New York Jets: Three bold fantasy predictions for 2019
By Ed Stein
Fantasy football managers are planning for their upcoming drafts. Here are three bold predictions concerning the New York Jets.
New York Jets fans, if you are anything like me, this is the time of year when all the number crunching in preparation for your 2019 fantasy football draft(s) comes to life. Every year you face many of the same questions. What happens if someone takes my running back before I pick? When should I draft my quarterback? Is it better to use a receiver or back in my flex slot? Etc.
While we can’t help you with those questions, we do have some bold predictions concerning Gang Green in terms of fantasy football performance.
D/ST will disappoint
The New York Jets defense will show some improvement this year. Adding free agent middle linebacker CJ Mosley and the third overall 2019 draft pick, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams can only help. As a result, their ability to stop the run should be greatly improved.
Run stopping, no matter how good, doesn’t help fantasy points no matter how good it is. As it is the Jets still have some holes on their defense. Unfortunately, those holes will compound each other.
Gang Green doesn’t have much of a pass rush. Last year they were below mid-pack with 39 sacks. It’s hard to believe they will make big strides in that area in 2019. Additionally, the Jets have problems at cornerback. Opposing teams may fear safety Jamal Adams, but at this point, they aren’t very worried about Trumaine Johnson, Darryl Roberts, and Brian Poole. Extra time for quarterbacks to throw combined with mediocre pass coverage is a recipe for disaster.
There is nothing to get excited about in the return game either. Andre Roberts was fantastic last season. He led the NFL with a 14.1 average returning punts. He also averaged 29.4 yards on kick returns, good for second in the league. The All-Pro left for Buffalo in the offseason.
Trenton Cannon has the speed and moves to succeed Roberts returning kickoffs. But as his fumble against the Giants showed, he still has plenty of room for improvement.