One of the top backup running backs in the NFL and fantasy football, Cleveland Browns RB Kareem Hunt projects to be a mid-round pick once again in 2022 fantasy drafts. Hunt’s 2022 fantasy outlook suggests he should once again be active in one of the NFL’s friendliest offenses for RB production. With the NFL season and fantasy drafts closing in, what is Hunt’s fantasy outlook for this coming season, and could he prove to be a value at his current ADP?
Kareem Hunt’s fantasy outlook for 2022
In what seems like a decade ago, Hunt was once viewed as the next superstar at the RB position. He burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2017 with 1,782 total yards and 11 touchdowns. Hunt continued this into his sophomore season as the RB6 in PPR formats through the first 11 weeks. Yet, we all know what came next.
Due to an off-field incident, Hunt was suspended for the remainder of 2018 and half of the next season. The Chiefs released Hunt, and the Browns eventually brought him in.
When on the field, Hunt has excelled while playing second fiddle to Nick Chubb, one of the best RBs in the NFL. In 2019, Hunt was the RB23 from Weeks 9-17 after coming back from suspension. In 2020, he finished as the RB8 while averaging 13.7 ppg.
That carried into last year as well. Over the first six games, Hunt was the RB9 in PPR scoring, averaging 17.4 points per game. He was an RB2 or better in all but one game, and from Weeks 2-6, averaged 16.8 opportunities, 92.2 total yards, and scored four touchdowns. When healthy, he’s a starting fantasy asset.
The reason Hunt was the RB49 overall (which is another example of why I advocate for using ppg) was because he sustained a calf injury, and Cleveland placed him on IR. He did not make his return until Week 12 against Baltimore. Hunt would then suffer an ankle injury in the next game, the last time we saw him on the field in 2021.
Hunt should have a resurgence in 2022 as he finds his value in the passing game. Even when Chubb was active, Hunt averaged 3.9 targets, 3.1 receptions, and 25.1 yards per game. That’s 5.6 PPR points on their own, and while that is well within his range of outcomes, the Browns are going to be two different teams in 2022, complicating matters for not only the players but anyone in fantasy.
How the Browns’ depth chart impacts Kareem Hunt’s fantasy projection for the season
There is nothing I can say that hasn’t already been said regarding the Deshaun Watson circus from this offseason. The only positive I have is it is over. Watson is suspended for 11 games and will be able to return in Week 13 against the Houston Texans because, of course, it had to be them. Surely that wasn’t intentional by the NFL for the marketing, right?
When Watson is out there, Cleveland likely becomes a bit more pass-friendly than in past years. While Baker Mayfield played well for stretches, Watson is a top-five QB talent. At least he was the last we saw him in 2020.
Both Chubb and Hunt will have similar roles when he is out there, but given Watson’s legs and his arm talent, we should expect fewer opportunities per game for the duo.
Until then, it is Jacoby Brissett’s offense. This will be similar to what we saw HC Kevin Stefanski call in previous years. The Browns are more than capable of taking the air out of the ball. Last season alone, they were No. 6 in run rate at 46%. This stayed consistent whether in larger point spreads or neutral game scripts (57%).
Even with Hunt and Chubb missing time and teams stacking the box due to Mayfield’s injuries, Cleveland still finished fourth in rushing yards on the season (2,471).
Brissett won’t be asked to win games unless the score dictates it. That’s why they have a great offensive line and a top-three rusher in Chubb, who has averaged 15.4 PPR points per game on 16.9 attempts with 87.2 yards in his 27 games where Hunt was active. Chubb has only failed to hit 1,000 yards once — his rookie year — and I don’t see him adding to that total in 2022.
Behind Hunt and Chubb is D’Ernest Johnson, who proved the scheme can make the player after going off in Weeks 7, 9, and 18, averaging 122.6 yards per game (5.5 ypc). Jerome Ford was also drafted this year out of Cincinnati and has looked solid in the preseason, but he won’t threaten Chubb or Hunt’s roles.
Hunt’s ADP for 2022
With an ADP of 82, Hunt is coming off the boards as the RB32 in PPR formats at the moment, placing him in the eighth round in 12-team fantasy leagues.
In PFN’s 2022 fantasy football redraft rankings, Hunt is the RB31 and 65th-ranked player. While PFN’s rankings are a consensus, I’m in the same ballpark. Yet, I have Hunt as the RB29 and 69th overall player. Be sure to check back, as rankings will fluctuate between now and the start of the season.
Hunt is a starting caliber player who should see a decent volume of targets when Brissett is under center. While he might lose some upside as Watson will choose to take deeper shots than check down, he’ll be in the RB3 range at worst for the fantasy playoffs.