10 Fantasy Football Players to Avoid In 2022

Fantasy football drafts are wrapping up as we push closer to the start of the NFL season Thursday night. Some managers come prepared, while others are trying to cram as much in as possible. That’s why you’re here and I’m going to give you one player per round based on FantasyPros PPR ADP.

Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

RB:5| Pick: 1.07

Call it what you want. It can be an overreaction or it could be a Lisfranc injury that hinders Najee Harris this season. Not only could this hinder his stats overall but there is no more Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger, who targeted Harris at a league-high with Austin Ekeler, 94 targets. Roethlisberger was a check-down quarterback, but can Mitchell Trubisky do the same? 

Finally, will the volume be there? Harris was second only behind Jonathan Taylor (332), who also has one of the best offensive lines compared to Harris. Also, Harris saw 37 touches in the red zone and scored six touchdowns on those attempts. Now, the Pittsburgh offensive line is still very bad as it ranks 30th per PFF, just ahead of the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks. There are other players with fewer concerns I’m willing to take ahead of Harris.

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Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns

RB:10| Pick: 2.05

I’ve always been a fan of Nick Chubb, but expecting low-end RB1 numbers in return will be a lot to ask for. Many will tell you he is one of the safest running backs to draft. If you look closely at PPR, Chubb averaged 1.8 targets per game compared to Kareem Hunt who saw on average 3.4 targets per game.

With Jacoby Brissett being under center for the first 11 games of the season, you have to wonder how behind the Cleveland Browns will be trailing. This alone makes it hard for me to take Chubb with a top-20 pick. I would rather draft anyone else and take Kareem Hunt later (8th round). Sure his first two weeks this is going to flop in my face (Panthers and Jets) but after that, it’s pretty tough.

David Montgomery, RB, Chicago Bears 

RB:17| Pick: 3.12

David Montgomery has finished as an RB1 in fantasy points per over the last couple of years. This season, he could be looking more like a back-end RB2 if not an RB3. Montgomery was part of the Ryan Pace/ Matt Nagy era of the Chicago Bears. This new era of Ryan Poles/ Matt Eberflus has no connections to Montgomery.

Many average fantasy managers will look at what Montgomery has done over the last couple of years. We heard all off-season how Montgomery was playing special teams along with splitting the backfield with Khalil Herbert. There is no true commitment from the Bears here.

Furthermore, the offensive line, or lack of it is a red flag right there. Hearing and seeing these things make me cringe as I will take Travis Etienne Jr. (RB19,4.03) over Montgomery.

D.K. Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks

WR: 17| Pick: 4.09

When you have Russell Wilson as your QB, the sky’s the limit and a WR1 finish is on the horizon. Well, now Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos and D.K. Metcalf’s quarterback for week 1 is Geno Smith. Now in the four games that Smith was under center Metcalf had 19 receptions for 295 yards (15.52 YPR) and five touchdowns.

Those stats may look pleasing, but with the way the Seahawks drafted, they want to be more of a ground-and-pound type of team. If somehow Metcalf could fall more into the later rounds (8-10) he would be in consideration. Drafting him as your WR1 or WR2 just shows you don’t want to win your league.

J.K. Dobbins, RB,  Baltimore Ravens

RB: 21| Pick: 5.01

Originally I had Antonio Gibson (RB24; pick 5.09) but with the news of Brian Robinson being out until at least week 5, I had to change him out. All off-season long J.K. Dobbins was on the PUP list and finally came off a couple of weeks ago. We’ve been seeing videos of him on the field, one recently showing him limping.

Now, Dobbins hasn’t been quiet on social media and isn’t afraid to call out anyone. Heck, the limp was called out on Twitter by Adam Koffler and Dobbins went on to say, “Do I have to walk like a robot? Stfu it ain’t a limp”. Following up after that, the news is going around that Dobbins may not be ready for week one. Plus, Kenyan Drake was just signed. These flags alone have me passing on Dobbins. Let him be someone else’s weekly headache. 

Amari Cooper, WR, Cleveland Browns

WR:27| Pick: 6.06

Here we are now on our second Cleveland Brown in Amari Cooper. There is no denying the talent, Cooper has the dog in him, but he would have been worth a pick if he stayed in Dallas instead of being traded. He has been an up and down WR1/2 and when he boomed, he boomed.

With Jacoby Brissett set to take the field for the next 11 weeks, I don’t see Cooper being a valuable fantasy asset for what looks like a dumpster fire in Cleveland. If this was for bestball, I may be okay with it. For it being a redraft league, he is going way too high for a player that you hope he puts up WR3 numbers.

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

QB:10| Pick: 7.03

The reigning MVP has had nothing but a spiraling offseason. From the trading of Davante Adams to not drafting a wide receiver till the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Aaron Rodgers, and the Green Bay Packers are looking to be more like a run-focused team, even with the hype of Romeo Doubs.

Last season, the Green Bay Packers ranked last (32nd) in offensive pace of play. Rodgers has a lot to take on to be a QB1. Yes, he has Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, but can they pace this team to keep it competitive and keep Rodgers as a QB1? Give me Dak Prescott, Matthew Stafford, and even Trey Lance, who are all going after Rodgers.

Dawson Knox, TE, Buffalo Bills

TE:10| Pick:8.11

Finally, a tight end makes the list. There are others ahead of Dawson Knox that I am not for because of their ADP, but the players listed above in my mind serve as a bigger avoid than the tight ends. Knox had a breakout season last year with 49 receptions, 587 yards, and nine touchdowns finishing as the TE11 in PPR leagues.

Last season, Knox lead all tight ends in not only touchdowns but touchdown rate (12.3%). While finishing 4th in end-zone targets with nine. Being targeted 73 times (20th for tight ends) last season, I don’t see him repeating as a TE1, but being more as a TE2.

As of right now, he’s being drafted at his ceiling. Let’s not forget this team has Stefon Diggs, potential breakout star Gabriel Davis, rookie James Cook and many others at Josh Allen’s disposal.

Allen Lazard, WR, Green Bay Packers

WR:43| Pick:9.05

With the departure of Devante Adams, it was easy to name Allen Lazard as the WR1. Now it’s easy to say Aaron Rodgers trusts Lazard as he has been a Packer going into his fifth year. Over the last four years, Lazard has had a max of 60 targets, 40 receptions, 513 yards, and eight touchdowns.

All of these stats came last year, and that was with Adams on the other side. Now being surrounded by rookies and Randall Cobb at wide receiver, putting him in the WR1 seat seems a little much. Last year’s stats may look like he can do it, but this offense doesn’t look to pass the ball as much as we hope.

Mike Gesicki, TE, Miami Dolphins

TE:12| Pick:10.11

After not coming to a long-term deal with the Dolphins, Mike Gesicki is betting on himself and playing on the franchise tag. With weapons like Chase Edmonds in the backfield and Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle out wide, Gesicki’s role will be different.

With Mike McDaniel coming over from the San Francisco 49ers, they are going to be looking to use Gesicki the same way the 49ers use George Kittle. They’re going to use him as a blocker. Gesicki has immense talent, but he is no Kittle.

To take Gesicki as the TE12, I would draft Gesicki and draft Cole Kmet one pick later, or wait till the end like I would and grab David Njoku (14.02) at the end of your draft before you draft your kicker and defense.

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