soldier Spy (Jonathan Taylor)

Feel the Breece (Breece Hall)

Ja'Marrket Research (Ja'Marr Chase)

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (Cooper Kupp)

Tyreek of Success (Tyreek Hill)

Knocking on Evans' Door (Mike Evans)

Jefferson Airplane (Justin Jefferson)

London's Balling (Drake London)

Olaver Twist (Chris Olave)

Kelce'n Ghosts (Travis Kelce)

Brick Waller (Darren Waller)

Right in the Freiermuth (Pat Freiermuth)

Pitts' Creek (Kyle Pitts)