Many in the NFL world love fantasy football and are constantly looking for potential sleepers. Do the Patriots have any sleepers for 2022?
Those who are into fantasy football are constantly digging through rosters to potentially find sleeper picks and players who they can stuff at the bottom of their rosters for a rainy day.
Many play in leagues with a ton of teams, so being able to find an unsung hero to help you win the league is incredibly important.
The Patriots, in many ways, are a fantasy mess. While their offense is rather solid, they don’t really have a superstar in the fantasy world, and they have a lot of “good” players, but not a ton of great, unquestioned type players.
Damien Harris rushed for 15 touchdowns last season which is incredible for fantasy purposes, and I think his name is on many people’s radars for a potential fantasy breakout year.
However, are there fantasy sleepers on the Patriots for 2022?
Three fantasy football sleepers for the Patriots in 2022 – Mac Jones, quarterback
This is an obvious one. Mac Jones was QB18 last year for fantasy purposes. He was someone who you could have started if your normal starter was on a bye week.
Throwing just 22 touchdown passes and not a ton of yards wasn’t exactly the best fantasy performance for the rookie,
Both Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson played 14 games in 2021 to Jones’ 17, and they both scored higher.
If Jones can take that year two leap that we have seen so many times before, he could creep into QB10 territory.
And who was the fantasy QB10 last year? Kyler Murray. I do think Jones is going to have to approach 35 passing touchdowns to get there seeing as he isn’t much of a threat with his legs, but it’s possible.
Recent chemistry with DeVante Parker and perhaps building on what he accomplished in 2021 with Hunter Henry could lead to some very good numbers for Money Mac Jones.
Three fantasy football sleepers for the Patriots in 2022 – Jakobi Meyers, Wide receiver
Jakobi Meyers had a really, really solid 2021 for the New England Patriots. His 866 yards and two touchdowns are lighting up the stat sheet, but his fit as the WR2 in this offense could lead to a 1,000 yard season.
Meyers was WR41 last year, not exactly a fantasy darling.
I think if DeVante Parker commands the attention of opposing defenses top defensive backs, that could lead to Meyers being covered by teams primary backups. This could also lead to a more heavy role in the passing game for Kendrick Bourne as well, but I like Meyers a bit better.
If Jakobi Meyers can just catch a few more touchdowns, he can slide himself inside the top 30 for fantasy purposes.
That would make him a viable, week to week option for your team and would also likely put him in line for an extension from the team next offseason if all goes well.
If DeVante Parker ends up being blanketed by opposing defenses, someone like Meyers could even lead the team in a couple receiving categories for 2022.
Three fantasy football sleepers for the Patriots in 2022 – Jonnu Smith, Tight end
Jonnu Smith was TE33 last year for fantasy football.
There is no reason he should be that low for 2021. Smith is an insane athletic specimen who should see an increased target share in 2022.
For reference, Hunter Henry was the TE7 in fantasy. I think it would better suit the offense if the two notable tight ends had a bit more even target share. It would give yet another solid weapon for the Patriots to use and for opposing defenses to cover.
Smith had eight touchdowns in 2020 for the Tennessee Titans before signing with the Patriots before the 2021 season.
In 2020, Smith was TE10, but while I don’t think he’s likely to catch eight touchdown passes in 2022, I do think we could see a considerable more amount of yards and a few more touchdowns.
It is up to Jones and Smith to find the needed chemistry, and hopefully Henry can take some attention off of Jonnu Smith.
Smith has a large contract, and this is a huge year to see if he can live up to it. If he can’t the Patriots could simply move off of him and feature Henry for the years forward.