2017 Fantasy Football Preview: New York Jets
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2016 Fantasy Recap
In addition to being one of the worst teams in the NFL last season overall, the Jets were just as bad when it came to fantasy football; Maybe even the worst. First, their #1 receiver Brandon Marshall suffered what looked to be a nasty knee injury in Week 2. Even though Marshall continued to play as the season went on, missing just one game, it had an impact on him and he was no longer the dynamic player he was just a season prior.
His teammate, Eric Decker, played in just three games after shoulder and hip injuries eventually led to surgery for both. The void opened up targets for Quincy Enunwa, but he never became a viable fantasy option. Outside of their backfield, there was nothing intriguing about the Jets’ offense. Matt Forte started the season off hot, fooling some people into believing he would be a fantasy stud, but that quickly faded. Bilal Powell was given workhorse duties by the last quarter of the season due to Forte’s injuries, making him a pivotal running back to own down the stretch. Other than that, the Jets were irrelevant in terms of fantasy, and I doubt much changes in 2017.
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Key Additions and Losses
Additions:
- Josh McCown – QB
- Jamal Adams – S (Draft)
- ArDarius Stewart – WR(Draft)
- Chad Hansen – WR (Draft)
Losses:
- Ryan Fitzpatrick – QB
- Geno Smith – QB
- Brandon Marshall – WR
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Quarterback Fantasy Outlook
The quarterback position is an ugly one for the Jets. We’re assuming that Josh McCown will be the Day 1 starter, but for how long? Bryce Petty appeared in six games last year, and you would think that would make him the primary backup going into this season. That doesn’t appear to be the case, however. The buzz from OTAs is that Christian Hackenberg looks to have succeeded that role.
But how high are the Jets on Hackenberg? New York used a second round draft pick to take Hackenberg in 2016. No one expected him to come in right away and make an impact, but how did he not see the field at all last season? Surely, with all of the issues the Jets have, they could have thrown him in there at some point to see what he could do, but no. That’s concerning, especially when head coach Todd Bowles even went as far as mentioning that the only way Hackenberg would’ve played would have been if an injury occurred to Petty. I credit McCown for making it to his 15th season, but I have no interest in using him as a fantasy option in any form. None of the Jets quarterbacks hold any fantasy value until one can step up, and prove us all wrong.
Grade: D
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Running Back Fantasy Outlook
The only part of the Jets offense that holds any fantasy value, in my opinion, is the running back position, but it’s still slim at the moment. The difference heading into this season is that it looks as though Bilal Powell will finally be the lead back. Powell has continued to hold some type of fantasy value the past few seasons, particularly in PPR formats. He became a major asset last season when Matt Forte was ruled out for the season in December due to injury. Forte returns to the Jets, but because of age and injury concerns, it appears that he has accepted a reduced role, and enters the season as a backup. That makes Powell an intriguing option for fantasy drafts in the middle to late rounds, as well as daily formats.
Grade: B
Wide Receiver Fantasy Outlook
With Marshall out of the picture, the wide receiving corps of the Jets looks very bleak. Decker looks to be the primary target, but because he had to have surgeries to both his shoulder and hip, it remains unclear if he will be ready for the start of the season. The good news for him is that he is participating in OTAs. Quincy Enunwa will man the other side of the field and will look to build off of his 2016 performance where he received over 100 targets. New York doesn’t have a lot of other options so it’s likely that Enunwa will receive even more looks in 2017. He’ll have to do more with his opportunities, however, to make a fantasy impact.
Quarterback concerns in New York make every Jets receiver less desirable. The team did draft a pair of receivers in ArDarius Stewart and Chad Hansen this year. Either could prove valuable down the line, particularly if Decker is forced to miss some time. Unfortunately, the Jets are filled with less than stellar receivers that also includes Robby Anderson and Jalin Marshall. One of these players would need to break out quickly in the season to get on the fantasy radar.
Grade: C
Tight End Fantasy Outlook
I’m kind of projecting that one of the Jets tight ends is going to become a viable fantasy player in 2017. I’m not sure, however, whether it will be Jordan Leggett or Austin Seferian-Jenkins, and I don’t think that it will be both. I think it’s possible because when I look at Josh McCown I don’t see a big-time thrower. Therefore, chances are he will look for his tight ends more. As of now, the rookie Leggett is ahead of ASJ on the depth chart. That could simply be because Seferian-Jenkins is suspended the first two games of the season.
After serving his suspension, ASJ will be looking to revitalize his career. The four-year veteran has reportedly lost about 25 pounds this offseason after changing his lifestyle. He appears to be more focused on football this time around. He’ll have to find a way to stay on the field though; something he’s been unsuccessful at doing so far in his career. Leggett, on the other hand, is a project with something to prove coming from a national championship team. If he can learn the game quickly, he may grasp the starter spot, and could very well become a favorite for McCown and other Jets quarterbacks.
Grade: C+
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Defensive Fantasy Outlook
In the past, the Jets defense has been an above average one to own in fantasy football. That didn’t hold true in 2016, however, as the team allowed over 25 points per game to opponents. The Jets made it a priority in the NFL Draft to address their defense. Considered the top safety in the draft, Jamal Adams, surprisingly, fell to the Jets at 6. Then, New York doubled down on the position in the second round with the selection of FS Marcus Maye. The Jets can see that their defense needs work, but they still have a ways to go before they can be a top defense again. In free agency, they added a few role players, headlined by a one-year deal with Morris Claiborne, who underwhelmed in Dallas as a former first round pick. Having to battle in their division with the likes of New England, and Miami’s improved offense, the Jets defense should be avoided at all costs in fantasy leagues.
Grade: C
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