Bottom Line

Carter’s 2021 rookie season looked promising.

Since then, the Jets have clearly wanted him out of a lead role.

Breece Hall arrived in Round 2 last year. Then came the selection of Round 5 RB Israel Abanikanda in April.

Perhaps Hall lands on the PUP list as he recovers from a mid-season ACL/meniscus injury. As of this writing, though, he’s been setback-free. It leaves Carter as just a deep-league flier.

What We Learned Last Year

• The Jets used a 2022 Round 2 pick (36th overall) on Breece Hall.
• In six full games with Hall, Carter averaged 11.8 touches per game.
• Hall sustained a torn ACL and a meniscus injury in Week 7.
• From Week 8 on, Carter averaged only 7.6 touches per game. He was essentially phased out of a dysfunctional offense late in the year.
  • Rookie UDFA Zonovan Knight averaged 12.1 carries per game over the final seven weeks.
• Overall, Carter finished as a top-24 PPR RB in only four games.
• Among 45 RBs with 100+ carries, Carter ranked 43rd in Pro Football Focus rushing grade, 45th in yards per carry, and 36th in yards after contact per attempt.

What to Expect in 2023

• Per Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, the Jets “think Carter will bounce back and also believe that Israel Abanikanda…can make an immediate impact.”
• Abanikanda arrived in Round 5 and brings a big-play skill set.
• That duo would likely work in a rotation if Breece Hall misses early-season games.
  • Hall tore his ACL and suffered a meniscus injury on October 23. HC Robert Saleh has said he's optimistic Hall will play Week 1, but it’s far from a lock.
• The Jets let go of OC Mike LaFleur after the season.
  • Nathaniel Hackett joined the club to call plays.
  • While his tenure in Denver proved disastrous, Hackett brings familiarity with Aaron Rodgers from their time Green Bay.
  • We expect this unit to approach a 60% pass rate – no help to the team’s rush volume.