New York Jets Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers gave his thoughts on retirement on Wednesday night. “I think about it all the time,” he said. “When you commit, you’re 100 percent. But the older you get, the interests change, and the grind, I think, wears on you a little more.” Rodgers later said that he could “definitely see the end coming” — hardly a surprise, as he’ll turn 39 in December. Of course, Rodgers has already toyed with the thought of retirement. However, he’s currently signed through the 2024 season.

Jets DC Jeff Ulbrich said this week that the team has a "hard-and-fast" rule about D-linemen playing no more than 30-35 snaps per game, according to Connor Hughes of The Athletic. The goal is obviously to keep the defensive front fresh throughout the game. The downside for IDP purposes, of course, is that limited playing time for Quinnen Williams, Carl Lawson, John Franklin-Myers and Jermaine Johnson can limit their stat upside. We'll see just how hard-and-fast that rule is, though. Williams exceeded 35 snaps in 10 of his 15 games last season, and he was coming off an offseason foot fracture. For now, we'll treat this more as something to watch in season than a reason to alter draft outlooks -- especially because none of the aforementioned Jets sit too high in the IDP rankings.

Jets HC Robert Salah called rookie RB Breece Hall a “home run hitter.” Salah went on to talk about the importance of explosive plays. New York traded up to land Hall, who posted 22 runs of 15+ yards last season (253-carry sample). He set a personal-best in YPC (5.8). Current projections have the Iowa State product clearing 250 touches.

Jets TE Jeremy Ruckert is currently sidelined with a foot injury, HC Robert Saleh said Saturday. This is presumably the plantar fasciitis that knocked Ruckert out of Senior Bowl practices and prevented him from working out at the Combine. Saleh is "hoping" that Ruckert is able to get in some work this spring, but plantar fasciitis can be unpredictable. We'll keep an eye on the situation. But between the injury and the presence of free-agent additions Tyler Conklin and C.J. Uzomah, Ruckert isn't a recommended target in early best-ball drafts.

The Jets selected RB Breece Hall with the 36th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Hall spent nearly all of his 3 seasons starting at Iowa State. He opened his sophomore year with 8 straight 100-yard games and finished it as the FBS leader in rushing yards. He earned All-America honors each of the past 2 seasons. Hall followed a stellar career – including 82 receptions at 9.0 yards per catch – by running a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at 217 pounds (a 97th-percentile speed score). Hall joins a Jets backfield alongside 2021 4th-rounder Michael Carter. Hall is the favorite to lead the way in touches, but this isn’t a great landing spot for his fantasy value.

The Jets traded up with Tennessee to take EDGE Jermaine Johnson II with the 26th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Johnson played sparingly across 2 seasons at Georgia before transferring to Florida State. He racked up 17.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks over 12 games in his lone season with the Seminoles. Throw in an 89th-percentile speed score at 6'5 and 254 pounds, and Johnson carries attractive IDP upside.

The Jets selected Ohio State WR Garrett Wilson with the 10th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Wilson is a dynamic mover both in his routes and after the catch. He’s been compared to Odell Beckham in that regard, and we saw shades of Kadarius Toney watching Wilson’s tape. Wilson tested as a 78th percentile athlete at the Combine, with a 4.38-second 40 time. He didn’t put up huge numbers at Ohio State but battled for targets with WRs Chris Olave (who will go later in the 1st round this year) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (who figures to be a 1st-rounder next year). Wilson ranked top 24 in Pro Football Focus’ receiving grades in each of the last 2 seasons. He played primarily in the slot in 2020 before kicking outside this past year. Wilson was more effective on the inside both years, though. He’s 6’0, 183 pounds and struggled at times vs. physical coverage in college, so he projects best in the slot as a pro. We’ll see exactly how he fits alongside WR Elijah Moore, who played 26.3% of his snaps in the slot last year. Check out the initial projections and ranking for Wilson.

The Jets spent the 4th pick of the NFL Draft on CB Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner. The 6'3 cover man ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the Combine (88th percentile among corners). Gardner grabbed 9 INTs across 3 seasons at Cincinnati but totaled just 99 tackles over 33 games. Don't bet on Gardner being a huge fantasy contributor.

The Jets on Saturday announced the signing of former Cowboys and Rams K Greg Zuerlein. The 2021 Jets split kicking duties between Matt Ammendola (13 of 19 on FGs) and Eddy Pineiro (8 of 8). Zuerlein's plus-50-yard range gives him nice weekly fantasy upside, but he has also hit a mediocre 80% of FG attempts over the past 3 seasons. Playing for the Jets probably won't help his extra-point volume.

NFL Network reports that the Jets are signing TE Tyler Conklin. It's a somewhat curious move for both sides this early in the free-agent cycle, given that the Jets have already agreed to a deal with TE C.J. Uzomah. The arrival of both players lowers the fantasy ceiling for each. Expect both to settle well down into reserve territory in our TE rankings.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Giants are expected to sign QB Tyrod Taylor to a 2-year, $17 million deal, with $8.5 million of that guaranteed. Taylor will back up Daniel Jones, and his work with Houston last year -- where he lost the starting job to 3rd-round rookie Davis Mills -- points to Taylor not being a threat to Jones' job. So this move looks like good news or Jones' chances of making it through 2022 as the Giants starter.

The Jets are signing former Buccaneers S Jordan Whitehead to a 2-year, $14.5 million deal, according to multiple reports. Whitehead spent most of the past 4 years in Tampa Bay's starting lineup, including all 44 of his appearances over the past 3 years. This money says he'll land in the starting lineup with his new team -- likely in place of Marcus Maye, who is also an unrestricted free agent after playing last season on the franchise tag. Whitehead has been a solid tackle collector with the Bucs and should be in a good spot for more of the same with the Jets. S Mike Edwards looks like the best current bet on Tampa Bay's roster to replace Whitehead. We'll see whether the Bucs make further moves at the position, though.

The Jets have agreed to a 3-year, $33 million deal with CB D.J. Reed, according to multiple reports. that position's the former Seahawk as the Jets' top corner. Reed spent just 1.5 of his 4 seasons in Seattle as a starter after arriving with some question as to whether he'd play safety or corner. In 2021, however, Pro Football Focus graded him 16th-best in coverage among 129 CBs who played at least 200 snaps. Reed won't turn 26 until November and will be well worth a look in CB-required IDP leagues.

The Packers are tendering WR Allen Lazard at the 2nd-round level. That means any team would need to surrender a Round 2 selection to Green Bay if it wants to sign the restricted free agent. We'd bet on Lazard sticking with the only team he has played for. We'll see whether the Packers at more to the position this offseason. Lazard looks fine as a late-round pick in current best-ball drafting.

The Cowboys released K Greg Zuerlein, saving about $2.5 million against the 2022 salary cap. Zuerlein missed 6 FGs and 6 XPs last season but figures to get another shot at a starting job this summer. We'll see where he lands and who Dallas tabs to replace him.

According to multiple reports, WR Mike Williams is on the verge of signing a 3-year, $60 million deal with the Chargers that will include $40 million in guarantees. This news comes ahead of today's 4 p.m. ET deadline for team's to apply franchise tags. Williams stays with an ascending QB in a strong offense and should remain a high-ceiling fantasy wideout.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Packers have reached a new deal with QB Aaron Rodgers that will pay him $200 million over 4 years, with $153 million guaranteed. That tells us we should expect at least 3 more years of Rodgers as the Green Bay starter (assuming health and no retirement, of course). It also means that Jordan Love will have to wait even longer than Rodgers once did for his own NFL starting shot -- barring a trade out of town.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Chargers are expected to use the franchise tag on WR Mike Williams. The deadline for teams to do so is 4 p.m. today, so we'll know Williams' status soon. We'd guess the 2 sides are working toward a longer-term deal, but the Chargers rank among league leaders in projected 2022 salary-cap space. So they have some flexibility here. For fantasy football draft purposes, expect Williams to remain a Charger.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Packers are negotiating with QB Aaron Rodgers on a deal that would be expected to make him the league's highest-paid player. Rapoport also added, however, that the team is simultaneously giving Rodgers room to decide whether to stay in Green Bay or seek a trade. The situation obviously remains unresolved. If you're jumping into early best-ball drafts right now, though, we'd lean toward treating Rodgers -- and other Packers -- as though he's staying in Green Bay.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport hears that QB Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are "in negotiations ... for what is expected to be a short-term deal that would make him the highest-paid player in the NFL." Rapoport adds that Rodgers still hasn't decided if he'll continue playing in 2022 or if he wants to stay with the Packers. But the fact that the 2 sides are negotiating sure makes it seem like Rodgers will be back in Green Bay. That'd also mean that WR Davante Adams is very likely to return to the Packers.