X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

2022 Fantasy Football Sleeper: Robert Tonyan

Robert Tonyan - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Green Bay Packers TE Robert Tonyan is a fantasy football draft sleeper for 2022. Al Calo explains why Tonyan is being overlooked in early fantasy drafts.

“Sleeper” has become a tricky word to use when describing a player for fantasy football in 2022.

There are so many meanings of the word these days that it is hard to decipher what a sleeper truly is. Green Bay Packers tight end Robert Tonyan fits the bill pretty perfectly for me. Coming in at an average draft position of 176 overall is qualification enough to be called a sleeper.

What makes him this even more so is the fact that you probably haven’t heard his name mentioned a single time when referencing the Packers pass catchers for 2022.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

The Argument for Robert Tonyan as a Value Pick in 2022

It’s easy to forget about basically any tight end going in the double-digit rounds. Even easier to forget someone coming off of a season-ending knee injury, but recent reports have indicated he should be ready to go for the regular season. Aside from availability, opportunity reigns supreme in fantasy football.

The Packers will go into this season with a 43.5% available target share, good for the 5th most vacated targets in the NFL coming into 2022. I bet you could guess who most of those vacated targets are coming from. You nailed it, 169 targets and 11 touchdowns need to be replaced thanks to one player alone, superstar wide receiver Davante Adams.

Sounds like someone only a year removed from finishing as the TE4 while recording 11 touchdowns in a season would be a solid option to replace some of this lost production. Especially when the team did not add anyone at the position.

To go along with the large percentage of targets lost, and further illustrate the necessity for another trusted option in this offense, looking at available air yards is one of my favorite indicators of what actual role is needed from a pass-catching group to mirror previous success.

In addition to losing Davante Adams, the loss of Marquez Valdes-Scantling also leaves a large hole in opening up the play calling with a downfield threat. This is responsible for a large portion of this next metric. The Packers need to address 2,807 available air yards this offseason. That is good for a 62.8% loss from 2021, the 3rd highest in the NFL. Indicating a huge offensive turnover.

These numbers certainly seem like wide receiver statistics, and they can be, but as you can see in the video clip above, Robert Tonyan was used similarly during his breakout season in 2020. The tight end averaged a solid 8.8 average depth of target in 2021. This is more than Cooper Kupp, Keenan Allen, and Deebo Samuel. His top-five tight end finish did not come on the back of reception totals, it was due to compiled yardage and touchdowns thanks to downfield throws.

Link to full table

The above table shows the data and NFL teams that have this level of production they are tasked to replace in 2022. This offseason, Green Bay brought in soon-to-be 30-year-old Sammy Watkins and two rookies at the wide receiver position. While some have high hopes for the Packers' second-round rookie Christian Watson, this was not an overwhelming investment to replace the available targets and air yards referenced previously.

Lack of familiarity and trust is going to be important for an offense that relies on timing, and of course, one that is quarterbacked by Aaron Rodgers. These new additions will need to earn trust and targets from the MVP. Until then, I expect Allen Lazard and Robert Tonyan to emerge as primary targets and play a large role between the 20s and in the red zone.

 

Cost vs. Reward

When looking a little deeper at Tonyan’s draft position, you can’t help but notice he is currently going two picks behind the first kicker off the board, Justin Tucker. Sitting in the middle of round 13, as the 19th tight end in overall ADP (Average Draft Position). The draft risk is minimal to non-existent compared to the potential reward.

When looking at the list below of tight ends going in this range, you see players with murkier paths to success and fantasy relevance, along with not nearly as much upside within their respective offenses. The 2020 breakout season for Tonyan came on 59 total targets, equaling just an 11.8 target share. The TE8 in 2021 was Dawson Knox, finishing with a stat line of 49-587-9.

Tonyan exceeded each of those numbers in the aforementioned season with the Packers having their full complement of weapons available. The overall ADP and positional draft range both provide a clear opportunity to turn a near-zero opportunity cost into a top-10 tight end return.

 

Conclusion

Now might be the moment when you realize this is the first time you have thought of the name Robert Tonyan in months. Maybe that is what a “sleeper” truly is in fantasy football. Let’s go with this – someone not quite on your radar, who costs minimal to zero draft capital, and has a clear path to success and value to your roster. Sounds good to me.

A top target in an Aaron Rodgers-led offense, going in the range where your league-mates are thinking about kickers and defenses, sounds even better.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App


Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Hunter Goodman

Nearly Hits For The Cycle
Zach Eflin

Cleared To Start On Sunday
Corey Seager

Not Past His Hamstring Injury
Stephen Kolek

Strikes Out Seven In Complete-Game Shutout
Brett Baty

Hits A Pair Of Home Runs, Drives In Five In Loss
Aaron Judge

Blasts Two More Homers
Shea Langeliers

Powers A's Past Yankees With Five RBI
Corey Seager

Tallies Three Extra-Base Hits, Two Homers In Return To Lineup
Jacob deGrom

Records 10 Strikeouts
Jose Altuve

Exits Early On Saturday
Oneil Cruz

Exits With Back Issue
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Launches Grand Slam, Racks Up Five RBI On Friday
Michael Lorenzen

Dominates Red Sox In Pitcher's Duel
Shohei Ohtani

Smacks Three Extra-Base Hits
Ketel Marte

Homers Twice, Reaches Base Four Times
Jasson Domínguez

Jasson Dominguez Smashes Three Homers On Friday
Erick Fedde

Fires First Career Shutout
Tarik Skubal

Records 12 Strikeouts In Win
Jorge Soler

Scratched On Friday With Groin Tightness
Chase Petty

Reds Calling Up Chase Petty
Austin Hays

Activated And Starting On Friday
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP
10
10
11
17
12
18
13
19
14
21
15
27
16
30
17
34
18
37
19
Max Fried NYY
39

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF