Monday represented the first time we’ve seen the Jets in action since Jeff Ulbrich replaced Robert Saleh as head coach. Here were the most notable takeaways from a fantasy perspective.
Aaron Rodgers sets season high in vertical pass fantasy points, but …
Aaron Rodgers posted two straight games with fewer than 12 fantasy points prior to tonight. Those woes were largely due to struggles on vertical passes, as he scored a total of 7.2 fantasy points on vertical throws in those games.
Rodgers did better in the vertical passing game Monday with 8.12 points, but the vast majority of those points occurred on the Hail Mary touchdown at the end of the first half. That’s not likely to repeat, and if we take the 6.08 vertical points from that play out of the equation, Rodgers had only 2.04 vertical fantasy points on the night. That number is a season low and suggests that the new play calling hasn’t solved his vertical passing woes.
Rodgers’ fantasy managers can take solace that the increased vertical passing pace has continued. He threw only 20 vertical passes in the first three games, then saw that number jump to 31 over the next two games. He had 11 vertical passes versus the Bills, so it does look like New York will to continue to let Rodgers throw downfield fairly often. That beats the alternative, but until it starts to result in completions, touchdowns and fantasy points, it doesn’t do Rodgers’ fantasy managers much good.
Bottom line: Nothing about tonight suggested Rodgers will be moving out the QB2 tier any time soon.
Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard were primary targets
Rodgers has shown throughout the years that he will send a large percentage of his passes to his favorite receivers. Garrett Wilson was in that category last week with an incredible 23 targets, and Wilson caught 13 of those for 101 yards. The focus hasn’t been quite as one-sided tonight, but Wilson did end up with 10 targets that resulted in eight receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown.
It’s also clear Allen Lazard is part of that primary target element. Lazard caught the Hail Mary that put the Jets back in the game at halftime, but that wasn’t his only involvement. He ended the game with six catches on seven targets for 114 yards, 62 of which occurred outside of that Hail Mary.
Add it up and it looks like Wilson will retain his WR1/WR2 status in fantasy, and Lazard may be turning into a viable WR3/flex with WR2 upside.
Breece Hall is still the centerpiece of the Jets ground game
Breece Hall’s fantasy managers had to be a bit upset when Braelon Allen vultured a potential touchdown run early against the Bills (albeit one that was nullified by a penalty), but all in all they have to be very happy with how Hall was utilized following the offensive coordinator change.
Hall outpaced Allen by a 17-3 margin in carries and had five targets versus two targets for Allen by late in the fourth quarter. It is clear that Hall’s bell cow role remains the same. The only concern is if Allen will continue to get vulture opportunities.
Don’t sleep on the Jets’ D
Rodgers, Wilson, Lazard and Hall are the only fantasy viable players other than the Jets defense, and that group’s poor performance (one fantasy point) had more to do with facing the Buffalo offense than anything else. Don’t get hung up on their Week 7 score though. The Jets face Pittsburgh and New England over the next two weeks and thus the Jets D/ST will be strong a start candidate in both contests.
(Top photo of Breece Hall: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
