New York Jets

New York Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur may have provided fantasy football managers with rookie running back Breece Hall on their team some cause for concern Thursday.

According to ESPN's Rich Cimini, LaFleur called second-year running back Michael Carter the "heartbeat of our offense."

Despite Carter's solid play as a rookie last season and the fact that he still figures to get plenty of work in 2022, Hall was drafted early in many fantasy leagues on the heels of the Jets selecting him 36th overall in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft.

New York had a full-on committee in its backfield last season, but it was Carter who emerged as the most fantasy-relevant player of the group due primarily to his pass-catching ability.

Despite missing three games due to injury, the fourth-round pick out of North Carolina rushed for 639 yards and four touchdowns, while also catching 36 passes for 325 yards.

As a result, Carter was a weekly flex consideration last season, and he has a chance to carve out that type of role for himself once again this season, even with Hall in the mix.

The fact that the Jets invested a second-round pick in Hall suggests he will be used often, likely on first and second down, as well as short-yardage situations, but it wouldn't be wise to expect him to be a bell cow.

Hall is a solid pass-catcher in his own right, but Carter proved he could do it at the NFL level as a rookie, perhaps putting him in the catbird seat for third-down duties, and thus giving him plenty of value in point-per-reception leagues.

If both Hall and Carter stay healthy this season, it is likely Hall will finish with more fantasy points due to his touchdown upside, but the disparity may not be as significant as most assumed.

In Yahoo fantasy football drafts, Hall has an average draft position of 44.2, while Carter's ADP is sitting at 120.6, making Hall the RB18 and Carter the RB42. That means Hall is usually being drafted as an RB2, while Carter is being drafted as an RB4 or RB5.

When it comes to return on investment, Carter has the makings of being a much better pick than Hall, especially if LaFleur's comments are a sign that Carter will be heavily involved in the offense again this season.

Joe Flacco is set to serve as the New York Jets' starting quarterback for Sunday's Week 1 game against his former team, the Baltimore Ravens.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Wednesday that Jets starter Zach Wilson is "not quite ready" as he recovers from a knee injury suffered during the preseason.

Head coach Robert Saleh told reporters Wednesday that Wilson will miss the first few weeks of the campaign:

Flacco owns one of the most remarkable runs in NFL playoff history.

In 2012, he lead the Ravens past Andrew Luck's Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning's Denver Broncos and Tom Brady's New England Patriots to punch a ticket to the Super Bowl, where Baltimore scored a 34-31 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

Flacco captured Super Bowl MVP honors and finished the postseason run with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions across the four games.

Besides that month of glory, the 37-year-old New Jersey native has been a mostly mediocre signal-caller as he heads into the 15th year of his career. He ranks 26th among active QBs with a 84.2 career passer rating, per Pro Football Reference.

The situation also creates the potential for a difficult situation for the Jets' coaching staff if Flacco leads the offense to consistent success inside the season's first three weeks.

New York is trying to take a step forward this year after posting a 4-13 record in 2021. The team hasn't qualified for the playoffs since 2010.

Wilson didn't light the world on fire as a rookie, finishing with nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 13 games, but it's far too soon to make any definitive judgments about whether he can develop into a true franchise quarterback.

That said, if the Jets are 3-0 or 2-1 when the 2021 second overall pick is cleared to return, it's fair to wonder whether there could be a short-term quarterback controversy in New York.

While that storyline will develop in the coming weeks, the focus for Flacco and Co. right now is trying to score an important AFC win.

"I've been in a bunch of games where guys have played their old teams and coaches have played their past teams, and usually, the emotions are definitely crazy," Flacco told reporters in August.

The Jets and Ravens are set to face off at MetLife Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Denzel Mims hasn't been shy about wanting a bigger role on the New York Jets. On Sunday, he showed why he might deserve one, torching the New York Giants to the tune of seven receptions for 102 yards and a score on eight targets.

The question for fantasy players is whether Sunday's performance should put Mims on their radar, and the answer has everything to do with whether he's traded.

If Mims remains in New York—a very real possibility—he'll likely enter the season as the No. 6 name on the depth chart at wideout behind Corey Davis, Elijah Moore, 2022 first-round pick Garrett Wilson, Braxton Berrios and solid special teamer Jeff Smith.

That would make his fantasy value nonexistent and is a major reason his agent, Ron Slavin, said publicly that Mims had requested a trade.

"It's just time," Slavin said. "Denzel has tried in good faith, but it is clear he does not have a future with the Jets. Denzel vowed to come back better than ever this season and he worked extremely hard in the offseason to make that happen. Still, he has been given very few opportunities to work with the starting offense and get into a groove with them.

"We feel at this point a trade is our only option since the Jets have repeatedly told us they will not be releasing him," he added. "Joe Douglas has always done right by Denzel and we trust that he will make every effort to find him a new home where he can be a contributor."

Even if Mims is traded, however, he hasn't proved much during his NFL career. Since being a second-round pick in the 2020 draft, he's caught just 31 passes for 490 yards in 20 games across his two seasons.

While some of that has been due to injuries, Mims also fell out of favor with Robert Saleh and his coaching staff last season.

But perhaps a change of scenery would benefit the young wideout, who certainly showed that he can perform when given the chance in what may have been a showcase game for potential trade suitors.

That makes him a player you could consider as a deep sleeper if he gets dealt, and someone whose situation you should continue to monitor. In that scenario, he's a very intriguing WR5 consideration.

If he remains in New York, however, he'll be a fantasy non-factor barring injuries to other players on the receiver depth chart.

It's been quite a few years since the New York Jets had a productive tight end on the team, but it appears they'll have one this season.

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt reports that free-agent acquisition Tyler Conklin is poised for a breakout in his first year in New York.

"Conklin has emerged as the favorite target for both Zach Wilson and Joe Flacco in training camp and has been one of the biggest surprises on offense. He's athletic and sure-handed and is good enough as a blocker that the Jets will have a hard time taking him off the field. Whether it’s Wilson or Flacco at quarterback, Conklin should be in line for a solid season."

The Jets revamped their tight end room by signing both Conklin and C.J. Uzomah this offseason, and drafting former Ohio State tight end Jeremy Ruckert in the third round. Conklin appears to be in line for more volume in the passing game, which fantasy football managers should take note of heading into their drafts.

Conklin spent the first four years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings. He appeared in all 17 games last season and recorded 61 receptions for 593 yards and three touchdowns.

The Jets will open their season at home against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 11.

Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco is taking first-team reps for the New York Jets in the wake of Zach Wilson's knee surgery, and the team's receivers are noticing a difference in their styles.

Jets rookie Garrett Wilson explained how he feels Flacco's passes are more catered to the wideouts.

"There's definitely a difference," Wilson told reporters Monday. "It's a lot of experience right there with Flacco. I feel like everything with him, he takes some pace off, puts some pace on the ball. He does a good job of making the passes receiver-friendly. That's the best way I can put it into words."

The Ohio State product's assessment of Flacco's passes wasn't an indictment on Wilson, but it appears that the veteran's ability to adjust the velocity of his throws has stood out so far.

"They're pretty easy to catch," the 22-year-old wideout continued. "Takes some off the ball when you're running a slant route versus an out route, put some zip on it because it's gotta be. Things like that."

Wilson, who was selected 10th overall in this year's draft, is a part of New York's revamped passing attack. The team added veteran tight ends C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin in free agency, and second-year wideout Elijah Moore is poised for a breakout year if he can stay healthy.

On Tuesday, Zach Wilson underwent successful surgery on his right knee after he suffered a meniscus tear and bone bruise in Friday's preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. The 2021 No. 2 pick is expected to miss two to four weeks, likely ruling him out for Week 1's home game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Flacco had spent the first 11 seasons of his career in Baltimore, leading the team to victory in Super Bowl XLVII and earning the game's MVP. The 37-year-old has not won the starting position since 2019, but he has performed well in training camp.

ESPN's Rich Cimini reported that Flacco went 14-of-17 in Tuesday's practice, including a stretch of 10 straight completions. Flacco has also inspired confidence in his abilities to lead the team while Wilson is out.

"Joe's a pro. He's been there, he's done that. He's been a Super Bowl MVP, a world champion. He's gotten the big contracts. He checks about all the boxes you can check," Jets head coach Robert Saleh said Sunday. "I think he's going to be fine, especially for the remainder of the preseason. We'll see everything else with Zach's knee, but we have all the faith in the world in Joe."

The New York Jets are reportedly not planning to pursue a trade for Jimmy Garoppolo despite Zach Wilson's uncertain Week 1 status.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the Jets have "confidence" veteran Joe Flacco can fill the void until Wilson is ready. Wilson underwent successful surgery Tuesday to repair a meniscus tear in his knee and has no timetable to return.

Rapoport noted the team has no plans on bringing Wilson back until he is 100 percent healthy. The Jets open their regular season Sept. 11 against the Baltimore Ravens, giving him a little more than three weeks of recovery time.

The San Francisco 49ers have been exploring the trade market throughout the offseason but have found no offers to their liking. Garoppolo's market was limited for much of the offseason quarterback shuffling amid shoulder surgery in March. He is fully cleared to practice but has been working off to the side at 49ers camp amid the trade rumors.

The Jets stood out as a potential fit when Wilson went down because of Garoppolo's link to head coach Robert Saleh, who was the defensive coordinator in San Francisco from 2017 to 2020. Saleh also brought over several assistant coaches from the 49ers, including offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who was the passing game coordinator in San Francisco for Garoppolo.

A scenario where Garoppolo remains in San Francisco as a backup behind Trey Lance is possible but seems untenable. Teammates have raved about Garoppolo's leadership and professionalism throughout his tenure with the franchise. All it would take is a slow start from Lance, and the calls for the 49ers to make a switch would be loud.

The 49ers need to find a way to cut bait before Week 1, even if they have to outright release Garoppolo. If that scenario comes to pass, perhaps the Jets revisit the idea of bringing him in.

For now, it's all Flacco all the time.

Zach Wilson may be starting the 2022 NFL season on the sidelines.

According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Week 1's matchup with the Baltimore Ravens is "very much in jeopardy" for the New York Jets' quarterback as he's set to have arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus and bone bruise on his right knee.

"We're optimistic, but he's not out of the woods until they get in there and make the decision [on how to handle the meniscus]," head coach Robert Saleh told reporters on Sunday.

The initial prognosis suggested a recovery time of two to four weeks, though it will depend on the extent of the repair needed for his meniscus, which will be determined during surgery.

Wilson suffered the injury during Friday night's preseason matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles and, at the very least, his preseason is over.

The 23-year-old threw for 2,334 yards, nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions across 13 games last season, completing 55.6 percent of his passes. It was a tough introduction to the NFL for the then-rookie quarterback, and losing the rest of his preseason preparations this year isn't ideal.

"It's a setback in that he's missing an unbelievable opportunity to get the reps in, to play other defenses, especially the New York Giants, who have such an elaborate pressure-package system," Saleh noted. "He has to get dialed in, just like he did last year when he was hurt. The timing of it all is terrible and it sucks, but I think Zach still has an opportunity to grow from it if he attacks it mentally."

The Jets are scheduled to face the Atlanta Falcons and the New York Giants in the remainder of their preseason slate before opening the season against the Ravens on Sunday, Sept. 11.

The Jets will count their blessings that Wilson didn't suffer a more serious knee injury, like an ACL tear, though it does remain a concern that the young quarterback has now had two injuries to his right knee in the past year.

Last season, a sprained PCL cost him four games, though it didn't require surgery.

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh told reporters quarterback Zach Wilson is scheduled to undergo surgery Tuesday for the knee injury he suffered during Friday's preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.

There is no timetable for his return until the surgery is complete.

Wilson injured his knee on a scramble late in the first quarter and had to be taken out of the game.

There was some good news after Wilson underwent tests, as ESPN's Rich Cimini reported the second-year quarterback needed arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He also suffered a bone bruise.

Saleh told reporters after the game the team "walked off the field with very positive thoughts" that Wilson avoided a significant injury.

This is an important season for Wilson, who is looking to establish himself as a viable starter in the NFL after being selected with the No. 2 overall pick in 2021. The 23-year-old threw for 2,334 yards, nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 13 starts as a rookie.

The Jets made significant investments to boost the talent around Wilson and make things easier for him this season. Tight end C.J. Uzomah and rookie receiver Garrett Wilson were added to give him targets on the outside and over the middle. Guard Laken Tomlinson was added to upgrade his protection on the offensive line.

None of those moves will matter if Wilson continues to perform like he did as a rookie. Durability is also becoming a concern for the BYU alum. He sat out four games last year due to a PCL sprain in his right knee.

Until Wilson can return to the field, Joe Flacco will step in as New York's quarterback. The 37-year-old went 24-of-39 for 291 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins in his lone start for the Jets last season.

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh said he spoke with linebacker Quincy Williams about his "egregiously awful" late hit on Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts during Friday night's preseason game.

Hurts had already made two steps out of bounds before Williams delivered the hard hit, which led to a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on the game's opening drive.

Saleh told reporters the fourth-year linebacker can't make those plays, both for his own development and to avoid hurting the team:

I talked to Quincy after the game. Egregiously awful from Quincy, and he knows that, he knows better. It's one thing to make a mistake in a game, it's another thing to make a mistake that leads to points, touchdowns. It's a good drive, we're off the field. Jalen's a phenomenal quarterback, and to stop them, hold them to a field goal after giving up an explosive [play] is a pretty good showing for the first drive.

Then to have that happen extends the drive. Anytime you extend the drive like that, it's probably going to lead to bigger points. So Quincy knows, but at the same time, those are plays he has got to get out of his game for him to be the player we think he can be.

Several Eagles players got in Williams' face on the sideline after the late hit, but three-time Pro Bowl lineman Lane Johnson explained there's only so much players can do without risking punishment from the NFL.

"We ran over there and didn't do nothing," Johnson said. "We were like a big dog that ran to the fence and didn't do a whole lot. If you do something, then you get suspended. We didn't like it."

Television cameras also showed Philly head coach Nick Sirianni shouting across the field to his New York counterpart, saying "Saleh, what the f--k?"

Hurts stayed in the game for the remainder of the drive, which was capped with a 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dallas Goedert.

The quarterback shrugged off the situation—"They called a flag. We moved on."—but thanked his teammates for their support.

"Yeah, I think that's what we're about," Hurts said. "In the end, I think that's us having each other's backs. That's Philly. That's Coach Sirianni. That's Jordan Mailata. That's [Jason] Kelce. That's some of the defensive guys. [Dallas Goedert]. You know, just everybody."

Hurts completed all six of his throws for 80 yards in his only series of the preseason opener. The Jets ultimately won the exhibition contest, 24-21.

Williams is entering his second season with the Jets after starting his career with two years as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars. He recorded 110 total tackles, five passes defended, three forced fumbles and two sacks in 2021.

The Eagles return to action next Sunday with a road game against the Cleveland Browns, while the Jets host a Monday Night Football preseason clash with the Atlanta Falcons on Aug. 22.