2025 New York Jets Fantasy Preview
The New York Jets entered the 2025 offseason aiming to rebuild after a disastrous 5-12 season in 2024, marked by the failure of the Aaron Rodgers experiment and the longest active playoff drought in American professional sports (14 years). Under new head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey, the Jets adopted a measured approach, focusing on youth, depth, and fortifying the offensive line while addressing defensive and skill-position needs.
Priority One for the Jets was to get younger and more athletic and quarterback. Enter Justin Fields, who signed a two-year, $40 million deal. Fields may not be the long-term answer to a fan base that has mostly never experienced a franchise signal caller. Still, he can be a formidable running weapon who offers enough potential as a passer to contend for QB1 numbers. In six starts for Pittsburgh a year ago, Fields averaged 18.9 fantasy points per game, which would have ranked seventh at the position.
However, much of Fields’s production is based on his elite rushing upside. The Jets have a surplus of young running backs and lack proven pass catchers. That relegates Fields to QB2 territory, but one that has a high ceiling, particularly in best ball formats.
Speaking of New York’s backfield, the club ranked 31st in rushing behind a line that ranked 28th in run-block win rate and allowed 48 sacks (27th). New offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand will employ a run-heavy, play-action scheme that the additions of first-round OT Armand Membou and veteran RT Chukwuma Okorafor will reinforce.
Breece Hall’s numbers fell off after breaking out in 2023. Selected in the first round of many fantasy drafts, Hall declined to 876 rushing yards and 56 receptions. He still averaged 15.3 fantasy points per game, but the new regime has talked up using a three-man backfield this season. That and Fields’s presence keep Hall in RB2 territory. Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis will also be involved, but should be viewed only as handcuffs to Hall.
No. 1 wideout Garrett Wilson was tied for 4th in targets (153) and ranked 9th with 253.3 PPR points. While Wilson is reportedly excited to be reunited with his former Ohio State teammate at quarterback, Fields has never attempted more than 370 passes in the NFL. Aaron Rodgers threw 584 last season. For Wilson to earn a similar target number this season, he would have to command an impossible 41.3 percent target share. Wilson is an elite wideout, but regression is in order.
New York has little depth after Wilson. Allen Lazard and fourth-round rookie Arian Smith will vie for targets in an offense that projects to be bottom-10 in passing attempts.
Second-round LSU tight end Mason Taylor takes over for Tyler Conklin and could be heavily involved from Day One. Taylor (6-5, 255 pounds) set an LSU record for tight ends with 129 catches. Taylor was the youngest player in the 2025 NFL Draft, has NFL bloodlines, and the skill set to make an immediate fantasy impact.
Fantasy Grade: C
QB Fields, Justin, NYJ [QB1] Sleeper
Justin Fields has dealt with plenty of adversity, from a lame-duck head coach, revolving door of offensive coordinators, lack of talent, and a porous offensive line. Yet, Fields posted two top-10 showings in fantasy points per game while starting in Chicago. Most of that boils down to Fields being an elite runner, but his passing numbers and ability to lead an offense were enough for the QB-starved Jets. New York is similar to those Bears squads in employing a lack of receivers and a poor offensive line. But maybe that’s just what Fields needs to resurrect his career- and fantasy value.
The Jets signed Justin Fields to a 2-year deal. But Fields has never played a full season in the NFL. New York also wisely secured Taylor, a veteran backup who is more than capable of running Tanner Engstrand’s offense. Both players ran a 4.51 40 (99th percentile) at their respective NFL Combines. Taylor has been a solid veteran for over a decade and has slightly higher career completion and QB ratings than Fields. If Fields has another injury, which happens frequently with his style, Taylor can be more than capable of chipping in weekly QB2 stats.
Hall did not live up to his first-round ADP, but it wasn’t a total loss. Hall led all running backs with 423 routes run and was 4th in receptions (57) and receiving yards (483). However, Hall wasn’t as effective as a runner. His breakaway rate declined by 35 percent, his yards after contact per attempt dropped from 3.41 to 3.04, and he fumbled six times. New head coach Aaron Glenn has stated that Hall could be put into a three-man committee.
Braelon Allen posted a 96th-percentile Speed Score at the 2024 NFL Combine, but that didn’t translate onto the field. Allen averaged a meager 3.6 yards in his 92 carries as a rookie. He fared better as a receiver, snagging 19 balls for 148 yards and a score. New head coach Aaron Glenn plans to use multiple backs for the Jets, but Allen is clearly behind Breece Hall. Allen (6-1, 235) has the size to be a factor in short-yardage situations, so that role is worth monitoring. He’s an RB4/5 in his sophomore season.
ADVICE: In one of Aaron Glenn’s press conferences at the NFL Combine, he said, “I would say that we have three running backs on this team that we’re gonna utilize as much as possible.” That could be coach speak, but Davis averaged 5.8 yards per carry last year.
In his third NFL season, Garrett Wilson reached new heights, hauling in over 100 receptions for 1,104 yards and seven touchdowns, finishing as the WR9 in PPR formats. He remains the clear alpha in the Jets’ receiving corps, even as the team welcomes a new offensive coordinator (formerly with the Lions) and three new wideouts, signaling a retooled receiver room. Over the past three seasons, Wilson ranks fourth in total targets among WRs, and there’s little reason to think that pace will slow. While New York may attempt fewer passes overall, a greater share should funnel to Wilson. His path to a fantasy leap hinges on how well new QB Justin Fields plays.
ADVICE: Five of Lazard’s six touchdowns came in the first half of 2024. With Aaron Rodgers gone, the player who averaged 5.8 fantasy points per game down the stretch is more indicative of Lazard’s low fantasy value in 2025.
Reynolds is a journeyman who should once again find himself with a decent opportunity to see significant playing time. However, in a low-volume New York passing attack, he is well off the fantasy radar.
Corley will compete with Josh Reynolds for WR3/4 duties, but has no fantasy value, other than as a desperation dynasty hold.
TE Taylor, Mason, NYJ [TE1] Sleeper
Mason Taylor, the Jets’ 2025 second-round pick, is primed for a strong rookie season. Standing 6-5 and weighing 251 pounds, he ran a 4.65 40-yard dash and posted a 7.06 3-cone drill, showcasing elite size and agility. At LSU, Taylor recorded 129 receptions for 1,308 yards over three seasons, with only one drop in 2024. His red-zone prowess and reliable hands make him a perfect fit for Justin Fields’ offense. With limited competition at tight end, Taylor is a high-upside fantasy sleeper who could emerge as a consistent TE1 option this year.
PK Harrison Mevis/Caden Davis
The Jets released Anders Carlson and will have an open competition for their place-kicking job. Whoever wins won’t have much fantasy appeal, so they can be ignored.
New York still recorded 43 sacks last year and forced 17 turnovers. But the Jets didn’t get a DST touchdown and fell to 22nd overall. We project improvements with Aaron Glenn in town, but the Jets’ D/ST is a mediocre option until proven otherwise.
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