RADIO
Danielle Hunter 2022 NFL Player Player Outlook: A DL1 When Healthy
2 years agoBack in 2020, there was a legitimate argument for Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Danielle Hunter to be the top-overall DL off any fantasy board. The LSU product offered elite upside and floor after posting two straight seasons with 14.5 sacks, 70+ tackles, and double-digit tackles for loss. Serious injuries these past two years have tanked the former Bayou Tiger's value. Hunter missed the entire 2020 season, plus half of last year. That kind of injury track record is concerning enough to drop him outside our top-five DL options. There are reasons for optimism, though. One reason for hope is that Hunter was again on pace for 14.5 sacks and 75 quarterback pressures last season before he was injured again. The other reason for hope is the presence of Za'Darius Smith. Hunter has done his best work with Everson Griffen playing opposite him, and Smith can be a comparable playmate. If those two can stay healthy, they could form one of the league's top pass-rushing duos. While injury concerns hurt Hunter in our ranks, his upside is still high enough to consider him a solid DL1.
