He’s disappointed. He’s been injured. But now free of the New York Giants, we must ask ourselves: is Evan Engram worth drafting in 2022? It is a gross question. Then again, everything about the tight end position as it relates to fantasy football is gross.
The easy thing to do here is dismiss Evan Engram being worth drafting in 2022. His track record shows someone who has failed to live up to expectations. Poor quarterback play hasn’t helped him. However, the former Ole Miss pass catcher has done little to show he can be a starting-caliber tight end despite having outstanding physical tools.
That is the most annoying thing about Engram. He should be a top-five tight end in the NFL who puts up great fantasy football numbers. Some managers will steer clear of him until he shows some consistency. But there is a case to be made for scooping him up this season.
More Fantasy: Deebo Samuel has a very murky fantasy football outlook in 2022
Why is Evan Engram worth drafting in 2022?
There is one reason Evan Engram may be worth drafting in 2022. He is in the perfect spot. Doug Pederson loves using tight ends and Trevor Lawrence showed a willingness to target whoever was playing at the position. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Let’s start with the new head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. During his time with the Philadelphia Eagles, he got his tight ends involved more than most teams. In 2019, Zach Ertz finished first in targets, receptions, yards and touchdowns. Dallas Goedert was second in all four categories.
History shows that Pederson-led teams boast tight ends who record more than 100 catches, 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns at the minimum. Hell, he forced fed Richard Rodgers to four consecutive games of eight or more fantasy points (.5 scoring) in his last season with the Eagles.
Engram’s new quarterback also showed an inclination to target his tight ends. Dan Arnold was traded to the Jaguars after week 3 and immediately became Lawrence’s go-to guy for the eight games he suited up. He had five or more targets in five matchups and topped the 60-yard mark in four contests. It’s even better considering he was injured early in one game and had only a few practices under his belt in another.
What’s more, Jacksonville’s tight ends caught 74 receptions in 2021. That was good for a 20 percent completion share from Lawrence. It doesn’t seem like much until you realize that group included Arnold, James O’Shaughnessy, Jacob Hollister, Luke Farrell and Chris Manhertz. Those five guys catching 74 passes in a season is a minor miracle.
Now, some may be worried about the Jaguars going out and signing Christian Kirk and Zay Jones. In reality, that duo is arguably the most inconsistent pair of wide receivers in football. There will be plenty of targets of Engram assuming he stays healthy. Additionally, motivation shouldn’t be an issue given that he signed a one-year prove it deal.
So, is Evan Engram worth drafting in 2022? Yes. Now, the former Giant is not someone you should reach for in the eighth round. But he’s the ideal candidate if you practice the tight end zero strategy.
More TEs: A look at quarterbacks who converted to tight end
