Lamar Jackson Fantasy Outlook & Injury Update 2022 (Health is Pivotal to Bounce Back)

Lamar Jackson has always been one of the most exciting quarterbacks to roster in fantasy football given what he can accomplish both through the air and on the ground. Injuries limited him to only 12 games in 2021, but he still finished as the No. 15 QB overall and No. 7 in terms of points per game.

With that being the case, it's no surprise to see Jackson smack dab in the middle of QB1 territory in fantasy football rankings once again. His average draft position (ADP) has him going as the fourth quarterback off the board and as a fifth-round selection.

Lamar Jackson Fantasy Football Outlook

Not only was the 2021 season the first time Jackson failed to lead Baltimore to the playoffs, but it was also the first time he failed to finish as a top-12 quarterback in fantasy football. Injuries derailed a season in which he looked subpar as a passer anyways. Jackson ranked 28th in the NFL in terms of passer rating from a clean pocket (90.4). His fantasy upside has always been connected to his legs, though. Jackson averaged over 63 rushing yards per game for the third straight season.

The pieces are in place for a bounce back season if Jackson can stay healthy. Head coach John Harbaugh has stressed that the Ravens will return to a run-heavy scheme thanks to the return of running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. That is long been the system Jackson thrives best in. In 2019 & 2020, Jackson averaged 6.6 yards per carry and racked up 2,211 rushing yards and 14 scores on the ground. He also tossed 62 touchdowns during that span and excelled at keeping the defense on its toes.

It's worth mentioning that Baltimore draws an easy schedule outside of the division as well. Early matchups against the New York Jets and New York Giants should help Jackson get off on the right foot. He may never get back to the MVP form he showed in 2019, but a top-10 QB finish seems like his floor when healthy and a No. 1 finish seems like his ceiling.

Lamar Jackson Injury Update

As mentioned above, Jackson was on the sideline for five games last season. He missed Baltimore's Week 11 contest due to a non-COVID illness before returning for the next three weeks. That was when Jackson suffered a bone bruise in his ankle and was unable to suit up for the final four games.

The good news is that Jackson resumed working out with his teammates back in February and went through a relatively normal offseason. He added 15 pounds of muscle, which should help him take on defenders in the open field, and has excelled early on in training camp with timely crisp passes.

Lamar Jackson Projections

Projections from the NFL odds on FanDuel Sportsbook expect Jackson's biggest impact to be made rushing the football as well. He's 20th to lead the NFL in rushing yards (+4000), but only 24th to lead the NFL in passing yards (+5000). The Louisville product is also 13th to lead the NFL in passing touchdowns (+3000), which is a title he took home during the 2019 season with 36 TDs. When taking Jackson's career averages into account (171.8 passing yards per game, 63.3 rushing yards per game), a 3,000-yard passing season and a 1,000-yard rushing season both seem to be in reach.

Is Lamar Jackson a Good Fantasy Football Pick?

When it comes down to it, is Jackson someone to target in the middle rounds? Yes, but this is the first time in a few years that he comes with some noticeable risk. He's the No. 4 quarterback inThe Duel's PPR fantasy football rankings, and is a worth a selection after the top names are gone.

While Jackson is certainly going to have games where defenses have him figured out, this is a player that averages 20.3 fantasy points per game in his career. That is the eighth-highest mark of all-time and he has only played in 58 games. The 25-year-old still has a lot of room to grow.

If you've drafted Jackson this year, make sure to check out the best Lamar Jackson fantasy football team names for your squad.

New users earn an instant FREE entry when you sign up for FanDuel DFS! Sign Up Now!

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.