X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

The Biggest Fallers for 2022 Fantasy Football - Way Too Early Mock Draft Review

allen robinson fantasy football rankings NFL injury news

Justin Dunbar evaluates results of RotoBaller's early 2022 mock draft for fantasy football to find the biggest fallers from last season.

The playoffs may be going on right now, but for fantasy managers, we have reached the beginning of the offseason. With that in mind, it is never too early to look ahead to 2022! Following the end of the regular season, 12 members of the RotoBaller team, including myself, teamed up to do a 12-round mock draft for the 2022 fantasy football season. You can call it a "too early" mock draft, but hey, it's never too early to look ahead to next season!

Today, we will be looking at the biggest fallers in the mock draft. Every year, there are players that underachieve expectations, leading to them rising up draft boards the following year. Meanwhile, players may also not have the opportunities to produce that they previously have had.

The trickiest part of completing this mock draft? Doing so before the start of the actual offseason. Free agency can dramatically alter the value of individual players, as can the draft; 2022 rookies also weren't included in this mock. Nevertheless, this mock draft can give us a great idea of the relative value of players at the current moment. So, who is slipping the most in fantasy football circles? Let us take a closer look!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Complete Draft Board

Click image to enlarge 

For total draft information, click here. Previous ADP via Fantasy Pros. Stats/Expected Points via Pro Football Focus

 

Quarterback Fallers

Since quarterbacks went later in this draft than in standard home-league drafts, there were a lot of so-called "fallers" at the position. That being said, one stands out above the rest.

Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

  • Previous ADP: 55.6 (QB6), Mock Draft: 131 (QB11)

With a new offensive coordinator in Shane Waldron coming to Seattle, Russell Wilson seemed to be quite bust-proof in 2021. Sadly, no one could have predicted he would suffer a thumb injury that kept him out three weeks and then hampered his performance afterward. After coming back from his thumb injury, Wilson averaged just 6.97 yards/pass attempt, as opposed to the 9.57 yards/pass attempt he was averaging before the injury. That being said, he was the fantasy QB13 in points per game during this "cold stretch" and averaged 7.8 yards/pass attempt overall for the season. If he falls outside the top-10 quarterbacks, as he did here, he'll be a massive value. What team will he be playing for? Regardless, you can expect him to play at a higher level than he did this season.

 

Running Back Fallers

Myles Gaskin, Miami Dolphins

From the preseason on, where his role was uncertain, it was a roller-coaster to roster Myles Gaskin this season. After seemingly being an RB2 based on his lead back role with his receiving prowess, it all fell apart in the fantasy playoffs; after returning from the COVID-19 list, he got stuck in a three-way committee due to Duke Johnson Jr.'s emergence. We'll see what a new coaching staff in Miami means for Gaskin, but he doesn't have draft capital on his side, nor has he impressed in terms of peripheral metrics. It's likely we see him function as strictly a third-down/passing-down running back moving forward, though that still has some value in PPR formats.

Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks

Although he posted three RB2 finishes to start the season, Chris Carson missed all but four games due to a neck injury in 2021, leaving his status in doubt moving forward. That being said, if he's healthy and the team lets Rashaad Penny leave in free agency, Carson is back in a similar spot he was at the start of the year. That's the difficult part about doing a mock draft this early; so much is in flux. I could see Carson rising if the right breaks go his way this offseason.

Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers

After signing a brand-new contract with the Packers this past offseason, the expectation was that Aaron Jones would continue to be the clear featured running back in 2021. That was how it was trending prior to an injury that he suffered late in Week 10, which coincided with the emergence of AJ Dillon. Now, Jones is still the better fantasy running back of the two with usage in the passing game, but Dillon is going to vulture away touchdown opportunities. Consider his finish (RB14) in points per game to be his likely ceiling heading into 2022.

Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

In some drafts, Ezekiel Elliott was a top-three pick. Thus, it is certainly a disappointment that Elliott finished as the RB19 overall, and finished poorly down the stretch. From Weeks 10 to 17, he eclipsed 50 rushing yards just once and averaged only 3.22 yards/rush attempt during that span. Per Elliott, he was dealing with a torn PCL, which would explain the lack of efficiency. Yet, with Tony Pollard a fixture in the backfield as well, the declining efficiency, and the general trend of running backs with his previous workload, he's going to be a difficult sell next year.

 

Wide Receiver Fallers

Julio Jones, Tennessee Titans

Between his age (now 33) and him changing teams, there was a lot to be worried about with Julio Jones's 2021 fantasy outlook. At the same time, this is the same player that averaged 2.60 yards/route run in 2020! To be fair, prior to missing four weeks in the middle of the season due to injury, he was still averaging 2.18 yards/route run. That being said, his routes were being limited due to injury already, which is sadly likely to continue moving forward given his age. 33-year-old receivers don't often get better, and if Jones remains with the Titans, it's hard to see a bounce-back coming next year.

Allen Robinson II, Free Agent

What happened to Allen Robinson? The 28-year-old, despite dealing with the awful quarterback play, was constantly a WR1 in fantasy leagues for several seasons in a row, leaving little doubt that he'd be the same in 2021; he was drafted as the WR11, per Fantasy Pros. Instead, he averaged just 1.13 yards/route run, finishing as the WR83 overall. Now, can we finally get him to an offense with productive quarterback play? Pretty please? His landing spot will likely have a major effect on his draft position, though don't be surprised if he bounced back in a major way next season.

Kenny Golladay, New York Giants

Wide receivers changing teams is generally a clear red flag when it comes to fantasy outlooks of specific players, but after DeAndre Hopkins and Stefon Diggs debunked the myth in 2020, there was some reason to be optimistic for Kenny Golladay in 2021. The problem? He signed with the paltry Giants and was injured for most of training camp. Overall, he averaged just 1.23 yards per route/run and failed to score a SINGLE touchdown. Since he's in the same spot he was last year, there isn't any reason to expect a notable bounce back in 2022. Perhaps that can change with a new and improved coaching staff, but consider me pessimistic.

 

Tight End Fallers

A majority of the top tight ends were once again drafted highly in the mock draft, though these two players did see their respective stocks slip.

TE Noah Fant, Denver Broncos

  • Previous ADP: 84.2 (TE8), Mock Draft: 113 (TE11)

With a run-heavy attack and several weapons to spread the ball around to, the Broncos' offense was a massive disappointment both generally and from a fantasy perspective. Now, Fant still finished as the TE12, but it wasn't the complete top-five breakout that many believed he was capable of in his third season. With a new quarterback in 2022, perhaps he finally can reach that potential and be a value pick outside the top-10.

TE Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders

  • Previous ADP: 22.4 (TE2), Mock Draft: 41 (TE4)

There was some hope that Darren Waller would challenge Travis Kelce as the TE1 this year, which is why he was being drafted in the second round in 12-team drafts. However, that did not come to fruition. Interestingly, though, this could make Waller a buy-low candidate in 2022. Waller was the TE3 in PFF expected fantasy points and dealt with injuries last year. Fully healthy next season and with a new coaching staff in place, I'd feel comfortable drafting him as a borderline top-three tight end again.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Quinshon Judkins

Signs Fully Guaranteed Deal with Cleveland
EDM

Derek Ryan Retires From Hockey
Connor Zary

Agrees to Three-Year Deal With Flames
Carey Price

Canadiens Trade Carey Price to Sharks
Quentin Johnston

Scores Twice in Brazil
Justin Herbert

Spectacular in Win Over Chiefs
Marquise Brown

Sees Absurd Target Share Friday
Bobby Witt Jr.

Dealing With Back Spasms
Bobby Witt Jr.

Exits Early on Friday
Xavier Worthy

Injures Shoulder Early in Brazil, Questionable to Return
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Placed on Injured List With Quad Strain
Tyler Glasnow

Scratched on Friday With Back Tightness
Jayden Reed

Questionable to Play in Season Opener
Christian McCaffrey

Listed as Questionable for Season Opener With Calf Issue
Tyreek Hill

Cleared for Week 1
Rasmus Hojgaard

Finishes Tied For Second at Omega European Masters
Tyrrell Hatton

Finishes Tied for 32nd at LIV Indianapolis
Matt Fitzpatrick

Finishes Fifth at Omega European Masters
Patrick Cantlay

Finishes Tied For Second in 2025 FedEx Cup Standings
Xander Schauffele

Finishes 42nd in 2025 FedEx Cup Standings
Tyler Glasnow

Scratched From Friday's Start for Undisclosed Reasons
Christian Kirk

Ruled Out for Week 1
Shohei Ohtani

Returning to the Mound on Friday
Kyle Finnegan

Lands on Injured List With Adductor Strain
Aaron Judge

Returns to Right Field on Friday
De'Von Achane

Without Injury Designation Heading Into Week 1
Christian McCaffrey

Seen Working on Side Field During Friday's Practice
Malik Nabers

Cleared to Play on Sunday
Willson Contreras

' Suspension Reduced, to Start Serving it on Friday
Kodai Senga

Mets Send Kodai Senga to Triple-A to Get Right
Chris Godwin

Officially Ruled Out for Week 1
Malik Nabers

' Reps Limited Friday Due to "Tight" Back
Caio Borralho

Set For A Title Eliminator Bout
Nassourdine Imavov

Looks To Earn A Title Shot
Mauricio Ruffy

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Set For UFC Paris Co-Main Event
Modestas Bukauskas

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Paul Craig

In Dire Need Of Victory
Mason Jones

Set for Main-Card Bout
Bolaji Oki

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Rhys McKee

Set To Open Up UFC Paris Main Card
Axel Sola

Alex Sola Set To Make His UFC Debut
Saquon Barkley

Scores Touchdown in Low-Yardage Outing
Jalen Hurts

Rushes for Two Touchdowns on Thursday
Javonte Williams

Salvages Inefficient Outing With Two Touchdowns
CeeDee Lamb

110-Yard Game Marred by Four Drops
Will Shipley

Questionable to Return on Thursday Night
Pablo López

Pablo Lopez Expected to Return on Friday
Micah Parsons

Expected to Play in Week 1
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Exits With Knee Contusions
Christian McCaffrey

Listed as Limited With Calf Injury
Will Smith

Unlikely to Play This Weekend
Shohei Ohtani

to Pitch on Monday
Jon Rahm

Looks to Prove His Importance on European Ryder Cup Team
Tommy Fleetwood

Among Leaders of European Ryder Cup Team
Brandon Sproat

to Start for Mets on Sunday
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Close to Triple-Double Versus Serbia
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Fills Box Score Against Turkey
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Shakes Off Minor Injury
E.J. Liddell

Inks Two-Way Deal With Nets
NBA

Ben Simmons Reportedly Considering Retirement
P.J. Washington

Agrees to Four-Year, $90 Million Extension
Mike Trout

Plans to Return on Thursday
Will Smith

X-Rays Negative on Will Smith's Hand
Will Smith

Exits With Hand Contusion
Jackson Chourio

in Lineup Wednesday Despite Hamstring Cramps
Sepp Straka

Gets Captain's Pick to Join Team Europe
Christian Yelich

Dealing With Soreness in Lower Back
PGA

Victor Hovland to Make Third Ryder Cup Appearance for Team Europe
J.J. Spaun

Set to Represent Team USA for First Time at Bethpage
Russell Henley

Makes First Ryder Cup Appearance at Bethpage
Harris English

Named to Ryder Cup Team for Second Time
Kyle Finnegan

Dealing With Groin Issue
Justin Thomas

Making Fourth Ryder Cup Team Appearance at Bethpage
Ben Griffin

Making First Career Ryder Cup Appearance at Bethpage
Bryson DeChambeau

Set to be Part of Team USA at Bethpage
Santi Aldama

Bags Double-Double in Losing Effort
Guerschon Yabusele

Erupts for 36 Points Against Poland
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Leads Slovenia Into Next Round at EuroBasket
San Antonio Spurs

Stanley Umude Signs Training Camp Deal With Spurs
Reece Beekman

Joins Magic for Training Camp
Justin Minaya

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Magic
Alexandre Sarr

to Miss Rest of EuroBasket
Jared McCain

"On Pace" for Training Camp
Luke Hughes

Devils Optimistic About Signing Luke Hughes
Martin Fehérváry

Martin Fehervary on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Dylan Holloway

Good to Go for Start of Season
Josh Morrissey

Fully Healthy for Start of Season
Dennis Hildeby

Signs Three-Year Extension With Maple Leafs
Franz Wagner

Collects Double-Double in Blowout Win
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Achieves Rare Numbers at EuroBasket
Nikola Vučević

Nikola Vucevic Dominates Against Sweden
Kristaps Porzingis

Finding Form at EuroBasket
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Suffers Minor Injury at EuroBasket
Victor Wembanyama

Looking "Quite Stellar"
Denny Hamlin

Ends Eventful Day at Darlington in Seventh Place
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Almost Earns a Top-Five Finish at Darlington
John Hunter Nemechek

has His Best 2025 Performance at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

Has An Underwhelming Performance At Darlington
Josh Berry

Crashes Early and Suffers A Playoff Setback at Darlington
Giannis Antetokounmpo

"Staying in Milwaukee"
Chase Elliott

Under Playoff Pressure After 17th-Place Darlington Finish
Kyle Larson

Despite Hendrick Mediocrity, Kyle Larson Remains Pretty Safe in Playoffs
Alex Bowman

Opening-Lap Crash and Botched Pit Stop May Have Sunk Alex Bowman's Playoff Hopes
Erik Jones

Darlington Master Erik Jones Comes Up Short but Still Finishes Third
AJ Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger Impresses at Southern 500
Daniel Suarez

is A DFS Risk for Darlington Lineups?
Noah Gragson

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Noah Gragson for Darlington?
Ty Dillon

is an Excellent Punt Option for Darlington DFS Lineups

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP