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) |
| 3 | Stefon Diggs (BUF) CeeDee Lamb (DAL) Deebo Samuel (SF) Tyreek Hill (MIA) |
| 4 | Mike Evans (TB) Keenan Allen (LAC) Tee Higgins (CIN) Michael Pittman Jr. (IND) A.J. Brown (PHI) |
| 5 | D.J. Moore (CAR) Mike Williams (LAC) Terry McLaurin (WAS) Brandin Cooks (HOU) DK Metcalf (SEA) Jaylen Waddle (MIA) Diontae Johnson (PIT) Allen Robinson (LAR) Chris Godwin (TB) Courtland Sutton (DEN) Marquise Brown (ARI) Gabriel Davis (BUF) |
| 6 | Darnell Mooney (CHI) Jerry Jeudy (DEN) Michael Thomas (NO) Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET) Juju Smith-Schuster (KC) Elijah Moore (NYJ) Rashod Bateman (BAL) Amari Cooper (CLE) Adam Thielen (MIN) Hunter Renfrow (LV) Christian Kirk (JAX) Allen Lazard (GB) Devonta Smith (PHI) Brandon Aiyuk (SF) Tyler Lockett (SEA) |
| 7 | Drake London (ATL) Kadarius Toney (NYG) Robert Woods (TEN) DeAndre Hopkins (ARI) Tyler Boyd (CIN) Chase Claypool (PIT) Skyy Moore (KC) Garrett Wilson (NYJ) Marquez Valdes-Scantling (KC) Chris Olave (NO) Michael Gallup (DAL) |
| 8 | Kenny Golladay (NYG) Russell Gage (TB) George Pickens (PIT) Jakobi Meyers (NE) Wan’dale Robinson (NYG) DeVante Parker (NE) Robbie Anderson (CAR) Nico Collins (HOU) Julio Jones (TB) Rondale Moore (ARI) Romeo Doubs (GB) Van Jefferson (LAR) Treylon Burks (TEN) Jarvis Landry (NO) Jahan Dotson (WAS) Josh Palmer (LAC) K.J. Osborn (MIN) D.J. Chark (DET) K.J. Hamler (DEN) Marvin Jones (JAX) Jalen Tolbert (DAL) |
| 9 | Corey Davis (NYJ) Jameson Williams (DET) Mecole Hardman (KC) Parris Campbell (IND) Donovan Peoples-Jones (CLE) Sterling Shepard (NYG) Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (TEN) Jamison Crowder (BUF) Curtis Samuel (WAS) Sammy Watkins (GB) Alec Pierce (IND) Velus Jones Jr. (CHI) |
Tier 1
Cooper Kupp (LAR)
Takeaway: Target Kupp at No. 2 or 3 overall in most formats.
Tier 2
Justin Jefferson (MIN)
Ja’Marr Chase (CIN)
Davante Adams (LV)
Takeaway: Target Jefferson in the middle of the first round; Chase and Adams late first round.
Tier 3
Stefon Diggs (BUF)
CeeDee Lamb (DAL)
Deebo Samuel (SF)
Tyreek Hill (MIA)
I would consider this to be the end of the WR1 tier as I have a 21-point drop-off from Hill to Mike Evans. To put that in perspective, the next 21-point drop-off occurs from WR9-27, that’s 19 wide receivers!
Because this position takes such a sharp dip, it’s critical to have at least one WR before this tier is completely off the board.
Takeaway: Target this group at ADP. Ideally, you will have at least one of these receivers before this tier is off the board.
Tier 4
Mike Evans (TB)
Keenan Allen (LAC)
Tee Higgins (CIN)
Michael Pittman Jr. (IND)
A.J. Brown (PHI)
Despite the massive drop-off from Tier 3 to 4, there is still a lot to like with this group.
Brown is the only one who I hesitate to draft at ADP. It’s going to be tough for him to post top-10 value in such a run-heavy offense. I’d rather invest in him through Jalen Hurts (see my QB Tiers) as he is one of the reasons I think Hurts has overall QB1 upside.
Takeaway: Avoid Brown at ADP, invest in him through Hurts.
Tier 5
D.J. Moore (CAR)
Mike Williams (LAC)
Terry McLaurin (WAS)
Brandin Cooks (HOU)
DK Metcalf (SEA)
Jaylen Waddle (MIA)
Diontae Johnson (PIT)
Allen Robinson (LAR)
Chris Godwin (TB)
Courtland Sutton (DEN)
Marquise Brown (ARI)
Gabriel Davis (BUF)
I’m typically targeting Cooks, Robinson, Godwin and Gabriel Davis in this tier. You can usually get Cooks in the WR22-24 range — an absolute steal. He posted a top-24 score 53% of the time last season, which ranked 8th out of 103 WRs who played 10-plus games.
Last season, I tried to stress how big of an upgrade Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods would get playing with Matthew Stafford, and look how that turned out. Apply that same logic to Robinson this season and you can see why I think he has low-end WR1 upside.
Godwin may not see a full-time role, or even suit up for the first couple of games of the season, but he should be a mid-range WR2 option once we get to the fantasy playoffs. If you are in a league where you are confident in your ability to make the playoffs, I would target Godwin at ADP.
I don’t know what’s left to say about Davis other than to continue drafting him at ADP.
Takeaway: Target Cooks, Robinson, Godwin and Davis at ADP. Shy away from Waddle and Johnson at ADP. It’s critical to have at least 2 WRs before this tier is off the board.
Tier 6
Darnell Mooney (CHI)
Jerry Jeudy (DEN)
Michael Thomas (NO)
Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET)
Juju Smith-Schuster (KC)
Elijah Moore (NYJ)
Rashod Bateman (BAL)
Amari Cooper (CLE)
Adam Thielen (MIN)
Hunter Renfrow (LV)
Christian Kirk (JAX)
Allen Lazard (GB)
Devonta Smith (PHI)
Brandon Aiyuk (SF)
Tyler Lockett (SEA)
It’s pivotal to have your starting lineup of WRs set before this tier is off the board. While the position is very deep and loaded with plenty of enticing fliers later on, it’s never a good idea to fight an uphill battle at WR.
All of these WRs would make a fine WR3/Flex, but Moore is the most appealing at ADP. I have noticed his ADP take a slight dip since the Zach Wilson injury, but I don’t think it should impact his draft stock at all. Moore is talented enough to post WR2/3 numbers no matter who is under center. In fact, he posted the WR2 overall score from Weeks 8-13 last season while playing with four QBs! Buy the dip.
St. Brown was one of my favorite late-round sleepers last season. That being said, I did not expect a WR2 overall finish to the season from Weeks 13-18. He took advantage of both D’Andre Swift and T.J. Hockenson missing much of that stretch; St. Brown’s target share will take a hit with both of them back healthy. Plus, the Lions upgraded their WR depth by adding D.J. Chark and Jameson Williams. WR21 seems a bit too steep for St. Brown.
Takeaway: Target Moore at ADP. Shy away from St. Brown at ADP. It’s critical to have at least 3-4 WRs before this tier is off the board.
Tier 7
Drake London (ATL)
Kadarius Toney (NYG)
Robert Woods (TEN)
DeAndre Hopkins (ARI)
Tyler Boyd (CIN)
Chase Claypool (PIT)
Skyy Moore (KC)
Garrett Wilson (NYJ)
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (KC)
Chris Olave (NO)
Michael Gallup (DAL)
Ideally, you have your WR starters locked in by now and are starting to fill out your bench. This is the perfect time to take fliers on guys with upside.
London is my favorite rookie WR as he gives off Mike Evans/Keenan Allen vibes. He will be the unquestioned No. 1 WR for the Falcons and likely be the second target behind Kyle Pitts. He offers an ideal floor/ceiling combo to begin the season on your bench.
Hopkins is suspended for the first six games of the season, but he offers high-end WR2 value once he returns. If you are confident that you can make the playoffs with D-Hop giving you no production early, he is a sneaky player to draft in the WR35-40 range.
Boyd would make sense to target in leagues that start at least four wide receivers. He is much more of a high-floor type who offers value in deeper formats where you have to start him most weeks.
Moore, Wilson and Olave are talented rookies who could be anywhere from the No. 2 to the No. 4 target in their respective offenses. Olave probably offers the best floor/ceiling combo of the three.
MVS is more of a Best Ball specialist as he is going to offer a wide range of outcomes weekly. Having a player like him on your bench is nice to have in handy if you are a big underdog in a given week. Starting a player like MVS, who has a massive ceiling, can give you a fighting chance.
Takeaway: Take fliers on these WRs based on your team needs. London is the safest bet from this tier.
Tier 8
Kenny Golladay (NYG)
Russell Gage (TB)
George Pickens (PIT)
Jakobi Meyers (NE)
Wan’dale Robinson (NYG)
DeVante Parker (NE)
Robbie Anderson (CAR)
Nico Collins (HOU)
Julio Jones (TB)
Rondale Moore (ARI)
Romeo Doubs (GB)
Van Jefferson (LAR)
Treylon Burks (TEN)
Jarvis Landry (NO)
Jahan Dotson (WAS)
Josh Palmer (LAC)
K.J. Osborn (MIN)
D.J. Chark (DET)
K.J. Hamler (DEN)
Marvin Jones (JAX)
Jalen Tolbert (DAL)
At this point in the draft, target upside. A player busting in this range won’t kill you, so why not shoot for the moon?
Pickens and Doubs have been getting the most hype over the past couple of weeks, and rightfully so. Pickens was a first-round talent who went in the second because his ACL recovery limited his final season at Georgia. Doubs has a real shot at becoming Aaron Rodgers’ first or second target. Both are worth taking at ADP right now.
It’s not just young players who offer upside: Julio Jones is a sneaky late-round flier considering he will be catching passes from Tom Brady this season.
Collins, Palmer and Osborn are three more fliers I like in this tier. Palmer could become the Chargers’ No. 3 WR and is the cheapest way to invest in Justin Herbert. He has WR3-plus upside if Keenan Allen or Mike Williams ever miss time.
Hamler was elevated to the Broncos’ No. 3 receiver after Tim Patrick suffered a season-ending injury. Hamler has some shades of Tyler Lockett and I think he could be sneaky with Russell Wilson this season.
Takeaway: Target Pickens, Doubs, Jones, Collins, Palmer, Hamler and Osborn.
Tier 9
Corey Davis (NYJ)
Jameson Williams (DET)
Mecole Hardman (KC)
Parris Campbell (IND)
Donovan Peoples-Jones (CLE)
Sterling Shepard (NYG)
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (TEN)
Jamison Crowder (BUF)
Curtis Samuel (WAS)
Sammy Watkins (GB)
Alec Pierce (IND)
Velus Jones Jr. (CHI)
Shepard was expected to miss a handful of games as he’s coming back from an Achilles tear, but he appears to be well ahead of schedule and could suit up as soon as Week 1. He’s going way too late in deeper leagues, making him a sneaky late-round, high-floor option.
Watkins is worth a dart throw in deeper leagues as he could be one of Aaron Rodgers’ top targets this season, which comes with a ton of upside if he can stay healthy.
Jones has a great opportunity to be Justin Fields’ third target. The third-round rookie has serious speed (4.31 40-yard dash) and could establish himself as the Bears’ main downfield target.
Takeaway: Target Shepard, Watkins and Jones at ADP.