Seahawks.com Fantasy Insider’s 12 Players To Watch in 2022
Running Backs
D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions: Those who are still planning for their drafts should be targeting Swift at the end of the first round or early in the second. Swift is the featured upside RB pick among the RB1 types, as he can come through with a significant breakout season and join the more established elite fantasy RBs. Our analysis leans to PPR formats. Swift had 62 receptions in 13 games last season and he could be an 1,100-yard plus rusher who catches around 75 passes while scoring 12-plus TDs from scrimmage in 2022. Swift should firmly stamp himself as one of the best dual threat RBs in fantasy football this year.
Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans: The rookie appears to have wrapped up a starting job with a very strong preseason. Pierce averaged 7.8 yards per carry in exhibition play, rushing for 86 yards and a TD on 11 attempts. Improving a 32nd-ranked rushing game was a primary focus for Houston during the offseason, and Pierce appears ready to boost the offense in that regard. He has looked decisive and determined while displaying a physical brand of running. Pierce should be viewed as a top 20 fantasy running back in remaining drafts leading up to the season.
Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks: If you can land Walker after the ninth round of an upcoming fantasy draft, he could prove to be a terrific value pick during the season. Once Walker returns from a recent procedure, he should ramp up to the point where he will at least deserve strong consideration for your flex spot. In any weeks where he might see a larger workload, Walker may have a ceiling of producing at a high-end fantasy RB2 level. Fantasy players who have already drafted can consider trading for Walker before the season begins. Those who play in deep leagues should also keep DeeJay Dallas and Travis Homer on their radar, as Dallas averaged 54.3 yards per game and Homer averaged 7.5 yards per carry in the preseason.
Alexander Mattison. Minnesota Vikings:Experienced fantasy leaguers are already aware that Mattison is one of the top No. 2 RBs on a depth chart in the NFL. Whenever he has been pressed into heavier action in the past, Mattison has often delivered impressive results while also flashing tremendous promise. In three of his four starts last year, Mattison rushed for 90-plus yards, and over 110 in two of them. In his first two starts of the season, he had 13 receptions for 199 yards. If Mattison starts for the Vikings at any point this season, he will be a fantasy lineup lock, so you should target him when drafting for depth at RB in the later rounds.