The draft is over! Which 2022 IDP rookies went to what NFC North teams, and which of them have the best outlook, from now on, for fantasy?
Welcome to the second installment of my 2022 IDP Rookies series. If you missed the first article in the series, you can read it HERE.
The draft certainly had Its share of twists and unexpected picks, but now that most of the dust has settled and players are signing rookie contracts. So, where do the current NFL teams stand? More importantly, what does this mean for your fantasy team?
If you have not drafted, you may want to know landing spots for players with more opportunities than others. Not that landing spot is everything, but some teams were more greedy than others for certain positions. Some NFL teams addressed their assumed needs, and others may have just taken the best available player, so I am here to help sort out some of the mess.
If a player is listed as an EDGE, they are dual-eligible as a defensive lineman and linebackers on fantasy platforms. IDP Guys’ rankings can be found here. All stats are from PFF, and all positions are from MFL.
In this article, I will be reviewing the NFC North 2022 IDP rookies, a few UDFAs, and their potential for assisting your fantasy team.
The Detroit Lions
| Pick # | Player | Position |
| 2 | Aidan Hutchinson | DE |
| 46 | Joshua Paschal | DE |
| 97 | Kerby Joseph | S |
| 188 | Malcolm Rodriguez | LB |
| 217 | James Houston | LB |
| 237 | Chase Lucas | CB |
The Lions have three players currently ranked in the IDPGuys May rookie rankings. Aidan Hutchinson is the EDGE1, Joshua Paschal is the EDGE11, and Kerby Joseph is the seventh-ranked safety of eight.
Aidan Hutchinson
The Detroit Lions’ draft started in the most storybook way possible, landing Aidan Hutchinson with the second overall selection. Hutchinson has the size and speed you expect from an elite defensive lineman but his ability to swiftly read a play and his use of hands stuck out to me the most on film.
You’ll have to pay up to allow yourself to draft Hutchinson in IDP-only leagues, as he has been drafted in the top three selections in rookie fantasy drafts. He was a slam dunk for the Lions, and I expect him to hold down that defensive end position for a long time in Detroit.
Joshua Paschal
With the 46th selection (the Lions’ third pick in the draft), Detroit drafted three-time collegiate team captain Joshua Paschal. He will likely start as a rotational player but could blossom into a longtime piece of the Lions’ defensive line.
Paschal was an excellent run defender at Kentucky, who brings down everyone that he gets his arms around. Strength and his ability to get around tackles leave more to be desired, but it isn’t anything he cannot improve with time.
If you have the opportunity to draft him later in drafts, I will take a flyer on Paschal. I have seen him drafted in the fifth round of IDP-only rookie drafts. I have also seen him fall through the draft, so check your waiver wire.
Kerby Joseph
Kerby Joseph is a steady tackler who primarily excels in defending against the deep ball and attacking the ball at its highest point possible. Although he is mainly seen as a deep safety, Joseph is “versatile” and has played about every position in the secondary. Joseph was tied with the second-most interceptions in the NCAA in 2021 with five.
Joseph was drafted in the third round, so he may be more of a rotational depth piece of the Lions’ secondary to begin his career. Also, he does tend to stare down the backfield for too long in coverage and is eager to run downhill on a decent play fake. However, his eagerness to make a play is something to be desired in a player as athletic as Joseph is.
If you do/did draft Kerby Joseph I wouldn’t anticipate he produces immediately so that I would stash him on your taxi squad. In conjoined leagues, I wouldn’t be aiming to draft him.
Malcolm Rodriguez and James Houston
During the back end of the draft, Detroit drafted Malcolm Rodriguez and James Houston. Houston is a sneaky player who could come onto the scene in camp. He had several multi-sack games to include a five-sack game in 2021.
The Lions used a rotation of six players at the defensive end position in 2021. Charles Harris was the only defensive end to participate in all seventeen regular-season games for Detroit last season. If you are in a deeper IDP-only league, you may want to keep tabs on James Houston.
Malcolm Rodriguez could also be a beneficial addition if he has a solid camp. The Lions had three linebackers who saw over 400 snaps in 2021— I don’t believe they have many long-term options currently in the linebacker room.
Rodriguez is a solid tackler who processes the offensive play well. I wouldn’t personally draft Houston or Rodriguez in your standard league, although I am keeping my eyes on them.
The understructure for defense is there for Detroit now. It is just a matter of making it all translate into good football and (hopefully) excellent fantasy production.
The Chicago Bears
Which NFC North rookie would you rather have in a IDP only league?
— Mase (@caliking49er17) May 21, 2022
| Pick # | Player | Position |
| 39 | Kyler Gordon | CB |
| 48 | Jaquan Brisker | S |
| 174 | Dominique Robinson | DE |
| 254 | Elijah Hicks | S |
| UDFA | Jack Sanborn | LB |
| UDFA | Christian Albright | LB |
The Bears were the only team in the the the NFC North without a first-round draft pick. Yet, they selected two defensive starters in the second round. Jaquan Brisker is the only player currently ranked in the IDPGuys May rookie rankings as the third safety off of the board.
Kyler Gordon
Kyler Gordon was the Bears’ first selection in the draft. Gordon attended the University of Washington, where he played both slot and outside corner. I have yet to see Gordon drafted anywhere myself inside of the fifth round.
I could see him being targeted in true position leagues. Aside from that, I do not anticipate any unique fantasy production from Gordon unless he takes on the slot role. However, I don’t imagine that happening off of the jump.
Jaquan Brisker
The signing I am buzzing the most about from the Bears was their second selection of the second round, Jaquan Brisker. He is primarily a strong safety, though he did mainly start at free safety in 2019.
Brisker is a freak athlete who will create contact at the line of scrimmage and fight through blocks to make a play. Jaquan Brisker will be immediately slotted into the strong safety position for the Bears for the years to come.
I have witnessed that Brisker is being drafted around the end of the first to the middle of the second in rookie drafts. I only think his ADP will improve as the season gets closer. A good option as a DB2 for your roster with the potential to become a back-end DB1 in the future.
As for the others on the list, I am not holding my breath on any serious fantasy production this season.
The Minnesota Vikings
| Pick # | Player | Position |
| 32 | Lewis Cine | S |
| 42 | Andrew Booth | CB |
| 66 | Brian Asamoah | LB |
| 118 | Akayleb Evans | CB |
| 165 | Esezi Otomewo | DE |
The Vikings have three players currently ranked in the IDPGuys May rookie rankings.
Lewis Cine
Lewis Cine was the last selection in the first draft round and is ranked as the IDPGuys’ second-ranked rookie safety. Cine will be a primary factor in the Vikings’ secondary, paired aside Harrison Smith, who happens to be one of the best.
The former Georgia Bulldog has his eyes all over the field, which shows in his communication before the snap. He is a force running downhill and defends the deep sideline quite well.
Cine is a solid option as a DB3 or flex at the moment, with nothing but potential going forward. I have seen Cine taken as early as the 1.08 in an IDP-only league. I think an early fourth or fifth-round selection would be around the range for Lewis Cine in conjoined leagues.
Andrew Booth
Andrew Booth was the following defensive Vikings selection in the second round. Booth is currently ranked as the fourth corner in the IDPGuys consensus rankings. Booth did have five interceptions in his last two seasons as a Clemson Tiger. He is best known for his ability to press wideouts at the line of scrimmage and his physicality when attacking opposing blockers on run plays.
Due to Booth’s position as an outside corner, I am not drafting him in the first three rounds of rookie drafts. I have seen Booth go off the board in conjoined leagues no sooner than early in the eighth round.
Brian Asamoah
The final player ranked in the IDPGuys’ consensus out of Minnesota is linebacker Brian Asamoah. He is also the 11th-ranked linebacker out of 11. I would feel comfortable spending around a seventh-round selection on Asamoah in conjoined leagues.
Last season, the Vikings’ defense featured three linebackers who logged over seven hundred snaps and one other with just over two hundred snaps. Brian Asamoah competes with players like Blake Lynch and Chazz Surratt. Surratt only played on special teams during the 2021 season.
Last season, Blake Lynch had the fourth-most snaps of the Vikings linebackers and finished with two sacks and 25 total tackles. Although his production and playing time may be limited this season, Brian Asamoah is solid for your bench/taxi in deeper leagues.
Who is your favorite NFC North rookie IDP dart throw? 🎯
— Mase (@caliking49er17) May 25, 2022
The Green Bay Packers
| Pick # | Player | Position |
| 22 | Quay Walker | LB |
| 28 | Devonte Wyatt | DE |
| 179 | Kingsley Enagbare | LB |
| 228 | Tariq Carpenter | LB |
| 234 | Jonathan Ford | DT |
The Green Bay Packers have two players ranked in the IDPGuys May rookie rankings. Quay Walker is near the top of the linebacker rankings, whereas Devonte Wyatt is around the middle of the rankings.
Quay Walker
Walker was selected in the back end of the first round and is expected to start at linebacker on the opposite side of Rashan Gary, with De’Vondre Campbell in between the two. Quay Waker is best known for his fast feet and ability to get past blockers and be a sure tackler.
In 2021 the Packers primarily only used two linebackers and utilized the third backer in run defense and coverage. I fully expect Quay Walker to be a top-three performing rookie linebacker. I would use a mid-first to early second-round selection on Walker in rookie drafts in IDP-only leagues.
Devonte Wyatt
Green Bay’s other first-round selection Devonte Wyatt is ranked as the DT2 at IDP Guys. Wyatt is best known for being the other middleman on the defensive line that won the National Championship in 2021. He has a fierce and swift first step and can rush the passer successfully.
His stats from college don’t jump off the screen, so I am not confident he will be anything magnificent from a fantasy standpoint at the beginning of his career.
Wyatt could be a sneaky selection if he lines up on the edge during the season. In an IDP draft I just wrapped up, Wyatt went at the beginning of the fourth round. Well worth the investment if you are looking for some immediate help at your DE3.
The only player worth noting is the linebacker out of South Carolina, Kingsley Enagbare. He is willing to give his all with every snap but could need some time to polish his traits in the NFL. I have seen Enagbare drafted at the end of the fifth round in IDP rookie drafts.
A thousand thank yous for reading my 2022 IDP Rookies in the NFC North article! If you enjoyed it, read all my work on my IDP Guys author page and follow me on Twitter @Caliking49er17.
