Predicting 3 Overlooked Fantasy Football Stars in 2022

In the fantasy football world, the first manager to uncover a breakout star gets to enjoy a season's worth of spoils.

Be ready to pounce, because the 2022 NFL campaign could be loaded with rising stars.

From a first-time starting quarterback to an emerging wide receiver catching passes from a former MVP, let's highlight three sleepers with breakout potential.

Trey Lance, QB, San Francisco 49ers

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EAGAN, MN - AUGUST 18: Trey Lance #5 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during a joint practice with the Minnesota Vikings at training camp at TCO Performance Center on August 18, 2022 in Eagan, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

The San Francisco 49ers may not have traded Jimmy Garoppolo yet, but they're all-in on Trey Lance.

They paid a fortune to get him with the No. 3 pick in the 2021 draft. They handed him the keys to the offense this summer. Oh, and they really need this to pay off, since their Super Bowl hopes are now in his hands.

They will position him for success and, in a lot of ways, they already have. He has playmakers all around him and an offensive line anchored by a future Hall of Famer in Trent Williams. He also has the benefit of coach Kyle Shanahan, who's one of the best play-callers in the league.

Now, this doesn't guarantee fantasy success for Lance, but the runway is cleared for his take-off. Even if the 22-year-old can't maximize the impact of all the pass-catchers around him, he elevates his own fantasy floor with his explosive rushing ability.

J.K. Dobbins, RB, Baltimore Ravens

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LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 28: J.K. Dobbins #27 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on before the preseason game against the Washington Football Team at FedExField on August 28, 2021 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

J.K. Dobbins had breakout appeal last season before an ACL tear derailed his campaign before it even got started.

The 23-year-old hasn't been cleared to play in Week 1 yet, but there have been promising reports coming out of the Baltimore Ravens' training camp.

If Dobbins is healthy, it should be all-systems-go for his race to fantasy relevance. He has enough shake to slip past defenders, enough strength to run through them and enough speed to turn his opportunities into touchdowns. He has some value as a pass-catcher, too, so he can punish defenders and pump up his stat line in myriad ways.

Baltimore seems ready to lean heavier into its rushing attack after trading away Marquise Brown this offseason. Dobbins should be front and center of this ground game, and he could set off fantasy fireworks. Over the last five weeks of 2020, he totaled 425 yards and six touchdowns on only 62 carries.

Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts

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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 13: Michael Pittman Jr. #11 of the Indianapolis Colts runs on the field during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on August 13, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)

You could argue Michael Pittman Jr. already had his breakout season.

After a relatively quiet rookie year in 2020, the 24-year-old erupted as a sophomore in 2021. He turned his 129 targets into 88 receptions for 1,082 yards and six touchdowns.

Pretty impressive, right? Well, it could be a whole lot better now that Indianapolis has swapped out Carson Wentz for Matt Ryan at quarterback.

Pittman has no major challengers for targets, which means Ryan, a former MVP who has completed 65.5 percent of his passes and thrown for 367 touchdowns, could be laser-locked on him.

It wouldn't be at all shocking for the USC product to crack the top 10 receiver rankings and make a serious push for the top five.