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New York Jets Fantasy Football Summary
In reality there are probably just a few Jet players that you would consider drafting on your fantasy football squad this season. In descending order they are Eric Decker, Chris Johnson, Geno Smith and Michael Vick. The Jets will look to beef up their second worst passing offense from last season and hope that Geno Smith will continue to improve but just in case he doesn’t, they signed Michael Vick who, when he gets hot, can light up a fantasy scoreboard like a Christmas tree. The addition of Chris Johnson to the Jet backfield gives their running game instant credibility and despite the presence of Chris Ivory, Johnson should get his fair share of carries. Tight end Jace Amaro is an intriguing option for the Jets and he could line up in the slot and steal some playing time and maybe even the starting job, away from projected starter Jeff Cumberland.
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New York Jets Offseason Changes
Offseason Acquisitions - QB Michael Vick, WR Eric Decker, RB Chris Johnson
No Longer on the Roster - Mark Sanchez, QB
Coaching Changes - None
New York Jets Quarterback
A lot can change from now to opening day but it appears that the New York Jet starting QB job is Geno Smith’s to lose. According to offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg Smith has received 70 to 75% of the reps with the first team during the offseason and that will continue to be the plan once camp opens.
Last season was full of growing pains for young Smith but by December he started playing with more consistency and instead of forcing throws, which ended up being intercepted, he took advantage of his speed and ability to run with the ball. He ended the month with a 3-2 record while completing 57 percent of his passes for 819 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. Smith immediately got to work in the offseason, losing body fat and getting even quicker and he seems to have the right mindset needed to be a starting quarterback in New York.
He is still a work in progress and will need to improve upon his 55.8% completion rate and 66.5 passer rating as well as his 12 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. The addition of Eric Decker should help his progress but he has a long way to go. At this point I would monitor his development and consider him a possible mid season waiver wire pick up, as he's only a viable option in 2 QB leagues.
Michael Vick struggled a bit during Jet mini-camp but he has been the perfect “big brother” figure to young Smith, imparting his knowledge and experience to him and publicly saying all the right things. Despite Mornhinweg’s pronouncement that Smith would be getting the majority of reps with the first team, Jet owner Woody Johnson has been very vocal about the fact that he expects his team to improve upon its 8-8 record from last season.
Head coach Rex Ryan is in “win now mode” and that should give Vick a realistic shot to compete for the starting job as the Jets QB. Vick comes into the 2014 campaign with something to prove after having struggled with Philadelphia head coach Chip Kelly’s offense and then losing his starting job to Nick Foles after falling to an injury. Vick has some amazing natural tools and if healthy always has a chance at being fantasy relevant. Watch the QB battle between Vick and Smith very closely this summer. If he beats out Smith for the job Vick could end up being a late round bargain.
New York Jets Wide Receivers
After having Peyton Manning as his quarterback the last two seasons it appears that Eric Decker’s success this year hinges on who will win the pre-season QB battle. A perennial number one wide receiver who caught 87 passes and scored 11 TDs last season should be able to instantly raise the level of play of young Geno Smith, should he start the season as the Jet starting QB.
On the other hand if Vick is named the starting QB, Decker will benefit from Vick’s ability and experience. Whoever wins the battle you can be sure that Decker will be their primary target. Interestingly enough, Decker skipped the voluntary OTAs so that he and his wife, country singer Jesse James, could attend and be presenters at the CMT Awards in Nashville. Coach Rex Ryan who knows what to expect from Decker and is happy to finally have what he thinks is a legitimate number one wide receiver, was OK with it. Look for Decker to start to come off the board by the sixth round.
Stephen Hill spent the offseason working out with a trainer, added muscle to his frame and worked on improving his speed and route running abilities. He wants to avoid the injury bug which caused him to end his last two seasons on injured reserve with knee problems. He has the physical gifts required of a solid number two receiver and is a real potential deep threat. Hill will face an uphill battle to prove that the Jets did not waste a second round pick for him in 2012 and does not appear to have much fantasy value at this point but he can be considered a super deep sleeper in deep leagues.
Jeremy Kerley was the Jets’ leading receiver last year but if you look at his overall stats that is not saying much. In eight starts he caught 43 passes for 523 yards and three touchdowns. Kerley was miscast in the role of the Jets’ number one receiver last season but in reality he is better suited to work out of the slot as the team’s third wide receiver. He does not have much fantasy value entering the 2014 season.
David Nelson took many of the first team snaps and some consider him to be the favorite to land the second starting spot entering training camp. He joined the team in the middle of last season and finished with 36 catches for 423 yards and two touchdowns. The 6’5” wide receiver will present the Jet QB with a huge target with sure hands. Monitor his progress this summer and consider him a mid season waiver wire pick up option.
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New York Jets Running Backs
Chris Johnson believes that he is capable of returning to the form which saw him rush for 2006 yards in the 2009 season. Johnson will work in the Jet backfield together with Chris Ivory as a “thunder and lightning” combination (he is considered the lightning by the way).
Jet running backs coach Anthony Lynn has said that the distribution of touches has yet to be determined but whoever has the hot hand will probably see the majority of reps. Johnson’s production has steadily declined in each year since that prolific season where he amassed 2509 total yards, but he has never rushed for less than 1000 yards in his professional career. Johnson, who is recovering from January knee surgery, has participated in position drills but has been somewhat limited so far this pre-season.
Although he averaged a career low 3.9 yards per carry last season he and the Jets still believe that there is enough explosiveness left in his legs which will allow him to make big contributions this upcoming season. Fantasy Football Managers will have to follow the Jet pre-season very closely in order to determine how much work will actually come Johnson’s way.
Chris Ivory was a pleasant surprise for the Jets last season averaging 4.6 yards per carry and for the most part avoiding the injury bug that had plagued his career. The thunder in the Jets new “thunder and lightning” backfield won’t see as many carries with the Chris Johnson signing and that should obviously impact his fantasy value. Look at Ivory as a mid-season waiver wire pickup.
Daryl Richardson performed well as a change of pace back behind Steven Jackson during the 2012 season, averaging 4.8 yards per carry, but regressed in 2013 and averaged just 3.1 yards per carry and only played in seven games. Richardson sat out the Jet OTAs due to a turf toe injury that plagued him for most of last season. He will be battling with Bilal Powell for playing time in third down situations and does not look like he will have much of a fantasy impact this season.
Bilal Powell is expected to compete for carries with Daryl Richardson as he battles for the Jets' No. 3 tailback job in training camp. He split carries with Ivory last season and was mostly used in third down situations. He finished the year with 697 rushing yards, one score and a 4.0 yard per carry average. It doesn’t appear that Powell will have as many opportunities this season in the Jets’ crowded backfield.
New York Jets Tight Ends
The anticipated starter at the tight end position, Jeff Cumberland was signed to a 3 year contract and is thought to still have unrealized skills as a receiver. He will have some stiff competition from rookie draft pick Jace Amaro who was a great pass catching tight end in college. Cumberland does not offer much fantasy value and even has the potential to be unseated as the starter by Amaro by the end of the season.
Jace Amaro
The Jets drafted Jace Amaro for his pass catching abilities. Based on his college stats, he caught 106 passes in the pass happy Texas Tech offense last season, he has the potential to be a formidable receiver out of the tight end position. Amaro has set some lofty goals for himself, hoping to model his career to that of legendary tight end Tony Gonzalez. Watch his progress this summer. He could be an interesting sleeper candidate or at least someone to watch on the waiver wire.
New York Jets Defense
Journeyman corner Dimitri Patterson and Dee Milliner who had a disappointing rookie season, have some tough shoes to fill in playing a position that used to be manned by Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, two corners once considered one of the best tandems in the game. The cornerback position is one of the biggest question marks for the Jets defense. Overall the Jets D will look to improve upon their lack of turnovers last season, which included just two fumbles and 13 interceptions, as well as pump up their pass rushing attack. Despite Coach Ryan’s reputation as a defensive guru at this point there aren’t many fantasy managers lining up to draft the Jets defense.
