Team managers with the No. 1 pick in 2022 fantasy drafts are going to face a decision. Their decision is choosing between Cooper Kupp, Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry, and others. All of these guys are absolute studs, but they all have their flaws & injuries are always a factor. That said, are there some of these players who should be considered better options than others? Let’s dive in & take a look at all the options on the table with the 1st overall pick in the draft.
Cooper Kupp
The 2021 Fantasy MVP (according to PFF) is coming off the best year of his career. Kupp had the NFL’s receiving Triple Crown with 145 catches for 1,947 yards & 16 touchdowns. Him & Matt Stafford developed quite the rapport, but can he put up MVP-type numbers again? That’s the concern with Kupp, as he’s been a solid WR in recent years but never an elite WR1. I’m likely to take him in a PPR league, but regression will certainly be a factor to monitor here.
Jonathan Taylor
Workhorse running backs with well-rounded skillsets like Taylor are hard to come by. Taylor’s candidacy as a No. 1 overall pick comes down to his large amount of projected touches. This makes him an injury risk, but also gives him a high floor & high ceiling in most leagues. His role as a pass catcher has remained steady, with nearly 40 receptions in back-to-back years. What really stands out about him though is that his rushing attempts increased by 100 this year. The only two concerns with Taylor involve quarterback play and injury risk factors associated with all fantasy football players. Lots of people are likely to draft him with the 1st overall pick.
Derrick Henry
Henry joins Taylor as one of the few elite workhorse running backs in the modern era. Unfortunately, he missed 9 games due to injury last year partially due to his strenuous workload. Here’s some context for you, he was already up to 237 total touches just 8 games into the season! Assuming a return to full health for Henry, he’ll certainly be in the No. 1 overall pick discussion. You can probably do better in PPR leagues though, as Henry simply doesn’t get enough targets.
Davante Adams
There’s plenty of mystery surrounding Adams, mostly related to Aaron Rodgers status. Adams would certainly be in play at 1.01 if him & Rodgers return to the Packers next season. He’s a PPR machine as evidenced by his 123 catches for 1,553 yards & 11 touchdowns last year. Touchdown volume is also there for Adams, making him a safe bet in non-PPR leagues as well. His candidacy comes down to who’s throwing him the ball & where he’ll be playing next year.
Austin Ekeler
Ekeler is undoubtedly the best pass catching running back in all of football right now. His 2021 receiving numbers, 70 receptions for 647 yards & 8 touchdowns, really jump off the page. Those are fantastic numbers for a wide receiver, much less a 5’10”, 200 pound running back. When you add in his efficiency & nose for the endzone as a rusher, you make his case at 1.01. My only concern with Ekeler is his size, which makes him more of an injury risk than most.
Christian McCaffrey
Last year’s consensus No. 1 pick has seen his career derailed by injuries in recent years. There’s certainly still potential here, particularly if the Panthers make an upgrade at quarterback. That said, we might talk ourselves into drafting him early given his amazing dual threat abilities. Buyer beware here, but who knows how everything will shake out leading up to your 2022 draft.
The Sports Beacon 