Fantasy Football 2022: Most Exciting Sleepers to Target in Mock Drafts

A good bit of luck plays into the early rounds of a fantasy football draft. Every manager will be taking talented players at that point, selecting from the top tiers at the skill positions.

As long as your stars stay healthy, you'll have a solid core to your lineup. But whether your team is successful may depend on the players you select during the later rounds of the draft, along with keeping a close eye on the waiver wire once the season begins.

There's nothing you can do about potential waiver additions right now, but you should be researching possible sleeper players who could be available in the second half of your league's draft. Making the right picks in those late rounds will build depth for your roster and could be a big reason you end up winning the league championship.

With many fantasy managers currently participating in mock drafts to prepare for the 2022 season, here's a look at several exciting sleeper players getting selected late who could make huge impacts this year.

The Trey Lance era has arrived.

Even though the San Francisco 49ers haven't played a preseason game yet, they've already announced that the 22-year-old will be their starting quarterback, taking over for Jimmy Garoppolo.

That's exciting news for fantasy football managers, because Lance has a ton of potential. During his 2021 rookie season, he didn't get much playing time, as he passed for 603 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing for 168 yards and a score. But he will be under center a lot more in 2022, assuming he stays healthy.

The 49ers typically run the ball quite a bit, but the quarterback's legs will get him involved in the rushing game. When he passes, he'll get to throw to a talented group of playmakers featuring wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk and tight end George Kittle.

Yet, Lance's average draft position is the ninth pick of the ninth round in 12-team points-per-reception leagues, per Fantasy Football Calculator. That makes him the 14th quarterback to come off the board, meaning it's highly likely no manager is relying on him to be a QB1 to open the season.

The North Dakota State product could provide tremendous value at that point in the draft, as he has the potential to be a top-10 fantasy quarterback this year.

The Seattle Seahawks' offense will look much different in 2022, after quarterback Russell Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos and running back Chris Carson retired.

Throughout training camp and the preseason, players will be competing to take over the starting jobs at those positions.

It's highly likely Seattle's top RB this season will be Rashaad Penny or rookie Kenneth Walker III. Both should get plenty of work, considering the Seahawks' starting QB will be either Drew Lock or Geno Smith, which could result in the team having a run-first offense.

Walker was selected by Seattle in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft after a stellar junior season at Michigan State last year. He ran for 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns in 12 games, and he should have a smooth transition to the pros with his impressive skill set.

In fantasy drafts, it's always important to acquire a handful of running backs who will have the opportunity to get significant playing time during the season. That can be difficult to find in the later rounds. However, Walker's ADP is the fourth pick of the eighth round in 12-team PPR leagues, per Fantasy Football Calculator, which could make him a steal around that time.

Davante Adams is no longer with the Green Bay Packers, so there's a big opportunity for other wide receivers to step up and help fill that void.

The 29-year-old was quarterback Aaron Rodgers' top receiving option in recent years, especially in 2021 when he had 123 catches and was targeted 169 times.

With Adams now on the Las Vegas Raiders, all of those passes will need to go elsewhere. And early in training camp, it seems Allen Lazard has taken over the spot of No. 1 WR on Green Bay's depth chart, something that's giving him extra motivation.

The 26-year-old has Rodgers' support, too.

"I really think Allen is ready to make a jump and be a No. 1 receiver," the quarterback told reporters.

Even though Lazard could be the top target for the two-time defending NFL MVP Rodgers, his average draft position in fantasy mocks sits at the second pick of the 10th round in 12-team PPR leagues, per Fantasy Football Calculator.

That could be because of his lack of production in recent years. The Iowa State product has never had more than 513 receiving yards in any of his first four seasons in the NFL, although eight of his 14 career touchdowns came in 2021.

Lazard may be on the verge of a breakout, building off the glimpses of potential he's flashed at times in recent years. He may be the No. 1 fantasy sleeper to target, especially if he remains on the board into the ninth or 10th round.