Fantasy Football 2015 Profile: Brandon Marshall

By Matthew Ordazzo | Aug 15, 2015

Should fantasy owners considering drafting Brandon Marshall for their fantasy football 2015 season? Over the off-season, he signed a brand new three-year contract worth $26 million with the New York Jets. A deal that came from an off-season trade between the Jets and Bears that involved the Jets sending a fifth round draft pick to Chicago in exchange for the wide out. What’s so different between playing in the windy city and playing in the big apple? The quarterback.

Ryan Fitzpatrick will now be the man in charge of the offense rather than Marshall’s long time friend and teammate Jay Cutler. Due to recent events in the Jets’ locker room involving an altercation between Geno Smith and linebacker IK Enemkpali, Fitzpatrick is now the Week 1 starter while Smith nurses a broken jaw for the next 6-10 weeks.

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Despite what happened around the NFL during the off-season, the big question on every Jets fans mind that loves fantasy football is how will making the transition from Cutler to Fitzpatrick affect Marshall’s fantasy value?

Believe it or not, Marshall’s fantasy value in 2015 should top his stats of last year. In 2014, his fantasy stats were 61 receptions on 105 targets for 721 yards and 8 touchdowns. Marshall finished the 2014 season with a total of 113 fantasy points. Now, Marshall’s 2014 season was plagued with injuries which was a big set back for the wide out who is use to posting stats close to 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns.

Now in Gotham, Marshall’s fantasy value has the opportunity to top last year’s stats. According to ESPN’s fantasy site, Marshall’s 2015 stats are projected at 76 receptions for 124.4 targets with 955 yards and 7 touchdowns. He’s projected to finish the 2015 season with a total of 135 fantasy points.

Marshall is one of the league’s top fantasy wide outs. Since 2007, he has garnered 1,242 targets, that’s 70 more than the next closest wide receiver. His 37 touchdowns over the past four seasons is tied for fifth among wide outs. Now 31 years old, Marshall enters New York where he will be performing under an offense mentored by the Jets newly appointed offensive coordinator Chan Gailey.

While it is hard to believe he will eclipse 12 or more touchdowns with Smith or Fitzpatrick at quarterback, 70 receptions for 1,000 or more yards and 7-10 touchdowns in 2015 is a very reasonable and possible task for Marshall.

May 27, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) catches a pass during organized team activities at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Despite who will be throwing the ball to Marshall this year, expect him to be the same extremely talented receiver he’s been during his entire career. The Jets will be a much-improved team this upcoming season as Marshall has what it takes to truly be a premiere weapon on offense.

Marshall in 2015 can be a solid WR2 receiver on plenty of fantasy teams. It’s hard to say “I would draft him as my first overall choice for a receiver” when knowing the problems at quarterback for the Jets. For the majority of the season is a toss-up, Fitzpatrick will be the guy behind the offense as long as he can stay healthy.

Bryce Petty could take over if the Fitzpatrick experiment fails while Smith is nursing his broken jaw. Plus guys such as Antonio Brown, Dez Bryant, Calvin Johnson and Jordy Nelson will all be available.

Marshall as your No. 2 fantasy receiver lined up with someone such as Brown will be a great duo. The only thing preventing Marshall from being a true number one fantasy receiver is having an elite quarterback which is unfortunately something the Jets don’t currently have.

Next: Fantasy Football 2015: Top 10 players to avoid

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