Delayed Flight
A slow start to Zach Wilson’s rookie career will now be delayed entirely. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the news, stating, “An MRI confirmed a sprained PCL for Jets’ QB Zach Wilson, who now is expected to be sidelined 2-4 weeks, per source.”
The Jets presently sit in third place in the AFC East with a 1-5 record after being battered by the Patriots 54-13 in Week 7. The Jets were coming out of their bye in Week 6, meaning Wilson will be afforded no free weeks to recover without missing games. The outlook for the Jets in the meantime is not a positive one.
In-Season Impact
Let’s be honest; you were not rostering Zach Wilson in your season-long leagues to begin with, let alone depending on him as your starter. Wilson is being rostered in just 22% of redraft leagues this season. If you are one of the remaining 22%, you can drop Wilson without hesitation.
The acquisition of Joe Flacco in a trade with the Eagles will bring a familiar leader into the locker room. Flacco has not played in a game since Week 11 of the 2020 season. The last time he posted a QB1 week was in 2019 as a member of the Broncos. Flacco will provide the Jets with an interim improvement at quarterback over Mike White. Flacco will not produce at a high enough level to uphold the Jets’ offensive weapons.
The Jets offense has few fantasy-relevant options as it is. Although Wilson has not been a reliable producer himself, there have been some valuable assets on this offense.
The loss of their starting quarterback will undeniably downgrade the Jets’ offensive unit. Let’s take a look at which players will see an immediate impact in redraft leagues.
Corey Davis
All of the Jets receivers are going to see a production decrease in the coming weeks. Davis has been Wilson’s favorite target in 2021 and should continue to serve as the team’s primary pass-catching threat, regardless of who is throwing the ball. Ranked as WR34 in 2021, Davis is a risky start in the best of circumstances. He does, however, lead the team in all receiving categories and warrants a hold for a return to your flex position once Wilson is healthy.
Jamison Crowder
After a hot game in Week 4, Crowder has struggled to find production in his past two games. He scored just 8.4 FPTS in Week 5, followed by a 7.4 point performance in Week 6. Crowder has accounted for only 54 receiving yards in his previous two contests. He may see increased work on short-yard routes, but Crowder is best left on the waiver wire this season.
Elijah Moore
Week 7 against the Patriots marked Moore’s first game as a pro with a touchdown, albeit on a rush and not a reception. He caught just one of his six targets in the loss. Moore has still not caught a passing touchdown as a rookie. He is a low usage receiving option, listed as third in order on an anemic offense. His production is unlikely to meet expectations this season.
Michael Carter
Of the Jets’ three offensive rookies, Carter has been the most productive. Carter saw a season-high 72% of the offensive snaps in Week 7 while leading the team in receptions (8), targets (9), and receiving yards (67).
Touchdown production on this team is virtually unheard of, but Carter should see an increase in rushing and passing volume with Wilson sidelined. Carter is a low-end RB3/flex play, but the uptick in volume will likely not be enough to increase his value.
Ty Johnson
Johnson has seen minimal usage in 2021 as the Jets look to develop Carter as the lead back. There may be some extended work in his immediate future, but Johnson is not worth a roster spot unless his volume sees a massive increase.
Mike White
Mike White completed 20/32 passes for 202 yards, throwing one touchdown and two interceptions in Week 7. White will be relegated back to the bench after the Jets’ latest transaction.
Joe Flacco
The Jets traded a conditional pick to the Eagles in exchange for the temporary services of Flacco. The one-time Jets quarterback will reunite with his former team this week. He will start in as many games as Wilson misses. There is not a league deep enough where Flacco should be in your starting lineups.
Dynasty Impact
Barring any setbacks, the Jets expect Wilson to return as the starting quarterback. An injury with such a short duration does little to affect the overall perception of dynasty market values.
However, Wilson’s production this season, coupled with his new injury, may open up an increased opportunity to buy low on the rookie quarterback. Dynasty managers are undoubtedly frustrated with their investment. Wilson does nothing to help contending rosters in 2021.
If you are in a rebuilding scenario, Wilson is an exciting gamble as long as you are willing to accrue the risk. Please make no mistake, he is a gamble. There are no guarantees the Jets organization will ever put Wilson in a position to succeed. After all, their track record is not the most encouraging.
Much respect, thank you for reading. If you have any continued thoughts and would like to share, I am always available for an open conversation on Twitter: @PsychWardFF or Instagram: @psychwardff. Stay up to date on all of my content on Linktree: @PsychWardFF.
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