2021 Dynasty/Fantasy Preseason Wk2 Game Analysis: Jets 23, Packers 14
The Jets came with their 1st-team ready-to-go, while the Packers answered with all their backups and starting a 3rd-string QB. One team was working, the other ‘not really’. So, within that the Jets walked away with a win…but it’s hard to glean a ton from this game due to the nature of the guys playing, and against what backdrop/quality of opposition.
The Jets gave us 1st-teamers and more Zach Wilson, so this will be heavy on the Jets notes…
Dynasty/Fantasy Player Notes…
-- The most noteworthy thing that was revealed in this game was having to do with the Jets’ RB rotation…Robert Saleh is taking a page out of Kyle Shanahan’s recent playbook/rotation (Saleh’s recent boss) – an RB trio/committee.
What Bill Belichick is doing, has been trying to do with his backfield for the past couple of years – go cheap, and have 3-4-5 guys at your fingertips to rotate as specialists. One guy as ‘the lead’, but not a 95% snap count heavy lead…more a 60% touch share worker who joins forces rotating with 1-2 other capable backs. Keeps players/RBs fresh, allows you to go hot hand if it emerges and you’re not dead if your ‘all in’ RB gets hurt (think of what happens to Tennessee’s offense if Henry goes down).
So, here’s how we saw the backs come in and out…
Tevin Coleman (4-19-0, 1-1-0/1) started and took the first few plays and was fine/solid/OK.
Ty Johnson (6-22-0) was in quickly after Coleman.
Then something happened that I did not expect…Tevin and Ty were rotating in and out every few plays. Had Tevin took a few starter snaps, come out and went into street clothes…with Ty following him up – that I would have expected…signaling a clear Tevin as #1 back here. But, no…these guys were rotating. It tells me that Tevin is starting but there’s a place for Ty and they’ll be splitting work as the game dictates.
Then even more bizarre…Michael Carter (10-52-0, 1-8-0/1) didn’t appear in the offense until the 2nd-half. What the…? If the Jets were running their 1st-team offense AND Zach Wilson playing most of the 1st-half – wouldn’t their supposedly KEY satellite back, a rookie, be imperative to get in sync with Wilson…to be ready for Week 1? Nope. Carter was down with the also-rans.
Also, with the also-rans, is soon to be dumped by the Jets -- LaMichal Perine (6-16-0).
Walking away from this game, I assume this is a Tevin-Ty split at the top with Carter being brought along slowly. Taking down the Tevin and Carter projections and bumping up Ty, post-game.
-- To the mainstream’s chagrin, Zach Wilson (9-11 for 128 yards, 2 TDs/0 INT) was very good…again. It’s not even close on who the best passer in this 2021 draft class is, right now…it’s Wilson. He’s exponentially better than Trevor Lawrence, always was…always will be.
I want to see more Wilson against 1st-team defenses to get a gauge on how good – but Wilson looks so comfortable, so natural. He’s the most ready to go guy right now.
...that’s why it is so odd that Michael Carter didn’t play with him. Really odd. Odd for Carter.
-- Wilson’s favorite target in the preseason games has been Corey Davis (4-70-0/6). Very tough sledding out of the gates for Davis, though – CAR-NE-DEN are top 10 defenses to face right off the bat.
Elijah Moore (DNP) may be the secret winner of all this, but he’s been out all preseason.
Denzel Mims got hurt two days ago and may miss the rest of the preseason.
Davis will be a top target out of the gates by attrition on top of the preseason relationship…which is not helpful for Wilson to get out of the gates quickly if all his WRs of note are out except Davis.
-- The TE depth chart is no help to Wilson either but note that Tyler Kroft (2-36-2/2) was starting along with Trevon Wesco (1-17-0/1), who is working an H-back/FB/TE role and seems to be the main guy in the rotation. Kroft was in on passing downs here…and catching two TDs (but it was random not a breakout performance).
Chris Herndon (1-5-0/1) is on life support. He wasn’t with the 1s, or if he was I didn’t notice him.
Kenny Yeboah (1-6-0/2) is non-existent.
-- Jets PK Matt Ammendola (3/3 FGs, 2/2 XPs) was nailing the ball all game, including a 54-yarder (with a 46 and 49). He looks like the opening day kicker for sure now.
-- I have quick notes on four Packers youngsters from this game…
A.J. Dillon (4-28-0, 2-12-0/2) started and was great, the new Earl Campbell of the NFL…but note he has caught passes smoothly all preseason. He’s not just a short yardage guy.
The funny thing is…if Dillon went out for the season, right now…Aaron Jones’s ADP wouldn’t move. If Jones went out for the season today, Dillon would rocket into the RB1 class and probably be ahead of where Jones is today by Labor Day in ADP. That’s how good Dillon is…and to be feared by Aaron Jones’s owners. I don’t know how Dillon is kept away from touches…and when he starts getting them, he’s gonna impress WAY more than Jamaal Williams.
I didn’t love Kylin Hill’s (7-29-1, 2-11-0/2) work in college, nor did I care for his Pro Day…but he’s grinding hard and will make it as a fringe RB in this league.
The back that is better than Hill, to me, the one to keep an eye on when they cut him…former Memphis RB Patrick Taylor (8-48-0, 1-7-0/3). He’ll be cut because he doesn’t have the name Hill does, if Taylor gets away from GB it will be a serious watch to see if he lands well. Not a future star, but a better-than-average backup…the kind of UDFA drifter who gets grabbed by an NFL team when RB injuries hit, and he gets a chance out of nowhere and is OK/shines in a flash.
1st-round pick CB Eric Stokes (1 tackles, 1 PD) played in this game, and he looked very good…an NFL starter already in cover ability but may take a while to truly/fully start for GB.
