2022 Fantasy Football Preview: NFC South

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24 minutes read

Welcome to our next Fantasy Football Divisional Preview for the 2022 NFL Season!

While loaded with information from both sides of the ball, all of our writers here at Fantasy In Frames made sure to make all of our analyses as digestible as possible so that you can get the detailed information you NEED to go out there and dominate your fantasy football drafts. Let’s finish things up with our 2022 Fantasy Football Preview of the NFC South!

Quarterback Summary

Quarterback value in the NFC South is about how the division will turn out.  One guy and then everyone else that I don’t want any part of.  However, if you play in a two-quarterback or Superflex league, you will look more of these players’ way.  The bottom of this division is so bad for fantasy that I will have to cover five quarterbacks for four teams.  Starting from the top of my rankings and working our way down, let’s get started.

Tom Brady

This division’s clear top fantasy option is Mr. Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr.  The ageless wonder decided to come back for one last go-round and try to leave the NFL with his seventh super bowl championship.  Brady has given no one any reason to doubt him further. If he is playing, he is 100% capable of doing that.  In 2021 Brady did no less than lead the league in completions, attempts, yards, touchdowns, yards per game, and sack percentage.  While the Bucs have a depleted interior line, that interior is still anchored by Donovan Smith and All-Pro Tristan Wirfs.  There might be a bit of regression, having lost both guards, his center, and Gronk; the Bucs brought in Russell Gage, Julio Jones, and Kyle Rudolph to help fill that Gronk void.  Brady finished last season as the overall QB3, but one fantasy metric he was number 1 in was the Median Score metric putting up a gaudy 23.8 points per game.  This is Tom Brady’s offense and Tom Brady’s team, and not a lot will be changing.  They will air it out like no one else, and Brady’s numbers will reflect that.  Brady clocks in as my QB5 on the year and is currently the QB8 according to Fantasy Pros’ most recent ADP.  Grab Brady in the back end of the seventh round of your draft, and thank me later.

Jameis Winston

Next up, coming in at my QB17 overall is the New Orleans Saints’ Jameis Winston.  Jameis is back for another year with old Saints quarterbacks coach and new Saints Offensive Coordinator Pete Carmichael.  This will be an interesting case as the Saints lost one of the most brilliant play callers in NFL history Sean Payton to retirement. Still, I trust their continuity on that coaching staff and believe in Jameis for fantasy purposes this year.  Jameis was QB16 through week five before being knocked out for the season with a torn ACL.  He put up those numbers throwing to the likes of Marquez Callaway, Tre’Quan Smith, and Adam Trautman.  This year, all those players will be on the bench while Jameis will be throwing the ball up to Former All-Pro Michael Thomas, Perennial Pro Bowler Jarvis Landry, and the number 11 overall pick Chris Olave.  Say what you will about the Saints thought process and strategy of getting to this point. Still, they project to be a playoff team in an NFC bereft of talent and put up quite a few points on the way with one of the most talented pass-catching corps in the NFL and one of the best running backs in the league in Alvin Kamara.  I would be delighted with Jameis as my QB2, and I think you will be too.

Baker Mayfield

Coming up next in my rankings is former Cleveland Brown great Baker Mayfield.  Baker had an interesting road to the starting quarterback role in Carolina, but nothing will change. He has DJ Moore lining up outside with Christian McCaffery lining up behind him in the backfield.  Baker has shown that he can be productive in spurts, and as much as I am a Browns homer, he has never had a wide receiver as good as DJ and has never had a running back as good at all facets of the game as CMC.  Matt Rhule is seemingly a lame duck coach with a lame duck front office with an owner who likely spends his free time setting up elaborate burn fires to burn Matt Rhule in effigy.  Fortunately, none of that means that this offense isn’t allowed to take the field and if CMC can stay healthy be the best offense of Matt Rhule’s time in Carolina.  Unfortunately, I don’t have any numbers from 2021 that I can point to and make a compelling case that Baker will be a productive fantasy quarterback. There is just a chance of some dreadful fantasy quarterback performances in 2022.

Marcus Mariota/Desmond Ridder

Ahhh, the Atlanta Falcons.  A team that made zero offensive line upgrades drafted a single rookie pass catcher and spent a 5th round draft pick on a rookie RB.  This offense had a former MVP quarterback clock in as the QB20 in 2021 while throwing 33 passes per game.  It is possible that Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder split time this year.  There is no way to build either of these guys up in this situation.  Falcons quarterbacks are a break in case of an emergency waiver wire option in a Superflex league.  Keep your hands off these guys no matter what you think of the supposed rushing upside.

Best Value at the Quarterback Position

QB Marcus Mariota: QB ADP 32 

Mariota is a player that I think is being severely undervalued at his current QB ADP of 32. Mariota can run, he’s averaged 7.2 YPA for his career, in seasons he’s started at least 13 games, he’s averaging 300 yards per season on the ground and 2.5 rushing touchdowns. His biggest issue has been accuracy, but he has three large targets in Kyle Pitts, Bryan Edwards, and Drake London, all of whom are known for having an above-average catch radius. He excels at throwing to running backs and tight ends. The Falcons have the most talented pass-catching tight end in the league in Pitts, while in Tennessee, Delanie Walker had his three best seasons with Mariota as QB. The Falcons also have Cordelle Patterson in the backfield, who last season caught 52 passes for 548 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Falcons are not going to be great again this year, I’m particularly down on their defense, meaning they should be down a lot, giving Mariotta opportunities for garbage fantasy points. The one concern with Mariota is if the Falcons are out of the playoff hunt early, I expect Desmond Ridder to be given the starting job, but Mariota will be a top 20 QB for the games he starts this year, and at ADP 32, that is a value.

Running Back Summary

The NFC South division has a talented group of running backs, but they each have their blemishes. These running backs will make or break your season based on the draft capital you will invest. Those blemishes create potential value, but those blemishes could become pockmarks and hurt your roster. However, to win your league, you must take risks, and these running backs can help you win.

Leonard Fournette

Playoff Lenny! Leonard Fournette even had a regular season too. He finished as the RB7 in total points and points per game in half-PPR in 2021. Fournette had a down year in 2020, but he bounced back with the 2nd most targets and receptions in his career. Tom Brady is un-retired, so the offense should be the same again. The biggest issue that will impact Fournette is the numerous injuries of the offensive lineman. The passing game will help boost Fournette’s points, but deficiencies at the offensive line could tank his efficiency. According to FantasyPros consensus ADP, Fournette is the RB14 drafted early in the 3rd round. People expect a dip since he finished at RB7 last year, but Fournette is capable of being an RB1 again and a value in the 3rd round. Fournette is risky, and you should not reach for him in your draft, but the 3rd round is a reasonable value.

Christian McCaffery

Christian McCaffery could be THE RB1 this season. He has the talent and we have already seen him be amazing for fantasy football. Unfortunately, that was a few years ago because the last two years have been marred by injuries. Some through around “injury-prone,” but McCaffery has been unlucky. The Carolina Panthers’ offense lacks weapons beyond McCaffery and DJ Moore, so CMC will get plenty of touches. He is dynamic and can score RB1 points without evening scoring a touchdown that week. Every stat from any game CMC finished shows you he is an incredible running back. According to FantasyPros consensus ADP, McCaffery is the RB2 and the 2nd pick. At that draft price, you either expect CMC to be healthy and dominate or you fade him, and you won’t get him in your draft. I am comfortable drafting CMC with the 1.01 pick. He is worth the risk because he can be a league dominator.

Alvin Kamara

Alvin Kamara should be a stud, but his blemish is from potential legal issues. I am not a lawyer, but many sources say it is unlikely Kamara will receive a suspension in 2022. However, if the video of the alleged incident surfaces, then it could force the NFL to act this season. That creates some risk when you draft Kamara. That risk has driven down his draft cost, and you can draft him as the RB11 in the mid-2nd round now. If this legal situation did not exist then Kamara would be drafted as a top-5 running back in the mid-1st round. Sean Payton is not the head coach anymore, but Kamara is expected to have a similar workload as in previous seasons. Kamara’s value comes from his receptions and his ability to score touchdowns in the redzone. You should steal Alvin Kamara in the 2nd round of your draft.

Cordarrelle Patterson

Cordarrelle Patterson’s 9th-year breakout was unexpected but fun to witness last season. Patterson is officially classified as a running back this year. He is tough to project this season because 2021 was a massive outlier in his career, and he is 31 years old going into his 10th season. The Atlanta Falcons will not be a good team either. Everyone else is struggling to project him because his consensus ADP is RB30 at the end of the 7th round. I do not expect Patterson to repeat his magical RB9 season this year. There are too many other players that I would rather draft around Patterson’s ADP. Unless he slips to the 9th or 10th round of your draft, I would avoid Cordarrelle Patterson.

Tyler Allgeier

This one will be quick (unlike Allgeier’s 40-yard dash). Tyler Allgeier is an NFL 5th-round rookie. He is included in this list because he could overtake Patterson this season and become the Falcons’ starting running back. Even if Allgeier becomes the starter, the Falcons are still a below-average offense and Allgeier is not an elite prospect. According to FantasyPros consensus ADP, Allgeier is the RB53 at the end of the 13th round. He should be on your list of late-round targets to consider because he could become a starting running back at some point this season, and that has some value.

Best Value at the Running Back Position

I think there are two potential great values at running back in the NFC South. Before I get into my official answer. I do want to mention Rachaad White, who is currently RB ADP 48, will be the pass-catching specialist out of the backfield for Tampa. That position can be very fruitful with Tom Brady at QB. Last season Leonard Fournette and Gio Bernard saw a combined 113 targets. Brady has completed 47 or more passes to a single running back numerous times in his career, guys like Shane Vereen, Kevin Faulk, and James White have all had good fantasy seasons in the same role. Brady has attempted at least 80 passes to running backs for 7 consecutive seasons. If you are in a PPR league, I think White is a steal at his current value. If something happens with Leonard Fournette, he could be a steal in all formats. If not for Tyler Allgeier, I would have White in this spot. 

Tyler Allgeier’s current ADP is running back 52. In the 2nd preseason game, Allgeier was given the start at running back. Granted, Cordelle Patterson only played one snap, but that was at WR, and Allgeier was at running back. He saw three carries in the red zone and 2 targets in just the 1st half. The coaching staff in Atlanta has already stated that Cordelle Patterson will see a similar workload, but they doubt much more than that at running back, meaning Allgeier is in line for the role Mike Davis was in last year, and that appears to be the minimum amount of work he will see. Davis saw 54 percent of the snaps in 2021 and had a 41% opportunity share. He was also in the Top 20 for running backs in the following receiving categories, Target Share, Routes Run, and Route Percentage. The Falcons are running the same offense, with a QB who has historically thrown to running backs more than Matt Ryan. Davis averages a putrid 3.6 yards per carry, something I expect Allgeier to improve upon. He’s a steal at his current ADP, on an offense that has looked pretty frisky in the pre-season.

Wide Receiver Summary

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Unsurprisingly, Mike Evans is the WR with the highest ADP in the division. The big-bodied former A&M man has been fantasy relevant since his rookie year in ’14. He’ll be looking to break 1k receiving yards for a 9th straight season, and with Tom Brady as his QB and in an offense that attempted more passes than any other team in the NFL last year, I expect Evans to make it nine from nine. Finishing as the WR8 in 2021, Evans’ ADP is in that spot currently for the 2022 season. During his eight-year NFL career, Evans has finished as a fantasy WR1 in six, but only once has he bettered a WR8 finish, which was way back in 2016. Evans may be a nailed-on top-12 finisher at the position, but his WR8 ADP may prove his ceiling. 

Teammate Chris Godwin suffered a torn ACL at the back end of last season, and though Todd Bowles continues to refer to Godwin as “day to day.” it’s important to note that he still hasn’t been cleared for contact and his return is unknown. 

The recent addition of future HOF pass-catcher Julio Jones could offer us some value late in drafts. The former Falcon is coming off the board after the first 60(!) WRs, but is more than likely going to open the season as the number two receiving option for Tom Brady with the aforementioned Godwin injury and retirement of Rob Gronkowski. Would anyone be surprised if a regular Brady to Jones connection materialized in ’22? 

Carolina Panthers

With the former number one overall pick Baker Mayfield now under Center for the Panthers, it’s fair to assume that fifth-year WR D.J. Moore will have his best chance to forge out a fantasy WR1 season his talent suggests could be possible. The Panthers’ first-round selection in 2018 has had some lousy QB play to contend with since his sophomore season. Now with the strong-armed Mayfield, he has an opportunity to step out of mid-WR2 mediocrity.

New Orleans Saints

December 13th, 2020. That’s the last time Michael Thomas played in the NFL. He was the consensus WR1 heading into the season after finishing 2019 as the second highest scoring non-QB behind Christian McCaffrey, and we’ve hardly seen either of them since! The ankle injury that limited Thomas to five games in 2020 and cost him the whole 2021 season appears to have cleared up, and he is expected to be ready for Week 1, but will we see the Micheal Thomas of old now he isn’t catching passes from Drew Brees, and Sean Payton isn’t calling the plays? Drafting Thomas at his current WR30 ADP is a no-brainer, but with the Saints trading up to draft Ohio State’s Chris Olave eleventh overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, I think we’ve seen the end of MT as a viable WR1. 

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons held the number eight overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, and they chose to pull the trigger and select USC’s big-bodied WR Drake London, making him the first pass-catcher off the board. Wide Receiver was, and arguably still is, a considerable need for the Falcons after losing Calvin Ridley to a gambling suspension for the year. London finds himself atop the WR depth chart as a rookie and should only see TE/Unicorn Kyle Pitts as target competition. The QB situation in Atlanta could be better. Veteran Marcus Mariota will start the season as QB1, but there’s a real chance that job could be recent third-round selection Desmond Ridder, before the season is done. Neither should make those with fantasy shares in London or Pitts feel warm & fuzzy inside. Ultimately, London has the draft capital, lack of competition, and skill-set that makes him a comfortable rookie selection in redraft formats, especially at his current WR40 ADP. 

Best Value at the Wide Receiver Position

Drake London

London calling to the faraway towns

Now war is declared and battle come down

London calling to the underworld

Come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls

Fantasy managers have been blessed with an influx of rookie wide receivers hitting the ground running in recent years, this year it may be London Calling. This year’s eighth pick in the NFL Draft, Drake London, should make an immediate impact for the Atlanta Falcons and, in my opinion, is the best value at the wide receiver position in the NFC South. At WR37 in FantasyPros half-PPR ECR, London is an ideal mid-round target, given that his likely target share means he seems almost certain to beat his ADP.

If his final season in college football is anything to go by, we are in for a fascinating first year. In just eight games last year, London recorded 88 receptions, reaching 1,084 receiving yards and seven touchdowns – a staggering average of 136 yards per game. His yards per route run jumped to 3.52 last season, the fifth-most in college football during the regular season amongst wide receivers with at least 50 targets.

The Clash’s London Calling also neatly encapsulates how I feel about the Atlanta Falcons as a whole this coming year…

Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin

Engines stop running, but I have no fear

It may be hard to get excited about the prospect of Marcus Mariota or third-round rookie Desmond Ridder under center this year. The team, as a result, project to have one of the lowest win totals this season. However, ‘I have no fear’ as the inevitable negative game scripts will provide plenty of opportunities for London to contribute.

Additionally, with Calvin Ridley suspended, it will be up to London and Pitts to produce in this Atlanta passing game. It, therefore, would not be a surprise to see London hit well over the 100 target mark this coming season. While the efficiency and red zone opportunities may be lacking at times this season, his usage will more than makeup for it at this ADP.

Tight End Summary

Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons)

No question Kyle Pitts is the best Tight End in the NFC South division. Last season, among TEs with at least 50% of 149 targets, he ranked top 10 in every PFF grade, 1st in yards per reception, 4th in yards per route run, and 1st in ADOT (average depth of target). He is also due for positive touchdown regression since he ranked 4th in targets among all TEs last season and only had one touchdown. DRAFT PITTS!

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I’ll group these tight ends together because I really don’t see any of them having much stand-alone value. Both Cameron Brate and Kyle Rudolph are 30+ years old and haven’t had a top 10 season in quite some time. The only player I can see having some value is rookie Cade Otton, but I would only consider him in deeper leagues. Overall I would stay away from any Bucs TE.

Tommy Tremble (Carolina Panthers)

The only reason you would take Tommy Tremble is that you are hopeful that Baker Mayfield will succeed in Carolina, and you remembered that Baker was responsible for the success of David Njoku. Other than that, I don’t see any reason to draft Tremble.

Adam Trautman (New Orleans Saints)

This offense will mostly run through Alvin Kamara, Michael Thomas (if healthy), Chris Olave, and Jarvis Landry. Jameis Winston is known to air the ball out deep. There is no room for Trautman to succeed on the Saints nor your fantasy lineups. Don’t bother.

Best Value at the Tight End Position

The second-year tight end out of Notre Dame is on my list of potential breakout players this season, who you can draft with one of your last picks in your fantasy draft. Baker Mayfield, the named starter for Week 1 in Carolina, was second in the NFL with 29% of his pass attempts going to tight ends. The Panthers drafted Tremble to help boost the TE production, which has been awful since Greg Olson’s retirement. Tremble became the youngest tight end in history to score a rushing touchdown, showing his versatility and athleticism. He finished the year with 20 receptions for 180 yards and a receiving touchdown. Finally, the Panthers offensive coordinator is now Ben McAdoo, who loves to use his tight ends in the passing game. Don’t worry about Ian Thomas, who will be used as a blocking tight end. Tremble is a superior athlete who should be a focal point in the new offensive system and is a great value at his current ADP.

Linebacker Summary

Devin White (Tampa Bay Buccanneers)- After finishing as the LB1 overall in 2020, Devin White is looking to return to those lofty standards after a “down” 2021.  By all accounts, 2021’s finish of 128 tackles, 8 TFL, 3 sacks, and 18 QB hits shouldn’t be considered a down year.  For White, tho, his 2020 was so impressive that it was near impossible to replicate. In 2020, White had 130 tackles, 18 TFL, 9 sacks, and 16 QB hits, despite playing fewer snaps than in 2021.  While many managers worry that his drop-off from 20 to 21 is concerning, I am not losing all faith.  For starters, we saw his pass-rush snaps increase from 109 to 164.  While the increase in snaps didn’t lead to more sacks, they did provide a career-high 43 pressures (per PFF), as well as an increase in QB hits.  I project White to again be among the leaders in tackles and add a handful of sacks/QB hits.  Also, it’s hard to envision another season that he goes without a turnover forced.  

Lavonte David (Tampa Bay Buccanneers)-   The tag team tandem of Devin White and Lavonte David took a hit last year when David was forced to miss five games due to a foot injury.  Despite missing the five games, David again proved he is a tackling machine, tallying 87 tackles (5 TFL) across the 12 games.  It could also be assumed that father time is beginning to wreak havoc on David, with the career-low five tackles for loss.  David is excelling in camp and poised for another solid season for this Bucs defense.  Seeing the likes of Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, and Kyle Pitts, David will have his hands full with TEs.  Safely entrenched as a low-end LB2 for 2022, he provides a safe and reliable tackle floor, assuming age doesn’t creep up too quickly. 

Demario Davis (New Orleans Saints)- Davis recently signed a 1-year deal to remain with the Saints.  This confirms that the Saints still see Davis as one of their leaders on defense, and rightfully so!  Davis has recorded 100+ tackles in 5 of the last 6 seasons while also having at least 3 sacks and 11+ TFL over the past five years!  It has been this level of consistency that insulates Davis as one of the easy LB2s just to draft and fill your roster with.  If you need any further convincing that Davis is a safe IDP pick, look no further than the 143 games played out of the past 144.  Durability!

Shaq Thompson (Carolina Panthers)- Shaq Thompson is an enigma regarding 2022 projections.  In 2021, Shaq recorded his 3rd straight 100+ tackle season, despite 3 games in 2021 and 6 games total dating back to 2019.  In addition, he has totaled 28.5 tackles for loss and 14 PDs during that stretch.  With the ability to stuff the stat sheet, Thompson has been a viable LB2/LB3 over that time.  Entering 2022, Thompson had a knee procedure (cleanup) that will cost him a couple of weeks, according to Head Coach Matt Rhule.  While Thompson may miss a few weeks, this provides a potential buying opportunity for the 28-year-old.  My biggest issue from last year was the up-and-down weeks that Thompson made his managers endure.  While Thompson did have 4 weeks as an LB1, he had just as many weeks with less than 5 fantasy points.  Every LB carries some volatility, but I am probably avoiding if the draft price isn’t palatable. 

Best Value at the Linebacker Position

Fantasy In Frames FAVORITE hashtag #TACKLEMACHINE, Demario Davis, is the value of values at linebacker in the NFC South. As Nate mentioned, durability and consistent performance from year to year as a run tackler and, at times, pass rusher make Davis one of if not the safest linebackers to draft in all of IDP fantasy football!

Defensive Back Summary

Jeremy Chinn (Carolina Panthers)- If you have read any of our work at Fantasy In Frames, you know we are Chinn fans!  Dating back to his rookie season, Chinn leads the Panthers in solo, assisted, and total tackles, which is pretty amazing for a DB.  Chinn is no regular DB, as he has made his living playing at or near the line of scrimmage.  Despite seeing his tackles decrease in Year 2, he did remain consistent with back-to-back seasons of 5 PDs, 5 QB hits, 1 sack, and 1 INT.  On a positive note, we saw the TFLs double from 3 to 6.  While it’s of note that Chinn has played a lot of snaps at FS this preseason, he led all DB with 510 box snaps in 2021.  

Currently listed as my #2 ranked DB, he is clearly on the right track to another DB1 finish, with the overall DB1 as a range of outcomes.  If the pressures can turn into sacks and ultimately see an increase in “big plays,” the combo of tackle volume and impact plays could be amazing!

Antoine Winfield Jr (Tampa Bay Buccanneers)- After a rookie season that resulted in 94 tackles, 2 TFL, 3 sacks, and 6 PDs, the sky was the limit for the 2nd year DB in 2021.  While he recorded fewer tackles, he improved from DB26 to DB25 in three fewer games!  This was a result of the impact that he can have on a ball game.  The dynamic safety doubled his TFLs, doubled his INT totals, and tripled his forced fumbles.  Already seeing snaps in blitz packages during training camp, it’s possible that we see Winfield utilized in more than 23 pass-rush snaps that he saw in 2020.  With Jordan Whitehead gone, there could be a more multi-faceted role in 2022!

Tyrann Mathieu (New Orleans Saints)- Once known as the “Honey Badger” and later self-titled, “The Landlord,” Tyrann Mathieu is on to his 4th team, the New Orleans Saints.  During his time in KC, I saw a player that is much better in “real” football than IDP football.  With an innate ability to be around the ball at all times, he posted three straight years of 3+ INT and 6+ PD.  Mathieu’s ability to fill the stat sheet each year has resulted in IDP finishes as the DB26, DB36, and DB20 during his time in KC.  It is still yet to be determined whether the move to NO will impact his IDP value, but he will be replacing Malcolm Jenkins, who made an impact living near the line of scrimmage. Currently listed as my DB29, all signs lead to a season safely nestled in as a DB3 on the season. 

Best Value at the Defensive Back Position

With all due respect to Nate, Tyrann Mathieu will always be known as the “Honey Badger” and, in my opinion, is the DB value pick out of the NFC South. On top of what Nate said, with fellow teammate Marcus Maye facing disciplinary action by the NFL for his recent domestic violence charge, Mathieu will be called upon to not only patrol the line of scrimmage but the middle of the field, making his potential tackle volume bountiful.

Defensive Lineman/EDGE Summary

Brian Burns (Carolina Panthers)

The #9 ranked DL according to FantasyPros scoring is looking to build on an already solid resume. However, since entering the league, Burns ranks 13th in sacks (25.5), 17th in QB hits (55), and 28th in Tackles for Loss (26).  When evaluating DE or Edge rushers, I focus on these stats to begin any conversation.  These stats alone should help cement Burns as one of the first DLs taken in drafts, but if we want even more clarity, we can look at his tackle volume.  While total tackles aren’t the key statistic to focus on for DL, it is the bonus when establishing one’s consistent value.  Burns has been consistently good at recording tackles, totaling 133, which ranks 33rd among all DL, DE, and OLB.  

With back-to-back DL1 finishes over the past two years, I am comfortable making Burns my 1st DL or an amazing DL2.  Despite the loss of Hasaan Reddick, Burns can shed multiple blockers with his relentless attack.  Adding Matt Ionniddis and the extra year of seasoning for Derrick Brown should help keep offensive lines honest.  

Cameron Jordan (New Orleans Saints)

Criminally underrated when it comes to IDP drafts, Cameron Jordan is seeking his 8th DL1 finish over the past 10 years.  I don’t think that has truly sunk into the minds of IDP managers, I know I haven’t truly appreciated the consistency and greatness.  It was deemed “the beginning of the end” back in 2020 when Jordan saw the fewest snaps since his rookie season and, in turn, had his first season since 2016 without double-digit sacks.  For managers who didn’t buy the dip, they were rewarded with another DL1 season in 2021, when Jordan recorded 12.5 sacks and 6 PDs.  The development of Marcus Davenport and pressure in the middle from David Onyemata will again allow Cameron Jordan to deliver DL1 upside.  Maybe the most remarkable feat would be the 10 straight years without missing a game due to injury (his only missed game cast last year at the hand of COVID).  

Marcus Davenport (New Orleans Saints)

If I could pick just one defensive lineman to play 17 games in 2022, Marcus Davenport would be my choice.  For the fourth season in a row, Davenport has missed time due to multiple injuries.  It was just last year, tho, that we saw the potential that we are dealing with when “healthy.”  Despite only playing 437 snaps, Davenport finished as the DL24 due to his 39 tackles, 9 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery.  Unfortunately, Davenport has injury questions early on in 2022 and was placed on the PUP list to begin training camp. Let’s hope for a speedy recovery and an opportunity to see his true potential shine during the season.  His ability has never been questioned, considering he was PFFs 6th highest graded Edge rusher last season. You have to go back to 2018 not to see Davenports’ name mentioned at the Top25 of PFF grades.  

If I am drafting now, I am only drafting Davenport if the PUP tag gives me a discount on him.  The upside is enormous, but the injuries and surgeries are mounting.  If he falls past the DL24 on the board, jump on him and hope for the production he demonstrated from Week 7+.  During that span, he was the DL6 overall.

Shaquille Barrett (Tamba Bay Buccanneers)

Depending on your position eligibility, Shaq Barrett is either a forgettable LB option or one of the top DLs!  Last year, Barrett scored 159 points per Fantasy Pros scoring, which was good for LB36 or the DL6.  If we go back to 2019, when Barrett exploded on the scene with a league-leading 19.5 sacks, he was the DL1 overall. Again, this is all dependent upon your eligibility.  Unfortunately, tho, Shaq hasn’t combined for 19.5 sacks in 2020 and 2021 combined.  If we did a little deeper, he hasn’t matched career-highs set in 2019 in multiple categories.  I will give him the benefit of the doubt and recognize that he was playing through some injuries over the past two years and could still give us double-digit sacks. The pressure rate was still at 7%, which is on par with some of the elite OLB pressure rates.  One has to look at the Bucs’ implied win totals and see plenty of opportunities for Barrett to be in pass-rush situations and think there is a solid floor!  Adding Akiem Hicks and Logan Hall should provide some push up the middle to make things a little easier on him.  I currently have Shaq as my DL15, with plenty of room to move him into my Top 12 as the season nears. 

Best Value at the Defensive Line/EDGE Position

I hate to use injuries and injury history as a metric for determining value, but Nate is right about Marcus Davenport. The upside is there, clearly from last season’s performances when healthy. Grab him at a discount as your DL3 or 4 in drafts and hope for DL2 upside.

Thanks for reading our 2022 Fantasy Football Preview of the NFC South.

To see our other 2022 Divisional Previews click here.

Now go out there and crush your fantasy football drafts!

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