As fall approaches, it’s impossible to ignore the biggest sport in America: football.  The 2022 NFL season is here, and with that comes fantasy football.  Fans across the globe become the head coach, general manager, and owner of their hand-picked squad, allowing them to create personal investments in teams and players outside of their own local team.  

Last season was the year of Jonathan Taylor, in which he finished more than 30 points higher than any other running back, let alone skill position player.  Bound to have another great season, he is clearly the number one pick in almost every league.  

Despite dealing with frequent injuries over the past several seasons, the potential Christian McCaffrey shows when healthy lands him at the second overall pick in most leagues.  McCaffrey has produced over 20 points in all of his games before injury in 2020 and multiple games scoring over 20 points over the last two seasons.

“McCaffrey is definitely a risky play when you factor in his extensive injury history, but he’s simply too good to pass up on,” said sophomore Christian Sarchese.

The rest of the first round picks vary in order, but the same mix of elite running backs and wide receivers is commonly seen.  The next few running backs off the board are typically Austin Ekeler, Derrick Henry, Dalvin Cook, Alvin Kamara, and Najee Harris.  Alvin Kamara has been a top RB for years, posing as both a rushing and receiving threat.  He is capable of scoring 50 points on any given week.  Derrick Henry has seen his draft stock drop slightly from last season, but he still usually goes before the sixth pick.  His injury last year took him out for nine games, but he was well on his way to a monstrous season following the historic one from 2020.  Without AJ Brown, the Titans will likely be relying on Henry even more to carry the offense, but this also allows defenses to plan accordingly.  Najee Harris, entering his sophomore season, was fed the ball a ton last year, racking up a total of 307 rush attempts in 17 games.  He is expected to continue to be a workhorse for the Steelers offense, making him a great pickup towards the end of the first round.  Dalvin Cook seems to be on the decline in terms of fantasy football, a top five pick in almost all leagues last year is now on the fringe in the first round.  Injury and production problems have plagued Cook over the past few seasons, and it is unclear if he can return to his old self.

An elite group of wide receivers also often find their team by the end of the first round.  This group is headlined by Cooper Kupp, the Rams’ superstar slot receiver.  Kupp had a historic 2021 season, winning the triple crown by leading in yards, touchdowns, and receptions.  He completely dominated the WR scene both in the real NFL and fantasy football, and his 3-5 pick selection range reflects that.

Justin Jefferson is another top wide receiver poised to see good production.  The LSU product has put up more than 1,400 yards in his two seasons in the NFL, and his numbers are only going up. Jefferson broke out last year, averaging almost 20 points in points-per-reception (PPR) leagues.  Ja’Marr Chase and Davante Adams often cap the first round, both centerpieces in elite offenses. 

“The wide receiver talent this year is ridiculous. It’s hard to go wrong with any of them in the first round,” said sophomore Liam McCarvill.

Two comeback stories could potentially make for some mid- to late- round steals.  Saquon Barkley and Michael Thomas both missed the majority of the last few seasons due to serious injuries.  However, both look healthy and ready to return to form.  Although both really had nothing to show for last year, their talent still remains.  Thomas is being drafted in rounds five, six and seven in many leagues and Barkley in the third and fourth round.  While it may be easy to see the injury history and pass on them, talent like that doesn’t just disappear and they are due for a reawakening.  Saquon Barkley is also arguably one of the best in the league at his position, but pathetic run blocking from the Giants offensive line has hindered his ability to create big plays.  This year, despite his subpar offensive line, Saquon still found openings to create big runs.  He finished with 33 points in the first week of fantasy, leading all running backs and earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.  

While drafting rookies is always risky, some talent is just too good to pass on.  Chris Olave, Breece Hall, Drake London, and Garret Wilson are all looking to make a big impact in games immediately. 

This fantasy football season is sure to be full of breakouts and busts who can either take your team to the next level or stop your playoff run before it even begins, but that’s the fun of it.

“Fantasy football allows me to connect with my friends and family over a sport we all love.  I can’t wait to see how my team turns out,” said sophomore William Ahmuty.  

Many football fans are eager to get into the swing of the season and can’t wait to see how each of their players perform.