Fantasy Football Expert Analysis After 2022 NFL Draft Day 2

Day 2 of the 2022 NFL draft is in the books, and even though it didn't offer the eye-popping trades that Thursday's Round 1 did, many names that were expected to be called on Day 1 actually came off the board Friday. 

By the conclusion of Friday night, 17 wideouts were selected. The run on the position that began in the teens of Round 1 continued in Round 2, with seven grabbed between picks 33 and 64. 

However, there was less movement among the other skill position players. Three running backs heard their names called in Round 2; Georgia's James Cook, whom the Buffalo Bills drafted at No. 63 overall, seemed visibly upset at his slide. 

Given that quarterback as a position was devalued on Day 2—the first QB off the board following the Pittsburgh Steelers' selection of Kenny Pickens in Round 1 was Desmond Ridder, who was taken by the Atlanta Falcons in Round 3—we did not include any quarterbacks in the collection of skill position players that follow. 

Let's highlight the players drafted on Day 2 who project to have the biggest impacts in fantasy this fall.

Consensus draft rankings including rookies and dynasty can be found at FantasyPros.  

Christian Watson, WR, Green Bay Packers

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In Round 2, the Green Bay Packers finally traded up and drafted a wideout, which their fans had been hoping for all along.

After electing for two defensive players in the first round, the Packers traded both their second-round selections (Nos. 53 and 59) to the Minnesota Vikings to move up to No. 34 to select North Dakota State wideout Christian Watson. 

At 6'4⅛" and 208 pounds, Watson fits the size profile the Packers needed after losing big-bodied receivers Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Bleacher Report NFL scout Nate Tice said: “Watson brings very good height and size to the receiver position that allows him to play outside, but he does have experience from the slot and even the backfield."

He also has the speed the Packers covet, running a 4.36-second 40-yard dash (91st percentile) at Senior Bowl testing. 

FantasyPros ranks Watson WR80 in fantasy and WR9 in dynasty. Calling him “one of the more polished route runners in this draft class," FantasyPros' Ari Koslow pointed out that Watson comes into “an ideal situation from a fantasy football perspective with a ton of targets opened up" given the Packers' high-profile departures this offseason. Expect Watson to see heavy usage in the Green Bay offense.

Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets

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It wasn't a surprise that no running backs came off the board in Thursday's Round 1, but on Friday, the New York Jets made Iowa State's Breece Hall the first running back selected in this draft. 

The 5'11¼", 217-pound Hall totaled 1,472 yards on 253 attempts in 12 games, finding the end zone 20 times on the ground and an additional three times through the air on 36 receptions for 302 yards. He was a 2021 first-team All-American and the 2021 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.

The Jets will use Hall as part of a running back committee along with Michael Carter and Tevin Coleman. But he's the clear RB1 in dynasty drafts, and he's actually the No. 1 overall rookie in those leagues, per FantasyPros (disregarding Superflex formats).

FantasyPros' Raju Byfield estimated that Hall will see "north of 220 touches" as the immediate lead back for the Jets, as well as a plus receiver out of the backfield. 

Per Tice's final assessment: "Overall, Hall has the size, vision, footwork, and athleticism to be a productive RB in any type of run scheme, both from under center and the shotgun."

Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals

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While the first running back being selected in Round 2 wasn't a surprise, it was more shocking that tight end Trey McBride fell to No. 55 overall.

Though he had first-round hype, McBride lasted until Round 2 likely because he's an efficient but not exceptional player in both the receiving game and in his blocking. Tice pointed to his lack of length and play strength in blocking and long speed in pass-catching as limitations. 

But McBride will have a role in the Cardinals offense. Per Tice, he's a "safe, reliable option for quarterbacks who can help move the chains on underneath routes." 

The 2021 John Mackey Award winner totaled 1,121 yards and one touchdown on 90 receptions last season. 

There's no question the Cardinals are trying to surround Kyler Murray with as many weapons as he needs to help lead the team over the playoff hump, and he joins another talented tight end in Zach Ertz. Though he's the TE1 in dynasty, he's the No. 18-ranked rookie overall in that format. Still, he's worth drafting there.

In fantasy, McBride is TE30. Per FantasyPros' Kelly Kirby, McBride is worth only a late-round flier because he'll sit behind Ertz on the depth chart.

George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

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Another player who could have come off the board in Round 1, Georgia wideout George Pickens ended up falling to the Steelers at No. 52 overall. No doubt that was partly attributable to the surgery he had on his ACL in the spring of 2021, but there were also the vague reports by executives of red flags that surfaced leading up to the draft. 

Time will tell whether Pickens does indeed bring any red flags with him to the NFL, but in the meantime, on paper, he's a fantastic fit in Pittsburgh and with new signal-caller Kenny Pickett.

While Tice doesn't see him as a feature option right away, he envisions an expanded role for him: "If he's fully healthy and continues to add details to his route-running, he will be a useful option for NFL offenses with some room to grow into a more featured role."

FantasyPros' Byfield agreed: "Pickens will be nothing more than a WR4 hopeful until he cements a regular role on offense. He has WR1 upside when he gets unleashed."

Pickens, who totaled five receptions for 107 yards in the four games he played before his injury in 2021, is ranked WR69 in redraft leagues and WR6 in dynasty leagues.