Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and WR Garrett Wilson have been "lighting it up day in and day out" in training camp, according to SNY TV's Connor Hughes. It's not necessarily a surprise that a WR coming off a 1,103-yard rookie season is dominating camp. But it's nice to hear that Wilson's chemistry with Rodgers is already evident. We're projecting Wilson's 2023 numbers to improve across the board from last year.
Jets QB Aaron Rodgers had high praise for WR Garrett Wilson as training camp opened on Thursday. "Davante [Adams] is in a category by himself still, but Garrett Wilson reminds me of him, as far as his ability to get in and out of breaks, and his quick twitch at the line of scrimmage," Rodgers said. It's especially noteworthy since Rodgers has never been one to artificially compliment his teammates. (Just ask Marquez Valdes-Scantling.) Wilson is coming off a 1,103-yard rookie season catching passes from QBs Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, and Mike White. He could really explode with Rodgers at the helm.
Jets WR Allen Lazard’s contract calls for $22 million guaranteed, the most handed out to a free-agent pass catcher this offseason. The guys behind him: Jakobi Meyers ($21 million), JuJu Smith-Schuster ($16 million), and Odell Beckham ($15 million). Lazard set career highs last year in targets (100), catches (60), and yards (788), despite two missed games. He just wasn’t particularly efficient. In a sample of 41 WRs, he sat 19th in yards per catch, 30th in Pro Football Focus receiving grade, 32nd in yards per route run, and 35th in catch rate. Lazard’s contract says he’ll be the clear No. 2 WR behind Garrett Wilson. A history with Aaron Rodgers and OC Nathaniel Hackett also supplies an edge. Said Lazard (via the Jets’ official site): “For me, playing in the same offense really my entire career, having Coach Hackett every single year except for last year, and then be able to reunite again with him here, has been a rejuvenating feeling to be able to have him and his energy around.” Projected for 97 targets (in 16 games), Lazard hits the WR rankings as a spot-start WR3.
The Jets are hiring Nathaniel Hackett as their new OC, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Hackett was a disaster as Denver's HC this past season but had a successful stint as Green Bay's OC the previous 3 years. The Packers finished middle of the pack in total yards and points in Hackett's 1st season but climbed into the top 10 in both categories in 2020 and 2021. Those teams, of course, were quarterbacked by Aaron Rodgers, who's a big fan of Hackett. This move was presumably made by the Jets at least in part to help their chances of luring Rodgers to New York.
According to multiple reports, the Jets and OC Mike LaFleur are mutually parting ways. LaFleur jumped from the 49ers staff to the Jets when Robert Saleh took over as HC 2 seasons ago. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that other teams have inquired about LaFleur, so it sounds like this is more "parting" than firing. We'll see where LaFleur lands next and what he has to work with. It's tough to judge much from his 1st try at OC, with poor QB play limiting everything. We'll also see who the Jets pull in next ... and who starts at QB in 2023.
The Jets have ruled QB Mike White out for Sunday's game against the Dolphins. He went from a full Wednesday practice to limited Thursday and then this, so the rib injury clearly remains a significant issue. He played as though that was the case at Seattle in Week 17. QB Joe Flacco will start, with Zach Wilson backing up, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. A healthy Flacco instead of a hurting White is probably better for the fantasy outlook of WR Garrett Wilson and the rest of the Jets' pass-catchers. Check our Week 18 fantasy football rankings to see where everyone sits.
Jets TE Tyler Conklin caught all 6 of his targets for 80 yards in Sunday's lopsided loss to the Seahawks. He tallied 35 more yards than any other Jet and doubled his nearest teammate in catches. TE C.J. Uzomah beat Conklin by 1 target but caught just 3 for 24 yards. WR Garrett Wilson led the team with 11 targets but managed only 3 receptions for 18 yards. The Jets -- now eliminated from the playoffs -- visit Miami for the regular-season finale. That has been a positive scoring matchup for TEs; neutral for WRs.
The Seahawks haven't played particularly well overall on defense this season, but they have given WRs difficulty in fantasy football. Seattle stands as the worst matchup for the position by adjusted fantasy points allowed. No WR has reached 10 PPR points against the Seahawks since Week 13. No WR has reached 75 yards receiving against them since Week 7, and just 3 have gotten there all season. Rookie CB Tariq Woolen has been the biggest factor, limiting players to a 56.4% catch rate and 74.6 passer rating on balls thrown into his coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. The matchup doesn't come close to knocking Jets lead WR Garrett Wilson out of starter range in our Week 17 fantasy football rankings. But it's well worth noting for DFS lineup-building. And we wouldn't go chasing any other Jets wideouts. The difficult matchup for WRs combined with the league-best scoring matchup for TEs could also turn Jets TE Tyler Conklin into a Week 17 sleeper.
Jets QB Mike White (ribs) has been medically cleared and will start this weekend's game vs. the Seahawks, insider Brian Costello reports. White's return comes after QB Zach Wilson was so bad in Thursday night's loss to the Jaguars that he was benched for QB Chris Streveler. The news is a boost for all of New York's skill-position guys, particularly WR Garrett Wilson.
Jets RB Michael Carter was the closest thing to an offensive bright spot on a night that saw the team total just 227 yards and pull its 1st-round QB for the 2nd time this season. Carter led the team with 5 catches and 44 yards, though he added just 6 rushing yards on 2 carries. RB Zonovan Knight rushed 6 times for minus-2 and caught his lone target for 15 yards. RB Ty Johnson worked in for 7 yards on 2 carries. WR Garrett Wilson led the team with 9 targets but managed just 4 catches for 30 yards. Practice-squad QB Chris Streveler entered in the 2nd half and wound up leading the team in rushing (54 yards). We'll see who's piloting this offense for a Week 17 trip to Seattle. That matchup is currently battling Houston for friendliest in the league to RB scoring, according to our adjusted fantasy points allowed.
The forecast for tonight’s Jaguars-Jets game calls for light rain early, potentially getting heavier throughout the night. The bigger concern is the wind. We’re looking at sustained 15-20 mph winds with gusts of 30+ mph. It's ugly weather that figures to impact the passing and kicking games — while also possibly pushing both teams to run more than they would in better conditions. We’ve updated our Jaguars and Jets projections for the forecast.
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