2022 Fantasy Upside
The Chargers kept Mike Williams from testing his value as an unrestricted free agent by signing him to a three-year, $60 million contract in early March. The deal includes $40 million guaranteed at signing, per Rapoport. Fortunately, Williams put together his most complete season at the right time. Playing on a fifth-year option of $15.7 million for the Chargers, Williams caught 76 passes -- eclipsing his previous career-high by 27 -- for 1,146 yards and nine touchdowns. He had a mid-season lull but was also working through a knee issue. Having receiver Keenan Allen on the other side helps as does the presence of a rising star at quarterback in Justin Herbert, but Williams set himself up for this hefty payday just before the deadline to apply the franchise tag and before he hit the open market.
2022 Fantasy Downside
As CBSSports.com put it, "Williams looked like a Hall of Famer through the first five games of the 2021 season." Williams scored at least 22 PPR points in four of his first five games last season, including scoring six touchdowns over that span. That was great. But he couldn't sustain it leaving questions about his ability to be a consistent high-end producer over the course of a full season.
2022 Bottom Line
Williams did add some quality performances at the end of the season, scoring at least 12 PPR points in five of his final seven games. If he continues to build on that impressive 2021 effort -- especially if he can produce at the level he did over the first half last year over the full season, fantasy managers investing in him will be big winners.
