2004-2023 CBS Interactive. No player in fantasy football has a higher ceiling if he can stay healthy. His 1,811 rushing yards led the entire league, and his 20 total touchdowns was good enough to tie Austin Ekeler for first among all players. Najee Harris' fantasy outlook for 2021. Taylor also scored 59.3 more fantasy points on the season than the second-best fantasy RB, Austin Ekeler. 47. . Cook had a tough season in 2021 and does not have the best history in terms of health. Steelers 17, Colts 14, Sign up for the Steelers Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Calvin Ridley, WR, Atlanta Falcons 15. Indys offensive line helped the young stud a great deal and should be strong again this year despite losing two starters. Fact is, while Jones took a step back in production in 2021, he's still every bit the dominant back he was when he delivered more than 3,000 yards from scrimmage and 30 touchdowns for the Packers in the two previous seasons. Edmonds is a similar story. Dobbins is back healthy, but the Ravens love to use a committee approach, and we could see him sharing touches all season, especially when Gus Edwards returns. Cuff options: Jonathan Taylor, Jordan Wilkins, Marlon Mack Review: The Colts' line is among the best when healthy, and early injuries worries have been somewhat abated. His sheer all-purpose yardage numbers and TD volume make him a cant-miss pick, especially considering his age (23) and his health (he played all 17 games last season). Hes strong but stable and can fight through contact. Please check your email for a confirmation. Taylor played all 17 regular-season games in 21 and looked fine despite the massive usage. Robinson and Gordon are projecting as the second options in their respective backfields. We are predicting the Steelers go into Lucas Oil Stadium ad come away with the upset in a low-scoring, physical battle. That December, when the weather got colder and defenses started wearing down, he bumped up to 5.9 yards per carry. George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK, Austin Ekeler, ChargersNajee Harris, SteelersDerrick Henry, Titans. Hes rushed for 33 touchdowns with the longest carry being for 62 yds. McKissic, CommandersNyheim Hines, ColtsMichael Carter, Jets. The former Volunteer is continually volunteering to punch defenses in their mouths, but with what can only be described as an electric finesse. However, he should see enough targets to mitigate efficiency concerns. The fact the Colts laid an egg in a win-and-get-in against the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars last season was much more attributable to the ghastly play of the now-traded (again) Carson Wentz and not Taylor, who was the heart and soul of the team's offense the entire season. Najee Harris was focused on preparing to handle the type of workload he experienced last season, when he led all rookies in touches. Prior to the drafting of Joe Burrow and then Ja'Marr Chase, it was Mixon literally carrying the load for the Bengals' offense, and he was still able to be a key reason for their special 2021 season despite it morphing into the Burrow-Chase show. The back-to-back rushing champ in 2019 and 20, Henry easily led the NFL in every major rushing stat category the last time we saw him play a full season. Taylor is the consensus No. Plus the presence of James Cook as a pass-catching back has a major effect. This tier is an extremely difficult one to judge. And now, as Fields and Co. become acclimated to a new coaching staff, Montgomery will have to serve as the security blanket for the Bears' offense -- a role he's not entirely unfamiliar with -- providing impact as both a runner and a receiver. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. No, I'm a California resident looking for the California Consumer Privacy Act form. Four of the Panthers 5 wins last season came when CMC was active and playing. Dillon saw an increase in usage down the stretch last season, especially in the red zone. That 126.7 per-game average trails just 10 players total throughout the history of the NFL. If anything, it simply makes you wonder just how much more destructive he'd be if he was the only option out of the Browns' backfield. Pro Football Network, LLC. He led the NFL in rushing yards (1,811), rushing touchdowns (18), yards from scrimmage (2,171), and total TDs (20). How To Get Started, Tips, and More. McCaffrey has missed all but 10 games the last two year due to injuries, but he averaged around 30 fantasy points per game in 2018 and was over that total in four games last season. Mixon averaged 18 ppg last year, but there is talk of a further reduction in his third-down role, which limits his ceiling. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | Jonathan Taylor or Najee Harris | Who Should I Draft in Dynasty? Andrew Erickson, After weekly for no fluke injuries: pic.twitter.com/DLw3CZlFW6. The Colts gutted out their coaching staff at midseason and many Steelers fans think Pittsburgh should have done the same. 2022 FANTASY SLEEPERS:QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | One from each team. Even if his workload carrying the ball is not as high as others, he could see a significant enough target share to push for a top 24 finish at the position. . Tier 1 The EliteJonathan Taylor, ColtsChristian McCaffrey, Panthers. His individual potential is massive, but his actual fantasy ceiling at least for now seems capped at No. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: fantasynews | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | Its also imperative to pay attention to injury risks and the age factor. Ken Walker, SeahawksMelvin Gordon, BroncosJames Robinson, JaguarsJames Cook, BillsJ.D. Brown) Mike Mike Mike Mike . Ranking NFL's top 10 RBs for 2022: Christian McCaffrey plummets with injury issues, Jonathan Taylor explodes. Hero RB Strategy & Targets: Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, Najee Harris (2022 Fantasy Football) | FantasyPros Draft Wizard My Playbook Premium Log In NFL Home Tools In-Season My. Weve already seen Sanders saying he doesnt get enough usage this offseason. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts. It feels like forever ago when everyone was wondering if Cook would live up to his potential. Pollard should see enough touches to have stand alone value in Dallas. Picking Harris at No. Last season, Taylor was the best running back in fantasy, averaging 22 PPR fantasy points per game (ppg). If youre like me, you look to handcuff your top runners in drafts. Start free trial today. I'm unquestionably stronger at TE, and while Lance has incredible upside, Mahomes has already done it. Hes being drafted as a low RB2 or flex in most leagues. However, health concerns combined with talented players around him limits his ceiling. No surprises here, as Jonathan Taylor was the No. That makes it more important than ever to put your players into positional tiers. Unlike my regular player rankings, which you can also find on Sports Illustrated, tiers group players of similar value together. Hes running for 65.8 yds per contest and has crossed the goal line 14 times while carrying the ball. All Rights Reserved. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. Biography. : #MINvsIND on FOX 1 PPR back. This is an intriguing mixed group of volume-based floor and huge talent upside. I like that the Panthers are already putting him in preseason bubble wrap to make sure hes full-go for Week 1. How do PFN's fantasy football RB tiers for 2022 shape up as fantasy managers head into their drafts over the coming weeks? Hes easily one of the best receiving backs in football, as evidenced by his 70 receptions for 647 yards and eight TDs through the air. 2 overall, and things mostly continued the way you expect for the next few picks, with one exception; Cooper Kupp kept falling. Basically, hes good at just about everything. Williams has top-five upside, but can he reach it with Melvin Gordon in the mix? at https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2022/11/26/steelers-colts-nfl-najee-harris-jonathan-taylor/, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. and NFL rushing leader -- Jonathan Taylor at 42.9 snaps per . While the ceilings not as high anymore, he should have the volume to be a borderline top-12 RB this year. You could absolutely argue Christian McCaffrey or Dalvin Cook should be in the top tier both backs have demonstrated their elite skills profiles through the years but both backs also have injury histories. For all of the hubbub about Tony Pollard, a justifiable nod to the potential of the Cowboys backup, it's still Elliott's throne in Dallas and for good reason. 2022 CONSISTENCY RATINGS:Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end. Hes young, healthy, super-skilled, and has very little competition for touches both on the ground and through the air. Henry was on pace to rush for over 1,990 yards last season before going down with an injured foot. That elite goal-line usage helped separate Taylor from the pack as the bonafide No. At No. My highest-graded team was team 7, who took Jonathan Taylor in the first round and ended up with another potential RB1 in Rhamondre Stevenson, to go along with an elite bounce-back candidate in Mark Andrews. . McCaffrey averaged 26 fantasy points per game. However, he's got a stronger WR2 in Michael Pittman and RB2 in David Montgomery to make up for the gap there. Additionally, as it relates to who belongs in the top 10, there's also something to be said for having skins on the wall, and while some of the promising up-and-comers -- one in particular notwithstanding (scroll down) -- have a lot to look forward to, they simply haven't also been producing for as long as Jones has. Taylor at No. Kamara appears to be safe from an NFL suspension, at least for 2022, so his value is rising. He has carried the ball 272 times to the tune of 3.8 YPC. We are predicting the Steelers go into Lucas Oil Stadium ad come away with the upset in. 1 overall in fantasy football drafts? But understandably, you want to make the best decisions on every investment in every round. All Rights Reserved. Tier 8 High RB3s/FlexTony Pollard, CowboysRhamondre Stevenson, PatriotsClyde Edwards-Helaire, ChiefsAntonio Gibson, CommandersCordarrelle Patterson, FalconsJ.K. We are inching closer to the start of the 2022 NFL season, and with that were seeing an obvious increase in the number of fantasy drafts. No team will mortgage their short-term playoff success or long-term outlook by overusing a stud back coming off a major injury sustained less than one year ago. Sometimes running backs have to do more with less, and no one knows this better than Mixon. But I'd expect a bounce-back effort from Taylor in 2023. Jonathan Taylor puts the @Colts ahead! Finally looked healthy down 2022 stretch (was RB5 over last 10), could be huge rebound candidate. Mitchell could be a 1,000-yard back in San Francisco, but durability issues and the emergence of Trey Sermon in camp make him a risk-reward No. Alternatively, if you want to chat with our analysts, be sure to join our completely free Discord server. Jonathan Taylor for Najee Harris (2022) Should I Trade. Has played in 34 regular-season games (34 starts) Has recorded 2,234 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns on 579 attempts and added 115 catches for 696 yards and six receiving touchdowns. The goal is to roster as many top receivers as possible along with a top running back. If the Steelers can improve their offensive line and Kenny Pickett takes a step forward in his second year, Harris should be a low-end RB1. Furthermore, the former BYU star had 13 career rushing touchdowns entering the year. Tier 6: Melvin Gordon, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kenneth Walker III, Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson, James Robinson, Rashaad Penny, Tier 7: Michael Carter, J.D. He was well on his way last year, catching 18-of-20 targets, but a broken bone in his foot changed everything. Singletary and Gibson are both in intriguing situations. Najee Harris, Pit (RB5) -- Karabell 8. Fournette is set to be a three-down back for the Buccaneers in 2022, but there are growing concerns around the strength of Tampa Bays offensive line. He caught just 19-of-31 targets in 2019 and averaged only six yards per reception. You don't currently have any notifications, See if your team wins or loses with this trade View Trade Analyzer. This game is going to come down to which team can run the football. At just 23, he was the focal point of the Steelers otherwise-dreadful offense, garnering 307 rushing attempts (second) and 94 targets (tied for first among all RBs). So, if you miss out on a particular player you can see others on his tier. Hes locked into massive volume behind one of the best run-blocking offensive lines in the league. 1 RB in PPR and standard leagues. He's rushed for 33 touchdowns with the longest carry being for 62 yds. Drafted 2021 1.24 Exp 2. . Meanwhile, McCaffrey is the most prolific fantasy RB since LaDainian Tomlinson. RBs perform a little better than their average vs HOU, This is a 4 star matchup. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers. 1 pick, Commanders rip 'blatantly false' team sale report, Richardson logs colossal measurements at combine, Top QB in draft has one team he doesn't want to play for. Gainwell could even push Sanders for touches, and Mostert would see more work if Edmonds were to go down, but he's clearly in the top two in Miami's backfield rotation. McCaffrey has hovered around a 90-percent catch rate over the past two seasons, and he averaged 4.5 yards per carry and 9.0 yards per catch over seven games last year. Click here to confirm your accessLogin Now. 2023 was a year to forget for the consensus 1.01 in fantasy football drafts. section: | slug: 2022-fantasy-football-draft-prep-cooper-kupp-najee-harris-fall-unexpectedly-in-flex-league-12-team-ppr-draft | sport: football | route: article_single_fantasy | Despite having massive needs all over their . Bijan Robinson is the number 1 rated RB - no surprise there. And he does all of his damage in the most buttoned-up manner possible, reminiscent of how Barry Sanders used to operate. Start Over | Edit Players Summary Game Log Stats Projections Points Targets Notes See if your team wins or loses with this trade. However, Elliott is still expected to take the majority of carries, limiting Pollards upside. There are expectations he will take a bigger role in the passing game, but could losing goal-line work to AJ Dillon offset that? Name Team; Name Team; Jonathan Taylor: IND: Najee Harris: PIT: D'Andre Swift: DET: Christian McCaffrey: CAR: Javonte Williams: DEN: Breece Hall: NYJ: Austin . He rarely coughs up the rock, posting just five total fumbles over his first 640 touches. Get insight into every teams' depth chart to see all the backups and sleepers you need to know with our 2022 RB . Akers is already dealing with preseason injuries, and he struggled for explosiveness after returning from an Achilles injury. Will they use this as a rallying point and win a very winnable game or is there just no fight left? Jonathan Taylor vs Najee Harris Stats Taylor is running for 89.3 yds on the ground per game so far in his career. And he's primed for positive TD regression entering the final year of his rookie deal. Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Tier 3 Mid RB1sDalvin Cook, VikingsJoe Mixon, BengalsAlvin Kamara, SaintsD'Andre Swift, LionsLeonard Fournette, Buccaneers. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. Dillon led the Packers in carries and rushing yards and figures to see a bigger role in 2022, but Jones will limit him to mid to low RB2 value. Don't let the fact he battled through injury in 2021 throw you off of what is the glaringly obvious: Henry remains atop the mountain of best running backs in the NFL. 2022 STANDARD RANKINGS:QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers | Top 200| Superflex. The FLEX League draft I took part in Saturday with CBS Sports' Jamey Eisenberg and 10 other analysts from around the industry was one draft that featured some pretty surprising early results. 99 TE Dawson Knox BUF 7 $7 . If you draft either No. And his good luck continued in the second round, as Najee Harris tumbled to the 17th overall pick nearly a round later than his 6.84 ADP in NFC drafts, though over the past week, Harris' price has fallen to 8.41, so it might not be as outlandish as it seems. 1 running back, has seen his stock rise substantially. Elliott is ranked at his lowest point since he entered the NFL, but that could make him a bargain in drafts. Henry is a cyborg, simply put, and can do it all -- from running around and through defenders with ease, to running past them with speed unnatural to his size, to catching the ball out of the backfield to throwing it. 2. McCaffrey lost time to hamstring and left-ankle injuries last year after suffering from a right high-ankle sprain, shoulder, and thigh injuries in '20. He was a top-5 runner last season before suffering a knee injury that had him running in quicksand in the second half. Despite his current ADP ranking below those of both Najee Harris and Jonathan Taylor, Gibson arguably presents the most upside of the three backs this season. Taylor and McCaffrey are a slight step ahead in this tier compared to Ekeler, but all are extremely close, especially in PPR. The following 10 players have proven to be in a league of their own, in one way or several. Be sure to check out our full RB PPR rankings and RB tiers before you draft! discount code "SPORTING" to become a RotoBaller subscriber. However, with Jones still expected to be a major part of the backfield in Green Bay, Dillons opportunity to be a top-15 running back is severely hampered. He played in four games in 2021 with at least a 50% snap share and his PPR fantasy finishes were RB1, RB3, RB4 and RB3. Resigned to the fact that this team just doesnt have it. The Titans have a better schedule ranked a four out of five but a much worse offensive line. 1 WR in this particular draft. Copyright 2019-2023. Harris finished with 1,200 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Etienne is a popular breakout candidate, but will James Robinsons return slow his rocket ship to stardom? When hes on the field, hes still one of the very best dual-purpose backs in football. Tier 6 Mid RB2sTravis Etienne, JaguarsDavid Montgomery, BearsBreece Hall, JetsA.J. All Rights Reserved. Cook has been an elite fantasy back and he could see more chances as a pass catcher under new coach Kevin OConnell. Harris will see goal-line work, though, making him a low flex. Dillon, but he should see more work as a pass catcher in a new-look Packers offense that no longer has Davante Adams. I agree to receive the "Pick Six Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. Taylors 2,171 yards from scrimmage in 21 bested Henrys total yardage from 20 by 30 yards thanks to JT netting 246 more receiving yards. If he can do all of that on a bum knee, imagine what he can do on two good ones, as was the case early on last season. At 5-10, 226 pounds, he might not have the size of the 6-3, 250-pound Henry, but he more than makes up for that with across-the-board skills, speed, hands, and volume. Jonathan Taylor has accumulated 3,841 yds on the ground in 43 games played in his career. He finished with a whopping 20 scores and 1,558 all-purpose yards. No, I'm a California resident looking for the California Consumer Privacy Act form. Compare Najee Harris and Jonathan Taylor careers through the years of your choosing. Tier 4 Low RB1sAaron Jones, PackersSaquon Barkley, GiantsJavonte Williams, Broncos. Barkley is sort of hovering between the two tiers, and given the glimpse of the old Barkley that we saw in the first week of the preseason, he could even sneak up into the tier above by Labor Day weekend. They have each been complete busts through four weeks of the NFL season. Similarly, a back with elite pass-catching ability also has more opportunities to score TDs. Najee Harris, PIT ADP 8.08. When it comes to Taylor, we are just scratching the surface on what he is capable of in . Even before he got hurt last season, Henry was averaging fewer yards per carry (4.3 to JTs 5.5) and yards per catch (8.6 to 9.0). He has freakish athleticism that Najee Harris simply can't replicate. 02 Mar 2023 21:32:29 Considering the extent of CMCs injuries have not resulted in major surgeries or completely torn ligaments, I like him bouncing back to form in 2022. Damien Harris, PatriotsCam Akers, RamsMiles Sanders, EaglesDevin Singletary, BillsDarrell Henderson, Rams. That requires careful analysis and tireless preparation, two things deeply woven into Sporting News Fantasys DNA. That's a move you'll see a lot of this year, pairing upside with safety in that duo Derek Carr is another late-round QB target to consider pairing with Lance or Justin Fields. The Lions could re-sign the veteran running back in the offseason, especially if they don't trust Swift to stay healthy for an entire season. Watch the NFL all season long with fuboTV. 15 overall,. The scoring format for the tiers below is PPR and is correct as of Aug. 16, 2022. Michael Carter is a solid pass-catching RB, and the Jets could be throwing a lot in the second half this season. To this point in his career, Harris has laced them up in 34 contests and has gained 2,238 yds on the ground. King Henry could easily be the rushing champ again before his reign ends, but dont waste a top PPR pick on a volume-dependent back with little receiving pedigree less than nine months removed from a foot injury.