One of the top wide receivers in the NFL and fantasy football, Denver Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy projects to be an early pick as his 2022 fantasy outlook suggests a significant increase from his previous season. With the NFL season and fantasy drafts closing in, what is Jeudy’s fantasy outlook in 2022, and could he prove to be a value at his current ADP?
Jerry Jeudy’s fantasy outlook for 2022
In 2021, Jerry Jeudy was primed for a second-year breakout. After flashing the route running and ball catching that shot him up the draft board, Jeudy was set to become a fantasy star. As a rookie, he averaged 7.1 targets, 3.3 receptions, and 53.5 yards. Yet, as we are all aware by now, that never happened.
After missing six games due to an ankle injury, Jeudy did not return until Week 8. When he did, he was largely ineffective, as was the Broncos’ passing attack under Teddy Bridgewater. Over the final nine games, Jeudy was the WR63 in PPR scoring while averaging just 8.0 PPR/game.
Recording just 5.4 targets a game, Jeudy hauled in 3.6 receptions for 43.9 yards with zero touchdowns. That’s a pace of 60 receptions for 750 yards, which anyone who watched Jeudy play will tell you is well below his expectations.
That should change in 2022. Not only do the Broncos have a new head coach in Nathaniel Hackett, but also a new sheriff is in town who goes by Russell Wilson. If my memory serves me correctly, I believe he has been pretty good at feeding receivers and helping them be staples in lineups.
That’s what I am expecting in 2022. While Jeudy is not who I view to be the No. 2 target on this offense, the added tempo plus the willingness of Wilson to take a risk puts Jeudy into the 1,000-yard range with over 70 receptions and around five or so touchdowns. After the disappointment of last year, Jeudy is unquestionably on the fantasy radar this year during drafts.
How the Broncos’ depth chart impacts Jerry Jeudy’s fantasy projection for the season
It’s challenging to find a more consistent QB in fantasy than Wilson. That was until last season. After finishing as a top-10 QB every year since 2013 while averaging 23.58 fantasy points, Wilson was only the QB19 last season and 13th in per-game scoring (17.2).
Wilson sustained a “mallet finger” injury in Week 5 and missed the next three weeks. Funny enough, it wasn’t even the most talked about finger last year, but I’ll let you figure that one out. Wilson admitted that he came back too soon, impacting his play on the field.
I expect Wilson to get back on the saddle and in the 4,000-yard range again in 2022 as a top-10 QB. I just don’t see Jeudy being his top target. If you have been around here long enough, you likely know where this is going. I am all-in on Courtland Sutton in 2022. I have the jersey and champagne ready.
In 2019, Sutton had a breakout year with 72 catches for 1,112 yards and six touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. Now, over a full year removed from a 2020 torn ACL, Sutton is Wilson’s new version of DK Metcalf. I think we are all aware of how fruitful of a role this is for fantasy points. He is my WR9 and was my bold prediction to be in the top five when the season ends. As I said, my chips are in the middle of the table, and there is no going back.
Truth be told, Jeudy caught a break. To me, the gap between Jeudy and Tim Patrick was closer than it was between Jeudy and Sutton. Fresh off back-to-back 700-yard seasons, Patrick accounted for 27% of the WR targets in 2020 and 31% in 2021. Patrick consistently performed when all three receivers were on the field while receiving an 18.1% target share.
He was my stock answer for who is underrated for fantasy in 2022. Unfortunately, a torn ACL during camp ended his season before it started but also took the pressure off Jeudy while likely feeding him more volume.
I would also keep an eye on K.J. Hamler, who is also returning from an ACL tear last year, but that is a much, much deeper option than Jeudy for fantasy.
Jeudy’s ADP for 2022
With an ADP of 81, Jeudy is coming off the board as the WR26 in PPR formats, placing him in the seventh round in 12-team fantasy leagues. For comparison, Sutton is the WR23 (58th overall).
In PFN’s 2022 fantasy football redraft rankings, Jeudy is the WR33 as the 80th-ranked player, whereas Sutton is the WR13 (31st). I am in the same ballpark but have Jeudy as the WR31 and 71st overall player in my rankings.
Jeudy, to me, is a great high upside but safe WR3 who easily could perform as a WR2 this year. While I prefer Sutton, if I miss him, I’ll target Jeudy to gain exposure to this offense, as it should be one of the more reliable ones to produce fantasy points.