Fantasy Football 2022: Deep Sleepers Based on Latest Rankings

Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season is only a week away, which means one important thing. Fantasy football is back!

Many fantasy managers have already conducted their drafts for the 2022 season. For those who have waited until after the preseason and roster cuts to draft—which is a great idea, when it's possible—it's time for a little last-minute cramming.

By now, you probably know which players are trending at the top of season-long formats. The usual types—bell-cow backs like Jonathan Taylor and high-volume receivers like Cooper Kupp—will go in the early rounds. However, championships are often won in the later rounds.

Great fantasy squads feature depth at multiple positions, injury insurance and bye-week options. Deep sleepers can help provide it.

Below, you'll find a look at three deep sleepers primed to outproduce their draft status. We're looking specifically at players ranked outside of the top 150 in the latest FantasyPros consensus rankings. First, though, let's take a quick look at those trending early picks.

All rankings and analysis are based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.

PPR Top 25 from FantasyPros

Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey (John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

SPARTANBURG, SC - AUGUST 09: Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) during the Carolina Panthers training camp on August 09, 2022, at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

2. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

3. Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

4. Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings

5. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

6. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

7. Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

8. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans

9. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

10. D'Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions

11. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

12. Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

13. Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills

14. Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

15. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

16. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants

17. Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers

18. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

19. Leonard Fournette, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

20. Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens

21. Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins

22. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

23. Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos

24. Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

25. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts

Zamir White, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (35) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the New England Patriots, Friday, Aug. 26, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Zamir White is a great example of a draft-and-stash sleeper. While the Raiders are likely to go with fourth-year veteran Josh Jacobs as their starter early in the season, White has the potential to take over down the stretch.

Jacobs, who was a rookie Pro Bowler in 2019, has been merely serviceable over the last two seasons. In 2020, he averaged 3.9 yards per carry. Last year, he averaged 4.0. The new regime in Las Vegas declined the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, suggesting they don't view him as a long-term centerpiece player.

White, a fourth-round pick out of Georgia, has loads of upside and impressed during camp and the preseason. In his preseason debut, he rushed for 52 yards on 11 carries while catching three passes for 23 yards. He found the end zone in Las Vegas' third and fourth preseason games.

"This guy just plays hard, he loves football," Raiders coach Josh McDaniels said, per Levi Edwards of the team's official website.

Don't be shocked if White is the lead back by midseason. At worst, he should be a key contributor in a committee—McDaniels regularly used multiple backs with the New England Patriots. This gives White a relatively safe floor as a spot-starter or flex option.

Ranked just 175th among all players—and with an average draft position (ADP) of 173—White is a low-risk, high-reward player worth betting on.

Van Jefferson, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

IRVINE, CA - JULY 29: Van Jefferson #12 of the Los Angeles Rams participates in a drill during training camp at University of California Irvine on July 29, 2022 in Irvine, California. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson is another deep sleeper who could provide big dividends later in the season. His draft stock is down for a couple of reasons. For one, he's sort of the forgotten receiver behind Cooper Kupp and free-agent addition Allen Robinson II.

Secondly, Jefferson underwent a minor knee procedure in early August. He may not be at 100 percent to start the season, but head coach Sean McVay stressed that Jefferson won't be out long.

"A few weeks," McVay said of Jefferson's recovery time, per ESPN's Sarah Barshop

Jefferson is ranked 170th and has an ADP of just 222. This is simply too low for L.A.'s No. 3 receiver.

Let's not forget that Jefferson was a consistent contributor alongside Kupp, Robert Woods and Odell Beckham Jr. last season. He finished with 50 receptions, 802 yards and six touchdowns and didn't register a single blank (zero catches) in any of his 17 games.

Jefferson found the end zone in six different contests and registered three or more receptions 10 times. He averaged three catches and 47 yards per contest. Eye-popping numbers? No, but this gives Jefferson a solid floor as a depth option or bye-week fill-in.

The added value here is that Jefferson is an excellent insurance option for managers drafting Kupp or Robinson. In games 10-13—when Beckham was new to the team and still incorporating himself into the offense—Jefferson averaged 3.5 catches, 61.5 yards and 0.5 touchdowns.

Evan Engram, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars

Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - AUGUST 20: Evan Engram #17 of the Jacksonville Jaguars looks on in the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at TIAA Bank Field on August 20, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images)

At tight end, you should be looking for injury and bye-week insurance more than a legitimate sleeper. There is only a handful of elite tight ends—Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews and Kyle Pitts—with a wide second-tier that should leave most managers with a viable starter.

However, this doesn't mean that you should ignore the value of a backup tight end. You're going to need a spot starter eventually, and it's always great to have two starting-caliber tight ends on the roster.

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram may surprise a lot of folks this season. He was inconsistent and injury prone with the New York Giants—he missed 16 games in five seasons—so there is some risk. However, Engram appears poised to revitalize his career in Jacksonville.

Engram averaged 52 receptions, 565 yards and three touchdowns per season with the Giants despite the time missed. In Jacksonville, he could be even better. He'll be playing for head coach Doug Pederson, who frequently featured tight ends Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert with the Philadelphia Eagles.

This could also be a breakout season for Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and Engram is set to capitalize. Expect Engram to be Lawrence's No. 2 outlet option—behind running back Travis Etienne Jr.—and one of his top red-zone targets.

Engram should be valued as a low-end starter and a middle-round selection. However, he's ranked just 158 and has an ADP of 188.

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*Rankings and draft positioning from FantasyPros.