Roundtable Week 4: Emerging Player Candidates

Photo: Imagn Images

Welcome to Week 4 of the 2022 Footballguys Roundtable. Our intrepid panel of fantasy pundits discusses and debates four topics every week. From this point forward, we're splitting the topics into separate features.

This week's roundtable features these four topics:

• The True Reveal
• Tackling the Subscriber Contest
• Running Back Game Script Dependency

• Emerging Player Candidates (See below)

Emerging Player Candidates

Waldman: No rookies allowed. Name a player who has never been a top-15 QB, top-24 RB, top-36 WR, or top-15 TE who has a shot at becoming one this year.

Drew Davenport: I have two names I like to become Top 36 wide receivers this year: Rashod Bateman and Zay Jones. Bateman seems like cheating a bit because he was limited by injury in his rookie campaign, but as the unquestioned WR1 for the Ravens, he's been impressive despite Baltimore refusing to give him an elite snap share.

But Zay Jones is someone I want to talk about. He had a big game in Week 3, but I promise this isn't recency bias. Jones is running a lot of routes, and while he's third on the team, he's run 98 routes and Marvin Jones has run 101. The Jaguars are putting three wide receivers on the field a lot, and Zay Jones is benefitting.

He's had 24 targets in 3 weeks and has already recorded 19 catches which are good for a pace of 107 receptions. It would be overly optimistic to predict 100+ receptions, but it won't take nearly that much to be in the Top 36 at his position by year's end. He's PPR WR26 right now, and his usage says he can stay there.

Gary Davenport: There may not be a bigger surprise in the entire NFL than the 2-1 Jaguars, and the maestro of their sixth-ranked offense is second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Last year, Lawrence was a disaster. But in 2022, he's showing why the Jaguars drafted him first overall. The Jaguars' run game is keeping opposing defenses honest.

The $18 million a season the Jags gave Christian Kirk doesn't look like such an overpay now. And Lawrence is completing almost 70 percent of his passes with the sixth-best passer rating in the league. I think Jacksonville may come back to earth somewhat record-wise, but that could be a blessing in disguise for Lawrence's fantasy prospects if he has to throw more moving forward. Amazing what competent coaching can do for a team, ain't it?

Sam Wagman: The fantasy community waffled all offseason between who would be the guy this season for the Patriots rushing attack, and after Week 3 concluded, it looks like it will be Rhamondre Stevenson left standing. Damien Harris hasn't completely gone away, but he has taken a step back towards the 40% snap share grouping, while Stevenson surged to over 60% this week. Not only that, but Stevenson looked very solid, rushing for over 6 yards per carry with a score and catching 4 of 5 targets for 28 yards. Mac Jones' injury is serious. That may mean more reliance on the run game, which means we will truly see whether this was a one-game thing or whether Stevenson is the back to own in this backfield. I think he is.

Kevin Coleman: I’m going to stick with my preseason pick of Tua Tagovailoa, who currently sits at QB6 overall averaging just over 22 fantasy points per game. The highest he has finished in fantasy is QB26 on the year, but this season, everything seems to be aligning for the third-year quarterback. He has a coach that believes in him and has put him in a system that supports his strengths.

Their use of play-action and pre-snap motions has helped Tagovailoa as a quarterback, and the results have played themselves out on the field. On top of the system, the Dolphins have surrounded him with an improved offensive line and two of the best receivers in the NFL in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Through the first three weeks, he has shown that he can support both receivers and be a top-12 fantasy asset. It shows how franchises can support their first-round quarterbacks and put them in positions to succeed when they build around them.

Jeff Bell: Jamaal Williams has recorded multiple seasons between RB 32-44, but he has never stacked it into one. 2022 looks primed to hit the breakout finally. He sits at RB8 through three weeks, with multiple two-touchdown games, and leads the league with 11 red zone attempts. The Lions are second in the NFL with 95 points scored and feature a defense that will see them in shootouts weekly. Now entering week four, Williams will have the next two weeks to lead the backfield as D’Andre Swift expects to sit out through the team’s week six bye. In a challenging year for running backs, Williams is a beacon of hope.

Jason Wood: I'll stick with one of my preseason flag plants and say Allen Lazard. I laid out the case for Lazard in our Player Spotlight series this summer, and everything I hoped for has played out in the early going. Don't be confused by Lazard's early-season stats; he missed the start of the season with a minor injury and is just now rounding into form as Aaron Rodgers' top option. For those who see Romeo Doubs as the breakout, remember the Packers usually support two receivers as fantasy relevant. With Sammy Watkins already on injured reserve and Christian Watson inactive, Lazard should start rattling off top-25 weeks very soon.

Ryan Weisse: Everyone gave great answers, and Gary is spot on with Lawrence, elevating Drew's pick of Jones. I agree with Wood and still think we end up seeing Allen Lazard take over as the top receiver in Green Bay. The hype is all over Romeo Doubs now, which is understandable, but Lazard has found the endzone in both games he's played this season. The issue with Lazard has been and continues to be his health. Over the last three seasons, he averages over nine fantasy points per game and has scored nine and 14 in two games this season. If he plays 15 games this season, he will likely match his eight touchdowns from 2021 while increasing his volume. Lazard was the No.47 fantasy wide receiver last year in 15 games, and that volume increase will bring him into the Top 30.

Waldman: If you'd like to see the rest of the topics, once again, you can find them here:

• The True Reveal
• Tackling the Subscriber Contest
• Running Back Game Script Dependency

Thanks, and good luck this week!