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

The New-Look Jets Are Ready to Roll Behind Le'Veon Bell

It turns out the Cleveland Browns don’t have an exclusive hold on newfound hope for their fanbase.

Talk to any New York Jets fan under 60 years old, and they will likely tell you the highest point of their lives in their rooting roles was watching their team just make it to the AFC Championship Game in back-to-back seasons in 2009 and 2010. For the long-suffering ardent followers of what has often been the second team in the New York metropolitan area, a deep playoff run, not a Super Bowl appearance, was the apex of their existence. Since those “glory years”, the Jets have gone eight consecutive seasons without a postseason appearance. Fantasy players never leaned heavily on their players for top production in recent seasons.

Now, there is real anticipation for contention again. Tom Brady can’t do this forever, the Jet fan says, and prays he is right. The team has not fielded a true star passer since the Namath days, but now Sam Darnold offers promise. An aggressive front office surrounded him with significant playmakers as soon as free agency opened. None is more important than the biggest offensive superstar the team has featured in at least a decade, when Curtis Martin was the lead RB. Hype aside, let's examine what the Le'Veon Bell signing means for the Jets in fantasy football terms for 2019 and beyond.

Editor's Note: Explore RotoBaller’s Dynasty Fantasy Football hub for year-round dynasty rankings, trade tips, rookie analysis, and long-term player outlooks. Dominate your league with our sleepers, stash targets, and dynasty draft advice. Click here for Dynasty rankings and strategy.

 

The New King of New York

Le’Veon Bell is the rare offensive elite talent to don the green and white, and it made all the sense in the world for him to come to New York. If he becomes an axis of the offense and is a big part of boosting the team back into contention, he will become an iconic figure in the New York City area. If the Jets succeed with Bell as a central offensive force, he will make a lot of money off the field too, and those opportunities were unlikely to spring up as numerously anywhere else. If Bell makes the Jets into a winner, he will be a celebrity. The jersey sales are going to explode soon. Too many Jet fans wore outdated Santonio Holmes jerseys to games in the last few seasons. This ex-Steeler can have a much larger impact on team history.

Bell is immediately going to carry a large load with his new team, and even after a year off, his distinctive outstanding talents as a dual offensive threat will put him right back into the first round of fantasy football drafts in 2019. Those who painfully held onto him in keeper and dynasty formats last year will get their due rewards during the upcoming campaign.

The Jets ranked 26th in rushing offense in 2018, but now they can look more like the 10th-ranked unit the Steelers were in 2017. Adam Gase was a failure as a targeted offensive wizard with Miami, but he already has much more impressive personnel in New York. After a year of inactivity, Bell could certainly start slowly in 2019. Following a preseason holdout in 2017, he did not have a 100-yard game from scrimmage and scored once during the first three weeks.

Ultimately, though, Bell rushed for 1,291 yards and a career-high nine TDs in 2017, and he also had a career-high 85 receptions for 655 yards and two scores. He finished the regular season with six total TDs in his final four games and had 155 yards from scrimmage and two TDs in the Divisional Round of the playoffs against Jacksonville.

Bell will just need some time to get back into gear but should be a worthy selection in the second half of the first round of PPR leagues. But he will have a much different role for Bell with his new team, and he may have to work harder for his yardage as a runner. His QB is now younger and much less experienced and won’t make anywhere near the same amount of successful downfield throws that Bell’s last passer did. Plus, there is no Antonio Brown to prevent opposing defenses from focusing more intently on the running back.

Bell will undoubtedly be expected to operate as the crux of the New York offense, and to ease pressure on the young QB. He will be in the crosshairs of defenders more than ever before, as both a runner and pass-catcher. He’ll maintain a heavy workload, but the results may not be quite as sparkling as they were in Pittsburgh in a more balanced and productive offense.

Surpassing 1,300 rushing yards as he did in 2014 may be a lot to ask, but finishing up with 1,150-plus will still put him in the upper echelon of rushing leaders. I expect Bell to be busy, of course, as a pass-catcher for Darnold, who very much needed a receiving RB to help him in various situations. In a less potent Jets offense, though, expecting 80 catches or 700 receiving yards may be a bit much. Bell has never rushed for more than eight touchdowns though, and as the clear finisher for an offense that lacks a significant red zone receiving threat, he can easily match and maybe surpass that rushing TD total.

Bell’s numbers in terms of total touches and yardage may take a minor hit as he operates in a new role as clear offensive kingpin. He’ll be expected to be the unquestioned marquee guy in the offense rather than work within a star-studded crew. Yet he should be so heavily utilized that volume will demand he be considered at least as a late first-rounder.

 

Lifting Up His Teammates

Darnold needs to cut down on his mistakes and having Bell as an option in key situations should cause him to force the ball where it shouldn’t be thrown less often. The Jets have now surrounded him with a deep crew of pass-catchers. Robby Anderson and Jamison Crowder can get downfield, and Quincy Enunwa and Crowder will make the tough catches. I expect Chris Herndon IV, who was impressive at times as a rookie, to continue his progress and become a frequent receiving threat near the goal line.

I see Darnold moving into the top-20 QB area in fantasy while his dynasty outlook can only improve if the Jets draft a notable WR early. The team is still missing a true difference-making WR and could come out with another significant pass-catcher in the draft. Anderson is the team’s best deep threat and top playmaker for now, and he has high WR3 appeal in fantasy. Enunwa could get some high-end WR4 consideration if he stays healthy, and while Crowder is likely the most versatile of the group, he is not a regular TD threat and is a WR4 at best. Herndon does have fantasy top-10 potential at TE. There is not much fantasy upside, though, for these pass-catchers outside of Anderson. They are operating in a crowded crew with a second-year QB who won’t be consistently airing it out frequently.

Bell will shoulder the offense when it is going well, and Darnold may be selective about his strikes to his WRs and TEs. The future belongs to Darnold, yet 2019 will be all about riding with Bell in New York.

More NFL Free Agency 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

Kai Kara-France

Alexandre Pantoja Submits Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France

Submitted At UFC 317
Joshua Van

Extends His Win Streak
Tyler Boyd

Interested in Playing for Steelers
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Now Looking to Acquire a Tight End
Brandon Royval

Drops Decision
L'Jarius Sneed

Says he's Healthy
Renato Moicano

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Beneil Dariush

Gets Back In The Win Column
Felipe Lima

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Payton Talbott

Bounces Back
Minkah Fitzpatrick

Heading Back to Miami
Jonnu Smith

Shipped to Pittsburgh
Alex Bowman

Competitive Run Ends With Third-Place Finish at Atlanta
Erik Jones

Secures A Top-Five Finish After Adversity In Atlanta
Tyler Reddick

Collects A New Career-Best Finish At Atlanta
Jalen Ramsey

Steelers Acquiring Jalen Ramsey
Kerry Carpenter

Leaves Game with Apparent Hamstring Injury
Brooklyn Nets

Day'Ron Sharpe Heads to Free Agency
Santi Aldama

Receives Qualifying Offer
Orlando Magic

Moritz Wagner has Team Option Declined
Jabari Smith Jr.

Signs Massive Extension
Jusuf Nurkić

Hornets Trading Jusuf Nurkic to Utah
Collin Sexton

Heading to Charlotte
Cam Thomas

Set for Restricted Free Agency
Milwaukee Bucks

Bobby Portis Staying in Milwaukee
Jonas Brodin

Expected to Miss Start of Next Season
TB

Conor Sheary Placed on Waivers for Contract Termination
Los Angeles Clippers

James Harden, Clippers Agree on a New Contract
Dante Fabbro

Stays with Blue Jackets on Four-Year Deal
Joel Hofer

Commits to Blues for Two More Years
Kevin Bahl

Signs Long-Term Extension with Flames
Oneil Cruz

Smacks Two Homers
Jordan Spence

Traded to Ottawa
Petr Mrazek

Heads to Anaheim
John Gibson

Red Wings Acquire John Gibson
Matthew Knies

Inks Six-Year Extension with Maple Leafs
Aaron Judge

Blasts Two Homers, Dealing With Back Issue
Claude Giroux

Signs One-Year Deal with Senators
Yordan Alvarez

has Chance to Return Next Weekend
Minnesota Timberwolves

Julius Randle Signs Three-Year Extension
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Opts into Player Option
Luis Robert Jr.

Heads to Injured List
Gabriel Arias

Carted Off on Sunday
Bryce Harper

Faces Live Pitching
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Remains Out on Sunday
Utah Jazz

Bojan Bogdanovic Retiring From Basketball
Los Angeles Lakers

Dorian Finney-Smith Declines Player Option
Jaylin Williams

Signing Three-Year Extension
LeBron James

Accepts Player Option
Anfernee Simons

"a Possible Re-Trade Candidate"
Chase Elliott

Ends Winless Skid With Atlanta Victory
Brad Keselowski

Falls Short of Atlanta Victory
NFL

NFL Won't Hold Supplemental Draft This Year
Damon Arnette

Getting Second Chance With Texans
Deommodore Lenoir

Arrested for Obstruction of Justice
Yordan Alvarez

Eyeing Return Before All-Star Break
Milwaukee Bucks

Kevin Porter Jr. Declining Player Option
Carson Hocevar

Recovers From Big One to Finish 10th at Atlanta
William Byron

Caught up in Atlanta Big One but Retains Points Lead
Denny Hamlin

Top In-Season Challenge Seed Denny Hamlin Eliminated in Lap 70 Crash
Ty Dillon

Bottom Seed Ty Dillon Upsets Denny Hamlin to Advance in In-Season Challenge
Quinn Priester

Fans 11 in One-Hit Gem
Toronto Raptors

Garrett Temple Returning to Toronto
Los Angeles Clippers

Nicolas Batum Declines Player Option
Spencer Schwellenbach

Dominant in Victory
Keon Johnson

Gets Team Option Picked Up
Rayan Rupert

Staying in Portland
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Expected to Make Second-Year Jump
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Out of Lineup Saturday
Jalin Hyatt

Looking to Flip the Script in 2025
Garrett Mitchell

to Undergo Shoulder Surgery
José Ramírez

Jose Ramirez in Guardians Lineup on Saturday
Kyle Larson

Don't Expect Kyle Larson to Win First Drafting Track Race on Saturday
Christopher Bell

Unlikely to Complete Atlanta Sweep
Brad Keselowski

Seeks Another Clutch Win for Hail-Mary Playoff Bid
Chris Buescher

Unlikely to Lead Enough to Have Much DFS Value
Alex Bowman

Qualifies Best Among Non-Fords but Unlikely to Contend at Atlanta
Ryan Preece

Will Probably Run Better Than Usual at Atlanta
Austin Dillon

Consistently Mediocre at Atlanta
Ty Gibbs

Slightly Faster Lately but Unlikely to be a Factor at Atlanta
Erik Jones

a Low-Key Strong DFS Option
Noah Gragson

Could Have DFS Value as One of the Lowest-Qualifying Fords
Riley Herbst

Unlikely to Replicate February Atlanta Finish
Ty Dillon

Could Benefit from Kaulig Speed
Chase Burns

Slated to Make Next Start on Monday
Dylan Sampson

Being Used as a Receiver
Carson Schwesinger

Figures to be in Full-Time Role in 2025
Cedric Tillman

Should Have Full-Time Role
Bryce Young

Looking More Comfortable, Showing More Intensity
Charlie Coyle

Blue Jackets Acquire Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood From Colorado
Jack Quinn

Signs Up for Two More Years with Sabres
Brandon Saad

Stays in Vegas on One-Year Deal
Trent Frederic

Inks Eight-Year Extension
Josh Naylor

Exits Friday's Contest Early with Neck Stiffness
Emil Heineman

Shipped to the Islanders
Noah Dobson

Traded to Montreal
John Tavares

Agrees to Four-Year Extension with Maple Leafs
Sam Bennett

Signs Eight-Year Extension with Panthers
NYI

Islanders Select Matthew Schaefer With No. 1 Pick in NHL Draft
José Berríos

Jose Berrios Tosses Seven Scoreless Innings in Fourth Win
Nick Martinez

Flirts With No-Hitter, Settles for Win
Gary Sánchez

Gary Sanchez Homers, Reaches Five Times in Onslaught
Trea Turner

Blasts Two Homers, Steals Base
Los Angeles Angels

Ron Washington to Remain on Medical Leave for Rest of the Season
Aaron Rodgers

Roman Wilson Could Fit Nicely With Aaron Rodgers
Josh Simmons

on Schedule to Open the Year as a Starter
Micah Parsons

Contract Length an Issue for Cowboys, Micah Parsons
Denver Broncos

Broncos Unsure How Their Running Back Room Will Look
Russell Wilson

Not the Only Leader in Giants Clubhouse
Jihaad Campbell

to Begin at Inside Linebacker
Charles Oliveira

Can Become A Two-Time Lightweight Champion
Ilia Topuria

A Favorite At UFC 317
Kai Kara-France

Can Become The New Flyweight Champion
Alexandre Pantoja

Set For Fourth Title Defense At UFC 317
Joshua Van

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Brandon Royval

Looks For His Third Win In A Row
Renato Moicano

Returns At UFC 317
Beneil Dariush

An Underdog At UFC 317
Payton Talbott

Looks To Bounce Back
Felipe Lima

Set To Open Up UFC 317 Main Card
Daniil Tarasov

Panthers Bring in Daniil Tarasov
Frederick Gaudreau

Kraken Pick Up Frederick Gaudreau From Wild
Michael Thorbjornsen

Returns in Detroit at Rocket Classic
Adam Hadwin

Could Struggle Over the Weekend in Detroit
Cam Davis

Hopes Detroit Magic Can Spark Turnaround
Matt Wallace

a Boom-or-Bust Option at Rocket Classic
Joel Dahmen

Not Cutting it Lately
Michael Kim

Searching for Spark at Rocket Classic
Rasmus Hojgaard

a High-Ceiling Play in Rocket Classic
Matt McCarty

a Wild Card Heading into Detroit
Emiliano Grillo

Rolling into the Summer Season
Rickie Fowler

Looking for More Magic at Rocket Classic
Wyndham Clark

Brings High Upside to Detroit Golf Club
Max Greyserman

Could Make Noise at Rocket Classic
Akshay Bhatia

a Strong Value Play at Rocket Classic
Eric Cole

Hoping for Better Times at Rocket Classic
Beau Hossler

Searching for Form at Rocket Classic
PGA

Byeong Hun An in Good Form Heading into Rocket Classic
Cameron Young

Looking For Redemption and Possible First Career Victory in Detroit
Collin Morikawa

is The Headliner This Week in Detroit For Good Reason
Si Woo Kim

Back in Competition After Last Week's Withdrawal
PGA

Alex Noren Finishes Tied For 30th at Travelers Championship
Kurt Kitayama

Misses The Cut at RBC Canadian Open
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF