Dalton Schultz Fantasy Football Outlook 2022 (Safe Floor in Dallas Offense)

After creeping into TE1 territory in 2020, Dalton Schultz catapulted all the way up to a No. 3 tight end finish in PPR-scoring fantasy football leagues in 2021. He was one of quarterback Dak Prescott's go-to targets and ended up logging 808 yards to go along with 8 touchdowns on 78 receptions.

With that being the case, it's no surprise to see Schultz climbing higher and higher in fantasy football rankings this year. His average draft position (ADP) has him going as the sixth tight end off the board and as a late fifth-round selection.

Dalton Schultz Fantasy Football Outlook

Dalton Schultz has a lot going for him in 2022. His connection with Prescott is as apparent as ever and the Cowboys are coming off a season in which they averaged 401.4 yards of offense per game (No. 2 in NFL). Not only that, but wide receiver Amari Cooper is no longer around.

That leaves 104 targets from last season up for grabs and CeeDee Lamb can only take on so much. Schultz is the next guy in line and has a chance to become the clear-cut No. 2 option in the passing attack.

What stuck out most about Schultz's success in 2021 was that he appeared in the most snaps of any TE in the NFL and was asked to be a route-runner over 50% of the time. It is clear that head coach Mike McCarthy saw Schultz as a player that can create mismatches against linebackers over the middle of the field. It worked, too. Schultz posted double-digit PPR fantasy points in 11 of his 17 games played last season and had three outings of over 20 points. No one other than Travis Kelce, Darren Waller and Mark Andrews has racked up more fantasy points than Schultz since 2020.

Fantasy managers drafting Schultz are getting a player with a relatively safe floor. It cannot be overlooked that the former Stanford standout hasn't missed a single game over the last three seasons. That is not simple to do given how often TEs are forced to get physical along the offensive line. Anything less than a 750-yard season with a couple of scores would be disappointing here.

Dalton Schultz Projections

Projections from the NFL odds on FanDuel Sportsbook don't expect Schultz to outperform his efforts from the 2021 season. He isn't one of the seven tight ends listed in the odds when it comes to who will lead the NFL in receiving yards. However, Schultz is 38th to lead the NFL in receiving touchdowns (+7500). That has him tied with Kyle Pitts and ahead of Dallas Goedert. When taking Schultz averages over the last two seasons into account (4.3 receptions per game, 10.1-yard average), his floor seems to be that of a 750-yard season. Seeing him set a career-high in receiving yards is doable, though.

Is Dalton Schultz a Good Fantasy Football Pick?

When it comes down to it, is Schultz someone to target in the middle rounds? Definitely. In the best case scenario, Schultz can crack a top-five TE finish. He's the No. 8 tight end in The Duel's PPR fantasy football rankings, and is a TE1 option that won't break the bank to acquire.

Schultz is going to be overlooked by some fantasy managers due to the fact that he is surrounded by big-time names like Lamb, Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott. It's important to take advantage of that fact and grab Schultz if he is there during the sixth or seventh round.

If you've drafted Schultz this year, or you're a Cowboys fan, make sure to check out the best Dallas Cowboys fantasy football team names for your squad.

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Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.