Whether you play fantasy football in full-season, weekly, or daily fantasy sports leagues, it is important that you know who are the players to pick up– and to stay away from – with each team. That is particularly important if you want to be at the top of the heap — and have the right to trash talk your friends or co-workers — when it comes to fantasy football. Here are some tips from DraftStreet.com, a daily fantasy sports site, on how the woeful New York Jets stack up. Fortunately, fantasy football only counts on the field statistics by players, not off the field blunders, like whatever happens these days when Jets coach Rex Ryan runs his mouth. Here is what you need to know in order to succeed at your fantasy football league, even if you are a Jets fan:
Chris Ivory, RB
Unless you are in a really deep league, you are unlikely to have many Jets on your fantasy team. They are also not big in the daily fantasy sports market. But a lead running back on a bad offense can still be fantasy relevant. In three seasons with the Saints, Ivory rushed for 1,307 yards and eight TDs, but his value should rise as he moves from a pass-first offense with many other RBs to the Jets, who had 494 rushing attempts last season, sixth-highest in the league. Ivory has averaged 5.1 yards per carry in his three-year career. The Jets also acquired Mike Goodson, but he was arrested in May on drug and weapons charges and did not report to camp.
Santonio Holmes, WR
You might not guess that two of Holmes’ top three TD season totals have come with the Jets. He caught six TDs in 2010 and eight TDs in 2011. But while Holmes averaged 16.3 yards per reception in Pittsburgh, his YPR in New York is 13.6. And last season, Holmes went down for the year in the fourth game with a Lisfranc injury that required two surgeries. Holmes began training camp on the physically unable to perform list, with no timetable for his return.
Jeremy Kerley, WR
Kerley led Jet receivers in 2012 with 56 receptions for 827 yards but only had two TD catches (he also returned a punt for a TD).
Stephen Hill, WR
Hill, a second-round pick in 2012, had just 21 receptions for 252 yards and three TDs in his rookie season. He scored two TDs in the opening game against the Bills, but failed to build on that outing. Hill’s season ended in Week 14 with a knee injury and his knee swelled up in minicamp.
Braylon Edwards, WR
As a Jet in 2010, Edwards had 53 receptions for 904 yards (17.1 yards per reception) and seven TDs. But he gained less than half that total over the last two seasons as he bounced between the 49ers, Seahawks and the Jets. Edwards turned 30 in February. He may be released before the season begins, so stay away from him when it comes to fantasy football.
Geno Smith, QB
After Mark Sanchez threw 18 interceptions and lost a league-high eight fumbles (including, of course, the butt fumble), new GM John Idzik drafted Smith in the second round as the Jets QB of the future. But even if Smith wins the job over Mark (the Sanchise) Sanchez in training camp, he will be a rookie QB not known for his running who will have a weak supporting cast. Not to mention dealing with Rex Ryan, the New York media — who loves controversy — and playing at a higher level in the National Football League.
Jon Lewin writes on fantasy sports for a variety of websites. He is an expert on fantasy football as well as fantasy baseball.
