2022 Fantasy Football Preview: AFC West

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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 that you NEED to go out there and dominate your fantasy football drafts as efficiently as possible. Let’s get things going with our Fantasy Football Preview of the AFC West!

AFC WEST 2022 QUARTERBACKS Fantasy In Frames

Quarterback Summary

Patrick Mahomes

Arguably the best quarterback in the league, Patrick Mahomes is a no-brainer for fantasy football success, especially in a division as stacked as the AFC West. Mahomes may not have the running ability like Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson, but he makes up for it with his IQ on the field and his elite accuracy. A two-time AFC Conference Champion, Super Bowl Winner, Super Bowl MVP, League MVP, and four-time Pro Bowler, Mahomes could retire right now and make it to the Hall of Fame. Thankfully that won’t be happening anytime soon since he’s only 26. His fantasy value should be as high as ever since he now has way more receivers like Juju Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes Scantling, and rookie Skyy Moore instead of only having to rely on Travis Kelce. Patrick Mahomes is a top three QB in my rankings for redraft and dynasty and will be for the foreseeable future.

Justin Herbert

The Chargers’ new franchise QB has found great success early in his career at just 24 years old. Justin Herbert has become a fan favorite for this growing fan base in Los Angeles. Among all QBs in the NFL, he ranks 2nd in completions, 2nd in passing yards, 3rd in passing touchdowns, 4th in PFF offense grade, 7th in PFF passing grade, 9th in PFF rushing grade, and 1st in PFF fumble grade. This guy is a stud, no questions asked. He’s my number 2 QB in both redraft and dynasty, DRAFT HIM!

Russell Wilson

An upgrade not only for the Broncos organization but for Russell Wilson as well. Denver gets the best QB they’ve had since Peyton Manning playing under center, and Wilson gets an upgrade in almost every position, receivers, running backs, o-line, and defense. This looks like a recipe for success to me, and with an ADP of 87 on Fantasy Pros, how could you not love that value? Russell Wilson is a top 10 QB in both of my rankings and should be targeted if you plan on waiting for a quarterback in your fantasy drafts. 

Derek Carr

The Raiders veteran QB is an interesting topic for me to talk about. I have him ranked outside my top 10, but I still see him as a valuable player in fantasy football. He is an excellent passer, but he just doesn’t have that versatility in his play style that would put him into my top 10 QBs. However, this season may be his best yet since the weapons he has at his disposal are the best he has ever had. He reunites with his former college teammate Davante Adams and gets to relive his days at Fresno State, where they won a title. Carr also gets Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller returning for another year, who both played great last season. I think Carr is the safest pick for someone who plans to draft a QB late in their fantasy drafts.

Best Value at the Quarterback Position

The AFC West is stacked at quarterback. You should be happy if you draft any of them this season. However, we are focusing on the best value. Russell Wilson is the best value as the QB9 at pick 84 (last pick of the 7th round). Some may argue Derek Carr (QB14 at pick 114) is a better value since you can pick him in the middle of the 10th round. Unfortunately, you cannot win your fantasy football league with Derek Carr.

Carr had a massive increase in attempts, completions, and yards but only threw 23 touchdowns, scoring 17.8 fantasy points per game in 2021. That was less than his career average of 18.2 fantasy points per game. The acquisition of Davante Adams should increase Carr’s total touchdowns, but it won’t be enough to make Carr a league winner.

Last season was Russell Wilson’s worst fantasy season in the last five years, and he dealt with a hand injury most of the season and missed three games. In Weeks 1-4 (injured hand in Week 5), Wilson averaged 26.9 fantasy points per game. That would have tied Justin Herbert as the QB3, just behind Tom Brady (27.1 ppg) and Josh Allen (27.9 ppg). It was a small sample, but it illustrates Wilson’s ability to score well. In 2020, Wilson averaged 27.5 points per game, and from 2017-2020 he averaged 25.2 points for a bigger sample. That was while Russell Wilson played for the Seattle Seahawks.

This will be his first season with the Denver Broncos. He has a better offensive line and quality offensive weapons, and he is expected to be able to throw more often. Wilson is capable of scoring as much as Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert, but you can draft him 50+ picks later. That is VALUE.

AFC WEST 2022 RUNNING BACKS Fantasy In Frames

Running Back Summary

Austin Ekeler

Austin Ekeler took hold of the Chargers’ backfield last year, enjoying a career year with over 1,500 scrimmage yards. He certainly rewarded fantasy managers, finishing 2021 as the RB2 in half-PPR scoring per FantasyData, only behind Jonathan Taylor after scoring an astonishing 20 touchdowns.

Ekeler saw 200 carries during the regular season, the first time he has reached this benchmark. The former UDFA also secured the joint-most targets amongst running backs last season, together with Najee Harris. He enters 2022 with an ADP of RB3. The question now is whether he can replicate these gaudy numbers.

While the spectre of the dreaded running back cliff approaches, his workload should remain high. A talented pass-catcher, limited competition, and tied to one of the best quarterbacks in the league – what more could you ask for?

Javonte Williams/Melvin Gordon

Dynasty darling Javonte Williams finished the season as RB17 in half-PPR scoring according to FantasyData, after seeing a more consistent fantasy output as the season developed. His underlying numbers are also a cause for excitement. In his rookie season, Williams ranked second in missed tackles forced and seventh in runs over ten yards, according to PFF. His ADP has since skyrocketed up to the early rounds and currently stands as the RB14 in FantasyPros ECR. The obvious conundrum is just how this backfield is going to be split this coming year.

There have been conflicting reports from beat writers on just how much of the workload Williams will take on, but it appears clear Gordon will still be heavily utilized. Gordon saw at least ten touches in all but one of his games last season, and a repetition is certainly very possible. At RB35 on FantasyPros, he appears to be a great value again this year.

The two will enjoy an improved offense following the arrival of Russell Wilson, which should lead to plenty more scoring opportunities. Their early season schedule is another reason for optimism. Over the first eight weeks, the Broncos will face the Seahawks, Texans, Jets, and Jaguars – four games in which they will likely be heavy favorites and face a positive game script.

Josh Jacobs

I think the phrase the kids use these days is “mid”. Josh Jacobs saw a consistent fantasy output throughout 2021 yet rarely reached the heights to win you a week. During the regular fantasy season, Jacobs never once breached the 20-point mark in half-PPR scoring, according to FantasyData. He also only reached 100 scrimmage yards in two games.

One promising aspect of Jacobs’ season, however, was the uptick in passing game usage. Jacobs saw his receiving statistics jump to 54 receptions on 64 targets, resulting in 348 receiving yards. Jacobs carries a fairly safe floor with him, seeing at least 200 rushing attempts in each of his first three seasons. Now with the arrival of Davante Adams, the whole offense should take a leap forward – creating plenty more opportunities for Jacobs to find the endzone.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire

‘Paris syndrome” is a phenomenon of extreme disappointment due to Paris not quite living up to visitors’ highly romanticized expectations. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is starting to feel like the NFL equivalent. The former first-round pick has suffered from inconsistent form and injuries since entering the league.

The team has since added to the running back room in the form of free agent Ronald Jones, as well as Isiah Pacheco late in the NFL draft. Jerrick McKinnon also looms after leading the backfield during the playoffs. While camp reports suggest CEH remains the number one, his role is anything but secure. The most obvious area for progression is in the passing game. Despite being a prolific pass catcher in college, Edwards-Helaire has only seen 55 receptions across his first two NFL seasons. If things hit, CEH will look like a tremendous value at RB28, but at this stage, it’s a big if.

Best Value at the Running Back Position

The AFC West is the best division in football, a magical place where Derek Carr is the worst quarterback & the only coach who hasn’t helped a QB win an MVP is the most aggressive coach in the league on 4th downs. It’s a fantasy paradise, at least in the passing game. The running back situations are more of a mixed bag, so let’s wade through and find the best value (against half-point PPR ADP on Fantasy Pros) in the bunch. 

Kansas City feels like the obvious place to look for an underrated back. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is going 61st overall, new addition Ronald Jones 117th, and Jerrick McKinnon – their lead back in last year’s playoffs – is going undrafted. Kansas City had upgraded their line over the last two years, the loss of Tyreek Hill suggests Andy Reid might actually run the ball more, and Mahomes protects all of them from facing loaded boxes. That said, do you trust any of those guys? I don’t. 

Oakland is a more talented group with the same issue. Josh Jacobs is a good back (13th in PFF grade & 10th in rushing grade) but not only is Kenyan Drake still around, but Brandon Bolden followed Josh McDaniels from New England & the new regime drafted their own back in hard-running national champion Zamir White. Throw in Davante Adams coming in to steal red zone scores, & this looks like another mess. Jacobs is going 47th on Sleeper, which is high if anything, while the others are going at the tail end of drafts, if at all. Target White in dynasty or keeper leagues, but otherwise, there’s no great value here. 

Austin Ekeler is great, but hard to be underrated when you’re going fourth overall. Ekeler is also highly unlikely to match his 20 touchdowns from last year. Per Mike Clay of ESPN, in the last decade, only one player has scored 15+ touchdowns and not seen their total drop the following year and no player exceeded their expected touchdown total based on usage more than Ekeler last year. So definitely don’t expect more from him. Isaiah Spiller is more interesting. The rookie back is all but guaranteed to be Ekeler’s handcuff (Joshua Kelley & Larry Rountree were possibly the two least effective backs to see 100 snaps last year). He has good size, was productive in college, & is a capable receiver. Right now, he’s going right behind Ronald Jones & while I think that’s low for a guy who immediately becomes an RB-2 if Ekeler goes down, there’s someone I like even more in this division. 

Javonte Williams is an incredibly talented runner, both Pro Football Focus and Sports Info Solution had him with the highest forced missed tackle rate in the NFL, who I think will best his current 24th ADP on Sleeper but I see Melvin Gordon as an even bigger discount all the way down at 101. It’s not hard to see why he’s being undervalued – Williams is newer, more exciting, & everyone assumes they won’t see a 50/50 carry split again. I don’t even think any of that is wrong, but I do think they’re overestimating how far the split will tilt in Williams’s favor. 

Word out of Broncos camp is both players continue to be heavily involved, & it’s worth remembering Nathaniel Hackett is coming over from a Green Bay team that effectively utilized both Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. Each of those backs broke 1100 yards last season, something Gordon has done five of his last six seasons, despite being under 250 touches in four straight. He’s also hit ten scores in five of six (In 2019, he had 908 yards and nine scores in 12 games). Worries about his age or carry count should be put to rest by his yards per carry the last two seasons being above his career average, & that’s before factoring in the light boxes he’ll see now that Russell Wilson is in Denver. Gordon is going to be flex worthy in a majority of games, & if Williams goes down he’ll immediately be a high-end RB-2. There’s no reason 35 backs should be going ahead of him.

           

AFC WEST 2022 WIDE RECEIVERS Fantasy In Frames

Wide Receiver Summary

The wide receiving position in the AFC West is a fantasy gold mine.  This division is staffed by the best collection of quarterbacks, top to bottom in the league.  That fact will bode well for the value of who they are throwing the ball to. The real question is who is going to be the WR1 on all of these teams, aside from the Raiders of course.

Rather than parsing who is going to score more points, I’d like to dive in a little deeper on what role each of these receivers is going to have in each of their respective offenses.  This can be difficult to say due to the fact that three of the 4 teams in this division underwent a massive change of their offenses.  We truly don’t know what these offenses are going to look like aside from the fact that they are going to be good.  With that information, you should be able to figure out which players will hold the most value.

Denver Broncos

Courtland Sutton; Current Fantasy Pros ADP WR25, 60 overall
Jerry Jeudy: Current Fantasy Pros ADP WR23, 58 overall

With the loss of Tim Patrick to an ACL tear, the receiving roles in this offense have really crystalized.  Courtland Sutton should serve the role of the boundary and over the top, or traditional X receiver.  Meanwhile, Jerry Jeudy will man the middle of the field and play the Y receiver as well as playing a healthy amount of snaps out of the slot in 3 receiver sets.

This should give both receivers the ability to really accent the best parts of their game, Sutton’s being down the field receiving and 50/50 balls and Jeudy’s being route running and getting open all over the field.  For the first time in both of these receiver’s careers, they have an uber-efficient quarterback in Russell Wilson who should allow them to turn sub-90 reception numbers into big time fantasy performances.  I’d expect both of these receivers to be at or above 1000 yards and close to double-digit touchdowns while both hang close to a mid to low 20% target share.  My preferred receiver here is Courtland Sutton by a not very slim margin.

Kansas City Chiefs

Juju Smith-Schuster: Current Fantasy Pros ADP WR34, 79 overall
Marquez Valdes-Scantling: Current Fantasy Pros ADP WR53, 127 overall
Skyy Moore; Current Fantasy Pros ADP WR56, 137 overall

This new look Kansas City offense is something that seems to be a mystery with how Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are going to make use of their new outside weapons.  However, I don’t think this one will be as much of a mystery as it seems.

Juju is an accomplished WR who has shown that he is capable of putting up gaudy fantasy numbers in a good offense and passable fantasy numbers in a severely limited offense.  This Chiefs team will certainly fall into the former category.

MVS has made it very clear what he is as a football player.  A good deep ball receiver with consistency problems and a very strong blocking prowess.  For the more basketball-inclined out there, he is essentially filling a very nice 3 and D role for the Chiefs and will have a big game here and there but will not be a consistent fantasy option.

Skyy Moore is a bit of a mystery, and I absolutely love his talent and ability to play the game.  He has been showing off quite a bit with some highlight reel catches in camp, however, he is going to have to get used to the speed of the game coming from a mid-level MAC team to the AFC West.  Mecole Hardman will also stand in Skyy’s way to really succeed by playing a somewhat similar role at a lower level than Moore is capable of playing it in 2022.

I have laid all of this out to say that Travis Kelce is still the focal point of this receiving game, and only one of these players will end up being fantasy relevant.  Add to that the Chiefs’ front office has told us loud and clear with their actions that they want to run the ball more, and you have a recipe for fantasy irrelevance for the number 3 target in this offense.  To illustrate that point, let me lay out Patrick Mahomes’ number 3 receiving option since the beginning of his starting career.

  • 2018: 40/519/3
  • 2019: 52/673/3
  • 2020: 41/560/4
  • 2021: 59/693/2

Smart money as well as my money is on Juju Smith Schuster to be the most reliable wide receiving fantasy producer for the Chiefs in 2022.

Las Vegas Raiders

Davante Adams: Current Fantasy Pros ADP WR4, 11 overall 
Hunter Renfrow: Current Fantasy Pros ADP WR32, 80 overall

This Raiders receiving game, in reference to, volume is going to be pretty simple. Let me lay them out in priority order:

  1. Davante Adams
  2. Darren Waller
  3. Davante Adams
  4. Hunter Renfrow
  5. Me, probably

The amount Las Vegas has invested in Davante Adams as well as his ability to get open at will, should have Derek Carr targeting him early and often.  Between Adams and Darren Waller, the real question is can Hunter Renfrow maintain fantasy relevant output.  I believe the answer is yes, but it will be closer to a mid-range or lower end WR3 still making him a reliable weekly flex in a 3WR format.

My main takeaway from this exercise is that I think Davante Adams will be the Las Vegas passing game. Unfortunately, he hasn’t had this much receiving talent around him since 2017 when he was sharing targets with a young Randall Cobb and a still very good Jordy Nelson.  With that in mind I feel Davante might be slightly overvalued, and I would opt to take several receiving options behind him in ADP before I drafted him in the first round of my draft.

Los Angeles Chargers

Keenan Allen: Current Fantasy Pros ADP WR10, 27 overall
Mike Williams: Current Fantasy Pros ADP WR19, 51 overall

Could this be the year?  The year that Mike Williams takes the crown of the Chargers WR1 from Keenan Allen?  

Short answer, no.

Keenan Allen will still lead this team in targets and receptions, but that should be it.  Justin Herbert is special, and his fantasy weapons are going to benefit from that specialness, assuming that is a word.  Herbert is a top 5 betting favorite to win the NFL MVP this year and should show that he is deserving of that lofty status by season’s end.

I have both of these receivers projected for a low to mid 20 percentage point target share, and with Mike Williams’ big play ability, he might be the wide receiver to roster in this offense.  Comparing the Chargers and Broncos’ receiving options fantasy wise is a very fair comparison and in the Broncos’ case, worth splitting hairs over.  The Chargers case is not worth splitting hairs over.  Both of these guys play very different positions, and both should be successful and worthy of high-end to mid range WR2 draft capital come fantasy draft time.

Best Value at the Wide Receiver Position

As the WR32 in half-PPR according to Fantasy Pros’ ADP, Hunter Renfrow is without a doubt the best value at WR in the AFC West. First look at the success slot WRs have had in Josh McDaniel’s offense system over the years. Combine that with the fact that in the red zone, aka when in scoring position for a WR, Renfrow excelled last season with a 75% completion percentage and a total of 9 TDs. Throw in the fact that Carr LOVES targeting his WRs in short to intermediate yardage situations in the red zone and you have a recipe for success. Yes, I know Davante Adams is there now and he’s best friends with Carr from college…yadda yadda yadda. I could careless. I, also, know that Darren Waller is there. I could, still, careless. If Josh McDaniel could design game plans to feature both Randy Moss and Wes Welker as reliable and consistent weapons in the passing game, back in the day, then I’m more than confident that he will do the same with Renfrow and Adams. If anything it’s Waller who I see taking a step back in production.

AFC WEST 2022 Tight Ends Fantasy In Frames

Tight End Summary

Travis Kelce

Travis Kelce has been the TE1 for years, but his streak ended in 2021 when Mark Andrews took the crown away. It is okay, Kelce was still TE2, so do not panic. Kelce’s current Fantasy Pros ADP is TE1 at pick 14! That is ten picks before Andrews. He had a “down” year with 1,100+ yards and nine touchdowns in 2021. That was the most touchdowns and 2nd most yards for a tight end last year. Kelce had the 2nd most targets (134) on his team with a 21.1% target share. Tyreek Hill led the team with a target share of 25% with 159 targets. Hill is no longer on the Chiefs. Kelce is expected to be the primary target in the Kansas City offense for 2022. He will turn 33 during the season, but this could be his best fantasy football season if he exceeds a 25% target share.

Darren Waller

Darren Waller battled injuries in 2021 and had a down year for fantasy football. At least he still had 93 targets in 11 games, which was good enough for the 2nd most on the team and a target share of 15.4%. In the 11 games Waller played, he had at least seven targets in nine games. That much opportunity leads to elite tight-end production. The most significant change this offseason was the acquisition of Davante Adams. It is unlikely that Adams has a 30%+ target share again, but he should be the target leader for the Raiders. Waller can be fantasy-relevant with 100 targets (just under 6 per game) as long as his touchdowns go back up because he had nine in 2020 and two in 2021. Waller’s current Fantasy Pros ADP is TE5 at pick 49. I prefer Dalton Schultz 22 picks later for value, but Waller is capable of being better than the TE5 in 2022.

Gerald Everett

We have now taken a significant dip at tight end in the AFC West. Gerald Everett joined the Chargers this offseason. He has never been good enough for fantasy football. Everett is being drafted as the TE21 at pick 167. You should not be drafting Everett unless it is a DEEP bench. The best thing Everett has going for him is Justin Herbert being his quarterback. In the best-case scenario, he is 4th for targets, but 5th or worse is realistic. Donald Parham, the other Chargers’ TE, has positive reports coming out of training camp. Parham is an athletic, 6’8″ tight end. There is a chance he passes Everett on the depth chart at some point.

Albert Okwuegbunam

In the Spring, there was excitement for Albert O. when Noah Fant was traded away, then there was a dip when the Broncos drafted Greg Dulcich in the 3rd round of the NFL Draft. Albert is 6’6″ with a 100th percentile speed score, according to Player Profiler. Tall and athletic is enough to be a decent tight end in fantasy football. However, there is a lot of talent amongst the offensive weapons on the Broncos. It is hard to project Albert Okwuegbunam with enough targets to be fantasy relevant. Albert’s best chance is to have a season similar to Knox or Freiermuth from 2021 with an unsustainable high touchdown rate. He has a Fantasy Pros ADP of TE14 at pick 141, so you would only be drafting him in deeper leagues. There is concern that he will split snaps with Dulcich. Do not buy any hype with Albert O.

Best Value at the Tight End Position

With two Fantasy Football studs and two unproven assets at the TE position in the AFC West, it’s easy to know which guys you’d prefer to have on your roster. But when we add cost and value into the mix, is the answer still the same? Let’s find out… 

NAMEPOSITION RANKADP
Travis Kelce#1#14
Darren Waller#5#49
Albert Okwuegbunam#14#141
Gerald Everett#22#178

*ADP via FantasyPros

Let’s start with Travis Kelce. The Kansas City Chief has been the premiere TE in the NFL and FF since 2016, finishing top two at the position in each of the last six seasons. The loss of Tyreek Hill should only help improve Kelce’s already impressive target share. He’s once again a top two option, and although he’s going to cost you a late first-round pick in your startup draft, I think Kelce can be considered fair value in redraft formats. 

Raiders TE Darren Waller struggled with injuries in 2021, and 2022 could be another down year for the big-bodied pass-catcher. The addition to the offense of Davante Adams will see everyone else on the Raiders offense lose targets as Carr & Adams pretend their back at Fresno State. After missing six games last season and with the redistribution of targets,  I think TE5 is buying Waller at his ceiling. I’m out on him at this cost. 

My thoughts on both Albert Okwuegbunam and Gerald Everett are similar. Both are attached to good offenses but will be behind at least two outside receivers and a pass-catching back when it comes to targets. They both have internal competition at the position, and I don’t particularly see either as a value. Outside of the top few TEs, it’s seemingly much of much, because of that, my preference here would be Everett. He’s shown that he can be an above-average pass-catching TE in the league and is attached to the better offense & QB. The fact he’s slightly cheaper than Albert O also makes me favour the new Charger.

AFC WEST 2022 LINEBACKERS Fantasy In Frames

Linebacker Summary

Nick Bolton

The Chiefs have been searching for that stalwart at LB since the days of Derrick Thomas.  I am not saying that Bolton is the next DT, but the optimism runneth over in KC.  In his first season with the Chiefs, Bolton made fantasy managers extremely happy and left them wanting more.  His 112 tackles led all rookies as he tied for 20th among all LB.  Add in the 17.9% tackle rate (2nd best among players with 600+ snaps) and his 11 TFL, and you have one of the better ILB rookie seasons in a while.  Bolton was one of just five LB with 100+ tackles and 10+ TFLs.  

The main concern entering the 2022 season has, and will be, the usage of the LBs in a Steve Spagnuolo system.  It is easy to chalk up the rookie season as an efficiency outlier, but I am optimistic that Spags will change his rotating ways now that he has an impact player like Bolton.  I, for one, have Bolton firmly entrenched as an LB2 with upside for more.  

Josey Jewell

To say the Denver Broncos’ LB group was a letdown last year would be an understatement.  The leading tackler was Kenny Young with 75, but there is more to this situation.  Injuries plagued this group from early in the season until the final week.  In all, the LBs missed over 40 total games due to injury.  Josey Jewell was the most impactful loss.  Coming off of a 2020 season in which Jewell racked up 112 total tackles, 2 sacks, and 4 PDs, it looked like a prime opportunity for Jewell to be a decent LB3/LB4 for IDP leagues.  Unfortunately, a pectoral injury derailed his season in Week 2.  

Coming off of an injury-shortened season, the opportunity for Jewell is again to see the most snaps at LB and carry play-calling duties.  The LB room is pretty thin again this year, which should mean a healthy season could deliver on another 100+ tackle season and an LB3/LB4 outcome in 2022. 

Denzel Perryman

Perryman is another LB on my list of “huh”?  Last year was a bonkers year for the waiver wire darling.  His 102 solo tackles were tied for the 3rd most in the NFL.  His 102 solos were also nearly as much as his 3 previous years combined.  Not to say it was an outlier season, but one has to wonder if it was a lack of opportunity with the Chargers or something else.  In addition to the enormous tackle volume, he also ranked 2nd in “stops” and 3rd in run “stops” per PFF.  The Raiders brought in Jayon Brown, but the early signs point to a backup role for the former Titan. With converted Safety Divine Deablo making a splash at the end of last season, it would appear that those two have the starting LB roles for the 2022 season.

Best Value at the Linebacker Position

DIVINE DEABLO!

Deablo was rated as the best tackling linebacker on the Raiders in 2021 according to Pro Football Focus. Earlier this year in my Dynasty Risers at Linebacker article I profiled what made Deablo such an intriguing player to watch out for in the coming season in that he had by far one of the best tackle to missed tackle rate ratios in the NFL. While the Raiders signed Jayon Brown in free agency to play alongside Denzyl Perryman, do NOT be surprised that Deable challenges and takes over Brown’s ILB spot on the field by the conclusion of training camp. Get ahead of the curve and spend a late round flyer on Deablo. Trust me.

AFC WEST 2022 DEFENSIVE BACKS Fantasy In Frames

Defensive Back Summary

Derwin James

When Derwin James is on the field, he is the best DB in IDP formats, period!  Last year, we saw the difference that James can provide when healthy.  In his short 3 years in the league, James has missed 12 games, mainly due to the 11 games missed in 2020.  Even in those 5 games, James recorded 33 tackles (3 TFL) and 1 PD.  Let’s be honest though, it was his 2021 season that has fantasy managers quick to make Derwin their #1 DB off the board.  Production across the board doesn’t begin to do his season justice.  His 117 total tackles were 3rd among DB, the 2 sacks were 8th, the 7 TFL were good for 6th, and his 7 QB hits were 2nd.  It is this type of production that led to his DB1 overall finish, despite only playing 15 games.  

The only concern with Derwin James for 2022 is the ability to stay on the field and his uncertainty about even getting on the field.  At the time of writing, James and the Chargers are at an impasse, with James seeking a contract resolution.  I am confident that it will be resolved but worth noting. 

Justin Simmons

If you’re looking for the best path to consistent snaps and steady performance, look no further than Justin Simmons.  Simmons just turned in his 4th straight injury-free season.  During that time, he has recorded 366 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 40 PDs, and 17 INT. The model of consistency doesn’t always mean upside tho.  Despite leading all S in PD and INT since 2018, he had his lowest tackle total since 2017.  With the addition of Russell Wilson, there is a good chance that the defense will be asked to stop the pass a little more this year.  I look at that as a positive chance to offset the decrease in tackles by playing the center-field role and having an impact in coverage.  With his level of durability and consistency, selecting Simmons as a DB1/DB2 will provide stability but a limited ceiling.  

Jonathan Abram

If Justin Simmons is the model of health, Abram is the unfortunate opposite.  While it may not be fair to call him “injury-prone”, he has yet to play more than 14 games in a season.  Dating back to his rookie season (2019), Abram has missed nearly 20 games due to multiple injuries, but most notably a recurring shoulder issue.  

Abram has made a career, albeit a short one, of devastating hits and unrelenting tenacity.  Unfortunately, what comes with that style of play is the frequent occurrence of mental errors.  With new DC Patrick Graham, it has been mentioned that he will have to play multiple roles, which isn’t Abram’s style.  I want to pay attention to see what type of role Abram will occupy this season.  If he can see the amount of work in the box like he did last season (52% box snaps), a healthy season could replicate, and potentially exceed the 116 tackles.  

Best Value at the Defensive Back Position

With the ADP of DB33 on Sleeper, Johnathan Abrams is the value pick here. As Nate mentioned earlier health issues have certainly helped to tank his value as of late. The signing of veteran safety Duron Harmon, while most there for depth and leadership, could lead to Harmon pushing the young defensive back for playing time if he at all struggles this season. That being said the reward and upside is too great for Abrams as he is definitely a DB I’m targeting if I go DL/LB heaving in my drafts.

AFC WEST 2022 DL_EDGE RUSHERS Fantasy In Frames

Defensive Lineman/EDGE Summary

Maxx Crosby

Maxx Crosby just signed a 4-year extension to stay with the Raiders, in turn, making him the 4th highest paid Edge rusher.  If there is a person more deserving of the contract, I couldn’t tell you who.  Since entering the league, all Crosby has done is be an absolute force behind the line of scrimmage.  For his career, Maxx has totaled 25 sacks, 141 tackles, 47 TFL, 58 QB hits, 12 PDs, and 4 forced fumbles.  This season should be even more exciting for Maxx, as the Raiders added a fellow edge rusher to potentially take some of the pressure off.  That man is Chandler Jones.  While Crosby may be limited in his total tackle volume, there is a great chance he tops the double-digit sack mark.  Looking to improve on his 8 sacks from 2021, his 42 pressures are a good sign that he was just a bit unlucky in the sack numbers.  I feel comfortable taking Crosby as one of the Top 10 DL off the board in 2022. 

Chandler Jones

As mentioned above, the Raiders went out and brought in one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL, Chandler Jones.  Excluding his 2020 season, in which he only played 5 games due to injury, you have to go all the way back to 2014 to find his last season without double-digit sacks.  There is no doubting that Jones is as good as they come in rushing the passer, but he hasn’t had a person of Maxx Crosby’s ability opposite him to date.  In addition to his pass-rush prowess, he also had a unique ability to strip the ball, evidenced by his league-leading 7 forced fumbles.  This isn’t anything new either, Jones led the NFL in forced fumbles in 2019 (8) as well.  When looking at your draft board in 2022, Jones is as safe a DL2 pick as there is. 

Joey Bosa

If you are a person who believes in trends, then I would discourage you from selecting Joey Bosa in 2022.  Dating back to his rookie season, Bosa has played 16 games every other season and has missed over 15 games in the others.  And as you may know, he played all 16 last season.  I am not here to be superstitious, and for the sake of football, we want, nay, NEED Joey Bosa to be healthy.  When healthy, Bosa is one of the most gifted and terrifying Edge/OLB in the game.  The only two seasons in which he accrued less than 10 sacks were in his injury-plagued years.  Just last year, he had 10.5 sacks, 20 QB hits, and 7 FF.  This season, he gets to play opposite Khalil Mack.  The sky’s the limit for Bosa this year, but will it be a healthy one?

Khalil Mack

At 31 years old, it may appear on the surface that Khalil Mack is hitting a wall.  For the 3rd season in a row, Mack has failed to register double-digit sacks.  Last year was his lowest sack total since his rookie season, but entirely due to his foot issues that cost him 10 games.  While this production is likely to suppress his value in drafts, don’t be so hesitant to cross him off your board.  Last year, despite only playing 7 games, Mack had 6 sacks and an outstanding 26 pressures.  His 26 pressures were on par with IDP’s Josh Allen, who played 16 games.  Let’s not forget that he also registered a 14.8% pressure rate, which was the 2nd best rate in the NFL among players with at least 175 pass rush snaps.  While injury and age is always a concern, there is a very good chance that Mack will fall, and you can be there to pick up the pieces.  Don’t forget that he has Joey Bosa on the other side!

Haason Reddick

If you have the luxury of using Haason Reddick as a DL, you have another one of our coveted cheat codes when it comes to FIF IDP scoring. While his 1st three years were underwhelming in Ari, his past 2 seasons between Ari and Car have been incredible. Following up a 2020 season in which he had 63 tackles (20 TFL), 12.5 sacks, 18 QB hits, 4 PD, and 5 FF, Reddick found himself in Carolina in 2021. The hopes were high in Carolina, starting opposite Brian Burns, and he fulfilled those high hopes. As a whole, Reddick finished as the LB30, but more importantly, he finished as the DL7 on the heels of 11 sacks, 68 tackles (11 TFL), and 18 QB hits.

Best Value at the Defensive Lineman/EDGE Position

Chandler Jones, the DL36 on Sleeper, is by far the best value out of any of the DL/EDGE rushers listed above. As Nate said, all he does is record double-digit sacks year in and year out. Entering his 10th season in the NFL Jones will be aided by having Maxx Crosby on the opposite end of the defensive line, allowing for more 1 on 1 matchups which will help return him to the double-digit pressure rate he’s used to having.

Thanks for reading our Fantasy Football Preview of the AFC West.

To see our other 2022 Divisional Previews click here.

Now go out there and crush your fantasy football drafts!

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