Welcome to the 2022 Fantasy Football Best Ball Late Round WR Targets.
We all know late-round league winners are key to winning Best Ball tournaments. In 2020, we saw late-round receivers like Tee Higgins and Chase Claypool break out.
Last year, we had the emergence of Hunter Renfrow and K.J. Osborne. So let's take a dive into the top late-round wide receiver targets for 2022.
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2021 Fantasy Football Best Ball Late Round WR Targets
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A Quick Recap
First, let me start by saying if you haven't read my previous article on identifying late-round wide receivers, you should check that out first. This is essentially the blueprint and theory I'll be following for my current late-round targets. This strategy I'm referring to is in regards to targeting breakout candidates with our late-round picks.
We're all aware of the saying that a player is "better in Best Ball." And while I do prefer to break the tie between two players with the more boom/bust or vertical players, I reserve it more for the earlier rounds.
In the last few rounds of best ball drafts, players with the downfield threat archetype can easily provide a couple of "usable weeks" throughout the season. These include players like Jalen Guyton and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
But those "usable weeks" won't provide the league-winning upside needed to take down a large field tournament. So to unlock that upside, we want to find the breakout candidates.
Players with a path to an increased role can make it into our lineups more consistently throughout the season. These are the Hunter Renfrows of last year.
So without further ado, let's check out some 2022 Fantasy Football Best Ball Late Round WR targets available in rounds 17 and beyond on Underdog.
Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars (ADP: 208.4)
When I tell y’all Zay Jones is the #Jaguars designated X Receiver, I ain’t kidding
Between OTAs and the past two days: when Trevor uncorks a pass, it’s always to Zay #ForgotAboutZay, cc: @sollpaper
— Mia O'Brien (@MiaOBrienTV) July 26, 2022
The plain and simple case for Zay Jones is that he could be the #2 option in Jacksonville. After all, Marvin Jones Jr. is 32.
Not to mention, Twitter darling Laviska Shenault has never lived up to the hype. And Shenault sadly has fewer paths to success given Christian Kirk is expected to operate out of the slot.
Zay Jones has certainly had an up and down NFL career. But he has shown flashes like his 21.2% target share in 2018, per Player Profiler. The competition is minimal, and I'm willing to make some bets on an improved offense in Jacksonville.
Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers (ADP: 199.1)
Aaron Rodgers on @nflnetwork: "Romeo Doubs has had a really nice start to camp. Getting a lot of attention based on some of the plays he's made. Like the approach, very understated kid, very humble kid...We all feel really good about Romeo and the start he's off to."
— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) July 30, 2022
As it stands in Green Bay, there isn’t much potentially standing in Doubs way of earning targets. First of all, we have Allen Lazard, who has only earned a career high target share of 15.3%.
And then we have Sammy Watkins, who has never lived up to his hype, and is currently already dealing with injuries. Not to mention, fellow rookie Christian Watson is on the PUP as well.
Watson’s raw profile makes him a player who really can’t afford to miss valuable practice reps. And finally, Randall Cobb will be 32 at the start of the season. There's seemingly even less competition for early camp standout Doubs.
Cole Beasley, FA (ADP: 215.8)
From Inside Training Camp Live in @nflnetwork: Former #Bills WR Cole Beasley remains unsigned, though that’s not for lack of interest. Beasley is remaining patient, as he waits for the right opportunity and offer. pic.twitter.com/aCLuu6n1nJ
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 26, 2022
Beasley being a free agent still may not be as bad as it seems. Apparently, teams are interested, including Buffalo, where the two just couldn’t come to a deal.
Beasley may be up there in terms of age, but he still showed last season, that he can play. Despite what seemed to be a below-average year in fantasy production, he still earned a 19.2% target share, per Player Profiler.
As it stands, there are still teams who could desperately use a WR2. And Beasley has proven year after to year to be a reliable option out of the slot.
For more best ball advice and more, check out our 2022 Draft Kit.
