5 Detroit Lions who could become fantasy football stars in 2022

2. TE T.J. Hockenson

In each of the last two seasons, Hockenson has been a top-10 fantasy tight end on a per-game basis in full PPR. But for 2021, that’s the core of the rub that stopped him from reaching the elite level of fantasy tight ends.

Hockenson missed the final five games of 2021 with a thumb injury, and still finished with 61 catches for 583 yards and four touchdowns. If he had realized his 17-game pace, dangerous territory I know (86 receptions for 826 yards and six touchdowns), he would have finished as TE4 in full PPR (204.6 fantasy points).

Hockenson has suggested he’s being allowed to do some different things in Ben Johnson’s offense. There seems to be plenty of room to line him up outside more, and expand how he can exploit matchups.

Hockenson is top-10 tight end by ADP right now, and it’s easy to land him there when it’s all said and done this season. But there is room for him to take a prominent step, and be mentioned among the elite fantasy tight ends heading toward 2023.