Early 2016 fantasy football outlook

As the New York Jets prepare for the upcoming season, here’s an early outlook on which players to keep an eye on for fantasy football.

The 2016 season for the New York Jets seems very promising from a fantasy football outlook. There are multiple players returning that produced fantastically in 2015. The new additions as well should boost the majority of this team’s offensive starters into starting lineups around the fantasy football world. There are ten potential players on this roster that should be owned in all leagues in 2016. The below projections or based upon point per reception leagues.

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The quarterback position is in limbo right now for the Jets. The contract dilemma with Ryan Fitzpatrick is still going on, but is believed by Jets fans to concede soon. With Fitzpatrick at the helm last season, he threw for 31 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, and 3,905 yards. He also added two rushing touchdowns as well. Fitzpatrick finished the year with 280 fantasy points, putting him in the top 15 for fantasy quarterbacks. If he hopefully returns to the Jets, his 2016 projections would be 30 touchdowns, 19 interceptions, 3,400 yards, two rushing touchdowns, 220 fantasy points and the 15th ranked quarterback.

With the loss of running back Chris Ivory to Jacksonville, the Jets have brought in versatile veteran Matt Forte from the Chicago Bears. Forte, although a little long in the tooth at running back standards (30-years-old), still has a huge upside here. Last year in a similar offensive scheme, Forte was a top 12 PPR running back in the NFL.

Forte can equally be used in both the running and passing game, giving the Jets another option out of the backfield alongside running back Bilal Powell. With both healthy, the Jets will start the season with a potentially deadly rushing attack. Looking at their top two running backs, their 2016 projections would be Forte totaling 1,050 rushing yards, 8 touchdowns, 50 receptions, 450 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns, 230 fantasy points and top 5 running back value. For Powell, his projections would be 400 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, 500 receiving yards, 50 receptions, four receiving touchdowns and 170 fantasy points.

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The number one receiving tandem in the league last year is back in 2016.

Between both Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, they accounted for 189 receptions, 2,529 yards, 26 touchdowns and 389 fantasy points.

While expecting that Fitzpatrick will re-sign sometime soon, this combination should continue its great run in 2016.

Granted that we cannot expect the same numbers from these two but they should remain in the ballpark.

The 2016 season also marks a potential make or break season for the third wide receiver on the roster in Devin Smith. Coming off an ACL tear in December, it’s hard to predict what he can contribute this upcoming season.

For the top three wide receivers on the Jets, their fantasy football projections would be Marshall totaling 101 receptions, 1,300 yards, 10 touchdowns, 200 fantasy points and be a top 10 wide receiver value. For Decker, 70 receptions, 1,000 yards, 8 touchdowns, 140 fantasy points and a top 20 wide receiver value. For Smith if he can be healthy all season long, 10 receptions, 150 yards and one touchdown.

Special teams and defense are huge aspects in building a fantasy winner. 2016 will be a bounce back year for kicker Nick Folk who is coming off an injury to his quad. At 31-years-old, Folk will be back in the top 10 of kickers in the NFL for fantasy points. The defense for the Jets is the strength of this team and the key to any success they will have this upcoming season. A projected top 10 defense for 2016 should be correct with a possibility to even crack the top 5 given the overall talent on the roster.

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2016 is a year where the Jets’ roster should be owned in the majority of fantasy football leagues throughout the world. With a plethora of talent scattered on both sides of the ball, the Jets offer potential keys to building a fantasy champion. With a great duo of wide receivers, a duel threat at running back and a top 5 defense, the Jets are a fantasy footballers go to team for poaching talent.