Fantasy Football Breakouts, Sleepers and Busts for the 2022 Season
Every year, there are fantasy football breakouts, sleepers and busts.
The breakout players are the ones who will see an uptick in fantasy production and will outperform their projections. The sleepers are those who are overlooked and outperform where they are often drafted and the busts are the players who are drafted too high and will underperform or get injured.
These are the best breakout, sleeper and bust candidates for the 2022 fantasy football season.
Breakouts
Allen Lazard, WR, Green Bay Packers - The Green Bay Packers traded away Davante Adams this offseason, leaving a huge hole in the offense.
Lazard has been on the Packers for the last four years and was the WR8 in PPR scoring over the last five weeks of the season last year. Aaron Rodgers has endorsed Lazard as the team’s No. 1 receiver and will put up higher numbers in his expanded role.
Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts - Pittman is coming off of a very solid season, finishing with 88 receptions and over 1,000 yards.
Now, the Indianapolis Colts have Matt Ryan as the quarterback, replacing Carson Wentz. This will be a huge upgrade for Pittman, who will now see more targets, especially in the red zone.
He remains the clear No. 1 receiver for the Colts and has WR1 upside for fantasy lineups.
Sleepers
Jameis Winston, QB, New Orleans - Winston averaged the 14th-most points at the quarterback position last season before his injury, which is saying a lot considering how little he had to work with.
The New Orleans Saints got back Michael Thomas, signed Jarvis Landry and drafted Chris Olave, which is a major improvement. Winston could very easily be a solid fantasy quarterback starter, or a backup at the very least when healthy.
Jakobi Meyers, WR, New England Patriots - Meyers led the New England Patriots in receptions and receiving yards last year and still looks to be the primary option in the offense.
He is overlooked due to his inability to score in the end zone in the past, but assuming he gets more targets in the red zone, he’ll be a late-round steal in drafts.
Irv Smith Jr., TE, Minnesota Vikings - Smith returns in 2022 as the lead tight end for the Vikings after missing all of the 2021 season to a knee injury.
The Vikings revamped offense under new head coach Kevin O’Connell will be more pass-heavy, which will help Smith’s fantasy value. Look to take him late in drafts if you don’t get a top-tier tight end early on.
Busts
Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos - Williams showed promise in his first season, finishing 13th in touches. However, the Denver Broncos re-signed Melvin Gordon to a one-year deal, which will significantly limit Williams this year.
He’s still a competent starter, but will most likely be a disappointment based on where he is being selected in most drafts.
D.K. Metcalf. WR, Seattle Seahawks - Metcalf has all the tools of a great receiver, but there are some major concerns for the Seattle Seahawks this season. Geno Smith is scheduled to start Week 1, which will certainly be a downgrade from Russell Wilson, who led the NFL in yard-per-attempt and passer rating before his injury last season.
The quarterback situation and the team’s run-heavy offense are worrisome and make Metcalf an elevated bust candidate.
Christopher Reynolds is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email him at clr5971@psu.edu.
