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In a blockbuster deal in the offseason, the Green Bay Packers traded star wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders for a first and second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The 29-year-old finished as fantasy's WR2 in PPR formats in 2021. He caught 123-of-169 targets for 1,553 yards and 11 touchdowns over 16 games. He signed a massive five-year, $141.25 million contract with the Raiders shortly after the trade from Green Bay.
Adams will be reunited with his college quarterback Derek Carr. The two connected for 24 touchdowns in 2013 at Fresno State. Can Adams be fantasy's top wideout after catching passes from future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Rodgers to now Derek Carr? Carr and Adams have a history together, and it shouldn't take long for the two to connect on the field right off the bat.
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Will Davante Adams Be Fantasy Football's Top Wideout in 2022 With The Move To Las Vegas?
The move to Las Vegas is a quarterback downgrade for Adams, and he will face stiffer competition for targets being traded to a team that already has Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller. Although there will be more competition for targets, the Raiders are projected to be an explosive offense under new offensive-minded head coach Josh McDaniels.
Adams had a massive target share in Green Bay, owning 32% of the team's target percentage, which ranked first among all wide receivers. The Raiders signed him to a massive contract, and McDaniels will find creative ways to get Adams the ball. The Carr-to-Adams connection should pay dividends to fantasy managers this year.
.@MatthewBerryTMR explains why the Derek Carr-Davante Adams connection will pay dividends for fantasy managers this season. pic.twitter.com/J4gxEz0hAb
— NBC Sports EDGE (@NBCSportsEdge) August 5, 2022
There are always concerns when a star wideout who has spent his entire career catching passes from an elite quarterback changes teams this late in his career. Adams didn't have much behind him in Green Bay, but will have competition with Hunter Renfrow, who led the Raiders in targets, catches, yards and touchdowns last season.
The path for Adams to be fantasy's top wideout is there, and he will need the same type of target volume he had in Green Bay. The former Green Bay Packer will have the challenging task of outscoring Justin Jefferson, Cooper Kupp, Ja'Marr Chase, and Stefon Diggs, who, along with Adams, are currently RotoBaller's top-five wide receivers in 2022.
Kupp had the best fantasy season ever (145-1,947-16) for a wide receiver last year, and the chances of him repeating last year's insane totals are unlikely. Jefferson (108-1,616-10) is an above-average offense and is projected by many to finish as 2022's top wide receiver.
Chase exploded for 81 catches for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns in his rookie season, and the Bengals' offense could take another step forward in 2022. Diggs (103-1,225-10) is Buffalo's top option in a high-octane offense led by last year's fantasy's top quarterback, Josh Allen.
Where Should Fantasy Managers Draft Davante Adams in 2022?
Davante Adams has an ADP of 11.1 overall and is the fourth wide receiver off draft boards after Cooper Kupp, Justin Jefferson, and Ja'Marr Chase. Fantasy managers should be looking to draft Adams at the end of Round 1 in standard 12-team leagues.
He has been one of the most consistent receivers in football over the last five years, and despite moving to a new team, Adams should finish as a top-wideout in 2022.
Old WR faces in new places: How to value Davante Adams in fantasy football this season. @DanielDopp, @FieldYates and I discuss! pic.twitter.com/5sSGb7SLwV
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) August 1, 2022
Davante Adams 2022 Fantasy Football Outlook
Davante Adams' receiving yards prop is 1,200 yards, meaning the star receiver is expected to generate another 100-1,200-10 campaign. Worthy of a first-round pick. The question is will it be enough to be fantasy's top wideout?
No, he will need to surpass last year and come close to his 2020 numbers, when he caught 18 touchdowns. I think he will finish in the top-five per usual, but Justin Jefferson is the prediction by many to finish as fantasy's overall top receiver.
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