Fantasy Football 2022: Sleepers to Target and Possible Team Names for Your Squad

Kristopher KnoxAug 26, 2022

The 2022 NFL preseason is nearly complete. We're in the final week of exhibition action, which means that Week 1 is close—the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills will face off on September 8.

This also means that the fantasy football season is upon us. Managers who haven't yet conducted drafts for season-long leagues should be doing so in the coming days.

By now, you should have a good idea of which players to target early and the strategy you plan to carry into draft day. It's never too late for a little bit of cramming, though, and we're here to highlight a few potential sleepers for late-round consideration.

Below, you'll find three players who could dramatically out-pace their average draft position (ADP) in 2022. We'll examine where each player is being drafted and where the upside lies. We'll also dive into a few fun suggestions for those who haven't yet settled on the perfect team name.

Dameon Pierce, RB, Houston Texans

1 of 4

Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

HOUSTON, TX - AUGUST 03: Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce (31) catches a pass in the flat during the Houston Texans Training Camp session at Houston Methodist Training Center adjacent to NRG Stadium on August 3, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The rookie class is typically a great place to uncover late-round sleepers. Aside from top first-round picks, rookies usually don't enter the season with lofty fantasy expectations. This means that their production is often much higher than their draft slot might suggest.

Houston Texans rookie running back Dameon Pierce is a prime example for the 2022 season. The fourth-round pick out of Florida appears poised to lead Houston's backfield committee in 2022.

Pierce shined in the preseason opener, rushing five times for 49 yards. He sat out the second preseason game, which is typically the plan teams take with their starters. In Thursday's preseason finale, he carried six times for 37 yards and a touchdown.

The Texans will, however, likely use a rotation that also includes some combination of Marlon Mack, Dare Ogunbowale, Rex Burkhead and/or Royce Freeman.

"We're talking a lot about Dameon, but I'm going to say the same thing for, we like what Marlon has done, Royce, Rex, Dare," Texans head coach Lovie Smith said, per Mark Lane of Yahoo Sports. "We have a good group."

As a lead ball carrier, though, Pierce should have solid flex value at a minimum. With an ADP of 109, he's simply being drafted too low.

Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

2 of 4

Michael Owens/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 21: Chris Olave #12 of the New Orlean Saints poses for a portrait during the NFLPA Rookie Premiere on May 21, 2022 in Los Angeles, California (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Despite being a first-round pick, New Orleans Saints rookie wideout Chris Olave is firmly in sleeper territory. The Ohio State product has an ADP of 104, but like Pierce, he should be a solid flex option.

Olave's draft stock is likely hurt by the continued recovery of quarterback Jameis Winston from last season's torn ACL—and the foot injury that has sidelined him through the early preseason.

However, Winston returned to team drills this week, and we've seen the sort of prolific passer he can be when healthy. In 2019, he led the league with 5,109 passing yards and tossed 33 touchdowns. (He also had 30 interceptions, though, that's largely irrelevant to Olave's stock).

While New Orleans does have Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry and receiving back Alvin Kamara on the roster, its receiver depth is lacking. Olave should start immediately and is a polished prospect.

"Olave is a great route-runner with polish," Nate Tice of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department wrote. "He shows an understanding of not only the routes he runs but the concept that the offense is running and will tempo his routes accordingly."

Expect Olave to make an early impact as a flex starter with WR2 potential.

Trey Lance, QB, San Francisco 49ers

3 of 4

David Berding/Getty Images

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)

We're not going to let rookies hog all of the spotlights here. Second-year quarterback Trey Lance is entering his first season as the San Francisco 49ers' full-time starter, and he's being undervalued.

With an ADP of 99, Lance is trending as a low-end starter or backup. His dual-threat ability could make him a fantasy darling, however. Last season, Lance averaged a strong 4.4 yards per carry.

In his two starts last season, Lance combined for 441 passing yards and 120 rushing yards. Prorated over a 17-game season, Lance would have finished with 3,746 passing yards and 1,020 rushing yards.

Weapons like Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk are back for the 49errs, and there's every reason to believe that Lance can top 3,500 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards this season. Even with a modest touchdown-to-interception ratio—say, 24 and 12—Lance can be a high-end producer. Expect him to score at least a handful of rushing touchdowns along the way.

The caveat here, of course, is that Lance is less valuable in the rare league that doesn't award points for quarterback rushing. In most formats, he's poised to be a star.

Team-Name Suggestions

4 of 4

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (David Eulitt/Getty Images)

KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 20: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs scrambles away from defensive pressure during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Washington Commanders at Arrowhead Stadium on August 20, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)

Welcome to Mahomes (Patrick Mahomes)

You Mad, Burrow? (Joe Burrow)

Guess Who's Dak, Dak Again (Dak Prescott)

Love Hurts (Jalen Hurts)

Trey Bien (Trey Lance)

Derrick and the Dominoes (Derrick Henry)

Najee, I'm Good (Najee Harris)

Mixon Records (Joe Mixon)

Blame the Cook (Dalvin Cook)

Pierce the Veil (Dameon Pierce)

Tin Kupp (Cooper Kupp)

For Evans' Sake (Mike Evans)