Look Ahead: New York Jets

19. June 2012  - Published by Dan Clasgens
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INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Quarterback Mark Sanchez posted career highs by passing for 26 touchdowns and 3,474 yards. With his six rushing touchdowns added (second in NFL by QB), Sanchez finished 2011 as a top 10 fantasy producer at the position. While he did have nine multiple TD pass games and eclipsed 300 yards passing three times, the Jets’ signal caller also have eight games where he failed to throw for at least 200 yards and a couple of scoreless efforts. He was intercepted 18 times during in the season and at least once in all but four games.

SCHEDULE
The Jets have the 20th ranked schedule in the league and only six matchups out of 16 come against teams that finished 2011 with a winning record. The bye week don’t come until November which should give fantasy owners time to deal with lineup quandaries. The first half is favorable with a stretch of 4 out 5 games at home included. The December slate of games vs. Arizona, at Jacksonville, at Tennessee, and vs. San Diego (Weeks 12-16) is fantasy friendly down the stretch.

STUD
While Shonn Greene lacks the break-away speed to be viewed as an elite playmaker or fantasy running back, he will be a workhorse in the Jets’ attack in 2012. He rushed for a career-high 1,054 yards a year ago despite another slow start to the season and caught a surprising 30 balls out of the backfield. The arrival of new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano suggests an even bigger workload for Green in the season ahead. His 10 rushing touchdowns through three seasons of play is a minus, but he should be viewed as a solid RB2 in 2012.

DUD
After coming into 2011 as a top 20 fantasy wideout in nearly everyone’s rankings, Santonio Holmes produced career lows in receiving yards (654) and receiving average (12.8 ypc). Part of that could be blamed on the inconsistency at the quarterback position, but Holmes also needs to shoulder some of the blame. His off-the-field antics and locker room squabbles have been a huge distraction. He did catch eight touchdowns last season, but failed to have a single catch of over 40 yards after posting six such receptions in the previous two years.

SLEEPER
Joe McKnight is the odds-on-favorite to be the Jets’ No. 2 runner after LaDanian Tomlinson’s retirement. He’s athletic and has the ability to be a nice change-of-pace back in a Jets’ system that could yield him 8-10 touches per game. He has the potential to be a RB4 or RB5 on any roster and will see his value skyrocket should Greene go down with an injury or struggle mightily.

NEW ADDITION
The Jets desperately needed a vertical threat in their passing attack and got one when they drafted wide receiver Stephen Hill with their second-round pick in April’s draft. His 4.3 40-speed at the combine coupled with his 29.3 yards per catch as a senior at Georgia Tech made him a logical choice for the Jets. His 6-4 frame makes him logical replacement for Plaxico Burress in the red zone and he’s expected to start opposite of Holmes in the team’s passing game. He’s a bit raw so his production may be limited as a rookie, but the upside is definitely there long term.

POSITION BATTLE
The team gave up a fourth-round pick to acquire Tim Tebow from the Broncos after they signed Peyton Manning free agency. With Sparano, who was the first to implement the “Wildcat” offense while the head coach in Miami, now the team’s offensive coordinator Tebow likely couldn’t haven’t found a better fit. Sanchez is still the starter and will get the bulk of the snaps under center, yet Tebow is going to get on the field. If the team flourishes under Tebow and Sanchez struggles a controversy could quickly develop in the Big Apple.

BENCH BUILDER
Dustin Keller enjoyed career highs last season with 65 receptions for 815 yards and five touchdowns. However, for the second straight year he started off hot before sputtering down the stretch. The off-season additions made by the Jets did little to help his value.  The potential has always been there for Keller, but for the most part he’s been viewed as a disappointment by owners. Still, if you miss out on one of the big name tight ends early on in your draft, you can get a low-end TE1 for next to nothing later on that will offer production in Keller.

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