Fantasy Football 2017 Team Preview: New York Jets
This is the 2017 fantasy preview of the New York Jets. In this preview I will provide the Must-Own players, Sleepers, and Longshot players with upside very deep in drafts.
Must-own players are those who should be owned by someone in any league. Handcuff RBs can qualify, as they are often very important to a fantasy team over the full schedule. Sleepers are secondary players that you may find on the waiver wire at some point in the year, or may go undrafted in shallower auction-style leagues. The Longshots are players with microscopic ADP, who are being drafted at the very end of drafts, or more likely not drafted at all.
All ADP data is courtesy of FantasyPros.com.
**I will list all kickers, but I cannot give analysis on them. Sorry :-/
MUST OWNS
Bilal Powell, RB (ADP: 61): The Jets have the potential to be one of, if not the most, abominable offenses in NFL history. In this wasteland, there is one small flower trying to peek out through the toxic sludge. His name is Bilal Powell, and he has the chance to be beautiful, if the coaching staff lets him. When Powell assumed main back duties in 2016, he exploded; from Week 13 through Week 16, Powell averaged 138 total yards per game and scored two touchdowns. He also averaged five catches per game, proving he is a do-it-all guy. The problem he faces is opportunity. Despite looking much better than the husk that once was Matt Forte, the preseason distribution has seen Forte continue to look like the starter. Powell is not a freak athlete, and will need volume to reach his high ceiling. If he’s not getting it, this ADP may actually be a little steep. With a team this horrendous though, bet on Powell assuming a starring role sooner rather than later.
Matt Forte, RB (ADP: 109): I respect the hell out of Forte’s Hall of Fame caliber career, but at 31 years old he’s totally done being an RB1. Based on workload, Forte could score enough touchdowns to be a low-end RB2; he scored seven times last year and was largely absent for the final five weeks of the season. At 3.7 yards per carry, the second time in three years Forte has failed to hit the four yards per carry mark, there’s zero zip in his legs. If the preseason is any indication, however, he might present a Jeremy Hill-esque value as the 42nd RB off the board.
SLEEPERS
Robby Anderson, WR (ADP: 180): Anderson is the WR1 for the Jets, aaannnnd you see the ADP. Personally, Anderson could be useful based purely on targets alone, but the entire receiving corps is so nondescript that there’s no reason other no-names in the group couldn’t surpass him. One thing to keep an eye on: if Bryce Petty manages to get some starts, then Anderson’s value goes way up. You can laugh, but last year when Petty got meaningful snaps, Anderson averaged five catches for 80 yards and scored twice. Otherwise, take a gamble late if you want, but the QB situation is the hottest of garbage, and I’m not convinced Anderson is even good enough to thrive even if heavily targeted.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE (ADP: 266): Seferian-Jenkins is a forever tantalizing, always disappointing player. He struggled with alcoholism, and is claiming to have put his issues behind him and focused on football. If that’s true, ASJ could be a difference-maker – for fantasy – once his two-game suspension is up. Look at this roster and show me a better pass-catcher than Seferian-Jenkins….I’ll wait. I get it, who wants Jets pass-catchers? But someone will get receptions and yards, and the occasional touchdown. ASJ is a better bet than any of their wideouts.
Defense/Special Teams (ADP: 308): I think this offense will routinely stick the D in bad spots and limit their upside, but there are playmakers on this side of the ball. The tremendous D-line should rack up sacks, and rookie S Jamal Adams is expected to be a star right away. They could be a decent matchup play against teams with terrible QBs, or offenses with little talent at the skill positions.
LONGSHOTS
ArDarius Stewart, WR (ADP: 302): Stewart may not be ready for Week 1, but everything is wide open for everyone at receiver. He was very solid at Alabama, and last year was able to score eight touchdowns for a team that is predominantly based on running the ball. Don’t expect much, but we haven’t seen him suck in the NFL yet, so there remains a possibility he’s good.
Jalin Marshall, WR (ADP: N/A): Marshall is suspended for four games, so do not draft him. However, he has a little bit of Steve Smith in him. He’s compact but very strong, and has proven his playmaking ability as a special teamer. Marshall saw just 23 targets in 2016 and still scored two touchdowns. Once he’s back, he’s a great bet to earn time in the slot and he has an outside chance of developing into this team’s top receiver.
**Jermaine Kearse, WR (ADP: 314): Kearse was added to the team after this was written. He figures to be the de facto WR1, even if Robby Anderson continues to be drafted as such. Kearse is a WR1 in name only, as he's topped out in his career at five touchdowns, and never even reached the 700-yard mark. He is likely, however, to lead all Jets receivers in touchdowns for what that's worth.
KICKER
Chandler Catanzaro.