Aaron Rodgers To The Jets Fantasy Impact
For the past three years, the relationship between Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers has dominated the NFL offseason chatter, with a “will he?” or “won’t he?” cliffhanger after the conclusion of each season. The question at hand was “Will Rodgers return or will he depart to go play somewhere else?” and for three consecutive offseasons, he did return. He captured two MVP awards and led the Packers to the top seed in the NFC playoffs, only to fall flat in both years on his beloved home field of Lambeau. However, after last year’s shocking home loss to the Detroit Lions in the season finale in what essentially amounted to a playoff game (as they simply had to win and they would be in) it finally appears that Rodgers’s storied run with the Packers is all but over. His career, however, appears to be taking a new turn.
The New York Jets Have Entered The Chat
After many talks and negotiations over this offseason, Aaron Rodgers will be swapping his Packer Green and Gold for Gotham Green and White. The Jets are in a position to land the most high-profile quarterback that they have had since drafting Joe Namath back in the mid-’60s. That’s almost 60 years. Think about that for just a minute.
With this change of scenery comes a band of new teammates and one could argue that for all the talent that Rodgers has had in over 15 years as the Packers quarterback, this Jets team he is going to could be the most talented he has ever had. The fantasy implications of this move are brimming; the Jets were already one of the most promising fantasy squads after last season. Think about that, when were the Jets ever a pool for fantasy studs? Sure they have had flashes like Curtis Martin and Thomas Jones in the 2000s and Brandon Marshall for a year in 2015 but when can we honestly say that the Jets were ever a top destination for fantasy glory? We couldn’t. That all changed in 2022. Now that Rodgers will be suiting up for Gang Green, let’s examine the fantasy implications for all offensive parties involved.
AARON RODGERS
From the moment he became a starter in the NFL in 2008, Aaron Rodgers has been a top-10 Quarterback. As mentioned earlier, his status remained solid with a good skill group of players but in going to the Big Apple he joins a team that is possibly the most skilled he has ever played with. After a sub-par season by his standards and finishing as the QB13 in 2022 (14.1 fantasy points per game), Rodgers could re-emerge as a stone-cold QB1 that should start coming off of boards somewhere in the 5-6 round range.
BREECE HALL
The biggest beneficiary of A-Rod’s arrival should be the second year back out of Iowa State. Before suffering a season-ending ACL injury in Week 7 Hall was running away with the Rookie of the Year in 2022, demonstrating the explosiveness and playmaking ability that made him the first back taken in the draft and the apple of Fantasy GM’s eyes. He was already an early-round lock for drafts. Now with a Hall of Fame QB as his teammate, Hall could very well sneak his way into the first round of drafts in 2023 even as he works his way back from a torn ACL. Hall had a monster start to his rookie fantasy season as he was the RB7 between weeks 2-7 averaging 17.5 fantasy points per game. It was a real shame to lose such a force last season.
MICHAEL CARTER
The backfield complement to Hall, Carter regressed in 2022 after a steady rookie season in 2021. Even with Hall’s injury, Carter struggled to keep the ground game afloat, eventually being replaced by Bam Knight. He’s not really of the bell cow stature, checking it at only 5’8″ and barely 200 lbs. Carter’s value is mostly tied to his skills as a receiver, as he has totaled 77 receptions in two years and Rodgers will use his backs as check-downs and safety valve options. The problem is that Hall excels as a receiver as well. Carter can be drafted towards the back end of drafts as an insurance flex.
GARRETT WILSON
Wilson was a revelation for the Jets in 2022. Drafted 10th overall, Wilson paid immediate dividends for the team finishing with 83 receptions for over 1100 yards and 4 touchdowns, and the aforementioned offensive Rookie of the Year award. Wilson saw 147 targets in 2022 and accomplished this with the trio of Zach Wilson (blech!), Mike White (meh), and Chris Streveler (who?). Like his rookie teammate, Wilson was an early rounder at his position with upside but with Rodgers as his QB, Wilson is in place as a WR1 for 2023 that should be drafted within the first three rounds.
ALLEN LAZARD
Rodgers’s teammate for 5 years from Green Bay also traded in his green and gold for green and white and while he should not be a vulture for Wilson’s targets, his familiarity with Rodgers along with his size and red zone chops should be enough to keep him on the radar as a mid-level WR2. Lazard is coming off of a career year in catches (60) and yards (788) and fantasy owners should expect similar or even slightly better numbers in 2023.
COREY DAVIS
Since being drafted 5th overall in 2017, Davis has been a fairly disappointing player in the NFL. In two years, Davis has failed to top 34 receptions and 4 Touchdowns for a Jets team that has been desperate for someone to be a top receiver. Now he is, at best, the third option for a team he may not even be on when the season begins. If he does manage to stay on board, he won’t have much value outside of deeper leagues that start multiple flex positions as a dart throw WR4.
CJ UZOMAH
Uzomah had a career year in 2021 when he was still on the Bengals, recording 49 catches for 493 yards and 5 Touchdowns. Those numbers drastically declined in 2022, his first year with the Jets but now with an improved roster around him, he could rebound as a security blanket and bailout option for A-Rod. You’re probably not drafting him as your every-week TE, but he’s an interesting 2nd option that could be useful when the wrath of the bye weeks unleashes.
JEREMY RUCKERT
No one outside of Jets Nation probably knows who Ruckert is and maybe even some within Jets Nation don’t know who he is. He caught a single pass for 8 yards in the last game of the season when the Jets were already eliminated. While he spent most of the game working as a blocker, his game tape reveals a tenacious, hard-nosed approach and dedication to finishing his assignment by the end of the play. That kind of effort will surely be noticed by his coaches, and they will likely reward him with more playtime. He’s not on his way to becoming Travis Kelce or Mark Andrews anytime soon but as a 3rd round pick (the round in which Kelce and Andrews both happened to be selected) he will surely get his chances to contribute more as a complement to Uzomah and maybe even be a candidate for waiver wire pickups articles later in the year.
With the addition of Rodgers, The Jets have made it clear that they are playing with the intent to make a deep run in 2023. They are certainly poised to do that, and that could mean big things for your fantasy team as well. Will you draft any members of the Jets on your team? How do you feel about the addition of Rodgers to the Jets?
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