* This thread will be updated with any breaking news regarding injuries or illness.
Every single year I do 2 or 3 fantasy leagues. This year I'm doing very well in two of them, and pretty well in the other. However if you're like me, you spend the 30 minutes before the game looking for fantasy information. Just how bad is Antonio Gates knee? Will Big Ben be missing this week and how will that affect Antonio Brown? Will Aaron Rodgers shoulder injury prevent him from putting up elite numbers?
Well I can't really answer any of the above, but if you have any Jets players on your fantasy team, hopefully this article will help you decide whether to start or sit them. I'm no fantasy expert, and if you're in a paid league...it's up to you to make the final decision. So lets get started.
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Status - Fully Participant - All indications are he'll play
If you're in a deep league, or even if you're not...Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't a terrible Fantasy QB. The Houston defense shut down Andy Dalton and the Bengals offense, and they have the best defensive lineman in the game in J.J Watt. The Texans have a top 5 passing defense. They allow 222.3 yards per game in the air, which is good for 5th best in the league. However they have allowed 16 passing touchdowns this season, which is very average. They have also only picked off 7 passes this year, which is very much below average.
Fitzpatrick is comping back from surgery on his non-throwing hand. He said it's more painful now than it was before surgery. He's coming off a 2 interception game where he had his lowest QB rating of the season. Will the thumb effect him? Personally I'm a little wary of Fitzpatrick this week, so if I had a decent alternative, I'd be sitting Ryan.
I fully expect Ryan Fitzpatrick to have a solid if unspectacular game. Something around the 200 yards passing, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception mark.
Chris Ivory
Status - Full Participant - Probable
Chris Ivory started the season on fire, but a number of injuries prevented him from sustaining the pace. The good news for Ivory owners is that he bounced back against a tough Buffalo Bills defense. After averaging 2.4,1.1 and 1.1 yards per carry, Ivory looked back to his best against Buffalo with a 5.5 yards per carry average. He failed to find the end zone against Buffalo but he did record 99 yards on the ground and 36 yards through the air. He's had 10 days to rest his beat-up body, so he should be nice and fresh to face Houston.
If you're an Ivory owner, this is the week to play him. I own him in one of my leagues and I'll be starting him. Houston on average give up 118 yards a game on the ground, the 8th worst mark in the league. They allow 4.3 yards per carry and it doesn't look as though that will improve any time soon.
If I had to guess, I'd estimate that Ivory would run for around the 100 yards total mark with a touchdown to boot.
Brandon Marshall
Status - Full Participant - Probable
Brandon Marshall has really been a revelation for fantasy owners this year. 753 yards and 6 touchdowns at this point is excellent value for a guy you probably got well down the board. I spent the first 4 weeks of my fantasy league trying to get him and I never did manage it. Marshall has been battling some injuries, but as with Ivory, he will be benefiting from an extra three days rest having played on the Thursday Night. Houston may have a good pass defense, but they don't defend the opposing teams #1 all that well. Football Outsiders rank them low against both #1 receivers and defending the deep ball. Ryan may not have the accuracy or arm to test the deep ball, but we know Marshall can go up and get it.
I don't think Marshall will have a massive day. However if he has around 60 receiving yards and a touchdown, that would be about right for the match-up.
Eric Decker
Status - Full Participant - Probable
Decker in our league is known as Mr Reliable. As with Ivory/Marshall, Decker will benefit from the extra rest. He's been banged up for most of the year. However he has a real rapport with Ryan Fitzpatrick and he's usually good for a chunk of yards and a touchdown. Decker has appeared in 8 games this season and scored a touchdown in 7 of them. He hasn't had a multiple TD game but if you need someone in your lineup who's not a boom/bust prospect, then start Eric Decker. He's had 11, 9 and 7 targets over the last three games, so he's likely going to continue to see a lot of work.
Houston struggle against a teams #2 option. Decker moves between the conventional #2 and the slot, so he will present a difficult match-up for Houston. With Enunwa back in the fold, we may see more of Decker in the slot where he has had a lot of success this year.
Personally I think he'll have the best game of any Jets receiver. I'm estimating an 80 yard, 1 TD performance.
Jets Defense
Sheldon Richardson - Questionable
Dion Bailey - Out
Dee Milliner - Probable
Buster Skrine - Questionable
If I own the Jets defense (and I do), I'm not even hesitating in starting them this week. In fact, I'd classify them as the best start of the week. Even with Richardson potentially missing, the Jets defensive line is dominant. Pryor should be back in the mix at safety and Houston get the majority of their offense through Hopkins, who will be covered by Revis for the majority of the game. They will also likely be starting T.J Yates with Hoyer missing time this week with a concussion. Bowles blitzing attack can make things very uncomfortable for a man who hasn't played meaningful snaps in a long time.
The Houston Texans are averaging 4.9 yards per play which is 31st in the league. The Jets possess the the best run defense in the league, which means the ball is going to be in the air a lot. I'd fancy the Jets against T.J Yates with Revis covering Hopkins all game.
Facing a new QB, they should be able to force a couple of turnovers. Unfortunately if your league scores the defense along with special teams plays, I can't see the Jets doing much in the Kick or Punt return game.
If you have Ridley, Powell, Cumberland, Davis or Kerley....well you best hope you're capable of having them on the bench.