Jets' Fantasy Outlook: One Start and One Sit for Week 1

WR's stock rising while RB situation causes concern ahead of Monday Night Football opener

The New York Jets are extra relevant on the fantasy football scene this season thanks to the addition of future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The arrival of the four-time NFL MVP has significantly boosted the outlook for the Jets' offense along with the fantasy value of its playmakers. 

No player's stock has risen faster than second-year receiver Garrett Wilson. After 1,103 yards on 83 receptions in 2022, the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year has ascended to WR10 overall status.

Wilson has become a favorite of Rodgers throughout the offseason OTAs and the preseason training camp. The great separator is the Jets Country fantasy football START for Week 1 on Monday Night Football against the Buffalo Bills. 

While Wilson is highly likely to receive a healthy amount of targets in the pass game, despite Buffalo's strong secondary, on Monday, second-year running back Breece Hall won't be required to shoulder a full workload in his first game back from ACL surgery. 

Hall will certainly factor into Gang Green's plans, but the Jets are likely to ease him back into action. The uncertainty surrounding his usage makes Hall the Jets Country fantasy football SIT of the week.

START: WR Garrett Wilson

The young pass-catcher's chemistry with his new quarterback has been building since late April. Wilson's ability to separate from defenders has impressed his quarterback and the two appear headed for a relationship that rivals the one Rodgers developed with All-Pro Davante Adams in Green Bay.

In their lone preseason game action together, which consisted of two possessions, Wilson caught all three of his targets for 30 total yards and a smooth first-quarter touchdown.

In 2022, Wilson was targeted a total of 16 times over two games against the Bills. In the first meeting, a 20-17 win for the Green & White, he went for 92 yards on eight catches with Zach Wilson as the passer. The Jets' WR1 made six grabs for 78 yards with a QB combo of Mike White and Joe Flacco. 

"He's super quick," said Bills' starting free safety Micah Hyde, who will try to contain Wilson on Monday night. "I was watching him from the sideline last year. I was really impressed with how he's able to create space. He's real twitchy, he can get open. Definitely, for years to come, he's gonna be one of the best receivers in the league."

SIT: RB Breece Hall

It seems best to take a wait-and-see approach when it comes to the Jets' running backs situation. Although it may be tempting to start the explosive Hall right off the bat, it's a highly risky proposition. 

Hall spent most of training camp on the physically unable to perform list and did not appear in any of the team's four preseason games. 

Only 10.5 months removed from a devastating knee injury, he hasn't proved he's ready for a full complement of carries. Then, there's the fact that Hall now shares a backfield with four-time Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook and his anticipated workload is unclear.

"We have a plan, I am not going to talk about it here, but there is going to be constant communication," said Jets' head coach Robert Saleh on Saturday. "He has an idea of what he would like to accomplish, but at the same time communication, and constantly checking in to see where he is at, both physically and mentally is going to be key."

Dr. David Chao, @ProFootballDoc, suggests that Hall will need some time to return to last year's form.

"Breece Hall has good acceleration. He has good high-end speed, but, in video, he has yet to demonstrate deceleration and cutting ability," said Chao, who expects the running back to reach only 65 percent of his old self this season.

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