Another year, another NFL season. The Los Angeles Rams, led by Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford, look primed to try and repeat as Super Bowl Champions. However, that’s not going to be easy, as this offseason has been as hectic as ever, with teams trying to win the arms race and move into contenders.
Beyond the actual action on the field, it’s also time for the beginning of the fantasy football season as well. The 2022 NFL season has no shortage of incredible players up on the draft board at the wide receiver position. However, here are ten pass catchers that stand above the rest.
10 JuJu Smith-Schuster (Kansas City Chiefs)
JuJu Smith-Schuster is heading into his first season as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. The former Pittsburgh Steeler is coming off a season that was mired in injury, but when he was on the field, he was solid. This is impressive considering he had the corpse of Ben Roethlisberger throwing him the ball.
Now, Smith-Schuster has Patrick Mahomes throwing him the ball, and Travis Kelce and Mecole Hardman taking attention away from him. Expect the wideout to have a big bounceback year in 2022.
9 Keenan Allen (Los Angeles Chargers)
Keenan Allen has turned into the face of consistency in Los Angeles. After first suffering a boatload of injuries to start his career, he’s now made the Pro Bowl in five straight seasons, thanks to his solid production.
In 2022, Allen will be no different. If anything, you can expect his numbers to improve and rise as he continues to develop a better connection with the fast-improving star quarterback Justin Herbert.
8 Mike Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Beyond Keenan Allen, Mike Evans might actually be the most consistent wide receiver in the NFL. In his NFL career thus far, he’s never had a season without 1,000 yards. That’s eight seasons, which is tough for even the greatest at the position to do.
Evans’ production will remain steady in 2022. Given that Tom Brady is still in Tampa Bay, the future Hall of Famer will rely on his number one receiver once again.
7 Tyreek Hill (Miami Dolphins)
Tyreek Hill’s production in 2022 is a bit of a question mark. While he clearly has the ability and talent to be one of the best pass catchers in the league, he’s making a big switch as he’s leaving the Kansas City Chiefs for the Miami Dolphins.
That means going from Patrick Mahomes to an unproven Tua Tagovailoa. Even with the uncertainty of his current quarterback, Hill will still likely make good on his top pass catcher status in 2022.
6 Deebo Samuel (San Francisco 49ers)
In Deebo Samuel’s third year in the league, he took the step from a solid role player to being one of the most electrifying pass catchers in the league. In addition to the damage through the air, he also had a lot of rushing yards.
Samuel’s production likely can’t be entirely replicated in 2022, as he’s changing quarterbacks, and his 2021 year will be hard to top. However, he’s still a top draft choice for anyone looking to win their fantasy league.
5 Stefon Diggs (Buffalo Bills)
Stefon Diggs was always a great receiver in Minnesota. However, since his trade to the Buffalo Bills in 2020, he’s turned into one of the most dominant players at the position, thanks to his chemistry with quarterback Josh Allen.
Diggs will continue to be one of the best pass catchers in 2022. While he does not have as many flashy plays as Deebo Samuel or Tyreek Hill, he will assure you good production week in and week out.
4 Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals)
Ja’Marr Chase is coming off the greatest season for a rookie wide receiver ever. In 2021, he put up 1,455 yards, and 13 touchdowns en route to an appearance in the Super Bowl. His quick start was probably helped by his previous experience playing with Joe Burrow in college.
Will Chase put up the same numbers in 2022 as he did in his rookie year? Not likely, given teams know what to expect. However, his clear talent and chemistry with Burrow will likely have him near the top of the draft board.
3 Davante Adams (Las Vegas Raiders)
Davante Adams’s decision to leave the Green Bay Packers in favor of the Las Vegas Raiders was one that was highly discussed. Leaving Aaron Rodgers in favor of his college-teammate Derek Carr was a bold call, but he’ll likely continue lighting up the scoreboard.
Adams is still an excellent player and already has chemistry with his new passer in Las Vegas. While Carr is no Rodgers, he’s no slouch either and will make sure his new number one option gets plenty of balls thrown his way.
2 Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings)
Justin Jefferson is three seasons into his NFL journey, and he’s already one of the best receivers in the league. In his first two seasons, he put up over 1,400 yards and was named an All-Pro for both of his years. In 2022, he will continue to destroy defenses.
Jefferson might not be the best pass catcher in the league, but he’s right there. For this upcoming season, expect him to be right near the top of a lot of draft boards.
1 Cooper Kupp (Los Angeles Rams)
Cooper Kupp has always been a solid wide receiver, but last year he took the step towards becoming a legend. He caught 145 passes, put up nearly 2,000 yards, and had 14 touchdowns. For his efforts, he was named an All-Pro and won the Offensive Player of the Year award.
The harsh reality is that it will be almost impossible for Kupp to have the same numbers in 2022. But that honestly doesn’t really matter. If he stays healthy, he will put up numbers, and demand any fantasy owner’s attention.