On the plus side, McCown averaged just over one point per game
less than Carson Wentz in five games last season, including an
impressive 341-yard, two-touchdown game Week 8 against the Jets.
McCown is too injury prone, the team will likely give young signal
callers Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg chances to play,
marginalizing McCown’s value even further. A journeyman
veteran quarterback tasked with leading a team that is in full-blown
lose for a top draft pick mode; Josh McCown should be rostered
in only two-QB and large formats, as he does not have the skill
position players or offensive scheme to put up top 12 points in
standard leagues.
With and ADP in the 9th round as the RB42,
fantasy owners are giving Matt Forte the cold shoulder.
RB Matt
Forte (2016 RB Rank - No. 20, 11.1 FPts/G)
It might surprise some fantasy owners to learn that Forte, a
31-year-old veteran tailback well into the twilight of his career,
finished 2016 with the 20th-most points per game for running backs,
ahead of more highly touted players like Isaiah Crowell, Todd
Gurley, and Rob Kelley.
Forte’s age, his 3.7 yards-per-carry average last season, the
timeshare with Bilal Powell, and the fact that the Jets are clearly
in a rebuilding mode make him an unattractive option for many
heading into the 2017 season. Unfavorable game scripts, with the
Jets likely behind early and often, forcing whoever ends up under
center to throw the ball more to Powell in the receiving game,
should also be red flags when considering drafting Forte.
Despite these numerous negative factors, Forte is a starting
tailback that will likely receive more than 200 carries if healthy,
including the goal line work for the Jets (assuming the offense
can move the ball).
One of only a few attractive fantasy options on an otherwise
pathetic offense, Powell was far more efficient than his backfield
mate Matt Forte, with a 5.5 yard per carry average on 131 carries
in 2016, and was a more accomplished player catching balls out
of the backfield.
Only David Johnson, Le’Veon Bell, and James White garnered more
targets in the passing game for running backs last season, and
Powell will likely continue to be the primary option for McCown,
Petty, Hackenberg, or whatever QB the lowly Jets roll out each
Sunday.
The fact that Powell has never carried the ball more than 176
times in a season and the likelihood that Forte will continue
to receive the bulk of first and second down carries, in addition
to goal line work, limits Powell’s value in standard leagues.
In PPR formats, Powell is a solid flex option with the upside
to be a viable No. 2 RB.
Second-year wide receiver Quincy Enunwa proved to be one of the
few bright spots in an otherwise dreadful 2016 season for the
New York Jets. The former sixth round pick from the University
of Nebraska emerged as a viable number two wide receiver opposite
of Brandon Marshall, with 58 catches for 857 yards and four touchdowns
on 105 targets.
Neither Marshall nor Enunwa were very efficient with their targets,
with each player catching barely half of the passes thrown their
way from a subpar collection of Jet quarterbacks.
With Marshall now a member of the Giants, Enunwa assumes the
No.1 wide receiver role for the Jets, making him a viable fantasy
option in all formats. Assuming he can stay healthy and play a
full 16-game season, Enunwa is a lock for triple digit targets
at least five receiving touchdowns. The problem is the New York
passing game is once again going to be pitiful, and Enunwa is
again likely headed for a 50% catch rate.
With the departure of veterans Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker,
second-year wide receiver Robby Anderson is slated to be the No.2
receiving option in New York alongside Quincy Enunwa.
Anderson posted some impressive performances last season, including
six catches for 99 yards Week 14 against San Francisco, followed
by a four-catch, 80 yard game against Miami the following week
that included a receiving touchdown.
Although 85 to 90 targets is not out of the question for Anderson
in 2017, the targets will be low value passes from a collection
of below average Jet quarterbacks, making Anderson a limited option
in anything but deep standard leagues and PPR formats.
A complete bust in his first season with the Jets, Seferian-Jenkins
has reportedly turned his life around from issues of substance
abuse and off-field issues, including a focus on healthy eating
that resulted in an impressive 30-pound weight loss since January.
Will his renewed interest in the game make him a viable fantasy
option in 2016? Most likely not, as the Jets do not utilize the
tight end in their offensive scheme and rookie Jordan Leggett
might surpass Seferian-Jenkins on the depth chart. We recommend
looking elsewhere for a sleeper tight end option in 2017.
