NY Jets Helmet Stickers: Week 12

Another week, another bummer. As a whole, the team was mediocre. Everyone who had a good play here had a bad play to negate it there. There were only a handful of players who played well and only one who stood above. Let's get this over with:

Bronze Star: LB Darron Lee (6 tackles, 1 sack)

I really don't have a good player for this star. Lee has looked a lot better over the last month of the season and I'm starting to believe that he could have some value to the team moving forward. I don't think he'll ever live up to a first round billing, but he has improved in a lot of areas and can be a plus player if, and it's a big if, the defensive line is playing exceptionally well and Lee isn't forced to take on blockers in the run game or cover too long in a zone. He had an okay game, but he ends up in my top 3 this week.

Silver Star: WR Jermaine Kearse (7 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TD)

Kearse has been as good a case as any to remind us that weekly stickers do not amount to the player's actual skill or value to the team (also see Kony Ealy.) Though he now leads in helmet sticker points, this has spoken more to his consistent mediocrity in terrible Jets games than his personal excellence. Kearse isn't a #1 and probably isn't much of a #2, but he is certainly an NFL caliber player. You can get by with him as your #2 on a good offense, but you probably want to improve if you can. When things are clicking, however, he becomes a reliable pass catcher with solid route running, hands, and adequate athleticism. He's on pace for just over 60 catches for 750 yards and 7 touchdowns, which pretty much tracks with average production from a #2 in an average passing offense led by a backup quarterback. Any week in which you top 100 yards and have a TD, you've got a good shot at a star. This week, that makes you the #2 player on the team.

Gold: WR Robby Anderson (6 receptions , 146 yards, 2 TDs)

Robby ran away with the gold this week. No one came even close to competing with him, as he looked completely dominant against the Panthers. Not only were his stats impressive (with nearly 150 yards and 2 TDs), but the catches he made were frankly incredible. Obviously the TD in double coverage was exceptional, but I was also extremely impressed with how he contorted his body on a back shoulder (underthrown) pass down the sidelines for a big gain later. Robby might never be the full package, but he has emerged as an exceptional deep threat and a reliable big play machine. Another well earned star for Robby.

So there you go. After twelve weeks, the point totals are as follows:

Jermaine Kearse 7 points (1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze)

Kony Ealy 6 points (3 silver)

Marcus Maye 6 points (2 gold)

Robby Anderson 6 points (2 gold)

Jamal Adams 5 points (1 gold, 1 silver)

Jermaine Kearse 5 points (1 gold, 2 bronze)

Muhammad Wilkerson 5 points (2 silver, 1 bronze)

Leonard Williams 4 points (1 gold, 1 bronze)

Jordan Jenkins 3 points (1 gold)

Brandon Shell 3 points (1 gold)

Bilal Powell 3 points (1 gold)

Austin Sefarian-Jenkins 3 points (1 gold)

Morris Claiborne 2 points (1 silver)

Darryl Roberts 2 points (1 silver)

Darron Lee 2 points (2 bronze)

Chandler Catanzaro 1 point (1 bronze)

Terrence Brooks 1 point (1 bronze)

Buster Skrine 1 point (1 bronze)

Matt Forte 1 point (1 bronze)