Sean Koerner — FantasyPros’ most-accurate draft ranker from 2019-21 — is breaking down his positional rankings and draft strategy for 2022.
This series is part of our PRO subscription, which will not only grant you access to these Tiers, but also to his real-time rankings as part of our 2022 Fantasy Draft Kit.
The running back position is the most critical in fantasy football, but wide receiver is a close second.
With the depth at WR, it’s easy to become complacent while drafting. If you miss out on a certain tier of receivers, you think there will be more talent to choose from later. But you have to be careful not to neglect the position so much over the first five rounds that you end up with Adam Thielen as your WR2.
If WR has ever been the weakest position for one of your teams, you know it can feel like an uphill battle. One reason is the position is more volatile week-to-week, and there aren’t the same short-term buy opportunities when a starter misses time like we see with QB/RB/TEs.
The takeaway here is that it’s important to spend significant draft capital to lock in your WRs. Additionally, it’s essential to have at least three before your draft reaches Tier 7-8 (in most formats).
That said, let’s dive into my initial WR tiers for 2022.
Fantasy WR Rankings & Tiers
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| Tier | Players |
| 1 | Cooper Kupp (LAR) |
| 2 | Justin Jefferson (MIN) Ja’Marr Chase (CIN) Davante Adams (LV) Stefon Diggs (BUF) |
| 3 | CeeDee Lamb (DAL) Deebo Samuel (SF) |
| 4 | Tyreek Hill (MIA) Mike Evans (TB) |
| 5 | Keenan Allen (LAC) Tee Higgins (CIN) Michael Pittman Jr. (IND) A.J. Brown (PHI) Mike Williams (LAC) D.J. Moore (CAR) Diontae Johnson (PIT) Terry McLaurin (WAS) Jaylen Waddle (MIA) |
| 6 | Brandin Cooks (HOU) Marquise Brown (ARI) Allen Robinson (LAR) JuJu Smith-Schuster (KC) D.K. Metcalf (SEA) Darnell Mooney (CHI) Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET) Jerry Jeudy (DEN) Gabriel Davis (BUF) Amari Cooper (CLE) Adam Thielen (MIN) Courtland Sutton (DEN) |
| 7 | Hunter Renfrow (LV) DeVonta Smith (PHI) Elijah Moore (NYJ) Rashod Bateman (BAL) Michael Thomas (NO) Chris Godwin (TB) Robert Woods (TEN) Tyler Lockett (SEA) Christian Kirk (JAX) Brandon Aiyuk (SF) |
| 8 | Russell Gage (TB) Treylon Burks (TEN) Allen Lazard (GB) Chase Claypool (PIT) Kenny Golladay (NYG) Marvin Jones (JAX) Drake London (ATL) Tyler Boyd (CIN) Garrett Wilson (NYJ) Kadarius Toney (NYG) DeVante Parker (NE) Chris Olave (NO) Marquez Valdes-Scantling (KC) Michael Gallup (DAL) Van Jefferson (LAR) Tim Patrick (DEN) Jakobi Meyers (NE) Skyy Moore (KC) |
| 9 | DeAndre Hopkins (ARI) Jarvis Landry (NO) Rondale Moore (ARI) |
| 10 | Christian Watson (GB) Mecole Hardman (KC) Jahan Dotson (WAS) Robby Anderson (CAR) Sterling Shepard (NYG) Nico Collins (HOU) Jamison Crowder (BUF) Donovan Peoples-Jones (CLE) Jameson Williams (DET) Josh Palmer (LAC) Corey Davis (NYJ) Byron Pringle (CHI) George Pickens (PIT) Curtis Samuel (WAS) D.J. Chark (DET) K.J. Osborn (MIN) John Metchie III (HOU) |
| 11 | Will Fuller (FA) Cole Beasley (FA) Odell Beckham Jr. (FA) Julio Jones (FA) Antonio Brown (FA) |
Tier 1
Cooper Kupp (LAR)
Kupp set career highs in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and receiving TDs (16) last season. It’s unlikely he will be able to match those numbers in 2022 but to be fair, no one will be able to. I’m still targeting Kupp with the No. 2 overall pick in most formats.
Takeaway: Target Kupp at No. 2 overall in most formats.
Tier 2
Justin Jefferson (MIN)
Ja’Marr Chase (CIN)
Davante Adams (LV)
Stefon Diggs (BUF)
It’s scary to think about what Justin Jefferson can do in his third season with new head coach Kevin O’Connell bringing a more up-tempo. pass-heavy offense with him from the Rams.
The Bengals signed three quality offensive linemen this offseason, making them the most improved O-line heading into 2022. It should result in Joe Burrow having more time to target Ja’Marr Chase, especially downfield.
Davante Adams gets a downgrade leaving Aaron Rodgers for Derek Carr, but Carr is no slouch. Let’s also not forget that Davante Adams put up WR6 numbers Week 9-14 in 2017 when Brett Hundley was starting for an injured Rodgers. He’s an elite receiver and already has chemistry with Carr from their Fresno State days. Don’t let him fall outside of the top four at WR.
Takeaway: Target this tier at ADP.
Tier 3
CeeDee Lamb (DAL)
Deebo Samuel (SF)
CeeDee Lamb is entering Year 3 season as Dak Prescott’s undisputed No. 1 target. He should have a career year as long as he stays healthy.
Kyle Shanahan schemed up 5-8 rush attempts per game for Deebo Samuel starting in Week 10 last season. As a result, Samuel averaged 20.0 points per game in his RB/WR hybrid role over the final eight games. Only Kupp had a higher per game average over that span.
Takeaway: Target this tier at ADP.
Tier 4
Tyreek Hill (MIA)
Mike Evans (TB)
Tyreek Hill gets an obvious downgrade going from Patrick Mahomes to Tua Tagovailoa. However, he’s still the most dynamic receiver in the league and capable of putting up WR1 numbers no matter who’s under center. In 2019, when Patrick Mahomes missed 2.5 games of action in Weeks 7-9, here is how Tyreek Hill fared with Matt Moore under center:
Week 7 @ DEN: 3/74/1
Week 8 vs. GB: 6/76/0
Week 9 vs. MIN: 6/140/1
That was good for WR5 overall over that three-game stretch. Don’t fade Hill just because he’s with the Dolphins now.
Takeaway: Target at ADP. Make sure you have at least one WR once this tier is off the board.
Tier 5
Keenan Allen (LAC)
Tee Higgins (CIN)
Michael Pittman Jr. (IND)
A.J. Brown (PHI)
Mike Williams (LAC)
D.J. Moore (CAR)
Diontae Johnson (PIT)
Terry McLaurin (WAS)
Jaylen Waddle (MIA)
There’s a lot to like about the high-end WR2 Tier. Ideally, you will have at least two WRs once this tier is off the board.
The market allows you to get Michael Pittman and Mike Williams a bit later than where I have them ranked here. The Colts are a run-heavy offense, thanks mainly to having the best RB in the game in Jonathan Taylor, but it’s worth noting they ranked first in time of possession with a lead last season. They will likely see an increase in TOP while trailing in 2022, which should lead to Pittman seeing an increase in targets.
Williams was the wide receiver I had the most shares of in 2021 when he was going outside of the top 40 at his position. He erupted over the first five weeks of the season as the WR1 overall before cooling off. From Weeks 6-18 he was the WR29. I like the upside he provides at his ADP.
Terry McLaurin gets an upgrade at QB with Carson Wentz, especially when it comes to downfield targets. Last season, Wentz had the fourth-highest catchable target percentage on pass attempts 20-plus yards downfield at 76%. McLaurin saw the fourth-most targets 20-plus yards downfield last year with 29. However, only 14 of those were catchable (48% catchable target rate).
Don’t be surprised if Wentz/McLaurin ends up being a sneaky good connection downfield.
Takeaways
- Target at ADP. Especially Michael Pittman, Mike Williams and Terry McLaurin.
- Try to have at least two WRs once this tier is off the board.
Tier 6
Brandin Cooks (HOU)
Marquise Brown (ARI)
Allen Robinson (LAR)
JuJu Smith-Schuster (KC)
D.K. Metcalf (SEA)
Darnell Mooney (CHI)
Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET)
Jerry Jeudy (DEN)
Gabriel Davis (BUF)
Amari Cooper (CLE)
Adam Thielen (MIN)
Courtland Sutton (DEN)
Allen Robinson is a steal at his current ADP (WR29), as the change of scenery will give him a huge boost. He will likely be Matthew Stafford’s No. 2 target this season, and landing him as my WR3 is part of my optimal draft strategy.
JuJu Smith-Schuster should also benefit from a change of scenery. He will likely be Patrick Mahomes’ No. 2 target this season, which carries a ton of fantasy value. JuJu is entering his sixth season, but it’s worth noting he’s still in his prime at 26 years old. He is a no-brainer target at his current ADP of WR35.
If you are a veteran of my tiers/strategy (thank you!), you will remember I was hyping up Gabriel Davis heading into 2021. The Bills adding Emmanuel Sanders later in the offseason ruined his breakout party last year. After his 10/201/4 performance against the Chiefs in the playoffs, though, Davis is no longer flying under the radar. The hype around him is warranted, and he’s still worth targeting at his ADP of WR31.
Takeaways
- Target Allen Robinson, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Gabriel Davis at ADP.
- It’s critical to have at least 3-4 WRs once this tier is off the board.
Tier 7
Hunter Renfrow (LV)
Devonta Smith (PHI)
Elijah Moore (NYJ)
Rashod Bateman (BAL)
Michael Thomas (NO)
Chris Godwin (TB)
Robert Woods (TEN)
Tyler Lockett (SEA)
Christian Kirk (JAX)
Brandon Aiyuk (SF)
The wide receiver position starts to level off once this tier is off the board. Therefore, it’s essential to have 3-4 WRs before this tier evaporates.
Michael Thomas and Chris Godwin offer the widest range of outcomes, considering their Week 1 availability is up in the air. Unfortunately, their ADPs are all over the map. That makes it hard to say whether you should target them or avoid them at ADP, but the WR35 range seems fair for both of them. They’re players I’ll be monitoring closely during training camp.
Takeway: It’s critical to have at least 3-4 WRs once this tier is gone.
Tier 8
Russell Gage (TB)
Treylon Burks (TEN)
Allen Lazard (GB)
Chase Claypool (PIT)
Kenny Golladay (NYG)
Marvin Jones (JAX)
Drake London (ATL)
Tyler Boyd (CIN)
Garrett Wilson (NYJ)
Kadarius Toney (NYG)
DeVante Parker (NE)
Chris Olave (NO)
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (KC)
Michael Gallup (DAL)
Van Jefferson (LAR)
Tim Patrick (DEN)
Jakobi Meyers (NE)
Skyy Moore (KC)
Russell Gage was sneaky good last season. He posted a top-24 score 50% of the time when active (12 games) last season, which ranked 13th among qualified WRs. Now he gets to play with Tom Brady? Sign me up.
Aaron Rodgers will have to throw to someone in 2022, and Allen Lazard is the favorite to be his No. 1 target. Lazard is in his prime at 26 years of age and already has a lot of chemistry with Rodgers. I also love the TD upside he provides this late in the draft.
Nobody goes into their draft salivating at the idea of getting Marvin Jones, but he is going way too late considering his WR72 ADP. I like the idea of targeting him in deeper leagues.
Treylon Burks and Drake London saw their stock go up based on their landing spots in the draft. They are my top-two rookie wideouts heading into 2022, and I like the idea of either as my WR4/5.
Takeaway: Target Russell Gage, Treylon Burks, Allen Lazard and Drake London at ADP.
Tier 9
DeAndre Hopkins (ARI)
Jarvis Landry (NO)
Rondale Moore (ARI)
DeAndre Hopkins is suspended for the first six games of the season, so I’m not sure why his ADP is WR34. He offers WR1/2 upside once he does return, but I don’t think it’s worth passing up a JuJu Smith-Schuster or Rashad Bateman, who could provide you with WR2 value all season long.
Takeaway: I’m avoiding this Tier at ADP.
Tier 10
Christian Watson (GB)
Mecole Hardman (KC)
Jahan Dotson (WAS)
Robby Anderson (CAR)
Sterling Shepard (NYG)
Nico Collins (HOU)
Jamison Crowder (BUF)
Donovan Peoples-Jones (CLE)
Jameson Williams (DET)
Josh Palmer (LAC)
Corey Davis (NYJ)
Byron Pringle (CHI)
George Pickens (PIT)
Curtis Samuel (WAS)
D.J. Chark (DET)
K.J. Osborn (MIN)
John Metchie III (HOU)
Takeaway: Christian Watson, Jamison Crowder, Jameson Williams and Josh Palmer are my favorite late-round targets in this tier.
Tier 11
Will Fuller (FA)
Cole Beasley (FA)
Odell Beckham Jr. (FA)
Julio Jones (FA)
Antonio Brown (FA)
Takeaway: You’ll want to take a flier on these free agent WRs in certain spots in deeper leagues. Most of them will eventually sign with a team, and 1-2 could land in an ideal situation.