New York Jets: Will Jeremy Kerley surprise in 2015?

The New York Jets look to enter training camp in 2015 with the best wide receiving corp they have had since 2010, when the dynamic duo of Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes helped carry the Jets to the AFC Championship. After enduring more than a few high profile busts at the wide receiver position since then (Stephen Hill, Chaz Schilens, Derrick Mason), Jets fans are ecstatic about the potential of Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker.

In the midst of all the excitement, one player who is easy to forget about is wide receiver Jeremy Kerley. Kerley, a 2011 fifth round pick out of TCU, has been a steady, if not spectacular, wide receiver for the Jets. Take a look at his stats below from Pro Football Reference:

While Kerley’s receiving numbers are not particularly impressive from a fantasy standpoint, he has arguably been the Jets’ most valuable wide receiver over the past few years. During his four seasons with the Jets (2011-2014), he has ranked 5th, 1st, 1st and 2nd among the team’s leading receivers.

Kerley’s 2012 season was particularly impressive. An injury to Holmes and the ineffectiveness of Hill and Schilens forced Kerley into the No. 1 wide receiver role. While he was far from elite, he still managed to post more than twice as many receiving yards as any other offensive player on the team.

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The Jets front office recognized the value that Kerley brings to the team, signing him to a 4 year/$16 million contract extension in 2014. They know he has what it takes to continue being consistent over the next few years.

Going into 2015, what should Jets fans expect from Kerley? Will he still have opportunities to contribute, or will he be lost on the team depth chart behind Marshall and Decker?

Although Kerley may never post particularly appealing fantasy numbers, expect him to have another solid season in New York. Kerley has repeatedly shown that he is a solid slot receiver who will deliver a few pivotal first down receptions every game. This could potentially be his breakout year, surprising the football world in 2015.

At the very least, Kerley should post 500+ receiving yards and a few touchdowns in Gailey’s spread offense. For a No. 3 receiver, coaches and fans will welcome all that Kerley has to bring to the table.

Next: New York Jets: Can Chris Owusu replace Devin Smith?

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