Jets Roster Analysis: Can Matt Forte Hold Off Father Time for Another Year?

As we approach the 2016 season, we are going to profile the players on the roster. Today we look at Matt Forte.

Name: Matt Forte

Number: 22

Year With Jets: 1st

Projected Role: Number one running back and number three option in the passing game

His 2015: An injury limited Forte to 13 games, and he posted career lows 898 rushing yards and 44 receptions. At the end of the season, the long-time Bear hit free agency and signed with the Jets.

2016 will be a success if: Forte can hold off father time and develop into a quality third option in the passing game. The Jets had a lot of success late in the season as Bilal Powell emerged as the third target for Ryan Fitzpatrick. You wonder how much that played into the pursuit of Forte, one of the most accomplished receivers out of the backfield in his generation. At 30 years old, it would not be wise for the Jets to ride Forte as a full-time back. With Powell and Khiry Robinson in the mix, they will presumably not need to do so. That might be a bit of an adjustment for a back like Forte who has traditionally done it all for his team. Two years ago, Chris Johnson did not buy into a reduced role at all, showing the pitfalls of asking a former star to become a role player. There were plenty of rumblings earlier in Johnson's career that suggested it might be a problem if he wasn't the one and only back. By most accounts, Forte has always been a good locker room guy and likely more receptive to a reduced workload.

Odds of making the roster: Lock (>99%)