Sophomore Wide Receiver Rankings For 2022

(Photo by Jeff Dean/AP Photo/via wibw.com)

Last week I touched base with you guys and started prepping for the 2022 Fantasy Football season, I did that by taking a look at the 2021 rookie running backs, and ranked them going into next season. Well, we might as well make that a series, so today let's take a look at the rookie wide receivers from 2021 and rank them for their upcoming sophomore efforts.

5) DeVonta Smith (PHI) – Going into his rookie season, there were high hopes for the Eagles rookie wide receiver DeVonta Smith. It’s not that he was a complete disappointment because I think he was far from that. But I feel as though people who invested in him for fantasy redraft leagues weren’t as happy as I think they thought they would be with him on their team. Smith did lead the Eagles in receiving in 2021, ending the season with 64 catches for 916 yards and 5 touchdowns. He did what Philly drafted him to do so to speak, but there was just something missing. He ended the season as a solid WR3 for fantasy, and overall the WR30.

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The good news is that if you have shares of Smith in fantasy football dynasty leagues I fully believe you’re sitting pretty. What I think was missing this season was that auto connection and comfort of play with Jalen Hurts, who did only miss 2 games, but I just didn’t see what I wanted to from the duo. Don’t read what I’m not typing, they have a good football relationship, but I believe that it is going to be much better down the road. DeVonta Smith was targeted 104 times and had a catch rate of 61.5%, I fully expect that percentage to go up the next year and years after once they get to know one another's tendencies more on the field. Smith is a playmaker, and he will be the Eagle's best weapon for years to come, but in order for that to happen, he needs to get on the same page as his quarterback. He will be just fine, but you won’t get that instant boom game like you did with the guy I’ll talk about later.

4) Elijah Moore (NYJ) – Poor Elijah Moore got drafted into the disaster that is the New York Jets, and with a quarterback that still hasn’t passed his driver’s test yet. Kidding. But I joke about Zach Wilson just because he hasn’t figured it out yet, and he may not for a while considering he was a rookie last year right with Moore. That’s expected when the organization you play for doesn’t know right from left and finally got rid of their cancer cell of a coach. Nevertheless, Moore finished the season as the WR50, but that is coming from a wide receiver who only started 6 games, and only played in 11. Yet, he was still able to finish the season better than names like Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr., Emmanuel Sanders, and Jamison Crowder.

(Getty Images/via jetsxfactor.com)

The kid has all the talent in the world, and in just 11 games he caught 43 balls for 538 yards and had 5 touchdowns. He found pay dirt just as many times as the fella I mentioned above, and I like his upside more to be honest. He almost has a similar situation as Smith, but replace Hurts with Wilson. If they can get a connection going, the sky is the limit. He is THE playmaker on the Jets; it’s pretty much Moore and no one else, although I have to give Braxton Berrios credit for having a good fantasy season. The targets will be there, the opportunities will be present, the rest will be up to Moore to make a play, and find the end zone. Now just hope that the Jets can figure out how to run a viable offense in the NFL.

3) Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET) – It took 12 weeks, but the Lions finally figured out that they needed to get the ball into St. Brown’s hands. Amon-Ra St. Brown has a very positive future in fantasy football, and I’m not sure it matters who his quarterback is. In 2021 he ended the season as the WR21, and that is largely in part to the final 6 weeks of the season where he decided to blow up. He is a sneaky dynasty target for those who don’t have him, and if I’m one of those unfortunates (which I’m not), I’m trying to find a way to trade for him.

(Photo by Jorge Lemus/Getty Images/via prideofdetroit.com)

Let’s look at his final 6 weeks of the 2021 season, shall we? He was targeted 67 times, caught 51 of those targets for 560 yards and 5 touchdowns. Throw a rushing touchdown in there as well. He helped you win in the fantasy playoffs last season, and maybe a championship. If those targets stay steady in the 2022 season, he is going to be a very valuable asset to your fantasy squad. Yeah, I know, the Jared Goff haters are screaming at their screens right now and cursing me. Tell you what though, Goff has always had tendencies to focus on a target in games, and if he chooses St. Brown weekly, I’m 100% fine with it. Fantasy football is all about opportunities and volume, and I believe that this kid is going to get a ton of that in Detroit.

2) Jaylen Waddle (MIA) – Even in the shadow (I’m not sure you can call it that) of the receiver that is number 1 on this list, Waddle had an incredible rookie season. He finished 2021 as the WR13 and even with Tua as his quarterback was able to put up extremely solid numbers. For the record, I’m not dogging Tua, I’m a fan, but I know a lot of you out there like to give him a hard time with any chance possible. Waddle caught 104 balls on 140 targets for 1,015 yards and 6 touchdowns. He was an absolute PPR whore, which is a good thing for those who don’t understand the use of the word.

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images/via fanduel.com)

Waddle had 7 games with 8 or more receptions, 7 games. Now do you understand the reason behind the use of the “w” word? You honestly can’t ask for a better situation than that in a PPR league, even in a half PPR league that is a significant amount of points put up. Even though he only had 6 touchdowns, I have no doubt in my mind that number goes up next season, and maybe by quite a lot. If Tua is going to consistently target Waddle like he did last season (6 games with at least 10 targets), then he is going to have a lot of chances to get into the end zone. As far as dynasty leagues go, if you aren’t targeting Waddle, St. Brown, and the upcoming number 1, you should rethink your strategy. The Miami Dolphins offense is certainly going in the right direction, and if they can get their run game going, that will only open up more opportunities for the passing game to excel. 

1) Ja’Marr Chase (CIN) – You all knew this was coming. Coming off the greatest rookie season for a wide receiver in the history of the NFL there isn’t a chance in hell Chase isn’t number one. What he did this season was unreal, and hard to believe since we got a pretty crazy season from former teammate Justin Jefferson two seasons ago.

(Photo by Mark LoMoglio/AP Photo/via nypost.com)

Chase finished the season as the WR5 and the obvious WR1 on the Bengals and among 2021’s rookie wide receivers. The historic stat line reads as such: 81 catches on 128 targets for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns. Incredible stuff. It’s almost not fair to be honest, especially being paired with old buddy Joe Burrow. The connection is obvious, and even with the whole NFL knowing about it, it didn’t matter or slow them down. Expect that connection to continue to be elite, the Bengals have turned around their franchise in a matter of a season, and they’ll continue to be very successful with number 1 on the outside. His big-play ability is what really sets him apart from the rest of the rookie class from last year. He can turn an 8 yard dig into an 85-yard scamper down the sidelines for a touchdown. Chase is strong, fast, big, and a great route runner. He should be your first trade for target in dynasty, and probably will be for the next 3-4 years. I say buckle up because Chase and the Bengals are going to be fun for fantasy football for years to come.

SKOL

- JD