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MOCK DRAFT
Ask the Commish.Com 2022 Draft Kit
The Kansas City Chiefs signed running back Ronald Jones to a one-year deal to help bolster their running back room behind Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The former Buccaneer took a major step backward in 2021, being regulated to strict backup duties after losing out on the starting gig in Tampa Bay to Leonard Fournette. And even when loaded to take on the bell-cow role with Fournette sidelined during the end of the season, RoJo failed to fire. He earned 20 carries in Week 16 versus the Panthers but totaled just 65 yards. The plodding runner also finished 51st out of 64 qualifying running backs in yards after contact per attempt (2.5). Jones is a one-dimensional grinder back, whose fantasy value will be super reliant on carry-volume, offensive line play, and overall offensive efficiency. That in itself means he will have fantasy appeal as a late-round running back in redraft if he can carve out a role on early-down and/or at the goal-line in a high-powered Chiefs offense.
Bolden left New England this offseason and followed former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to Las Vegas. McDaniels, now the head coach for the Raiders, will likely use Bolden in a similar fashion -- as an emergency option in his backfield. Bolden is not worth drafting in most Fantasy leagues. The Raiders have Josh Jacobs and Kenyan Drake atop the depth chart, and rookie Zamir White is also ahead of Bolden. But if needed, like he was in New England, Bolden could see the field and be a potential flex option in deeper leagues.
Ameer Abdullah has signed a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.In 17 games (11 with the Panthers and six with the Vikings) last season, the 2015 second-rounder recorded 51 carries for 166 yards and 38 catches for 289 yards with one TD. He'll provide the Raiders -- who've also added Brandon Bolden in free agency -- with further running back depth behind Josh Jacobs and Kenyan Drake, while also giving the team another option as a kick returner.
Breida signed with the Giants this offseason, and he'll be with his fourth team in as many seasons after playing with the 49ers (2017-19), Dolphins (2020) and Bills (2021). Breida has been in a reserve role in each of the past two seasons with Miami and Buffalo, and that should remain the same with the Giants as he's the backup to Saquon Barkley. But we know the drill with Barkley over the past three seasons (21 missed games due to injury) that he's struggled to stay healthy, and Breida could be a lottery-ticket Fantasy option if he gets work as a starter. He's worth drafting with a late-round pick in deeper leagues, especially as a handcuff for Barkley, or Breida could be a popular waiver wire option should Barkley get hurt at any point this year.
The Giants signed Williams to a reserve/future contract Thursday, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports. Williams spent most of the last two seasons on Buffalo's practice squad, but he'll now land a new opportunity with the Giants. He's appeared in just one regular-season NFL game, and he rushed 12 times for 63 yards and two touchdowns.
Williams joined the Falcons this offseason after spending one season with the Bears. Williams' prowess and track record in the pass game could lead to him carving out a passing down role in a wide open Falcons backfield, but his upside is capped by the return of Cordarrelle Patterson and addition of bulky rookie Tyler Allgeier. He'll be an unpopular player on Draft Day and is more likely to be found on waivers in-season.
Carolina is hoping D'Onta Foreman can provide a bigger, more physical complement to Christian McCaffrey and Chuba Hubbard in the backfield in 2022, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports. Foreman was brought aboard this offseason after filling in admirably for the injured Derrick Henry with the Titans in 2021. In nine games, he rushed 133 times for 566 yards (4.3 per carry) and three touchdowns, and he caught nine of 11 targets for 123 more yards. Although Hubbard proved to be a serviceable replacement while McCaffrey missed 10 games last season, he doesn't pack the punch that the 6-foot-1, 236-pound Foreman does. When healthy, McCaffrey should be the focus of Carolina's offense, but given his different skill set, Foreman could carve out a decent-sized complementary role and prove useful in short-yardage situations.