2022 Dynasty PPR Fantasy Football Mock Draft | Round 2
How will teams complement their first-round selections? Which players will rise or fall from the previous year?
2.01) Cooper Kupp, Los Ageles Rams (WR5)
More times than not, wide receivers are a safer pick in fantasy football. Especially in dynasty, where their year-to-year value tends to last for a more extended period. No receiver saw a more significant jump in value than Cooper Kupp.
Kupp was the receiving triple crown winner last season, leading all WRs in receptions (145), yards (1,947), and touchdowns (16). You’re not chasing points by drafting Kupp — you’re securing a weekly high-level ceiling. Sure, he’s about to be 29, but Kupp still has multiple years of elite-level play in him.
2.02) Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills (WR6)
Due to the moves that shook up the NFL landscape, some of the top QB/WR pairings split. Davante Adams is no longer with Aaron Rodgers, and Tyreek Hill is now in Miami and away from Patrick Mahomes. It’s a prime example of why we draft talent and not just situations since those can abruptly change.
Not only is Stefon Diggs an elite receiver, but he and Josh Allen are one of the best QB/WR duos in the NFL. Playing in 17 games, Diggs still hauled in 103 of 163 targets for 1,225 yards and 10 TDs to finish as the WR7 in fantasy. Not too shabby for a “down” year after posting 127 receptions, 1,535 yards, and 8 TDs in his first season with the Bills in 2020.
2.03) Austin Ekeler, Los Angles Chargers (RB6)
For the last three seasons, Austin Ekeler has proven to be the perfect modern running back for fantasy football. He was the RB4 in 2019 and averaged 16.5 points per game in 2020 (10 games). Last season, Ekeler finished No. 2 behind Taylor with 62.4% of the Chargers’ rushing share, 15.1% of their targets, 1,459 yards from scrimmage, and 20 touchdowns.
Over the last three seasons, including 2019 with Melvin Gordon, Ekeler has finished as an RB2 or better in 76% of his games while averaging 19.7 PPR points per game. The Chargers became an even better team during free agency. I won’t be surprised if Ekeler is the top-scoring RB of the 2022 season in PPR formats.
2.04) Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders (WR7)
Undoubtedly, there is more risk associated when drafting Adams. It’s a pick where I will have to pause and think before hitting the draft button. However, Adams is still one of — if not the — best receivers in the NFL.
Is there a dip in skill from Aaron Rodgers to Derek Carr? Yes. But it’s not as massive as some make it out to be. Adams is still in his prime and has multiple years of 1,200+ yards in front of him.
2.05) Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals (RB7)
At 25 years old, Joe Mixon made his first Pro Bowl in 2021 and bounced back in a big way after his injury in 2020. He recorded the third 1,000-yard rushing season of his career (1,205) while scoring 16 total touchdowns (13 rushing) for the Bengals in 16 regular-season games. Mixon also saw utilization in the passing game. His 48 targets were his highest since 2018.
What cannot be understated is the improved offensive line he will be rushing behind in 2022. The additions of Alex Cappa, Ted Karras, and La’el Collins, along with a healthy Jonah Williams, have turned a weakness into a serious strength.
2.06) Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers (WR8)
Deebo Samuel was the driving force of the 49ers’ offense last season. He was simply unstoppable, with 1,630 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns in the fantasy season. Playing the “wide back” role, Samuel’s consistent usage in the rushing game only added to his already high floor in the Kyle Shanahan offense.
Whether it is Jimmy Garoppolo or Trey Lance under center, Samuel will be the primary target. Given there is a contract dispute happening, I’m betting on his talent rather than simply his current role. Nevertheless, I expect to see him remain in San Francisco. It would be the best for his long-term dynasty value.
2.07) Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (WR9)
Let’s do a quick exercise: A game between receiver A and receiver B on blind stats.
In Year 1, Player A had 74 receptions on 111 targets for 935 yards and 5 TDs. In Year 2, they had 79 receptions on 120 targets for 1,102 yards and 6 TDs. Across 32 games, they had 2,037 yards on 153-of-231 receiving while playing with a backup QB for part of Year 1. They averaged 14.2 PPR/game in their two seasons.
Now Player B. Year 1: 67 receptions on 108 targets for 908 yards and 6 TDs. Year 2: 74-of-110 for 1,091 yards and 6 touchdowns. That’s a two-year total of 141-of-218 for 1,999 yards and 12 touchdowns in 30 games. Also, they spent part of Year 1 with a backup QB and averaged 13.9 PPR/game.
So we have a per-game average of 7.2 targets, 4.78 receptions, 63.6 yards, and 0.34 TDs against 7.26 targets, 4.7 receptions, 66.6 yards, and 0.4 TDs. Any guesses? This is CeeDee Lamb (A) against Tee Higgins (B). Sure, Chase steals the show, but it’s well past due for Higgins to get the respect he deserves.
2.08) Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings (RB8)
For the first time since 2018, Dalvin Cook failed to top 1,500 scrimmage yards and double-digit touchdowns in the fantasy season. He finished with 1,301 yards from scrimmage and 6 touchdowns while averaging 15.9 ppg.
I believe the change from Mike Zimmer to Kevin O’Connell will help the Vikings’ offense and Cook. The only question is Cook’s health, a talking point for his entire career.
2.09) Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams (RB9)
Heading into his third season, Cam Akers is a bit of an enigma. We saw him take over the backfield as a rookie later in the year, then miss almost an entire season due to an Achilles injury. When he came back, Akers did not look good at all.
I’m personally not overreacting based on what we saw. If anything, we shouldn’t have been shocked. What Akers did on the field was just a bonus. The real win was him getting back on the active roster.
We have yet to see the best of Akers, even going back to his time at Florida State, where he was behind one of the worst OLs in the nation. As the RB1 on one of the league’s top offenses, I’m all-in on Akers if I can land him in 2022 dynasty fantasy football drafts.
2.10) Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins (WR10)
In another one of those “I did not see that coming” moments of the 2022 free agency period, Tyreek Hill was traded to the Dolphins. With four top-10 finishes in the last five years, there’s little to discuss when it comes to Hill’s talent.
The question becomes: What is the drop in production going to look like going from Patrick Mahomes to Tua Tagovailoa? It’s the million-dollar question. I do believe we will see a drop. Mahomes’ ability to extend a play, along with his creativity as a passer, is unrivaled. No cornerback on this planet can cover Hill for that long. I don’t think we will see as many of those happen in 2022.
With that said, Miami didn’t trade for Hill and extend him not to make him the No. 1 despite Jaylen Waddle setting a new NFL rookie record for receptions the year prior (104). It’s also worth pointing out that Waddle and Hill could easily go back-to-back in dynasty drafts, and not even in this order.
Even if things don’t work with Tua for some reason, the Dolphins will be the top landing spot for whoever is the No. 1 QB in the 2023 free agency class. My belief in Hill’s skills outweighs my concerns about the move to Miami from a long-term dynasty point of view.