By Dan O’Shea
Many fantasy football draft boards had one thing in common: A complete lack of NY Jets players. With the possible exceptions of late-round picks used to nab WR Santonio Holmes, RB Shonn Greene or back-up QB/would-be miracle worker Tim Tebow, many fantasy football owners were not buying into the Rex Ryan mystique, the Tebow halo or even the hype around rookie Stephen Hill.
It was a prime example of how an already shaky team having a terrible preseason – no TDs by its first-string offense in four games – can shake any faith that fantasy drafters have in that team’s individual players.
But the Jets stunned just about everybody by tallying 48 points in an opening game win against the Buffalo Bills. True, there might be questions about Buffalo’s defense, but 48 points against anyone in the NFL suggests there must be a few Jets players with fantasy potential. It just goes to show that you can’t believe everything you see in the preseason.
Here’s my take on the fantasy value of a handful of key Jets:
Stephen Hill, WR: Big and physical, very similar in size and style to Brandon Marshall, the rookie looked like the real deal for one week. He didn’t have a good preseason, but he’s assured to start and get targeted for the foreseeable future. If not a top-tier WR, he’s looking like a solid flex play.
Mark Sanchez, QB: During the preseason, he looked like he was trying to lose his job to Tebow. In 2011, he had a great preseason and went downhill from there, so maybe 2012 will see the reverse. In one week, he played himself from a non-draftee into a back-up fantasy option.
Shonn Greene, RB: Got very close to a 100-yard game in Week 1. Greene looks best when he doesn’t have to carry the offense. Though he was drafted like a No. 2 RB or bench player, he could very well become a top 10-12 RB if the Jets offense stays balanced.
Santonio Holmes, WR: Eight TDs last year likely helped him get drafted in a few leagues, but he’s more like a third-down receiver, and Hill’s success will limit his opportunities.
You’ll notice one big name missing from this list. If the Jets use Tebow the way they did during Week 1 – almost strictly in a wildcat formation for fewer than 10 plays – he will accumulate a few yards and maybe even a score here and there, but not enough to be activated on your fantasy roster.
Expert Wire
* Yahoo! Roto Arcade examines the panic around Wes Welker’s Week 1 performance. I still like Welker long-term even if New England ends up trading him.
* Bleacher Report ranks defensive match-ups for Week 2.
* SI.com says Alfred Morris and C. J. Spiller are popular guys this week.
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Dan O’Shea is our man in fantasyland. He welcomes your comments.
Posted on September 12, 2012