Fantasy Football 2022: QB, RB, WR, TE Rankings and Top Sleepers

The NFL preseason is nearly over. Eight exhibition games are on the schedule for Saturday, then two more on Sunday. Then, it's full steam ahead toward the 2022 regular season.

That also means it's almost time for the 2022 fantasy football season. If your league hasn't drafted yet, it will before Sept. 8, when the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills kick off the year with what should be an exciting contest.

At this point, all fantasy football rankings are based on what we expect to happen. Nobody knows for sure. But there have been training camp storylines to monitor, preseason games to analyze and more that have helped shape projections for the 2022 season.

As the preseason winds down, here's an updated look at positional rankings, along with a sleeper to keep an eye on at each spot.

Quarterbacks

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MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - AUGUST 20: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins throws a pass during the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium on August 20, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

2. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

3. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

4. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

5. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

6. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

7. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

8. Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos

9. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

10. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

11. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

12. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

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Sleeper: Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

If you're looking to carry a second quarterback on your roster to open the season, Tagovailoa is a great option. He shouldn't be relied upon as a starter right now, but the 24-year-old may progress into that type of fantasy role later in the season.

Tagovailoa hasn't put up substantial fantasy numbers over his first two years in the NFL. However, the Dolphins' offense has greatly improved since the end of last season. Tagovailoa will now be throwing the ball to wide receiver Tyreek Hill (in addition to Jaylen Waddle), while the backfield mix will include Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert and Sony Michel.

There's a good chance that Tagovailoa will have the best year of his NFL career thus far in 2022. And if he starts to play closer to the way he did during his time in college at Alabama, he could be a breakout fantasy star this season.

Running Backs

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson (8) runs with the ball during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

1. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

2. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers

3. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers

4. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans

5. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings

6. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals

7. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

8. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers

9. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers

10. Leonard Fournette, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

11. D'Andre Swift, Detroit Lions

12. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

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Sleeper: Brian Robinson, Washington Commanders

As Antonio Gibson has been trending down this preseason, Robinson's fantasy stock has been on the rise. The Commanders took the Alabama running back in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft, and it quickly became clear he'd have a role in a backfield mix also featuring Gibson and pass-catching specialist J.D. McKissic.

But could Robinson actually be the top RB on the Washington depth chart in the near future? It's quite possible, especially now that Gibson has been working as a kick returner since his fumble in Week 1 of the preseason. (He also had six fumbles last season.)

Robinson should still remain on the board into the later rounds of drafts, providing tremendous value considering his expected workload. Don't be surprised if Robinson gets a large number of touches and handles a lot of the goal-line work for the Commanders.

Wide Receivers

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Irvine, CA - AUGUST 06: Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Allen Robinson II (1) during the Los Angeles Rams training camp on August 6, 2022, at UC Irvine in Irvine, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

1. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams

2. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

3. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

4. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills

5. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders

6. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

7. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers

8. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

9. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins

10. Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts

11. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos

12. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

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Sleeper: Allen Robinson, Los Angeles Rams

Robinson isn't a sleeper in the sense that he'll be on the board in the back half of drafts, but more so because he's getting picked much later than he should. Per Fantasy Football Calculator, Robinson's average draft position in 12-team PPR leagues is the seventh pick of the fifth round.

Last year, Robinson was a huge fantasy disappointment. But he was also part of a lackluster Chicago Bears offense in which quarterback Justin Fields was enduring growing pains as a rookie. So Robinson wasn't exactly set up for success.

Now, Robinson will be the No. 2 wide receiver for the Rams, lining up on the opposite side of Cooper Kupp and catching passes from Matthew Stafford. There will be plenty of targets coming Robinson's way, and he has the potential to do a lot with them.

Tight Ends

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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 18: Cole Kmet #85 of the Chicago Bears warms up before the preseason game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Chicago Bears at Lumen Field on August 18, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

2. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

3. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons

4. Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys

5. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

6. T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions

7. Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders

8. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

9. Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals

10. Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills

11. Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears

12. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

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Sleeper: Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears

The Bears' offense shouldn't be quite as bad as it was last year, especially if Fields takes a big step forward in his second season. But outside of Darnell Mooney, they don't have a great group of wide receivers.

However, they do have Kmet, who could emerge as a top fantasy tight end this year. Last season, he took a big step forward from his 2020 rookie campaign, notching 60 receptions for 612 yards in 17 games. He didn't score any touchdowns, but that should change in 2022.

If you miss out on the top few projected tight ends (Kelce, Andrews and Pitts), then you're likely better off waiting until much later in the draft to address the position. And that could put you in a great spot to end up with Kmet.