5 Breakout RBs for 2022

5 breakout RBs to target for 2022

One of the most important types of players to identify each season are those who can potentially break out — these are the types of players who can win you leagues. While the field is getting better at identifying these athletes, we often find that they still end up being massive values when they hit.

The Player Comp Projections App is a terrific tool to help identify who these players may be, and will be referenced frequently throughout this series.

With the wide receiver position covered, it is time to move on to running backs. While RBs have been devalued recently, there is still perhaps no bigger edge in fantasy football than finding an elite RB breakout. Last year’s list included D’Andre Swift as well as late-season dynamos Javonte Williams and Devin Singletary.

5. Breece Hall, NYJ (Underdog ADP 42.2)

Though he was selected in the second round, Hall had a profile that comped him to some of the best RBs of the past decade and a half — including numerous high first-round picks.

Additionally, we likely need to adjust our priors on expectations for high second-round picks at RB as the league continues to devalue the position. Here are the top half of the second-round RB picks since 2016:

Derrick Henry
Joe Mixon
Dalvin Cook
Ronald Jones
Nick Chubb
Kerryon Johnson
D’Andre Swift
Jonathan Taylor
Javonte Williams

Six of the nine RBs have had RB1 seasons, and Williams is being drafted as one in 2022. This has been an impressive draft range to target for fantasy.

Zach Wilson has been much maligned, but he was the second overall pick just a year ago, and the Jets have surrounded him with a ton of weapons — including Hall, Garrett Wilson, and Jeremy Ruckert in the 2022 draft. This is an ascending offense with the potential to really pop. A three-down back plus goal-line work becomes incredibly enticing in such circumstances for the price.