JETS-PATRIOTS FANTASY ANALYSIS
By author
This Sundays Pats-Jets game is a huge game for both teams in relation to their playoff aspirations and possible home field advantage. Let’s face it though; this game goes far deeper for most of us as pretty much all of us play Fantasy Football nowadays and our seasons are winding down. Let’s take a look at how this game breaks down from a fantasy standpoint and see if we can help you make some good lineup decisions. Hopefully after this week you will be one game closer to the trophy… or the money… or the T-Shirt and subscription to the jelly-of-the-month club… whatever your league prize may be.
Good plays
Mark Sanchez: Sanchez has played really well over the last 4 games, throwing for at least 299 yards in 3 of them. The Patriots give up too many big plays and Sanchez lit them up in Week 2 to the tune of 220 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Santonio Holmes: Holmes has been on fire and should exploit a weak Pats secondary. Over his last 4 games he has tallied 22 catches for 360 yards and 4 touchdowns. He should keep his string of solid games going this Monday night.
Dustin Keller: Keller has been up and down this year and has become a bit less of an option with the return and emergence of Santonio Holmes. He owns the Patriots though so get him in your lineup. In week 2 against New England he had by far his best game with 7 catches for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Tom Brady: Brady had a less than stellar effort versus the Jets in Week 2 where he threw 2 picks and only completed 20 of 36 passes. The Jets play him tough but he is far too hot to sit. Over his last 3 games he has completed 70 of 95 passes for 877 yards and has 10 total touchdowns.
Wes Welker: It’s shocking to realize that Wes has caught 65 balls already this season but is yet top 100 yards in a game. He has 21 catches and 3 touchdowns in his last 3 games though so you need to have him in your lineups. He had 6 catches and a TD against the Jets in their first meeting.
Deion Branch: Branch is another guy who has really turned things around the last 3 games with 254 yards and 2 touchdowns over that span. He may find the going a bit tough against a solid Jet secondary but you can’t sit him unless you have much better options.
Risky plays
Braylon Edwards: Edwards has really taken a step back with the emergence of Santonio Holmes. Even against a weak Pats secondary you don’t want him anywhere near your lineup. He hasn’t caught more than 4 balls since Week 5 and his best total on the season is only 5.
Jets Running Backs: Both Ladainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene are borderline options as long as they are locked into a 50/50 timeshare, which they currently seem to be. Each guy on their own is a solid option if the other was not around but barring an injury they just cancel each other out. Neither has a rushing touchdown since Week 6.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis: BGE is a tough guy to pick against. He has scored in 7 of his last 9 games and runs like a beast at times. He had 10 carries for 19 yards in Week 2 against these Jets though and the backfield is starting to get a bit cluttered with Taylor, Woodhead and Morris floating around. His below average receiver skills hold him back.
Patriots Tight Ends: Both Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski suffer the same fate as the Jets running backs. Either one on their own would be a nice play if the other was not around but you just never know who Tom’s “TE of the week” is going to be. It’s best to just avoid both of them until someone gets injured or emerges as a better option.