Early 2022 Fantasy WR Rankings

Jackson Sparks

Early 2022 Fantasy WR Rankings image

Our early 2022 Fantasy WR Rankings look ahead to the top risers, sleepers, and fallers at fantasy football's deepest position. There are plenty who just play in redraft leagues that are curious about the fantasy outlook at wide receiver next year, but those in keeper and dynasty leagues are always especially eager to get ahead.

Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill have occupied the top two spots in each of the past two seasons, but this year, both are outside our top three as a veteran has emerged and two young wideouts look to take the jump into bona fide elite status. Of course, these rankings are for redraft and age isn't everything, we have to be mindful of guys that could be due for a decline late in their careers.

2022 EARLY FANTASY RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Tight end | D/ST

Players like Adams and Mike Williams could have their ranking affected by what happens in free agency, but Adams can only fall so far and Williams isn't super high in our rankings to begin with. It's also worth noting Calvin Ridley could be seeing a change of scenery, too. There are also players like Chris Godwin and Michael Gallup heading into the open market and are coming off recent ACL injuries. Our way-too-early preseason rankings will bring more clarity on those guys.

Chase Claypool, Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and D.J. Moore are some of the WRs who are surely going to be catching passes from new QBs next year, and it seems like their fantasy outlooks can only go up based on that. If the rumors of Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson heading to new teams next year are true, there could be a number of beneficiaries at wideout. Obviously, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett would lose some value if Wilson leaves, though, so there is always a domino effect.

2021 FANTASY: All-Value Team | All-Bust Team

Wide receivers are always tough to predict, and at least a third of the guys in our top 36 will disappoint. Someone will emerge out of nowhere and be at least a mid-tier WR2, and at least one rookie will make major noise. This happens every season. However, we like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Darnell Mooney, Hunter Renfrow, Gabriel Davis, and Elijah Moore to carry their 2021 momentum into next year as some of our top, high-end "breakouts."

Wide receiver is deep, so it's tough to immediately include a rookie unless there is a clear-cut elite prospect (like Ja'Marr Chase last year), but Traylon Burks, Garrett Wilson, Jameson Williams, and others could be featured inside our top 36 preseason rankings if they land in the right situations.

Early 2022 Fantasy WR Rankings

Rankings are based on half-point PPR formats.

Rank Player
1 Cooper Kupp, LAR
2 Justin Jefferson, MIN
3 Ja'Marr Chase, CIN
4 Davante Adams, FA
5 Tyreek Hill, KC
6 Deebo Samuel, SF
7 Stefon Diggs, BUF
8 A.J. Brown, TEN
9 Jaylen Waddle, MIA
10 CeeDee Lamb, DAL
11 DeAndre Hopkins, ARI
12 Keenan Allen, LAC
13 DK Metcalf, SEA
14 Calvin Ridley, ATL
15 Diontae Johnson, PIT
16 Tee Higgins, CIN
17 D.J. Moore, CAR
18 Terry McLaurin, WAS
19 Mike Evans, TB
20 Amari Cooper, FA
21 Michael Thomas, NO
22 Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET
23 DeVonta Smith, PHI
24 Elijah Moore, NYJ
25 Tyler Lockett, SEA
26 Marquise Brown, BAL
27 Gabriel Davis, BUF
28 Brandin Cooks, HOU
29 Hunter Renfrow, LV
30 Michael Pittman Jr., IND
31 Brandon Aiyuk, SF
32 Mike Williams, FA
33 Robert Woods, LAR
34 Darnell Mooney, CHI
35 Jerry Jeudy, DEN
36 Chase Claypool, PIT

Jackson Sparks