Fantasy football winners and losers at the NFL season halfway point

We’ve already struck the halfway mark of the NFL season. Enough time has passed to examine the successes and flops when it comes to fantasy football. I’ve picked out a winner and a loser for each position group based off preseason expectations and current fantasy rankings based on PPR format.

Who’s been your best and worst fantasy draft pick this year? Let me know on Twitter @AndyMc81 and send along any questions using #AskAndy.

QUARTERBACK

Winner: Geno Smith, Seahawks

Preseason QB Ranking: 33rd

Current: 8th

Geno Smith being mentioned as a usable piece on a fantasy football roster in 2022 is wild enough, never mind him currently being ranked as QB-8 overall. The expectations for Geno Smith in a Seahawks uniform this year were, quite frankly, zero. Seattle was set to plod away to a below-.500 record and draft its star signal-caller of the future next April. Instead, the Seahawks sit in first place in the NFC West, in large part thanks to the arm of Smith.

The journeyman quarterback is playing loose and free with the talent at wide receiver to sling it. Would you believe that Geno is the most accurate starter in the NFL? Incredibly, it’s true, with a 73.1-completion percentage.

Slotting Smith into fantasy lineups ahead of the likes of Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Russell Wilson feels wrong to say, but it is a fact. What a story.

Loser: Aaron Rodgers, Packers

Preseason QB Ranking: 11th

Current: 16th

The debacle in Green Bay for the reigning MVP and the entire franchise is unreal. The removal of Davante Adams from Aaron Rodgers’ arsenal proved catastrophic. Young receivers didn’t jolt the offense, and Rodgers’ public criticism of teammates has proven destructive.

The fact that the future Hall of Famer is behind Jared Goff, Marcus Mariota, Kirk Cousins, Geno Smith, Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields in fantasy leagues is straight up embarrassing. After losing to the lowly Lions in Week 9, it’s looking that Rodgers is closer to being a host on "Jeopardy" than a top-tier fantasy option.

RUNNING BACK

Winner: Antonio Gibson, Commanders

Preseason RB Ranking: 25th

Current: 15th

Antonio Gibson was largely written off after the drafting of Brian Robinson, and then thrown to the waiver heap again by fantasy managers after the courageous rookie returned from his injuries. Instead of being a castaway, he’s been one of the most reliable RB-2 choices in 2022, with three top-12 running back appearances.

The player Commanders head coach Ron Rivera once referred to as having Christian McCaffrey similarities has surprisingly taken on a larger role in the offense since Robinson entered the picture and Taylor Heineke took the reins at quarterback. Gibson can run, catch and ultimately is a must start in some capacity for any PPR league until further notice.

Loser: Jonathan Taylor, Colts

Preseason RB Ranking: 2nd

Current: 36th

I don’t blame Jonathan Taylor for falling into the “Loser” category at the NFL’s midseason mark. It’s not his fault the Colts are imploding after employing a terrible offensive line, benching veteran QB Matt Ryan and firing the head coach. JT was rightfully a consensus top-two draft choice in the majority of fantasy leagues and could very well turn it around in some capacity if his injuries subside.

For dynasty owners, hold on to the bell-cow back as better days are ahead (just maybe not this year). In redraft leagues, test the water on trades, but don’t give him away. Remember that Taylor still has volume-based workhorse production potential when healthy, especially with an interim coach and raw replacement quarterback.

WIDE RECEIVER

Winner: Devin Duvernay, Ravens

Preseason WR Ranking: 103rd

Current: 18th

In the Lamar Jackson run-first Ravens offense, there didn’t seem to be much room for a pass-catcher not named Mark Andrews. However, injuries to Andrews and a trip to the IR for Rashod Bateman have opened up opportunities for Devin Duvernay.

The 2020 Baltimore third-round pick has quietly grown into a solid WR-2, hitting double-digit FPTs in six of his nine games. At a pre-draft wide receiver rating of 103, the previously seldom-used Duvernay was rightfully off people's radars. There will always be the risk of inconsistent results with Jackson at the helm, but you’d be hard pressed to find a better-performing slot receiver who is still available in 29 per cent of most leagues.

Loser: Courtland Sutton, Broncos

Preseason WR Ranking: 16th

Current: 36th

Based on the hype around the Russell Wilson-led Broncos attack coming into this NFL season, the entire offensive unit and head coach can be classified in the “Loser” category.

Courtland Sutton does lead the club in targets and receiving yards, which always gives him a chance to break out for a big day. However, Denver averaged a sad 13.75 points on the scoreboard from Weeks 5 to 8. Sutton’s corralled only one touchdown total, and has dropped to a WR-3/4 in the fantasy world. That's a far cry from the borderline WR-1 hopes coming into the 2022 Wilson era.

TIGHT END

Winner: Zach Ertz, Cardinals

Preseason TE Ranking: 10th

Current: 3rd

Tight end is a fantasy graveyard if your name isn’t Travis Kelce. Mediocrity is the trend, causing many managers to simply try to stream the spot each week, and pray for the best. Enter Zach Ertz, who’s turned back the clock and is sitting as the third-best TE.

Ertz has amassed 10 or more fantasy points in all but one game to go along with finding the end zone four times. What’s even more impressive is that two of his better fantasy outputs have come with DeAndre Hopkins back in the Arizona lineup. Considering his ADP had the soon-to-be-33-year-old available in the ninth round of most drafts, the selection spot value to production is excellent.

Loser: Kyle Pitts, Falcons

Preseason TE Ranking: 3rd

Current: 19th

The dreams that Kyle Pitts would build off a 1,026-yard rookie season are long gone. It’s been a nightmare for fantasy owners who chose Pitts at his 31-ADP and the third tight end off the board. Having only 285 receiving yards through eight matchups is such a disappointing waste of talent as the Falcons' strange ball distribution methods carry on.

Although pundits figured that a Marcus Mariota-quarterbacked unit could hinder Pitts’ ceiling, not many would’ve predicted this nosedive. At only 22, there’s still plenty the athletic Pitts needs to learn at one of the trickiest offensive positions in the pros. Dynasty-wise, the sky's the limit for the sophomore. This season, though, is close to being a writeoff.