As we inch toward the new season, the ever-changing NFL landscape has player fantasy values constantly on the move. Whether you’re used to the dynasty platform or are still learning the rules, let’s dive into the latest dynasty fantasy football value of Tyler Lockett.
Tyler Lockett’s Dynasty Outlook and Value
Similar to DK Metcalf, Lockett is also a desirable fantasy asset. The man is just the epitome of reliability.
Lockett’s 664 receiving yards as a rookie provided a strong indicator that he’d become a good NFL receiver. It just took him longer than expected to become a starter.
Lockett didn’t have a fantasy-relevant season until 2018, his fourth year in the league. Since then, he’s averaged between 13.8 and 16.6 ppg every season.
The fun part about Lockett is that he’s been the guy who thrives on splash plays, yet he’s also been the guy who survives on volume. He truly can do it all. When he retires, he will go down as one of the more underrated players of his time.
Lockett’s best season came in 2020 when he averaged 16.6 ppg. That year, he averaged 10.5 yards per reception. His second-best season came in 2021 when he averaged 15.1 ppg. That year, he generated 16.1 yards per reception.
The concern with Lockett entering 2022 was Geno Smith taking over at quarterback. Conventional wisdom suggested that if anyone were going to survive, it would be Metcalf because Smith wasn’t going to support two WR2s or better. At best, Lockett would be a WR3 — but more likely a WR4 or worse. Or so we thought. Given Lockett’s age, his dynasty value took a big hit.
MORE: Dynasty Rankings 2023 — Top Fantasy Options at Wide Receiver
Instead of fading away, the veteran wideout pretty much replicated his 2021 season. He caught 84 passes for 1,033 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 14.8 ppg. Lockett did it with far more consistency, too.
In 2021, he had nine games under 13 fantasy points. In 2020, he had 10 such games. In 2022, Lockett only fell below 13 fantasy points four times. He was one of the best values. If you bought the dip ahead of last season, kudos to you. It’s yet another reminder to bet on talent, as no one doubted Lockett’s ability but rather his situation.
Lockett will turn 31 years old this season. He’s signed through the 2025 season, but the Seahawks have a reasonable out after this year with a $14.1 million dead cap hit. Barring a precipitous decline in Lockett’s play, I don’t expect that to happen.
While I do not think it’s possible to predict injury in 99% of cases, there is absolutely a skill in staying healthy. Antonio Brown was a master of it throughout his 20s. You would never see him take big hits that weren’t absolutely necessary. Lockett has the same skill.
He goes out of bounds rather than trying to get an extra couple of yards that don’t actually matter. He goes down on receptions over the middle before the big hit comes. As a result, Lockett has missed just three games in his career.
Tyler Lockett’s Fantasy Ranking
Lockett may be old, but he’s not a wide receiver that relies on athleticism. He’s a smart pass catcher who gets open and knows where to be on the field. I don’t think we start to see a decline in his performance until his mid-30s. That makes Lockett someone who could be a sneaky value for fantasy managers in dynasty leagues.
Even if your team is rebuilding, Lockett could be a very cheap player to add, as most managers are eager to offload 30-year-old players. I think Lockett can do what he’s been doing for half a decade now for another three years. If you can get a mid-to-low-end WR2 for cheap, that’s worth acquiring, no matter what situation your team is in.
We currently have Lockett at WR43 (No. 107 overall) in our dynasty Superflex rankings. Given his age, I understand it. But unless I don’t think my team is anywhere near ready to compete, I want Lockett. He’s definitely someone to target at value in dynasty startup drafts.