Trey Lance, Dameon Pierce Are Must-Have 2022 Fantasy Sleepers

Ten sleepers poised to make a splash for fantasy managers in 2022.

As long as you have a strategy in place when it comes to roster construction, making picks in the first few rounds of your fantasy draft shouldn’t be difficult. It’s the middle-to-late rounds when you have to be more creative. You can look at average draft position and see who the top players available are at certain picks, but there are always a few better options lurking further down the list. Identifying those key sleepers could be the difference between winning and losing your fantasy league. 

The term “sleeper” has different meanings for different people in the world of fantasy football. Some folks believe it’s simply a player who will outperform his draft position. That would include the likes of Joe Burrow, Damien Harris or Michael Pittman Jr. in 2021. Others believe it’s a relative unknown or once forgotten player who emerges into a useful fantasy option, such as Cordarrelle Patterson or Dalton Schultz.

In my opinion, both of these definitions are true but with a caveat. I don’t see a player as a sleeper if he’s already been a valuable fantasy asset during his career. For example, Matt Ryan, Saquon Barkley and Amari Cooper aren’t “sleepers” to me. (Yes, I’ve seen Barkley and Cooper listed as sleepers). Ryan has been a top-10 fantasy quarterback multiple times, Barkley was once an elite back, and we all know Cooper can produce.

Could these players be labeled as bargains in 2022 fantasy football drafts? Absolutely. But they’re certainly not considered “sleepers” based on my definition of the term. I also consider select rookies to be sleepers, as these players could outperform their draft position and have obviously never produced a fantasy-relevant season in the pros.

With that in mind, here are 10 players to target who could be the best of the best in the fantasy football sleeper class of 2022.

Breakouts | Deep sleepers | Busts

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Breece Hall, RB, Jets
Hall landed in a good but not great situation with the Jets, who already possess a good, young runner in Michael Carter. Still, I project Hall to be the lead back and see most of the early-down and goal-line opportunities for the Men in Green. What's more, Hall should lead the Jets backfield in touches though his pass-catching chances will be limited with Carter in the mix. That’s why he’s a “sleeper” and not a “breakout.”

A.J. Dillon, RB, Packers
Dillon isn't a traditional sleeper (we all know about "Quadzilla"), but he's in a good spot to remain the lead runner in Green Bay in terms of carries. Aaron Jones will also get his chances, but I see him being more involved in the pass attack with Davante Adams off the roster. In fact, a season with 200 carries could be in the cards for Dillon in 2022. He'll also see his share of red-zone looks, making the B.C. product a potential bargain.

Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seahawks
Walker, a second round pick out of Michigan State, could be a great bargain for fantasy fans as a rookie. With Chris Carson no longer in the mix, he'll have to compete with Rashaad Penny for touches. While the veteran was great late last year, he has been prone to injuries throughout his NFL career. As a result, I could easily see a scenario where the talented Walker leads Seattle's backfield in touches this season.

Elijah Moore, WR, Jets
Moore would have been among my top fantasy breakouts for this season if the Jets didn’t use a first-round pick on Garrett Wilson. Still, I see Moore as the potential targets leader among wideouts for the Men in Green. He showed off some serious skills in limited time as a rookie, averaging nearly 13 fantasy points per game. That includes three games where he scored 20-plus points. Look for Moore of Elijah in 2022.

Drake London, WR, Falcons
London is in a terrific spot from a fantasy perspective, as the Falcons' depth chart at wide receiver doesn't have a ton of talent. I'd project the USC product to be the top wideout in the passing game for Marcus Mariota. He'll probably be selected as a No. 4 option in seasonal drafts, but he has low WR2 upside in a best-case scenario. London will also be one of the first players selected in most rookie-only dynasty league drafts.

Allen Lazard, WR, Packers
In a trade to the Las Vegas Raiders, Aaron Rodgers lost his top option in the passing game, Davante Adams. That leaves Lazard as the team’s top receiver lined out wide, and he already has the trust and a rapport with Rodgers. Sure, the team added Sammy Watkins and rookies Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, but I still see Lazard as the best option among Packers receivers. He can be drafted as a No. 4 wideout in 2022.

Trey Lance, QB, 49ers
The 49ers moved up in last year’s NFL draft to get Lance in the top five, and he’s now in a position to make good on his big-time potential. A versatile quarterback who rushed for 1,100 yards in his final full season at North Dakota State, Lance could be this year’s version of Jalen Hurts but more upside as a passer. The quarterback position is deep, so Lance can be had in the double-digit rounds and could be a huge fantasy sleeper.

Kadarius Toney, WR, Giants
Toney showed some flashes of potential as a rookie, including a massive 29.6-point explosion in a loss to the Cowboys. Injuries derailed what might have become a bigger statistical campaign, but Toney is back at 100% and projected to start in Year 2. In an offense that should be more productive under new head coach Brian Daboll, I can see a scenario in which Toney emerges into a weekly No. 3 wideout in fantasy leagues.

Dameon Pierce, RB, Texans
Pierce landed in a great spot, as the Texans have one of the least talented backfields in the NFL. A fourth-round pick out of Florida, Pierce should be able to push his way past Marlon Mack and Rex Burkhead on the depth chart either in camp or during the season. A versatile back, he averaged 5.7 yards per rush and caught 19 passes in 13 games for the Gators a season ago. Pierce also scored 16 total touchdowns in the 2021 campaign.

Cole Kmet, TE, Bears
Kmet wasn't a reliable fantasy option last season, but he did show some flashes of potential in the Bears offense. With Allen Robinson now in Los Angeles, the third-year tight end could become a popular option for Justin Fields. The Ohio State product liked to throw the ball to his tight ends as a rookie, and that trend should continue in 2022. Don't be surprised if Kmet puts up career-best numbers for the Bears and fantasy fans.

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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. Click here to read all his articles here on SI Fantasy. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram for your late-breaking fantasy news and the best analysis in the business!