The start of the 2022 NFL season is merely days away, with teams wrapping up their final exhibition matchups. The electric hype of preseason is shifting to a fevered height as managers begin to paint a clearer picture of their projections. Now that we have an arsenal of information at our disposal, let’s dive into some bold predictions for the 2022 season with some potentially profitable betting lines should these outcomes ring true.
LAMAR JACKSON MVP
Betting Odds: +2000
Lamar Jackson is continuously overlooked by the masses when considering the incredible generational talent the Ravens quarterback possesses. For those with short memories, allow me to remind you that Jackson is the youngest player in NFL history ever to win an MVP, doing so at just 23 years old. Jackson led the league in passing touchdowns that season while shattering the single-season total for quarterback rushing yards.
The Ravens’ 2021 season was blindsided in the wake of devastating injuries on both sides of the football. Jackson was no stranger to the team’s bad fortune, missing five games last season.
The entire team is revamped and revitalized entering 2022, with an improved offensive line and imposing defensive unit. These upgrades should allow the Ravens to return to their run-heavy approach, benefitting Jackson’s undeniable upside as the NFL’s most versatile offensive weapon.
The continued rise of Mark Andrews alongside the ascension of second-year wideout Rashod Bateman and the return of lead running back J.K. Dobbins will help catapult Jackson into a stand-alone tier of quarterback production this season.
Jackson’s return as the NFL’s MVP will coincide with a similarly overlooked future for the Ravens offense.
RAVENS OVER 9.5 WINS/RAVENS WIN AFC NORTH
Betting Odds: -110/+175
The AFC North is wide open in 2022, with the Ravens favored to win the division at plus money. Adding top-rated center Tyler Linderbaum via the 2022 NFL Draft gives the team a much-needed boost to their interior offensive unit. Head coach John Harbaugh has long instituted a stout defensive approach and will return to wreaking havoc on opposing offenses with an upgraded and healthy team entering the 2022 season. Furthermore, several shake-ups within the division have cleared a much easier path for the Ravens.
The Bengals present the biggest challenge to the AFC North throne, coming off a Super Bowl appearance in 2021. However, a depleted Ravens squad without Lamar Jackson for a quarter of the season finished with a record of 9-8, only one game shy of the Bengals at 10-7. A Jackson-led Ravens unit can topple the Bengals as the kings of the AFC North.
The Steelers are embarking on unfamiliar territory as 2022 marks the first time in 18 seasons that the franchise will be without Ben Roethlisberger under center. Mitchell Trubisky will begin the season as the Steeler’s starting quarterback with first-round selection Kenny Pickett hot on his heels, vying for the lead role. The team is in an apparent rebuilding phase and will be more concerned with adequately developing their in-house talent than winning the division in 2022.
The Browns are a mess of dysfunctionality with no hopes of winning the division in 2022. Deshaun Watson will miss the first 11 games of the season, leaving Jacoby Brissett to captain the offense. The Browns are more likely to finish below five total wins than to be a threat to the Ravens’ race for division dominance.
STEFON DIGGS RECEIVING YARDS LEADER
Betting Odds: +1800
Stefon Diggs is in a prime position to exceed all his career highs in 2022. The Bills’ wide receiver depth chart is filled with a laundry list of unproven and declining talent. Gabriel Davis is the projected secondary outside receiver alongside Diggs, with Jamison Crowder reprising his career role in the slot. Davis has amassed a lowly 10.9% target share throughout 33 regular season games in two seasons. Crowder is on a steep decline after a short tenure with the Jets and will turn 30 years old before the season ends.
Diggs is staring down the barrel of a monumental opportunity share as the Bills’ number one receiving threat. Chris Miles, Author at Dynasty Football Factory (@ChrisMiles1017), projected Diggs to lead the NFL in targets with 169 during the 2022 season. Diggs has a career catch rate of 87.3%, coupled with a career yards per reception average of 12.82. Those averages on 169 targets would equate to 147 receptions and 1884 yards. If the Bills’ star wideout plays in line with his career averages with those allotted opportunities, he could smash his career highs in receiving in receptions.
TRAVIS ETIENNE COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Betting Odds: +3300
Travis Etienne is finally set to play his first NFL game in Week 1 of the 2022 season after missing his rookie campaign to a lisfranc injury. The Jaguars’ first-round pick in 2021 will lead the backfield to start the year as James Robinson recovers from a late-season Achilles tear. Robinson will be eased back into the offensive game plan on a snap limitation early in the season. Increased opportunities for Etienne may spell bad news for Robinson’s work rate upon return.
Managers quickly forget that the former Clemson running back was highly regarded as the best running back prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft, topping Najee Harris and Javonte Williams in the eyes of several scouts. According to the NFL NextGen scouting database, Etienne is one of only eight running back prospects to earn a perfect 99 (Elite) Grade when entering the NFL.
Etienne has a storied history with Trevor Lawrence as members of Clemson’s high-powered offense. The duo was an unstoppable force, with the Jaguars’ first-overall pick targeting the hyper-effective running back at a rapid rate. Etienne’s prospect profile is all-elite in every category. He possesses one of the most stunning receiving resumes of any running back in college football history, paired with incredible athleticism and superb rushing efficiency. If the stunning dual-threat can help improve the Jaguars’ bottoming offense, there will be no need for Robinson’s talents.
Etienne has a realistic opportunity to lead the Jaguars in both rushing and receiving yards in 2022. The league would be hard-pressed to find a better comeback narrative should the once-promising prospect return to form.
JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER OVER 750.5 RECEIVING YARDS + 6.5 TD (PARLAY)
Betting Odds: +300
JuJu Smith-Schuster has the chance for an inspiring career resurgence in 2022. The former Steelers wideout’s fall from grace has caused justifiable concerns for his future trajectory. However, a new pairing with the league’s most talented gunslinger in Patrick Mahomes presents a massive upgrade compared to the deflated delivery from the dusty hull of Roethlisberger.
Smith-Schuster is an unfortunate byproduct of terrible circumstances, dealing with two season-shortening injuries while being forced to catch passes from the declining ghost of Roethlisberger during 2020/2021. Nevertheless, there are plenty of positive upsides when viewing the 25-year-old’s 2022 projections.
The Chiefs will be without Tyreek Hill as the speedster signed a record-breaking contract after a trade with the Dolphins this offseason. Smith-Schuster vaults to the top of the Chiefs’ depth chart sans Hill and will be tasked with shouldering the majority of Mahomes targets.
Smith-Schuster enters the 2022 season with a career target share of 21.4%. The year Hill exploded as the WR1 overall (WR2 in PPG), he recorded a target share of 23.4%, a mere 2.0% higher than Smith-Schuster’s career average. Earning a target share above 20.0% on a Mahomes-led offense is a proven recipe for monstrous production.
Managers can expect Smith-Schuster to lead the Chiefs’ wide receivers in targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns as Mahomes’ primary weapon alongside Travis Kelce.
SIGNOFF
Please remember to always bet responsibly. Know your limit and play within it.
Much respect; thank you for reading. If you have any continued thoughts and would like to share, I am always available for an open conversation on Twitter: @PsychWardFF or Instagram: @psychwardff.
Check out my other works as an Author at Dynasty Football Factory and lead writer for Broto Fantasy Football. Don’t forget to join the #DFFArmy for exclusive fantasy football content by clicking HERE for a membership! #AlwaysBeBuilding
