Move the Sticks: Hot or Not Tight Ends + Top Receiving RBs
As NFL teams prepare for the upcoming season, fantasy football enthusiasts are scouring the waiver wire for undervalued assets. Tight ends and running backs are two positions that can make or break a fantasy team, and there are several players at each position who are poised for breakout seasons.
Hot Tight Ends
Evan Engram, New York Giants: Engram has been a disappointment since the Giants drafted him in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, but he is finally starting to live up to his potential. Engram is a versatile tight end who can line up all over the field, and he has a knack for making big plays. He is also a threat in the red zone, where he has scored 15 touchdowns in his career.
Hayden Hurst, Cincinnati Bengals: Hurst was a Pro Bowler in 2019 with the Baltimore Ravens, but he struggled last year in Atlanta. However, he is now with a new team and a new quarterback in Joe Burrow, who loves to throw to his tight ends. Hurst is a big target with good hands, and he should be a valuable asset to the Bengals’ offense.
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears: Kmet is another young tight end who is on the rise. He had a breakout season in 2021, catching 60 passes for 612 yards and four touchdowns. Kmet is a big, athletic tight end who is a good blocker and pass-catcher. He is the clear-cut No. 1 tight end in Chicago, and he should have a big season in 2022.
Not Tight Ends
Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals: Ertz was once one of the best tight ends in the NFL, but he has declined in recent years. He is now 31 years old and coming off a season in which he caught just 56 passes for 574 yards and three touchdowns. Ertz is still a good blocker, but he is no longer a reliable pass-catcher.
Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams: Higbee has been a solid fantasy producer in the past, but he is not a lock to start in 2022. The Rams added tight end Gerald Everett in free agency, and he is expected to compete with Higbee for playing time. Higbee is also coming off a season in which he missed four games with a knee injury.
Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota Vikings: Smith is a talented tight end, but he has been injured for most of his career. He missed the entire 2021 season with a knee injury, and he is not expected to be ready for the start of the 2022 season. Smith has a lot of potential, but he is a risky fantasy pick at this point.
Top Receiving RBs
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints: Kamara is one of the most versatile players in the NFL. He can line up at running back, wide receiver, and even quarterback. Kamara is a threat to score every time he touches the ball, and he is one of the best pass-catching running backs in the league. He is a must-start in fantasy football.
Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers: McCaffrey is another versatile running back who can do it all. He is a great runner, receiver, and blocker. McCaffrey is coming off a season in which he missed 13 games with injuries, but he is expected to be healthy for the start of the 2022 season. McCaffrey is a high-risk, high-reward fantasy pick, but he has the potential to be the best running back in the NFL.
Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers: Ekeler is a smaller running back, but he is one of the most productive players in the NFL. He is a great runner and receiver, and he is also a threat to score in the red zone. Ekeler is the clear-cut No. 1 running back in Los Angeles, and he should have a big season in 2022.