We have hit week nine of the college football season, so much has changed since august. We have a new starting quarterback in Oklahoma, we have lost many talented players to injuries. Along with a few players really cementing their draft stock for the NFL draft come April, and a few surprise risers. With all of these changes, there have been changes within our ranking of the 2022 fantasy rookies. As a Devy player staying on top of the changing tides of CFB can help you get that edge on your league mates. As a dynasty player knowing the players coming out helps you value your picks correctly in dynasty trades. So let’s take a look at the Top 25 players who are draft eligible this spring for the fantasy football rookies in the Class of 2022!
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Top 25 Fantasy Rookie Rankings: Fantasy Football Rookies Class of 2022
1. Treylon Burks (WR) Arkansas
This 6-3, 225-pound wide receiver has emerged as the top prospect for me in the class of 2022. Last season Treylon Burks was an All-SEC second-team wide receiver producing 820 yards on 51 receptions while scoring 7 touchdowns. You can see he had something special then, with a mix of speed and size that we don’t often see. A jump forward was expected, and we have seen this. Treylon Burks continues to be a matchup nightmare on the field for Arkansas. He has everything you want in a top-tier wide receiver prospect with solid routes, physically, speed, and great hands.
This season Treylon Burks has produced 717 yards on 42 receptions and 7 touchdowns. Increasing his yards per reception by a full yard this season. He has all the makings of being a high-end fantasy option next season for any dynasty manager. As a prospect he does not have the same grade as a Ja’Marr Chase or Ceedee Lamb, however, he could be similar to AJ Brown in time. His high-end potential makes him the top prospect in the class of 2022 fantasy rookies currently.
2. Breece Hall (RB) Iowa State
Breece Hall continues to impress in his junior season at Iowa State, producing over 1000 scrimmage yards so far this season. He continues to help make the Iowa offense go, his 818 rushing yards are second in the Big 12, and leads the Big 12 in rushing touchdowns with 11. This is all after a season in which he scored 21 touchdowns and rushed for over 1500 yards. He also leads the NCAA in scrimmage yards with 1752. This season he has seen an increase in passing work already tying his career-high in receptions with 23. This is a huge bonus for a kid who is the best runner in his class.
Breece Hall possesses all the tools to be an NFL-caliber running back that can handle a large workload. He stands 6-1 220 pounds and runs with punishing authority. Possesses great vision and patience to let blocks set up along with setting his blocks up at the second and third levels. He will draw similarities to former Iowa State running back David Montgomery, however, I think he is even better. All of this is why he is the top running back in my 2022 fantasy rookie rankings.
3. Isaiah Spiller (RB) Texas A&M
Climbing the rankings this season Isaiah Spiller has been extremely impressive this season. Coming into his junior season this year he has displayed all the tools, size, speed, hands. He has become a focal point of the Texas A&M offense. With this, he has produced 940 all-purpose yards and 6 total touchdowns this season for the Aggies. Showing his ability to be a game-breaker in the passing game and the ground attack. His 761 rushing yards are currently second in the SEC, while his 6.2 yards per carry is fifth. All of this has caused him to rise up my 2022 fantasy rookie rankings.
As we look ahead for Isaiah Spiller I expect him to become a solid NFL running back. He has all the tools good vision, burst, and pass-catching ability. Along with prototypical size, standing 6-1 215 pounds. His upside is immense given his ability in the passing game. He can step in and take a lead role on, and produce RB1 numbers early on. This makes him a great piece to hold in Devy leagues, or a top pick in dynasty formats come spring.
4. David Bell (WR) Purdue
This junior wide receiver has been performing since day one that he stepped on campus. As a freshman, David Bell produced over 1000 yards receiving and 7 touchdowns. He would follow it up with 625 yards and 8 touchdowns in a shortened COVID season as a sophomore. He has taken a leap forward this year as well producing 712 yards in 6 games thus far. This leads the Big Ten and is seventh in receiving touchdowns with 4. At 6-2 205 pound frame he has the ability to climb the ladder to get balls at the highpoint. Along with that he runs good routes and creates big plays after the catch. David Bell has also become a sure-handed reliable wide receiver for whoever is under center.
David Bell has all the size and ability to be the next big-bodied wide receiver. He does not possess the explosiveness or shiftiness that fellow Boilermaker Rondale Moore poses. However, he has the prototypical X receiver build. All of this is why he is in the top 5 of my 2022 fantasy rookies. Also, he will be a top pick in the 2021 draft in the spring, whoever selects him will feature him early on.
5. Garrett Wilson (WR) Ohio State
In one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in college football, Garrett Wilson has been impressive in his limited touches. Last season as a sophomore he produced 723 yards and 6 touchdowns, both were top-five in the Big Ten. He has picked up where he left off last season as he has 605 yards on only 36 receptions this season. This is a common theme for Garrett Wilson, he is a big-play machine with a career average per catch of 16.1 yards. His 6 receiving touchdowns are second in the Big Ten this season.
He has great speed and is a good route runner, this allows him to get separation on almost every play. After the catch, he has the ability to create and get extra yards. When needed he has an ability to climb the ladder and win contested catches as well. All of this will translate to the NFL for him, he is a must roster in Devy leagues. Also, every fantasy manager should keep an eye on him as he will be one of the best 2022 fantasy rookies.
6. Drake London (WR) USC
Playing behind now NFL wide receivers Amon Ra St. Brown and Michael Pittman, Drake London has impressed in limited action. As a freshman and sophomore, he produced back-to-back 500 receiving yard seasons. However this season he has taken over the lead role for USC, and the nation is taking note. He leads the Pac-12 and is second in the nation in receptions with 79 this season. His 1003 yards receiving and five receiving touchdowns are second in the nation currently.
Drake London is 6-5 and 210 pounds, this paired with his athleticism has created a dangerous combo. However, his ability to locate and adjust to the ball makes him hard to cover. This push his size makes him a great contested catch receiver. Although he is not stellar after the catch, he has enough of an ability to make plays after the catch. After a strong early-season push he has sustained an ankle injury ending his 2021 season. This will make him a great value if he declares, he could become the best value of the 2022 fantasy rookies.
7. George Pickens (WR) Georgia
Unfortunately, we have not seen George Pickens this season as he tore his ACL this summer in practice. Leading into the season he was a favorite to be the top wide receiver in the nation. Leading up to this season he has produced 1240 yards and 14 touchdowns. As a freshman, he produced 727 yards and 8 touchdowns for the Bulldogs. He has the prototypical X-receiver size at 6-3 and 200 pounds. However, he is extremely explosive and is a big play waiting to happen. He is very similar to Treylon Burks in this aspect.
George Pickens has all the athleticism in the world and he makes circus-style catches weekly. He has great sideline awareness along with great body control making him hard to cover along the sideline. He also runs solid routes for a bigger receiver and creates after the catch pretty well. With all of this he has immense upside which has allowed him to stay in the top 10 of my 2022 fantasy rookies. He is a must roster in Devy formats and will be a solid value in rookie drafts this spring if he declares.
8. Kenneth Walker (RB) Michigan State
After a transfer from Wake Forest this spring there was hope we would see an improved player this season. In fact, Kenneth Walker has made a huge jump since moving over to Michigan State. After his two seasons in Wake Forest, he had produced 1158 yards and 17 touchdowns. Along with 6 receptions for 47 yards. However this season he has produced 997 yards on 152 carries, which lead the Big Ten. He has also added 5 receptions for 25 yards and a touchdown. It is clear that Kenneth Walker has made the jump to a lead-back role for the Spartans.
His transition to the NFL will be aided due to his prototypical size of 5-10 210 pounds. He has great patience and vision, which is backed by great decisions. Once he makes his cut he has the speed to break big plays. This is paired with great contact balance and power. He has all the tools to be a lead back at the NFL level and has great upside as a fantasy asset. His emergence has driven him up my incoming rookie rankings this season, making him a must roster in devy formats. He will be a draft time riser in dynasty drafts this spring as well if he continues his impressive season. Making him one of the top 2022 fantasy rookies.
9. Chris Olave (WR) Ohio State
Was a bit of a surprise returning for his senior season after two impressive seasons. As a sophomore Chris Olave took 48 receptions for 840 yards and 12 touchdowns. This was his best season as a Buckeye. Chris Olave followed it up with a solid year as a junior with 729 yards and 7 touchdowns. This season as a senior he has produced 518 yards on 32 receptions. Along with leading the Big Ten in touchdowns with 8. This downtick in production may hurt his draft stock this year, however, this may increase his value in fantasy drafts this spring.
Chris Olave is slightly undersized at 6-1 189 pounds which may hurt him at the next level. Making the transition to the NFL may have some struggles for him. However, he is a good route runner and can create good separation with this. This is something that will translate well. Along with his ability to create after the catch. He also possesses good hands and does well with catching the ball away from his body. All of these skills allow him to have good upside still, even with his lackluster senior season. This also allowed him to stay in my top 10 of 2022 fantasy rookies.
10. Eric Gray (RB) Oklahoma
With a transfer from Tennessee to Oklahoma this spring a lot of hope was there for him to take a huge step forward. However, it has not been there statistical for the whole Oklahoma offense. Eric Gray has shown flashes this season of his ability to be a game-changer, however, he has struggled with consistency. His 298 rushing yards are second on the team, however, he leads the running backs with 174 receiving yards. He has always produced as a receiving back as he has 57 career receptions and produced 543 yards.
As Eric Gray looks to transition to the NFL he will need to work on his ability to run the football. He struggles with his vision and decision-making at times. This will make it hard for him to carve out a lead role, however, his great receiving ability will help him. Along with this and his lack of size standing at 5-9 205 pounds he projects to be more of a scatback at the NFL level. However, in PPR leagues, he could become a reliable fantasy asset. This forces us to respect his upside and place him in my top 10 2022 fantasy rookies at this point, I hope to see a little more from Eric Gray as the season progresses.
Top 25 2022 Fantasy Rookies
| Rank | Name | School | Class | Position |
| 1 | Treylon Burks | Arkansas | Jr. | WR |
| 2 | Breece Hall | Iowa State | Jr. | RB |
| 3 | Isaiah Spiller | Texas A&M | Jr. | RB |
| 4 | David Bell | Purdue | Jr. | WR |
| 5 | Garrett Wilson | Ohio State | Jr. | WR |
| 6 | Drake London | USC | Jr. | WR |
| 7 | George Pickens | Georgia | Jr. | WR |
| 8 | Kenneth Walker | Michigan State | Jr. | RB |
| 9 | Chris Olave | Ohio State | Sr. | WR |
| 10 | Eric Gray | Oklahoma | Jr. | RB |
| 11 | Justyn Ross | Clemson | Jr. | WR |
| 12 | John Methcie | Alabama | Jr. | WR |
| 13 | Kyren Williams | Notre Dame | Jr. | RB |
| 14 | Jahan Dotson | Penn State | Sr. | WR |
| 15 | Sam Howell | UNC | Jr. | QB |
| 16 | Jalen Wydermyer | Texas A&M | Jr. | TE |
| 17 | Zamir White | Georgia | Jr. | RB |
| 18 | Zay Flowers | BC | Jr. | WR |
| 19 | Kevin Harris | South Carolina | Jr. | RB |
| 20 | CJ Verdell | Oregon | Jr. | RB |
| 21 | Matt Corral | Ole Miss | Jr. | QB |
| 22 | Jonathan Mingo | Ole Miss | Jr. | WR |
| 23 | Kenny Pickett | Pittsburgh | Sr. | QB |
| 24 | Dontay Demus | Maryland | Sr. | WR |
| 25 | Jahleel Billingsley | Alabama | Jr. | TE |
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