The best way to find fantasy success is to draft well. That’s easier said than done, but with enough research you can find some guys who will present great value to your team later in the draft. Of course, there are some things you can’t plan for such as poor coaching decisions or injuries. However, for the most part there are some signs to look for. For quarterbacks, anything from coaching to the talent of their receivers will be important to look at. In 2021, players like Matthew Stafford, Joe Burrow, and Jalen Hurts provided excellent value. There will be more quarterbacks that will be draft day or waiver wire steals in 2022. Without further ado, here’s a top 5 list of values at quarterback for 2022.
5. Daniel Jones
Start-Up ADP: 199.18
Redraft ADP: 172
Best Season Average: Daniel Jones averaged 17.2 PPG in his 13-game 2019 rookie year.
Daniel Jones has had three years to prove himself and hasn’t done it yet. In his defense, he has had Pat Shurmur and Joe Judge as his coaches. In 2022, he will have Brian Daboll. Daboll is widely credited with the development of Josh Allen. Allen even lobbied for Daboll to stay in Buffalo as his offensive coordinator. Unfortunately for Allen, Daboll wanted to move into head coaching. Fortunately for Jones, Daboll chose the New York Giants. The time is ticking for Jones, and 2022 is his last chance. For the price tag of the last starting quarterback on the board, why not take a chance on Danny Dimes?
Eli's hopeful the Giants' new coaching staff will help Daniel Jones flourish. 👀 https://t.co/tFihgg5xkt pic.twitter.com/rar0Aqgkng
— theScore (@theScore) June 25, 2022
The Giants also have a solid set of weapons. Saquon Barkley, Kadarius Toney, and Kenny Golladay should help take the pressure off Jones at least somewhat. The concern is health as all three of have injury history. Jones also has an injury history of his own, having never completed a full season in his three years. If he does, Jones provides rushing potential. He had the No. 5 most rushing yards per game, and the No. 7 most rushing yards total among QBs in 2020.
4. Derek Carr
Start-Up ADP: 137
Redraft ADP: 104
Best Season Average: Derek Carr averaged 17.6 PPG in 2016, the 13th highest average.
Derek Carr has been perfectly serviceable his entire career but has never had a QB1 season. Carr also has never had good wide receivers. In 2022, Carr will be reuniting with his college teammate Davante Adams. Adams, Hunter Renfrow, and Darren Waller is a solid talent pool of pass catchers. Josh McDaniels as the new Raiders head coach should help as well. It’ll be a long time coming for Carr, but 2022 may finally be the year he establishes himself as a good fantasy quarterback. He is certainly one of the best values at quarterback for 2022.
Since 2015:
Most Game-Winning Drives in NFL:
Derek Carr, 29Most 4th-Quarter Comebacks in NFL:
Derek Carr, 23 pic.twitter.com/duL4NmUbBy— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) June 23, 2022
In the talented AFC West, Carr and the Raiders will have to do anything necessary to keep up- hopefully leading to multiple high scoring games and fantasy performances. Carr finished 2021 top 5 in pass attempts, deep ball attempts, protection rate, passing yards, accuracy rating, completion percentage vs zone and accuracy rating vs zone. Now, it’s time to take another step forward thanks to more talented receivers in 2022. If he can up his No. 13 most (23) touchdowns from 2021, that would be an easy start. Renfrow, Waller, and Adams should help plenty in that department.
3. Jared Goff
Start-Up ADP: 224.5
Redraft ADP: 169
Best Season Average: Jared Goff averaged 19.9 PPG in 2018, the 9th best average.
The Lions went hard at work this offseason trying to surround Goff with as much talent as possible. Not only did they already have DeAndre Swift, T.J. Hockenson, and Amon-Ra St. Brown– they added D.J. Chark and Jameson Williams as well. The Lions finished with PFF’s No. 13 ranked offensive line last year as well, so it’s a solid line. PFF’s current rankings has them as No. 3 going into 2022. This is genuinely a good-looking offense in 2022, so why not take a chance on the one commanding it all?
WOW🤯 #Lions HC Dan Campbell expects to see QB Jared Goff back at MVP form.😳
Could we see Goff make a comeback under Campbell?🤔 pic.twitter.com/Fa4aR4hvhJ
— NFC North News (@NFCNorthNewss) June 16, 2022
He’s valued at the very back end of starting NFL QBs but has had two top 10 PPG averages in his career. He has low-end QB1 upside and should have a QB2 floor in 2022. Goff finished 2021 as QB24 while only playing 14 games. Now going into his second year with the Lions, and talent being added around him, Goff should take at least a small step forward in both fantasy and actual performance. He should be one of the better values at quarterback for 2022.
2. Matthew Stafford
Start-Up ADP: 112.08
Redraft ADP: 80
Best Season Average: Matthew Stafford averaged 22.2 PPG in 2011, with 2 other seasons averaging over 20 PPG.
One year after finishing as QB5, and his situation not really changing, Matthew Stafford is valued at the bottom of tier 1 or top of tier 2 amongst quarterbacks. Cooper Kupp is still a great wide receiver, Sean McVay is still a great coach, and Robert Woods was swapped for a lateral move at worst in Allen Robinson. Plus, Cam Akers returning should open up the run game more than Darrell Henderson and Sony Michel did. If that happens, then the play action should get better as well. The Rams are also still reportedly hoping to resign Odell Beckham. In his 2nd year on the team, it only makes sense for Stafford to improve.
Kyler Murray (QB4) and Matthew Stafford (QB11) were separated by just 1.78 points per game in fantasy football this year.
— Dave Kluge (@DaveKluge) February 11, 2022
In 2021, Stafford was top 3 in yards, passing touchdowns, red zone attempts, yards per attempt, completion percentage vs man, and passer rating vs man. Stafford is undoubtedly among the league’s elite quarterbacks, and the Rams system is undoubtedly helping. 2021 was Stafford’s first season over 4,500 passing yards since 2013 and, of course, the Rams won the Super Bowl. Stafford is as safe a bet as it gets, and he isn’t that expensive. Those who take the chance on him again in 2022 will be rewarded like those who did in 2021. At the very least, he is a solid value at quarterback for fantasy football in 2022.
1. Matt Ryan
Start-Up ADP: 192.08
Redraft ADP: 143
Best Season Average: Matt Ryan averaged 22.3 PPG in 2018, 2 years after his MVP season where he averaged 21.9 PPG- both of these were the 2nd highest averages for the year.
The Indianapolis Colts have been bouncing between QBs since Andrew Luck retired. On his way out of the NFL, Phillip Rivers gave it one last go in 2020 and helped lead the Colts to the playoffs and finished the year as the QB20 in fantasy. Then head coach Frank Reich brought in Carson Wentz who he had spent time with in Philadelphia, and while Wentz finished the year as the QB13 in fantasy- the Colts missed the playoffs after losing to the Jaguars in Week 18. In 2022, Matt Ryan will look to bring the Colts to the playoffs and be a relevant fantasy quarterback.
The closer we get to full blown redraft Szn Matt Ryan is looking good for a late rd QB 1 👏🏾
— LaQuan Jones (@RealDealFantasy) June 25, 2022
Valued around the bottom of tier 2 and top of tier 3, Ryan is the perfect option for those looking for a budget quarterback. Not only is Ryan a former MVP, but the Colts offense is excellent. Ryan is a better quarterback than Wentz and even Rivers finish as QB20 is better than Ryan’s current value. With Jonathan Taylor leading the backfield, Michael Pittman proving himself, and rookies Alec Pierce and Jelani Woods getting involved- the Colts should be a scary offense in 2022. That makes Ryan a tantalizing fantasy quarterback with shades of 2021 Matthew Stafford or 2020 Tom Brady– both of whom revived their careers on new offenses in those years. Ryan should be considered one of the good values at quarterback for fantasy football in 2022.
