Talent. Scheme fit. Opportunity. These are the roots that sustain results in fantasy football.
There are only so many playoff articles you can read before you overthink your postseason roster moves and ruin a good thing. This week, let's return to the roots of the game with a 2022 Talent Watchlist: 50 Risers, Teasers, Fallers, and Underdogs of note.
This list consists of prominent free agents, marquee rookie talents, and unproven players who you should know about for dynasty, keeper, and re-draft formats.
Last year's list had some notable calls, including Jonathan Taylor and Chris Godwin as risers who would at least sustain what they did in 2020, if not build on it. A.J. Green didn't return to excellence in fantasy, but he played well this year and became a bankable flex option. Antonio Gibson has also delivered high-end RB2 production in PPR formats despite battling injury.
Speaking of injuries, my thoughts on J.K. Dobbins, Logan Thomas, and Denzel Mims are incomplete due to injuries/illness that derailed their seasons before they began.
Josh Reynolds and Damien Harris got their due as starters when used in this capacity but whether that will continue is still up for debate.
Keke Coutee and JaMycal Hasty were sleepers who never woke up this year.
Last year's teases in addition to Akers, whose injury prevented us from determining this, were Curtis Samuel, Bryan Edwards, Henry Ruggs, Jerry Jeudy, Danell Mooney, Jordan Reed, Trey Burton, and Donovan Peoples-Jones. Mooney proved that he's a riser and I'll explain more why in this article. The rest qualify as teasers. I fell for the Edwards Show in training camp once again. What can I say, I liked his college film.
Peoples-Jones continues to tease and much of this may have to do with his scheme fit although I suspect if he could run routes like Odell Beckham, Jr. the Browns would have him doing so by now. From what I saw on tape, he was mostly an intermediate and vertical threat on the perimeter who won with his size.
Other players that I squinted at but wasn't seeing a great path for success due to flaws in their game or their role included Andy Isabella, Zack Moss, Kalen Ballage, and Anthony McFarland. I don't think Gabriel Davis will ever become a true starter but he had another campaign where I'm willing to suspend disbelief for one more year.
I also think Jalen Hurts has shown enough promise for a team to buy into him as a developmental option who happens to be a fantasy point machine. Hurts' current ranking is about where I had him in the preseason. We'll see if the Eagles' GM, owner, and coach get on the same page about their quarterback situation. Right now, you could argue the GM wants Gardner Minshew, the owner wants Hurts, and the coach wants to keep his job.
My fallers who fell were Baker Mayfield, Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Marlon Mack, and Allen Lazard. My fallers who rose were Carson Wentz and James Conner. My entry for Conner says, "Expect Conner's career to go the way of the capable starter when asked to fill-in for a team's lead back, but never the lead back by design." On paper, that's correct but I think Conner's performance may be changing minds in Arizona. We'll see.
Gus Edwards and Jameis Winston were on the list but both got hurt.
My Underdogs, included Travis Fulgham (nope), Tim Patrick (yes), Quintez Cephus (yes, before injury), Boston Scott (yep), Byron Pringle (I'll take it, yes.), Chad Hansen (nada), Austin Mack (nada), TySon Williams (ye--nope), DOnta Foreman (yes), Dante Pettis (yes, before injury), Penny Hart (still ascending but nope), and Juwann Winfree (still ascending but nope).
Let's see what's in store for 2022
Risers
I expect these players to build on what they've done thus far during their careers.
Sustaining Excellence with a Shot of Greater Heights
Tom Brady: Sure, the Age Cliff could come fast for Brady, but he's not dealing with any chronic injuries like Julio Jones, his velocity as a thrower was never something he leaned on, and he's the top passer in the NFL despite missing two of his four best options for stretches of the year. His yardage and touchdowns are about a game better than Matthew Stafford, the No.4 fantasy quarterback this year. Maybe someone will tell us that Brady's 68 rushing yards are a sign that the time of the pocket quarterback is ending. Tell that to the 33-year-olds Stafford (39 yards) and Kirk Cousins (89 yards), the 38-year-old Aaron Rodgers (76 yards), and the 25-year-old Joe Burrow. who comprise almost half of the top-12 fantasy quarterbacks. Oh, wait, 30-year-old Derek Carr, the No.12 option counts with 97 yards. Exactly half of the top producers at quarterback are pocket guys. There will always be multiple ways to play winning football, stop trying to confine it to a template.
Jaylen Waddle: A massive deep threat with great contested-catch skill for his size, Waddle wound up on a Dolphins' squad that lacked sustainable wide receiver talent around him and it led to Miami using him like Jarvis Landry. No big deal, Waddle is the No.13 fantasy receiver in PPR formats despite averaging 9.9 yards per catch. The rookie is misused due to the needs of the team and he's still only six spots behind Ja'Marr Chase. As I wrote in the 2021 Rookie Scouting Portfolio, Waddle is not that far behind Chase in value. By the way, the RSP Early-Bird Discount is underway through Christmas Day. You can pre-order here.
Hunter Renfrow: Renfrow isn't as big or as athletic as Cooper Kupp, which means he's not the vertical or YAC threat that Kupp is. However, Renfrow is Kupp's near-equal as a route runner and he's tougher than advertised. I get the sense that some in the fantasy community see Renfrow as a nice contributor from an NFL perspective, but not a fantasy-relevant player, long-term.
They see Renfrow's ranking as the No.11 receiver in PPR formats as a product of Henry Ruggs' absence and Darren Waller's ailments. That's partially correct. The flaw in that thinking is that Renfrow has earned between 6-10 targets in all but Week 6's matchup with Denver. The validation of that thinking is that during the past two weeks Renfrow has seen vertical targets and those extra 1-2 targets above his season average have resulted in big plays that have put him over the century-mark for yardage for the first time this year.
Still, if you subtracted 15-25 points from Renfrow's totals — essentially the yardage he earned from big-play catches the past three weeks — he'd still be the No.23 PPR option, at worst, ahead of the likes of Brandin Cooks, Darnell Mooney, and DeVonta Smith. Much of the fantasy community believes in Cooks, Mooney, and Smith but they haven't been as productive as Renfrow prior to his consecutive weeks of big-play outbursts.
Renfrow is one of the smarter football players out there and his tenure in Las Vegas concludes in 2022. Expect him to join Mac Jones as the Patriots' slot receiver and potential fantasy WR1 in that system in 2023. Until then, Renfrow has a fantasy WR3 floor and fantasy WR2 ceiling in a healthy Raiders offense.
Dawson Knox: Mark Andrews, Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Rob Gronowski, and Darren Waller are the only players who average more points per game than Knox who is also sixth in total fantasy points this year despite missing two games. After a summer of training with top tight ends, this alumnus of Bruce Feldman's Freak List has proven that he can win contested targets and make acrobatic receptions for the cannon-armed scrambler that's his quarterback in Buffalo. While some are still pinning their hopes to Gabriel Davis emerging into a legitimate fantasy WR2 (see below) and there is hope for it, Knox is a compelling choice for the second-most productive receiver in the Bills' passing game when Emmanuel Sanders moves on.
Cordarrelle Patterson: He's going to be on a lot of one-year-wonder lists this offseason because he's 30 years old, few saw Patterson's emergence coming, and there's no history of strong fantasy production. This is why it's worth studying football as much as you study spreadsheets. Get the best of both worlds and let each resource fill in the knowledge gaps as needed. Patterson is not a great zone back, which is the default blocking scheme that most teams use. However, he's a terrific gap runner with an elite receiving skillset for a running back. While his time to shine may have a smaller window of top production because of his emergence coming seven years later than expected and at a different position, this is a 230-pound runner with speed and great open field vision who has only seen spot use for most of his NFL career.
James Conner: I thought James Conner's Demise Was Greatly Exaggerated but I'm aware that teams look at factors beyond talent when investing in a future starter. This includes two smart factors like availability (health) and age and some dumb ones like recent production and whatever the talking heads on the four-letter-word networks say for clicks. I don't know if Conner will get another shot to lead the Cardinals' backfield in 2022, but I'm betting on him ahead of Chase Edmonds. Both are in the final year of their deals, Conner is one year older but has greater versatility. Yes Edmonds can catch, but Conner has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he runs excellent routes, wins as a power-back, and he has the size to match up better as a pass protector. Unless Conner prices himself out of Arizona, which would be foolish, I think we'll see Conner re-signed, Edmonds sent packing, and Arizona draft a young back as Conner's eventual successor.
Najee Harris: The Steelers' offensive line is not what it once was and Harris is still carrying the load and looking good. I know my friend Chris Harris hasn't been enamored with what he's seen, but I've been impressed. If Harris were running behind the Patriots' or Colts' offensive line, he'd be a top-five...oh, that's right, he's already the No.4 PPR back. I'll put it to you this way: If Harris snuck into the Colts' locker room and stole Jonathan Taylor's jersey, most of you wouldn't notice much of a difference.
Returning to Excellence
Russell Wilson: Since returning from his finger injury, Wilson has posted fantasy starter production despite dealing with a slumping D.K. Metcalf, a lackluster ground game, and mediocre pass protection. That's a better supporting cast than what Wilson has earned for many years of his career. It's possible that Wilson won't be in Seattle next year and he has the right of refusal for any trade, so he can dictate his landing spot. The Saints, Broncos, and Giants are three of the teams on Wilson's approved list of trade partners. I find it hard to believe that the Saints wouldn't work hard to get Wilson. I'm praying for the Browns to come to its senses and Wilson to be amenable. I will be despondent if he goes to Denver. Any way you look at it, even if he stays in Seattle, Wilson will have the tools to thrive because he's in the driver's seat.
Odell Beckham: Steve Smith is right about Baker Mayfield, even if he was harsh with the delivery of the message on national television. Beckham made mistakes in Cleveland, no doubt, but I watch this team closely every week and it's clear that Mayfield's mistakes were higher in volume and weight than Beckham's. While it would be nice to expect professionals to not be emotionally affected by losing football and/or a lack of rapport with an essential co-worker, it's unrealistic to do so (look around your office). Beckham looks rejuvenated in a Rams offense that relies on him as a major part of the offense and has a quarterback who sets Beckham up for YAC rather than hospital balls. I'll think he'll be a Ram next year and easily a top-20 fantasy option at his position.
A.J. Brown: Injuries marred Brown's opportunity to deliver top-10 production. He'll be ready next year and in an offense that leans on him.
DeAndre Hopkins: No 100-yard games this year for Hopkins and now a knee injury that will keep him off the field until the playoffs, most fantasy analysts will be scurrying away from Hopkins, especially due to the mythical age cliff that is conjured up for players on the verge of 30. He may not return to the years of 160 targets, 1,400 yards, and 10 scores, but I think 110-120 targets, 1,000-1,200 yards, and 8-10 scores are still reasonable for another year or two.
Robert Woods: The public will misinterpret Woods's decline in production with age rather than Matthew Stafford developing a rapport with Woods. This was happening prior to Woods's injury. The Rams have a potential out with Woods at year's end and it's possible that they take it if they choose to re-sign Beckham. If they can do some fancy footwork in the negotiation arena, they'll want to keep all three for Stafford, who is capable of supporting three 1,000-yard receivers in the right offense. This could be one of those offenses.
Kareem Hunt: He has one more year in Cleveland and the Browns' offensive line should be intact for another playoff run. He's a solid RB2 with RB1 upside when healthy.
Matt Ryan: If the Browns can't get Rodgers or Wilson this offseason, I'm hoping they can trade for Ryan, who has an out in his contract at year's end and could earn a cap-friendly restructured deal to join a better team with a real Super Bowl window with the right quarterback. Ryan may not be an elite player, but he still has enough skill to deliver a plus-version of what the Vikings have with Kurt Cousins as a decision-maker although not the production unless Cleveland discovers a Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen within the span of six months. If Ryan stays put in Atlanta, there's a good chance he'll have a swan song of good production if Calvin Ridley returns to the team in 2022.
Rising Fast
Mac Jones: Until the Buffalo game in the elements where he threw three passes, Jones was a fantasy QB1 this year. The fact that he plays in New England and couldn't handle the elements may concern some of you, but most of you haven't been to Buffalo and experienced lake effect weather. I spent part of my childhood experiencing it in Cleveland so take it from me when I tell you that Josh Allen's 50 percent completion rate in that game, especially with some of the throws he made, would have been 75-80 percent on a normal day if his receivers didn't drop the ball. Don't worry about Jones and weather any more than you'd worry about any mortal who doesn't have a thunderbolt attached to their labrum. Jones and Joe Burrow will be the two quarterbacks I'll be using as examples for the next 15 years as to why the pocket quarterback is far from dead but just no longer the default bias that GMs and owners prefer because of ignorance.
Darnell Mooney: I thought Mooney would be a tease. He's a smaller option who seemed poised to be the next Taylor Gabriel teaser. Instead, Mooney pulled a Michael Thomas and parked himself next to his quarterbacks throughout the offseason and worked his tail off to generate as much rapport with them as humanly possible. Hard work pays off and Mooney's a legit starter.
Javonte Williams: I may not think he's a Nick Chubb-Jonathan Taylor-Marshawn Lynch sundae with extra sprinkles and a cherry on top like my esteemed colleague Doug Farrar, but it won't make a difference if the Broncos can sustain strong offensive line play. He's just a notch below these studs in talent but he's poised to join their production tier.
Rhamondre Stevenson: My favorite Big Man in A Little Coat running back from the 2020 class, Stevenson could overtake the respectable Damien Harris for the lead role in 2022. He's shifty, powerful, an excellent receiver, and a promising pass protector. I don't know if the Patriots want to reprise the Corey Dillon feature-back element of their offense from years ago, but Stevenson has the upside to deliver on that volume. I'm going to say it's not likely but a timeshare won't kill Stevenson's shot at solid RB2 value for fantasy leagues.
J.K. Dobbins: My breakout candidate for 2021, Dobbins' ACL tear happened early enough in the year that I expect him to deliver in 2022. He may not have the elite production that he's capable of generating due to the usual risk of compensatory injuries that occur after taking the field and acclimating to the rehabbed knee but I'm confident Baltimore will have an upgraded offensive line next year and Dobbins will show enough for you to regain confidence in his future.
Michael Carter: I've joked this year that Carter looked like a guy dropped from a helicopter into a stampede of Buffalo. The thing is, if he were just a guy dropped into that mess, he would be dead. Carter not only survived, but he also showed the promise of delivering as an every-down back. He may not reach Austin Ekeler's production in 2022, but I think we'll see enough promise for the comparisons to that upside to be floated around by 2023.
Nico Collins: Big, agile, and a skilled tracker of the ball, as long as Collins doesn't catch a case of the "I-made-its" which is common with promising players on struggling organizations with iffy leadership who don't realize that they now have to work twice as hard to build on their first glimmer of success. I think Collins has as much promise as his former teammate Donovan Peoples-Jones. It will depend on which one of them has the better quarterback play. It may not appear like it on paper, but right now it's a dead heat.
Getting Their Due
Clyde Edwards-Helaire: Chiefs GM Brett Veach was so excited about Edwards-Helaire as a rookie, he told every four-letter-word commentator within earshot that they found Marshall Faulk II. Okay, maybe not. But Brian Westbrook's name got dropped and that was not fair to either player. Edwards-Helaire wasn't as good as the fantasy public believed he'd be in 2020 but he's not nearly as bad as many claimed in 2021. If the Chiefs can get its offensive line back to its years of 2018-2019, Edwards-Helaire can deliver 1,300 yards from scrimmage and 5-6 touchdowns in this offense. That's good enough for strong RB2 value, maybe higher, in PPR formats. That's upside value for Edwards-Helaire. I'm banking 2-3 seasons of 1,000 yards from scrimmage and 4-6 scores as the median projection.
Josh Reynolds: Based on what he's done thus far for Detroit, I think he earns another year with the Lions and has a shot of delivering as the team's primary receiver. Even if the Lions draft a quarterback, I'd expect Jared Goff to be the starter for at least the first month, maybe longer, because none of these rookies are blowing me away, thus far.
Taylor Heinicke: This quarterback has been getting it done with Terry McLaurin and journeymen and you can essentially say these games are part of his NFL acclimation period despite being in the league for seven years. He's a legit mid-range QB2 with streamer value despite lacking a great arsenal of healthy weapons. If that changes in 2022, he could be a low-end QB1.
Richie James: The more I speak with people who have knowledge of Kyle Shanahan and his silo of coaches that run the West Coast Offense, the more I learn about the thinking of "system coaches." They are so attached to their methodology that they can be intractable with players who clearly possess the talent to help the team but don't fit their exact aesthetic. James will be free of the 49ers at year's end and while he'll have a label of a back/contributor who can play on special teams, he's a legitimate playmaker on offense who should emerge in 2022. I'd love to see him in New England, Cleveland, or New Orleans.
Sleepers
Dee Eskridge: We haven't seen vertical shots for James in Seattle, but that should be coming later this month. If Wilson sticks around Seattle, Eskridge could be a huge factor. If not, Eskridge's emergence will depend on who the Seahawks get to replace No. 3.
Albert Okwuegbunam: I've been on him for the past two years and if you look at the stats for the past five weeks, he's out-producing Noah Fant by a small amount in the fantasy department. Denver's deployment of two tight ends is one of the reasons, but the other is that Okwegbunam is the more versatile "match-up player" than Fant, whose athletic ability is best exploited on plays schemed to get him open rather than relying on Fant to get open.
Harrison Bryant: David Njoku wanted to leave Cleveland during the summer of 2020. By year's end, he wanted to stay. Pros are bandwagon guys. Most people are. I don't think Cleveland will re-sign him and while Njoku has the potential to become the next Jared Cook — a talented athlete who figures out how to become a consistent force after years of underachieving — I'm equally, if not more intrigued by Bryant. The Browns' staff has stated publicly that they want to get Bryant on the field more than they have. He's an excellent red-zone route runner, decent after the catch, and can stretch the field more than Austin Hooper. Next year could be his time to shine, especially if Cleveland gets a top quarterback who can make quicker red-zone reads.
Adam Trautman: The second-year Saint was delivering more production just before he sprained his MCL. Remember, tight ends need 2-3 years to emerge and Trautman was a terrific prospect acclimating from a small school. Expect Trautman to take the next step in 2022, especially if Sean Payton gets a top quarterback during the offseason.
Teasers
Trey Sermon: He looked good on limited film this year but Shanahan wants speedsters to the edge. Sermon will continue to look good in limited playing time until he's traded, cut, injuries decimate the depth chart, his contract expires, or Shanahan gets fired. I'd expect the likelihood of each possibility listed above in that exact order.
DeVonta Smith: Talented, but small and with no signs of skill to win against tight and patient coverage that bullies him to the boundary. This may change next year, but I doubt it. Smith will be good enough to flex, but I think there will be a lot of people expecting him to take a leap that will put him on par with Waddle and Chase. The Eagles' media will likely be hysterical about his training camp, warranted or otherwise. I will want to see legitimate proof, which means, I wouldn't trade a proven WR1-WR2 for him this year. I'd rather wait and see. He's a solid high-end WR3 or low-end WR2. Don't get fooled into the WR1 talk for 2022. Not yet.
Rashod Bateman: I love his game, but I am concerned about the match with Lamar Jackson to fully exploit what he does so well — win contested vertical plays. Jackson does throw these balls often enough or well enough. If that changes Bateman will be a fast riser. Right now, he projects a talented but semi-productive teaser.
Kadarius Toney: I love Toney's game, but I don't believe in the quarterback. I also have concerns about Toney staying healthy. If you read about him working on movement skills to play with greater efficiency and limit soft-tissue injuries, I'll be more optimistic about him staying healthy. I'm just not sure he has the maturity as an individual to go there.
Noah Fant: A top athlete at the position who needs to be schemed open rather than create openings on his own, I think Okwuegbunam is the better all-around player and will overtake him. I had Fant lower than most heading into the year and nothing has changed my assessment.
David Njoku: The (early years) Jared Cook of this generation of NFL tight ends. If he can't become the late year's Cook soon, he'll be a scrub.
Chuba Hubbard: Speed is the cleavage of the NFL. Hubbard has it but not much else. Since he's a pick of an egocentric head coach. He's getting a lot of use for a player who isn't efficient. I don't mind hanging onto Hubbard for another year to see if he improves over the offseason, but he's nowhere near the galaxy of a healthy Christian McCaffrey as a decision-maker and that's why the idea that "if Mike Davis could do it, Hubbard can too" failed miserably.
Kenneth Gainwell: If he can add 10-15 pounds of muscle and get more explosive, Gainwell has the receiving skills, movement, and decision-making to become a fantasy value. That's a lot to ask, especially for a guy who couldn't make these gains while opting out last year. Maybe his body hasn't fully matured yet. We'll see, but keep in mind that the Eagles kept him in the same limited space-player role when Miles Sanders got hurt because there's no sand in his pants.
Fallers
DK Metcalf: An inconsistent technician with route limitations, Metcalf is absolutely capable of elite years of production but he must figure out how to use his hands to appropriately address targets that the top guys catch. Too many times this year, Metcalf dropped passes that were difficult but catchable opportunities that the best receivers win. He's still a capable starter, but there will be a contingent of people thinking Metcalf will be a candidate for a 2022 rebound to high-end WR1 production. I'm not buying.
Chase Claypool: Since last year's Titans' game, the NFL has figured out that Claypool is capable of WR1 production if he's treated like the third-best option in the Steelers' game, but when treated like the No.1, he's a limited producer. Claypool has not responded well to tight man-to-man coverage or zones rolling over to his routes as the first priority. He's barely operated as a stater in three-receiver lineups and it has more to do with his skill set than Ben Roethlisberger's decline.
Baker Mayfield: He doesn't read the full field effectively, his pocket management remains iffy when forced to climb, he lacks pinpoint accuracy that leads his receivers into the open field, and he's 1-3 beats too slow with reading leverage in the red zone. He also seems to know everything that's being said about him publicly while telling everyone he doesn't pay attention to it. He's the anchor of this offense and I don't mean that in the positive, track and field sense as much as the nautical sense.
Daniel Jones: He takes too many hits, lacks ball security, and his accuracy and decision-making in situations that franchise quarterbacks make is missing. A large percentage of the NFL's personnel evaluation teams got sold a bill of goods when they associated Jones with David Cutcliffe. I was told before the draft that this contingent of the NFL that bought into the 'Cutcliffe QB" didn't conduct their due diligence. If they had, they'd know that Cutcliffe wasn't nearly as involved with quarterback development the way he had been during the Manning era of his career. Duke liked selling Cutcliffe's reputation for recruiting but his role and involvement were much different.
Zach Wilson: There's still a solid chance for Wilson to recover from his rookie-year tailspin, especially with the number of reps that he'll get as the starter for the next year or two. However, Wilson is the prime example of a football thrower's dream who has some nightmare tendencies as a decision-maker that get continually overlooked in the evaluation community because they still falsely equate the Wilsons, Drew Locks, Jordan Loves, and Malik Willises with the Patrick Mahomes II and Lamar Jacksons. Details matter and too often, quarterback prospects get hyped up without enough of them. That said, Josh Allen is a good example of a player whose decision-making was awful but he improved. It's just an evolution that's rarer than portrayed.
Underdogs
Davis Mills: By no means has he been a world-beater, but Mills has performed well enough that the Texans are willing to bench Tyrod Taylor and give the rookie extended playing time. He has improved his recognition of coverage disguises and blitzes and his ability to find second and third reads has been strong. If he can improve his vertical game, Mills might extend his stay as the starter.
Juwann Winfree: An underdog candidate from last year, Winfree was signed this week to the active roster. I'll stick with what I wrote about his last year: A student of the game, Winfree could be the next in line of Packers' development projects who earns a start. Winfree impressed cornerback Chris Harris Jr/a> as a rookie in Denver but didn't stick with the roster. Green Bay has been known to poach talent for its passing game. Robert Tonyan Jr Jr and Allen Lazard are recent examples and Winfree is a better technician than Lazard with decent size and enough speed to play outside.
Quintez Cephus: When called upon, Cephus delivered early this year, especially in the vertical perimeter game and contested plays in the red zone. It's best to think of Cephus as a teams' potential WR4 and a bench player in fantasy leagues, but that contested-catch skill and rugged game that has drawn the trust of his quarterbacks at every stop could help him emerge as a potential flex option of value in fantasy.
Laquon Treadwell: Albeit is in a rough setting, Treadwell is making plays in Jacksonville. He's earning Trevor Lawrence's confidence not only in the underneath passing game but also on perimeter routes where Lawrence can throw Treadwell open. He may become a worthwhile end-of-roster selection in summer drafts next year. Stay tuned.
LilJordan Humphrey: The former running back was inactive last week, but he's earned big plays the two weeks prior. The Saints have one of the most underwhelming receiving corps in the league so I expect some upgrades this offseason. Even so, Humphrey seems to be making gains with his development at a position he only began learning while at Texas.
Byron Pringle: Like Richie James, Pringle was underutilized in Kansas City. He'll probably earn a similar label as James and he's older, too. Still, if he can earn a true opportunity in open competition (unlikely), he has the talent to emerge as a significant contributor to a new team.
Kylin Hill: A knee injury cost Hill the year, but he's a talented runner and receiver who can post starter production when called upon. With Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon back next year, Hill just needs to make the team and he could get a shot to be a committee back in Green Bay in 2023.
Darwin Thompson: There should be significant turnover with the Buccaneers running back rotation this offseason. Thompson is more talented than the way the Chiefs used him and if there's a player who has a shot to be Dion Lewis like in Tampa, Thompson is that guy. Monitor his training camp if the team retains him over the winter and spring.
