2016 NFL Preview - New York Jets

Todd Bowles took over a 4-12 team and turned them into a 10-6 team that just missed the playoffs.  The season should be considered a success, but the Jets blew it Week 17 when a win would have got them into the playoffs.  Ryan Fitzpatrick threw three crippling interceptions and the Jets blew it.  What has followed has been one crazy off season for the Jets.

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Brick calls it quits  Left Tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, who missed ONE play his entire career, unexpectedly retired in April.  His retirement caught everyone off guard, and left the Jets with a massive hole on their offensive line.  Luckily, Ryan Clady was in a contract dispute with Denver, and the Jets were able to acquire him for relatively cheap.  Clady has slid right into the starting left tackle position.

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The most ridiculous contract dispute ever  Fitzpatrick had a career year in 2015, tossing 31 touchdowns.  He was also on his fourth squad in four years, so the Jets were leery to give him a long term deal.  Fitzpatrick wanted 3 years at big money, while the Jets offered 3 years at $36 million.  This stalemate continued through the summer and led to both sides doing questionable things.  Fitz tested the market and found no takers.  The Jets, perhaps as a shot to Fitzpatrick, wasted a second round pick on Christian Hackenberg, who hasn’t even sniffed the field in the preseason.  The two sides ultimately settled on a one year, $12 million deal that everyone knew would happen.

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More passes in 2016?  The Jets could not come close to the 5 year, $32 million dollar deal Chris Ivory signed with Jacksonville, so they were left needing a #1 running back.  They turned to veteran Matt Forte, who signed a much smaller deal (3 years, $12 million).  Forte is going to split time with Bilal Powell, but we have seen that Powell cannot handle a heavy rushing load.  That would have to fall on Forte, who hasn’t had over 300 carries since his rookie year.  Forte is also 31, and is starting to slow down.  What he can do, though, is catch passes.  Are the Jets going to sling it even more this year?  They may have to with the personnel on their roster.

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Fantasy Focus Fitzpatrick was actually sneaky good as a fantasy quarterback last season.  He was consistent, throwing at least 1 touchdown in every game he finished.  He didn’t win many leagues, but he certainly didn’t lose any either.  The best thing he did was bring both Brandon Marshall & Eric Decker back to fantasy prominence.  26 of the Jets 33 passing touchdowns in 2015 were caught by either Marshall or Decker.  So don’t waste your time picking any other pass catcher on the Jets.  Forte is perfectly fine for depth or a low end #2.

Prediction  The Jets snuck up on some teams last year but there a couple of things going against them this season.  Have opponents figured out how to defend Fitzpatrick now?  Buffalo dared him to throw in the season finale and it cost the Jets the game.  The other issue is their absolutely brutal schedule to open the season.  Cincinnati, Buffalo, Kansas City, Seattle, Pittsburgh, & Arizona.  Four of those six are on the road as well.  0-6 is not out of the question, and if that happens, the season is over by Halloween.  7-9