"The NFL family is greatly saddened by the tragic events across our country. The protesters' reactions to these incidents reflect the pain, anger and frustration that so many of us feel," Goodell said. "Our deepest condolences go out to the family of Mr. George Floyd and to those who have lost loved ones, including the families of Ms. Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and Mr. Ahmaud Arbery, the cousin of Tracy Walker of the Detroit Lions.
"As current events dramatically underscore, there remains much more to do as a country and as a league. These tragedies inform the NFL's commitment and our ongoing efforts. There remains an urgent need for action. We recognize the power of our platform in communities and as part of the fabric of American society. We embrace that responsibility and are committed to continuing the important work to address these systemic issues together with our players, clubs and partners."
New York Jets to their ninth straight season without a playoff berth. New York finished with a 7-9 in 2019, which was their highest win total since 2015 (10-6). Gase has a 30-34 record in his four years as a head coach for the Dolphins and the Jets with one playoff appearance. He has 15 seasons of NFL experience, with all of his coaching coming on the offensive side of the ball.
Dowell Loggains returns as the offensive coordinator, which is the same position he held over the previous four seasons in Chicago, Miami, and New York. Last year the Jets fell to 32nd in the NFL in offensive yards, which was their third straight season of decline (26th in 2016, 28th in 2017, and 29th in 2018). New York scored only 276 points (31st), which was 57 fewer than the previous season. Loggains won’t survive another season if the Jets don’t improve by a wide margin in 2020.
The Jets brought in Gregg Williams to run the defense after spending 2018 as the Browns defensive coordinator and interim head coach. Williams has been in charge of an NFL defense for 19 seasons. Gregg went 22-34 over four different years as a head coach. In 2019, the Jets improved to seventh in the league in yards allowed (25th in 2018) while shaving 82 points off the scoreboard (16th in points allowed – 359).
Free Agency
The first order of business for the Jets in the offseason was improving their offense. They added a pair of offensive linemen – C Connor McGovern, G Greg Van Roten, and T George Fant. T Brandon Shell signed with Seattle after failing to improve over the last three years.
In his second year as a starter for the Broncos, McGovern worked his way to a league-average player with his best area of growth coming in pass protection. Van Roten earned starting snaps over the last two years for the Panthers, but his game projects a backup option for New York. He’s never been an asset in run blocking while playing in front of Christian McCaffrey in 2018 and 2019.
Fant signed a three-year deal for $30 million in March. He’s never been a full starter in the NFL. Fant will be insurance at left tackle while looking position to start at right tackle.
New York took a flier on WR Breshad Perriman after his success late in the year for Tampa. He’ll replace WR Robby Anderson on the roster who signed with Carolina.
The Jets didn’t bring back RB Ty Montgomery, WR Demaryius Thomas, T Kelvin Beachum, CB Trumaine Johnson, S Rontez Miles, C Ryan Kalil, and RB Bilal Powell. Beachum is the only player who added value last year.
CB Pierre Desir, CB Maurice Canady, and LB Patrick Onwuasor were the top players added to the defense. New York should slide Desir into their starting lineup. He played well in 2018, but wide receivers beat him for too many long plays last year.
Draft
By one metric, the Jets had the best draft in 2020. In the first round of this year’s draft, the Jets invested in T Mekhi Becton. New York hopes that they found a long time Pro Bowler, who should instantly improve the run game. Becton is a beast of a man (6’7” and 364 lbs.). His range should be expansive with his long reach while possessing the footwork to control pass rushers. Becton’s desire to fire after the snap can lead to some poor timing if he misses his mark. Maintaining his weight and overall quickness are the keys to his long term upside.
New York picked up WR Denzel Mims with the 27th selection in the second round. At the goal line in fade or jump ball options, he has the feel of a battler with some outcomes almost looking like a war of contact. In the NFL, Mims needs to be cleaner out of his breaks to create a better rhythm with his quarterback. He can make tough catches, but he doesn’t have that natural snatch the ball with his hands at the high point feel. A slight bobble will be an incompletion most of the time in the pros.
With their two selections in the third round, the Jets added S Ashtyn Davis and LB Jabari Zuniga.
Davis comes to the NFL with plenty of upside. His thinker mentality should improve with more experience. He has cover skills for the safety position with a willingness to fire at oncoming ball carriers. His next step is finding a balance between attack and patience. Davis needs improvement in his vision and timing when making tackles in the open field.
Zuniga looks the part of an explosive player with the talent to attack the quarterback. If given daylight on any play, he has the game to finish while also have an edge if asked to change direction. Zuniga must get stronger to win against top-flight power players. Offenses will game plan to attack him with strength.
New York brought RB La’mical Perine and QB James Morgan with their first to additions in the fourth round.
Perine has the feel of running back that will take the yards given to him, but his feet don’t have the change of direction value needed to create a winning starting edge in the NFL. His best move may be a slight jump-cut through the line of scrimmage where his acceleration has value over a short area. Perine runs with patience and some power, but his game takes a clear step back when faced with no running room and forced to make yards with his quickness from a standstill.
Last year Morgan played through a knee issue, which hurt overall production. Morgan is a big quarterback (6'4" and 230 lbs.) with a live arm. He wants to drive the ball to his receivers, but his mechanics need improvement, which will upgrade his accuracy. Morgan has a long motion while holding the ball at waist level at times, which will lead to many fumbles in the NFL. He doesn’t read defenses well and his rhythm, feel, and touch in the short passing game needs plenty of work.
G Cameron Clarke was New York’s choice with their third pick in the fourth round. Clarke played left tackle in college. His power projects well at guard at the next level. He needs a better plan with his hands to help overcome his shortfall in quickness. Clarke can step up his game vs. top competitors, but his motor doesn’t carry as well from game-to-game.
New York added CB Bryce Hall and P Braden Mann in the fifth and sixth rounds.
Hall hasn’t been able to overcome his shortfall in his movements when back peddling. His game plays well moving forward in zones and handling wide receivers over short areas in the press. Hall lacks the wheels and the movements to cover receivers over the long field. He projects well in the red zone, and I expect growth as a CB3 for New York in his rookie season.
Mann has a big leg with the ability to pin an offense inside the ten-yard line. His next area of improvement needed is adding more height on long kicks to help his coverage team.
Offensive Line
New York fell to 31st in rushing yards (1,257) last year while scoring only six rushing TDs. They gained 3.3 yards per carry with two measly rushes over 20 yards. The Jets finished 27th in passing yards (3,443) with 19 TDs and 16 Ints. Their offensive line allowed 52 sacks and 106 QB hits.
LT Mekhi Becton
The rebuild of the Jets offensive line starts with their rookie first-round draft pick. Becton should stop the bleeding in sacks allowed while being a significant improvement in the run blocking.
LG Alex Lewis
After missing the first three games in 2019 with his recovery from shoulder surgery, Lewis made 12 starts for the Jets. His play in pass protection improved late in the year while never developing into an asset in run blocking. New York signed him to a three-year contract for $18 million in March, which puts him on track to start in 2020. Lewis has a lot to prove going forward.
C Connor McGovern
Over the last two seasons, McGovern started all 32 games for the Broncos. Their offense played well at times in the run game, but lack talent in the passing game. McGovern looks to be a slight negative in run blocking while should a massive improvement in his pass blocking last year. He’s trending toward a league-average player.
RG Greg Van Roten
Van Roten will compete with Brian Winters for the starting right guard job. Van Roten made 27 starts over the past two years for the Panthers. His play was much better in pass blocking while seeing action at left guard. Winters hasn’t played well since 2015 and 2016. He grades as a below-par player in all areas at this point in his career.
RT George Fant
In 2018 as a rotational player for Seattle, Fant showed improvement at right tackle. Last year he started 8 of the 17 games for the Seahawks with some issues in both run and pass blocking. His overall plays did improve in all areas over the final quarter of the regular season while playing left tackle.
The Jets’ offense is coming off a low bar in 2019 with weakness in all areas. They revamped their whole offensive line, but only their left tackle projects to an upper-echelon player. Overall, they moved closer to the league average, which is much better than where they finished last year.
Offensive Schedule
The data shows the strength of schedule as far as rushing attempts (RATT), rushing yards (YDS), yards per attempt rushing (YA), rushing touchdowns (TDs), completions (COMP), passing attempts (PATT), passing yards (YDS), yards per attempt passing (YA), and passing touchdowns (TDS).
This information is based on 2019, which will work as our starting point for 2020. We’ll look at all the changes on offense on each team in the NFL plus the upgrades and downgrades on each team on the defensive side. We’ll update this table when we finish the research on all 32 teams.
2019 LG Average = the league average of all stats from all 32 teams in 2019.
2019 Results = this is the results for each team in the NFL.
2019 Adjustment is based on the 2019 league average and the 2019 results for each team, this number will show if each team is above or below the league average in each stat category and the basis for the strength of schedule.
New York has a league average schedule for their rushing offense in 2020. They have one favorable game (CLE) based on 2019 data and three mid-tier matchups (KC and MIA X 2). Their two most challenging contests look to be against the Patriots (2) with three other outings (IND and BUF X 2) looking below average.
The Jets have the second most rigid schedule in the NFL for their passing offense. Their season starts with two challenging games (@BUF and SF) followed by six unfavorable games (DEN, LAC, BUF, CLE, and NE X 2) over the final 13 weeks. Their best chance for success throwing the ball should come against the Cardinals.
Offense
New York finished 21st in the NFL in passing attempts (521) and 26th in rushing attempts (383), which contributed to a poor offense. They struggled to sustain drives with minimal big gains. The Jets should improve in all areas in 2020, with their upside tied to the changes on their offensive line.
Here’s a look at the early projections for the Jets, which will be fluid all summer after taking in all injury updates and training camp news:
Quarterbacks
Sam Darnold
2020 was a rough year for Darnold and the Jets’ offense. After a short Week 1 (175/1), he missed three games with a battle with mononucleosis. Darnold finished with one impact game (293/4) while posting 32 or under passing attempts in eight contests. At this point in his career, Darnold lacks the star power to be a top tier QB in the fantasy market. The Jets struggled to run the ball last year with weakness at the TE position (44/446/6 on 57 targets).
New York added WR Denzel Mims with the 27th pick in the second round in 2020, which gives the Jets a deep threat with scoring ability. He has volume pass-catcher in WR Jamison Crowder, and the combination of WR Breshad Perriman and TE Chris Herndon should add more length to the passing options in 2020.
Darnold has the talent to be a league-average QB (4,000 yards and 24 TDs), but this offense has a lot to prove this year. Fantasy owners have him priced as the 24th-drafted quarterback in the early draft season with an ADP of 128. In the first run of the projections, I have Darnold passing for 3,691 yards with 22 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
James Morgan
Morgan had a chance to play quarterback over four different seasons in college, but only once did he flash any intrigue (2018 at FIU – 2,727 passing yards with 27 TDs and seven Ints). Over 42 career games, he passed for 8,654 yards with 65 TDs and 34 Ints. His completion rate (57.2) was a liability in every season except one (65.3). Morgan will hold a clipboard for many games before getting a chance to play in the NFL.
Other options: David Fales, Mike White
Running Backs
Over the past three years, New York ranked poorly each season in yards per rush (3.98, 4.02, and 3.43). The addition of RB Le’Veon Bell didn’t have the expected impact, but his offensive line was also a significant part of the problem. The Jets had a similar number of targets (107, 102, and 109) to their running backs over the last three years, and Bell did help their catch rate (80.4) in this area in 2019. New York’s running backs gained only 6.79 yards per catch while only scoring four receiving touchdowns over the previous three seasons.
Le’Veon Bell
The quest for a payday in the NFL led to Bell getting $27 million in guaranteed money from the Jets, but he had to be clicking his heels during the year while saying, “there’s no place like Pittsburgh.” He finished the year with a measly 3.2 yards per rush and regression in his yards per catch (7.0). New York gave him 311 touches, leading to 1,250 combined yards or a 36 percent regression in yards (1,946) from 2019. Bell played through shoulder, knee, and ankle issues while missing one game due to an illness.
Bell gained over 2,100 yards in 2014 with 83 catches and 11 TDs, almost 1,900 yards in 2016 with 75 catches, and nine TDs, and over 1,900 yards in 2017 with 85 catches and 11 TDs. Over his six years in the NFL, he averaged 24,05 touches per game.
Tough to get excited here, but Bell will out touch many backs drafted higher than him in 2020. Don’t dismiss as his resume and opportunity give him a chance to rebound with better offensive play. I’m bullish on him this year (1,435 combined yards with ten TDs and 63 catches) compared to his ADP (37 – 19th RB drafted). Buy the expected touches while knowing he has a chance at offering more upside.
Frank Gore
Gore is the running back that keeps on ticking. He’ll start 2020 at age 37 while ranking third in rushing yards (15,347) and rushing attempts (3,548). He gained under 4.0 yards per rush in four of his five previous seasons. Gore scored only three touchdowns over his last 347 touches. Only veteran insurance with no fantasy value on draft day.
La’mical Perine
Over four seasons at Florida, he gained 3,159 combined yards with 30 touches and 72 catches on 565 touches. His best value running the ball came in 2018 (134/826/7)) while setting career highs in catches (40), receiving yards (262), and receiving TDs (5) last year.
His speed (4.62 forty) is below par while showing plenty of strength (22 reps in the bench press at the NFL combine). He works hard with fight in his game. Perine has looker feel in pass protection while thinking rather than knowing where to go to pick up the free-running blitzer. This shortfall looks coachable, and more experience in these situations will help his growth.
The Jets signed RB Frank Gore in mid-May, which pushes Perine a notch down on the depth chart.
John Adams
Last year the Jets carried Adams on their practice squad after picking him off waivers in August from the Eagles. In 2018, he gave Philly two solid outings (22/84/1 and 20/85) as an injury replacement while starting five games. Adams is a big back (6’2” and 225 lbs.) with a power runner feel. With only eight touches last year, he’s nothing more than a waiver wire player in 2020 while needing some injuries to increase his playing time.
Other options: Kenneth Dixon, Trenton Cannon, Jalin Moore
Wide Receivers
The Jets’ wide receivers accounted for 70 percent of their passing yards in 2019. They caught 59.8 percent of their team's completions, five percent more than 2018 (54.8). Their wide receivers continue to trail the top teams in the league in yards per catch (12.50) and TDs (12).
Jamison Crowder
The Jets gave Crowder the most targets (122) of his career, which helped him set a career-high in catches (78). He finished 26th in WR scoring (197.7) in PPR leagues despite not gaining over 100 yards receiving in any game. His season started with massive targets (17) and a great showing (14/99) in Week 1. Crowder played well over a three-game stretch midseason (8/83/1, 5/81/1, 5/76/1) while offering one other impact showing (6/90/2). His downside showed in eight additional weeks when he combined for only 22 catches for 180 yards and no TDs on 44 targets. Inconsistent WR3 with more competition for targets in 2020 with WR Breshad Perriman and rookie WR Denzel Mims added to the roster.
His early ADP (114) falls in line with my expected regression and initial projections (75/917/5). More steady than explosive with any growth being directly tied to the Jets improving as a passing team.
Denzel Mims
Over the last three seasons at Baylor, Mims caught 182 passes for 2,901 yards and 28 touchdowns with his best success coming in his sophomore (61/1087/8) and senior (66/1020/12) years.
He’ll have an edge for sure in the deep passing game where he has the wheels to win over the long field and separate after the catch. His rhythm in space showed more explosiveness on slants and fast-moving routes. Mims comes to the NFL with size (6’3” and 205 lbs.) and speed (4.38 forty). He labored through the 20-yard shuttle (4.43) but showed explosiveness in the three cone-drill (6.66). Overall, Mims needs to clean up his route running while adding more fight to his game. His release could be an issue when pressed over the short areas of the field where his speed has less value.
I have him ranked 47th out of the gate with 57 catches for 768 yards and five touchdowns, which makes him a value opportunity based on his early ADP (213). This year he’ll battle WR Breshad Perriman for the top outside wide receiver role in New York.
Breshad Perriman
Over his first three seasons, after getting drafted in the first round in 2015, Perriman caught only 59 of his 126 targets for 916 yards and five TDs. His playing time was minimal last year over the first 11 games (11/139/1 on 32 targets). After a couple of injuries to Tampa's wide receivers, Perriman played the best ball of his career. He caught 25 passes for 506 yards and five TDs on 37 targets in five games, which delivered WR1 stats in PPR leagues. His excellent finish to the year (5/113/3, 7/102, and 5/134/1) earned him a one-year deal for $8 million for the Jets. Tempting, but a fantasy owner has to keep in mind his career catch rate (48.7). A risk/reward player on a new team, pointing to a trap in fantasy drafts. Perriman saw his ADP in the high-stakes fall to 148 after the 2020 NFL Draft.
Other options: Vyncint Smith, Josh Doctson, Braxton Berrios, Jehu Chesson, Lawrence Cager
Tight Ends
With TE Chris Herndon injured in 2019, the Jets only looked the tight ends’ way 57 times, which was more than a forty percent draft in opportunity from the two previous years. New York’s tight ends tend to gain short yards per catch (10.14 in 2019) with a chance to score in about one out of every four games.
Chris Herndon
Herndon drew some attention in the 2019 early fantasy draft season as a possible back-end TE1. He showed some upside in a few games (4/42/1, 4/62, 7/57, and 6/82/1) over the final 11 weeks in 2018, but a four-game suspension paired with a hamstring issue, and a broken rib led to a lost 2019 season. Last year the Jets ranked near the bottom of the league in TE production (44/467/6). His replacement Ryan Griffin did flash in two games (4/66/2 and 5/109/1). Possible playable value in four to five games, but Herndon needs Darnold to play better this season.
Other options: Ryan Griffin, Daniel Brown, Ross Travis
Kicker
Brett Maher
There was a lot to like about Maher in his first year in the NFL at age 29. He boomed six of his seven kicks from 50 yards or more in 2018, which led to him making 29 of his 36 overall chances. Last year his value continued from long range (4-for-8) while having a sharp drop-off success in field goals (16-for-22 – 72.7 percent). Maher has only missed one of his 69 extra-point tries. The Jets scored 31 touchdowns last year while creating only 28 field attempts—a hot and cold kicker who has a lot to prove 2020.
Defensive Schedule
The Jets face two teams (SF and SEA) that ran the ball well in 2019. They have three other mid-tier matches (IND and BUF X 2). New York should have an edge against Miami (2) while their contests vs. the Rams and Chargers look favorable.
Over the first seven weeks in 2020, the Jets have five games (IND, DEN, ARI, and BUF X 2) vs. teams that struggled to pass the ball. From that point on, New York has a tougher schedule. Their defense will be tested in three contests (LAC, LAR, and KC) in the passing game, but the Chargers have questions at quarterback in 2020.
Defense
New York finished 2nd defending the run (1,391) with 12 TDs and only eight runs gaining over 20 yards. Ball carriers gained 3.3 yards per carry. Their pass defense ranked 17th (3,779 yards) while allowing 25 TDs and picking up 12 Ints. They finished with 35 sacks.
DT Steve McLendon
Over the past four years, McLendon worked as a rotational early run stopper for the Jets. He’ll start the season at age 34 with minimal value in sacks (2.5).
DE Quinnen Williams
In his rookie season after getting drafted in the first round, Williams saw action in 13 games, leading to 28 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He finished with the most value in run support. His quickness, hands, and vision grade well while offering a disrupter mentality. He puts himself in a position to make plays, but Williams needs to get stronger to defeat top offensive linemen and learn to make an impact vs. double teams. Quinnen is still learning, which is part of his upside, intrigued.
DE Henry Anderson
After playing well in 2018 (35 tackles and seven sacks), Anderson lost his way last year. He finished with only one sack and regression against the run. Anderson has only been a part-time player in his career.
LB C.J. Mosley
In his first year with the Jets, Mosley missed 14 games with a groin injury. He has over 100 tackles in four of his five seasons with the Ravens, but he only has 1.5 sacks over his last 47 games. Mosley is a high-volume player with an edge defending the run.
LB Avery Williamson
Williamson missed all of 2019 with a torn ACL in his right knee. He played well over the previous two seasons. His best value comes vs. the run. He finished with a career-high 120 tackles with three sacks and six defended passes in 2018.
LB Jordan Jenkins
Over the last two seasons, Jenkins picked up 15 sacks. His play vs. the run has been a problem in back-to-back years.
LB Jabari Zuniga
New York should use Zuniga on passing downs in his rookie season. His passing rushing skills grade well with the talent to show growth earlier in his career.
CB Pierre Desir
Desir has only once started all 16 games in his six years in the NFL. He tends to give up big plays with hot and cold value in coverage. The second cornerback spot is full of risk with no definable starter.
S Jamal Adams
The best player on defense for New York is Adams. He played great in all areas over the past two years after getting drafted sixth overall in 2017. Last season he showed growth in the pass rush (6.5 sacks).
S Marcus Maye
In his two seasons as a starter, Maye offered no helps in the pass rush with neutral value in the run support. The Jets added him in the second round in 2017.
Team Defense
Overall, this defense has three possibly four talented players that project upside. They should have front runner value against the run, but their cornerbacks are going to have issues covering wide receivers in a top offense. More a second fantasy defense with matchup value.
In a column for CNN, Joe Lockhart, the former NFL vice president of communications from 2016-18, discussed how Kaepernick's silent protests shook team owners and started a social justice conversation around the league. However, Lockhart also admitted what no one at the NFL has ever explicitly stated about the situation:
"No teams wanted to sign a player—even one as talented as Kaepernick—whom they saw as controversial, and, therefore, bad for business."
Kaepernick's protests have returned to the national spotlight after George Floyd, a black man, died Monday evening while being violently apprehended by Minneapolis police. Floyd's death has sparked many reactions from athletes, and protests have broken out in multiple cities across the nation.
Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem during the 2016 preseason. Dozens of other NFL players ultimately joined him, and the protests grew during the 2017 season after President Donald Trump criticized NFL players who chose to follow suit. Trump said owners should "fire" NFL players who protest the anthem and referred to them as "son[s] of b------." Players responded by protesting en masse.
Kaepernick was not playing during the 2017 season and, according to Lockhart, commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL executives tried to persuade teams to sign the QB. Lockhart said owners continued to worry about the financial impact, and one team executive told him that the club projected losing 20% of its season ticket holders if it brought on Kaepernick.
"That was a business risk no team was willing to take, whether the owner was a Trump supporter or a bleeding-heart liberal (yes, those do exist). As bad of an image problem it presented for the league and the game, no owner was willing to put the business at risk over this issue," said Lockhart, now a CNN legal analyst.
Lockhart went on to describe how he tried to justify Kaepernick's unemployment by acknowledging the millions of dollars spent by the NFL to address racial division in the nation. However, he realized his perspective was wrong.
"Colin Kaepernick became the symbol of black men being treated differently than white men in America," Lockhart said. "That symbol of racial injustice was reinforced every day that Colin sat on the outside of the football world. It may have seemed like a good business decision for the clubs to not sign him, and it certainly wasn't illegal, but it was wrong."
Lockhart ended his column by calling for change and suggesting the Vikings, who are located in the center of the controversy in Minnesota—offer Kaepernick a contract.
As the market has cooled in free agency over the past month, Newton may reportedly wait to make a decision on his next step. The former MVP may hold on signing until teams are able to resume regular activities amid the coronavirus pandemic, allowing suitors to assess his physical status and meet in-person, per Fowler.
Newton entered the free-agent market in March when he was released from the Carolina Panthers. He spent nine seasons with the team after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in 2011 and went on to become the second African-American quarterback to win MVP in NFL history, following Steve McNair, for the 2015 season.
According to ESPN, league sources are still unsure if Newton is open to taking a backup quarterback job. The 31-year-old is reportedly believed to have had discussions with the New England Patriots early during free agency, but nothing materialized, per ESPN.
According to Syracuse.com, Little is fighting a "treatable but aggressive form" of cancer. The Hall of Famer, 77, currently lives in Las Vegas with his wife, DeBorah.
“No doubt it will be the toughest fight of his life," Killorin wrote. "Although he has lived a full life admired and enjoyed by many, Floyd doesn’t believe he has yet written, with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the final play of his life.”
Little first made his mark on the football world at Syracuse University from 1964-66, where he was one of the program's legendary "44's." One of the most celebrated sports figures in Syracuse history, Little was a three-time All-American and finished his college career with 2,704 rushing yards and 46 touchdowns.
A bronze statue of Little stands outside Syracuse's football practice facility alongside the school's other legendary running backs Jim Brown and Ernie Davis. He has also been a recent common figure at games and community functions.
“Jimmy Brown is the greatest back ever, but Floyd Little is right next to him, as far as I’m concerned, walking hand in hand down that football field,” Killorin said.
Little went on to be drafted No. 6 overall by the Denver Broncos in 1967 and played all nine seasons of his professional career with the team. Earning the nickname, “The Franchise,” he became a five-time Pro-Bowler and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. He is also part of the Broncos’ Ring of Honor.
"The Jets offense suddenly has two running backs with productive careers in Bell and Gore as well as a promising rookie prospect (Perine). For an offense that was second worst in the league last year in rushing, there is now considerably more talent behind Bell.
"This should lighten the load on Bell and keep him fresh. Gore also provides a mentoring component for Perine."
You're paying an RB2 price for RB1 talent with a high floor. It's been a couple of years, but let's remember why Bell was drafted a surefire first-rounder before his 2018 holdout. He'd be a better fit outside of New York, but you've got a solid RB2 who will get you about 15 fantasy points per game in the meantime. Sign me up for that around the third-fourth round turn.
Saints insider Kyle Mosley dropped this nugget about Thomas: "Michael Thomas is confident in his talent and ability. He should be confident."
He is right that Thomas should be proud of his accomplishments and he can point to the numbers to back it up. We as fantasy players know numbers don't lie.
In 2019, Thomas broke the single-season reception record with 149 catches. He also had more than 1,700 receiving yards. But that's just one year. In Thomas' four NFL seasons, he's had at least 92 receptions every season.
Hopkins brought up the point that Thomas catches passes from future Hall of Famer Drew Brees. That is true, but Thomas' real value comes from how many targets he gets. That shows that his quarterback trusts him and that defenders can't guard him. Thomas was targeted 185 times last season.
Brees missed six games last year but even that didn't stop Thomas. Hopkins may very well be a more talented athlete, but for fantasy football players Thomas is clearly the top wide receiver in the NFL, and that's with no disrespect to Hopkins.
The new Know Your Rights Camp Legal Defense Initiative says it has "identified and teamed up with" defense lawyers in the Minneapolis area, calling it "our legal right to address [injustice within our community], by any means necessary."
The organization's decision comes amid widespread protests in the city following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died Monday evening, shortly after being violently apprehended by Minneapolis police.
Four Minneapolis police officers were fired on Tuesday after a viral video appeared to show one of them kneeling on the neck of Floyd, 46, who cried that he could not breathe.
On Friday, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was was seen on video kneeling on Floyd's neck, was arrested on charges of third-degree murder and manslaughter, Minnesota public safety commissioner John Harrington announced. An investigation is ongoing regarding the other officers involved in Floyd's death.
Kaepernick weighed in on the situation on Thursday, writing on Instagram, "When civility leads to death, revolting is the only logical reaction.
"The cries for peace will rain down, and when they do, they will land on deaf ears because your violence has brought this resistance.
"We have the right to fight back! Rest in power George Floyd."
The former 49ers quarterback was protesting racism and police brutality by taking a knee during the national anthem. He last played in the NFL during the 2016 season.
Kaepernick later filed a grievance against the NFL, arguing that he was effectively blackballed from the league because of his views. The league denied the charge and the grievance was eventually settled.
The idea seemed almost too good to be true if you ask me. In case you were unaware, the alternative to the onside kick that was suggested would give teams the option to attempt an untimed fourth-and-15 from their own 25 in order to retain possession after a score. If the play failed, the opponent would have taken control at the dead-ball spot.
The league reportedly never actually took an official vote on the proposal but did ask for a virtual show of hands. So, I’ll do the same. Raise your hand if you think that’s a good idea. Oh, never mind, everyone does! Because how could you possibly be against this? It only sounds like the most exciting play possible.
But instead, let's just keep onside kicks the way they are, where teams are 0-104 when attempting them over the last two seasons. That seems to be working great. I understand the original onside kick was changed for safety, which I’m cool with, but now a recovered onside kick makes an actual safety seem like a frequent occurrence. Even the Browns and Lions never went 0-104!
Boo to you NFL...this was an easy opportunity to score points with fans, instead, you decided to keep a play that is extra pointless. This is like the one thing in football that actually needs further review.
“I’ll be honest with you, we didn’t have many Charger fans at the games,” he continued. “Much loyalty and love but we ain’t have many, so I’m not missing anything.”
As a percentage of stadium capacity, no team in the NFL attracted more fans last year than the Chargers. It’s just that not many of them rooted for the Chargers.
After failing to fill many seats (an average of just 25,335 per game in a stadium with 27,000 seats) in 2017, their first season in L.A., visiting fans flocked to the converted soccer stadium to see their teams play on the road. They averaged 32,768 fans in 2018 and 31,750 last year. Again, hardly any of them were there to root for the home team.
No matter who was playing, it was tough to find anyone in the stands wearing powder blue.
Gordon is able to keep it real about the Chargers’ lack of support in Los Angeles because he just signed with the division rival Broncos. If Chargers fans want to voice their displeasure, they’re welcome to come out to a game at the team’s new $5 billion stadium. Maybe they won’t get drowned out by Broncos
“It’s been quite an experience,” Holloway said. “We’ve had major questionnaires put in over the breeders’ websites and all these people are inquiring. I wasn’t quite sure if it was just the [stimulus checks during the pandemic] or maybe that everyone is home and trying to find a puppy to play with. Or maybe it was Belichick.”
That’s Bill Belichick, Patriots head coach. Around the time of the spike in Klee Kai inquiries, his own Klee Kai, Nike, took center stage during the NFL draft by dutifully sitting at the kitchen table behind Belichick’s laptop while the team was finalizing its first pick of the night, Lenoir-Rhyne safety Kyle Dugger. (Belichick’s girlfriend, Linda Holliday, told ESPN that Nike saw some leftover treats on the table and hopped up on the chair to wait patiently for a reward.) His television appearance led to a windfall of social media love and an interview with Belichick and Holliday on CNBC about the new pup. A picture from Nike’s official Instagram page reveals his own window on the team’s Cisco Webex virtual draft meeting, right above Robert and Jonathan Kraft, and to the right of Patriots player personnel director Nick Caserio.
Such is life for the most powerful dog in sports, who is quickly becoming a poster child for the breed.
If Nike seems like an odd fit for the Patriots’ head coach, Holloway described a window into the breeding and adoption process that makes the union totally sensible; a match between a dog that takes a great deal of preparation to acquire and a coach who excels at preparing. One doesn’t just create a Klee Kai, which the original breeder, Linda Spurlin, described as a blend of elite dogs. “Alaskan Husky is a mixture of the best, and so was the creation of the Alaskan Klee Kai. I also added a small dose of Siberian Husky, and just the right amount of smaller dogs of similar conformation for developing my original stock.”
One does not easily acquire one from a breeder, either, with an application process that would make the notoriously prepared head coach smile.
“You can’t just pick up the phone and get one,” Holloway said. “It’s almost like adopting a child, I would say.”
Holloway said that there is a 50-line questionnaire prospective owners have to fill out, which asks about the family and their habits. Breeders check up on the family’s home life and ensure they have proper space to keep the dogs in house.
“They’re Houdinis, they can get out of anything,” Holloway said.
Also, many breeders expect to be connected to the dog throughout its life. For those who prefer to adopt, there are some Klee Kai focused rescue groups and the ASPCA offers adoption resources for any dogs in need of a home near you.
More very good Alaskan Klee Kai puppies.
Coaches and general managers around the league have a lot of changes for which to thank Belichick. There aren’t many recent developments in the NFL that do not have his fingerprints on them. Now, if you get a slight emotional lift from seeing an influx of miniature Alaskan huskies ambling down the street, you have Belichick to thank for that as well.
Initially, Holloway admitted that she wasn’t sure whether or not Nike’s exposure was a good thing, given that spikes in popularity tend to expand the number of breeders, making it harder to ensure that everyone is taken care of. But then she saw how happy Nike looked up on the chair with his new owner.
“He looks like he did OK for himself,” she said, laughing.
per ESPN's Josh Weinfuss. "I know I'm the best. Mike's my boy. I love [Saints wide receiver] Michael [Thomas] ... but he knows if I had Drew Brees my whole career what these numbers would be. [Falcons wide receiver] Julio Jones knows if I had Matt Ryan my whole career. That's my boy. I trained with Julio, too. He knows what these numbers would be."
From 2013 to 2016, Hopkins never missed a game, but his production was inconsistent. He made the Pro Bowl in his third season in 2015, notching 1,521 receiving yards an 11 touchdowns, but followed that up with a relatively disappointing 2016 season in which he had 954 yards and four scores.
Deshaun Watson arrived in 2017 and has easily been the best quarterback Hopkins has played with, but he started only six games as a rookie after injuring his knee. In all, the Texans featured 10 different starting quarterbacks from 2013 to 2017: Brock Osweiler (14 starts), Ryan Fitzpatrick (12), Case Keenum (10), Tom Savage (nine), Brian Hoyer (nine), Matt Schaub (eight), Ryan Mallett (six), Watson (six), T.J. Yates (five) and Brandon Weeden (one).
That level of turmoil at quarterback is vastly different compared to the quarterback stability that the receivers Hopkins mentioned—Michael Thomas and Julio Jones—have enjoyed.
"Those guys are definitely blessed to be in a position where, their whole career, they had a Pro Bowl quarterback—quarterback that they spent multiple seasons with. But I don't complain. I don't make excuses. I go out there and work."
Over the past two seasons, when Watson made 31 starts, Hopkins caught a combined 219 passes for 2,737 yards and 18 touchdowns. He's looking forward to developing a rapport with second-year quarterback Kyler Murray, last year's AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.
"Going into this situation with a guy, a young quarterback, that I know is gonna be my quarterback for the future, is great," Hopkins said. "We're able to build a chemistry, and hopefully, I'm able to play more than three seasons with a quarterback. I don't think I've done that yet. So, I'm excited just to see how I'll be able to play with a consistent quarterback."
Last season, Larry Fitzgerald led the Cardinals in receptions (75) and yards (804), and tied for the lead with four touchdown catches. Second-year wideout Christian Kirk had 68 catches for 709 yards and three touchdowns.
"We have other great receivers out there—Christian Kirk, Larry Fitzgerald and a lot of other guys out there," Hopkins said. "But I definitely see myself having one of my more productive seasons."
New England Patriots for his 21st season. His road to success will be much harder with QB Tom Brady no longer on the team. Belichick has a 237-83 record in New England with six Super Bowls and three other trips to the big game. The Patriots are 30-11 in the postseason since 2001. Belichick needs 56 wins to pass Don Shula for the most in NFL history.
New England won the AFC East in each of the past 11 seasons (16 of 17 years). They have ten or more wins in every season since 2003.
New England fell to 15th in yards gained, which was their lowest showing since 2002. They fell to 7th in points scored after nine straight seasons with a top-four ranking.
Josh McDaniels returns for another season as he looks positioned to take over as head coach when Bill Belichick retires. McDaniels worked in New England’s system for 16 seasons after a brief two-year run as head coach for the Broncos (11-17) and one season as the offensive coordinator for the Rams.
The Patriots finished with the best defense in the league in points allowed (225) and yards allowed. They improved by 20 spots from 2019 in yards allowed (21st).
New England will go without a defensive coordinator for the second straight season. Belichick handled the job in 2019, and he will again this year.
Free Agency
The loss of Brady can’t be replaced in 2020. New England had too many questions at the receiver position, which may have been part of Brady's departure.
The Patriots’ defense lost LB Kyle Van Noy, LB Jamie Collins, LB Elandon Roberts, and DT Danny Shelton.
New England signed S Adrian Phillips, DT Beau Allen, S Cody Davis, and LB Brandon Copeland to their defense.
Their offense didn’t have any other significant changes in any direction.
Draft
After trading out of the first round in the 2020 NFL Draft, New England selected S Kyle Duggar and LB Josh Uche in the second round.
Duggar comes to the NFL with an explosive skill set while owning an edge in size (6’1” and 217 lbs.). He played at a small school (Lenoir-Rhyne). His playmaking skill set will have further growth at the next level once he improves his reads on the quarterback. Duggar should develop into a beast with his best value coming when attacking the line of scrimmage. His next step is expanding his vision to help create better timing in his pursuit.
The Patriots bought into Uche’s athletic ability with the hopes more playing time improves his feel for developing plays. His attacking style plays well when moving forward with a chance to add value in coverage. Even with strength, Uche will be stalemated on interior rushes if faced with a big body between him and the quarterback.
New England pushed again on the defensive side of the ball with their first pick in the third round (LB Anfernee Jennings). He came to college with a pass-rushing skill set that was built on power. Jennings plays with pop, and the vision to knock down passes at the line of scrimmage. His foundation skill set grades well, but his ceiling may be limited when asked to retreat on his first press to the line of scrimmage.
The next order of business for the Patriots was adding a pulse to their tight position with two additions in the third round – Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene.
Asiasi battled his body early in his career at UCLA. Last year his commitment to the game helped him make a significant step forward. Asiasi looked good, making plays downfield with some open field ability. He played faster than expected, and his hands and route running played up. Asiasi needs improvement as a blocker.
The combination of speed and strength for Keene makes him a unique option in this year’s draft. He plays with a fullback’s mentality while being tough to cover out of the backfield or in the slot. Keene has work to do in his route running if he wants to develop into a viable pass-catching option at tight end.
The Patriots may look back on their selection of K Justin Rohrwasser in the fifth round. At this point in the draft, New England still had a shot at QB Jake Fromm who had ball-control game management skills.
Going bare at quarterback and selecting a kicker would seem like a significant mistake in the fantasy world.
Rohrwasser comes to the NFL with a big leg, but his resume has some flaws. The Patriots have had a great run with kickers over the past two decades. They need Rohrwasser to improve his technique.
With three of their final four picks in the third and fourth rounds, the Patriots added three offensive lineman – G Mike Onwenu, G Justin Herron, and C Dustin Woodard.
Onwenu should be a good fit for a quick-hitting power run game. He’ll own his small piece of real estate on the field if tested with a one-on-one fight. His first step limits his overall value and his ability to have follow-through with his blocks at the second level of the defense. Pass-rushers will test him in space and with counters.
Herron relies on his footwork to gain position in his blocks, but his hands are trailing. He has a nimble, athletic feel that should offer more upside with better technique and coaching. Out of the gate, Herron will struggle with power despite being in the game with his strength.
Woodard looks the part of an athletic center with quickness, but he comes to the NFL undersized (6’2” and 285 lbs.). He needs to improve his base while letting some plays come to him. At times, his quest for fire after the snap puts him out of position and at risk.
The Patriots added LB Cassh Maluia with their third selection in the sixth round. Big bodies in the NFL will challenge his game. Maluia adds the most value when having a clean run at the ball carrier with speed to cover his side of the field. Without better strength and improved vision, Maluia projects as a special teams player.
Offensive Line
The Patriots fell to the 18th place finish in rushing yards (1,703) with their ball carriers gaining only 3.8 yards per carry with 17 TDs and six runs over 20 yards. New England slipped to 8th in passing yards (3,961) with 25 TDs and nine Ints. Their offensive line allowed 28 sacks and 90 QB hits despite losing their left tackle for half the season.
LT Isaiah Wynn
After getting drafted 23rd in 2019, Wynn blew out his left Achilles in mid-August, costing him his rookie season. Last year a toe issue led to another eight missed games. He struggled in run blocking while playing well in pass protection. Coming into the NFL, Wynn offered value in both run and pass blocking while falling short of NFL measurables for the left tackle position. The talent to be an edge, but he may need some time to develop at the next level.
LG Joe Thuney
Thuney has experience as well at tackle, but he’s just finding his way at guard. In his fourth year in the league after getting drafted in the third round, Thuney continued to show growth in pass-blocking with neutral value in the run game. His game is built on attacking quickly with an edge in speed and quickness. Thuney started 16 games in all four of his seasons. He is an improving player who will be helped by a better player at left tackle.
C David Andrews
Andrew is another player from the University of Georgia who was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2015. In 2019, he missed the whole year due to a blood clot in his lung. Over his previous three seasons, Andrews started 46 of 48 games. His pass blocking is now considered an edge, but he did regress to his previous levels in the run game in 2018. Overall, Andrew is a neutral player with enough on his resume to expect more growth going forward.
RG Shaquille Mason
Mason signed a five-year, $50 million extension in 2018. Run blocking has always been his strength, but New England did regress in the run game last year. Mason tends to be an asset in pass protection. His career started in 2015 at left guard. The switch to his new position led to growth in his game.
RT Marcus Cannon
Cannon has only once started all 16 games in his nine years with the Patriots. In 2016, Cannon played great in his only full season of work. Over the last three years, he’s been a league-average player at best while missing 13 games. I expect him to be a placeholder until incumbent Yodny Cajuste, who missed his rookie season with a quad injury after getting drafted in the third round in 2019.
The loss of Tom Brady and his quick release may lead to a significant regression in the play of the Patriots’ offensive line. The run game was a mess last year, even with production in touchdowns. On paper and based on their previous success, New England's offensive line grades above-average.
Offensive Schedule
The data shows the strength of schedule as far as rushing attempts (RATT), rushing yards (YDS), yards per attempt rushing (YA), rushing touchdowns (TDs), completions (COMP), passing attempts (PATT), passing yards (YDS), yards per attempt passing (YA), and passing touchdowns (TDS).
This information is based on 2019, which will work as our starting point for 2020. We’ll look at the changes on offense on each team in the NFL plus the upgrades and downgrades on each team on the defensive side. We’ll update this table when we finish the research on all 32 teams.
2019 LG Average = the league average of all stats from all 32 teams in 2019.
2019 Results = this is the results for each team in the NFL.
2019 Adjustment is based on the 2019 league-average and the 2019 results for each team, this number will show if each team is above or below the league average in each stat category and the basis for the strength of schedule.
New England has three below-par matchups (BAL and NYJ X 2) for their rushing offense and three other mid-tier games (LV and BUF X 2). Their best success on the ground should come against Miami (2) and Kansas City.
The Patriots start the year with three decent matchups (MIA, SEA, and LV) for their passing offense. Over the next 13 games, they have two winnable games (HOU and ARI) plus five tough contests (SF, BAL, LAC, and BUF X 2). Overall, New England has the ninth most challenging passing schedule.
Offense
Ideally, New England would like to be productive in the passing game while having the talent to control the clock late with their run game. The change at quarterback in 2020 will lead to a game management approach with the hopes that their defense keeps this in games.
Here’s a look at the early projections for New England, which will be fluid all summer after taking in all injury updates and training camp news:
Quarterbacks
QB Jarrett Stidham, NE
Over three years in college, Stidman passed for 7,217 yards with 48 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Over his final two years in college, Stidham minimized the damage in interceptions (11) while lacking a top opportunity in the passing game (27.4 passes per game). His best year came in 2017 (3,158 passing yards and 18 TDs). Even with 103 rushes that season, he gained only 153 yards (1.5 yards per rush) with four TDs.
Filling the shoes of Tom Brady will be a tall task for any QB. Last summer, Stidham flashed in the preseason (819 combined yards with four TDs and one Int). He completed 67.8 percent of his passes while gaining 8.1 yards per pass attempt, Surprisingly, his legs (17/88) played better than expected. I’m intrigued by his skill set and upside, but he may need some time to develop into a viable starting QB in the NFL. For now, just a player to follow until we see success on the field.
QB Brian Hoyer, NE
Hoyer looks like a veteran insurance policy for the Patriots. Over his last 12 starts over four seasons, he went 1-11. Over this span plus games off the bench, Hoyer passed for 3,111 yards with 14 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.
Other options: Brian Lewerke, J’Mar Smith
Running Backs
Here’s a look at the running back data for the Patriots over the last three seasons:
The Patriots' running backs averaged about 166 targets over the past three years, which led to 123 catches for 1,032 yards and eight passing TDs. Their backs lost almost a half a yard per carry in 2019 while maintaining value in rushing touchdowns (15.3 per year).
The downside here is that New England tends to rotate in multiple running backs.
RB Sony Michel, NE
The excitement of Michel being an upside runner on early downs is dwindling. He continued to offer no value in the passing game. Over 456 rushes in his NFL career, Michel gained over 20 yards on just seven plays. His yards per carry dropped to 3.7, painting him as a grinder back going forward. Last year Michel lacked the wheels to make big plays when reaching the second level of the defense. He averaged 16.2 touches per game. Trending down, which points to RB Damien Harris stealing plenty of his chances on early downs. A downgrade at QB is also a negative.
His early ADP (97) paints him as a late RB3 in PPR leagues. Michel is projected for 770 combined yards with six touchdowns and 11 catches.
RB James White, NE
White wasn't nearly as impactful in 2019 after finishing seventh in RB scoring (277.1) in PPR leagues in 2018. His one impact game (177 combined yards with two TDs and eight catches) came in Week 13, but White didn’t score over 16.0 fantasy points in any other contest. Last season, the Patriots completed 121 passes for 1,133 yards and six TDs to the running back position. With Tom Brady no longer behind center, New England will have some decline in RB chances in the passing game. Only a steady short-term injury or bye week cover heading into the draft season.
His initial draft value comes just behind Michel with a step back in his early projections (640 combined yards with four TDs and 54 catches.
RB Damien Harris, NE
Harris has the "it factor" an NFL team should be looking for in a lead back. He gives off the appearance of a bigger back than his size (5'11" and 213 lbs.). His first step acceleration after downshifting in tight quarters gives him many winning plays. Harris drives through contact with a unique feel for finding more open field. He tests defenses when reaching the second level with his vision and power. His pass-catching opportunity was short due to Josh Jacobs shining brighter in this area in Alabama. Harris doesn't fumble, and his game grades well in pass protection. Last year New England gave him only four touches while battling a hamstring injury over the final seven weeks. Breakout potential.
Other options: Rex Burkhead, Brandon Bolden, J.J. Taylor
Wide Receivers
Last year New England struggled to find a viable second wide receiver. Phillip Dorsett finished second on the team in catches (29) and receiving yards (397). Despite little produced behind WR Julian Edelman, the Patriots’ wide receivers had growth in catches (219), receiving yards (2,552), and targets (367).
WR Julian Edelman, NE
Edelman has been a great warrior for the Patriots and is coming off his second-best fantasy season (100/1117/6). His chief left the pow wow, pointing to regression in his opportunity. He had a floor of six catches in ten contests in 2019, but the Patriots’ fading offense led to a quiet final four games (13 catches for 137 yards and no TDs on 23 targets). Edelman averaged 6.4 catches for 70 yards and 0.39 TDs over his previous 83 games.
Fantasy drafters priced him as the 39th wide receiver off the board in PPR leagues in the early draft season with an ADP of 101. Fluctuating player based on who earns the starting job at QB. I have him projected for 81 catches for 901 yards and five touchdowns.
WR N’Keal Harry, NE
New England fans came away from 2019 wondering if Harry would be a stud or a dud. In his limited playing time last year, he struggled to get on the same page with QB Tom Brady, which led to him catching only half (12) of his targets (24). Harry missed the first nine games with his recovery from his right ankle injury. In his seven games played, he gained fewer than 30 yards receiving while failing to catch over three passes in any week. Talented player, but the Patriots’ offense is full of cloudiness this year. Viable flier as WR6 if the summer reports remain positive.
There are lots of moving parts here, starting with the quarterback. My conservative projections for Harry in his sophomore season are 52 catches for 677 yards and four TDs. He has an ADP of 168 as the 61st wide receiver in mid-May in the high-stakes market.
WR Mohamed Sanu, NE
Over his last four seasons, Sanu has a floor of 59 catches. His game looked rather dull (26/207/1) with New England while gaining only 8.0 yards per catch (8.8 on the year). He gained fewer than 30 yards with three catches or fewer in 10 of his final 11 games. Sanu had surgery in February to repair an issue with a high ankle sprain that bothered him over since late November. His best season came in 2018 (882 combined yards with four TDs and 66 catches). Sanu may start the year as the WR2 for the Patriots if WR N’Keal Harry doesn’t hit the ground running. Below a replacement level floor at this point in his career while lacking a playable ceiling.
WR Marqise Lee, NE
Lee will try to reinvent his career with the Patriots after missing most of the past two seasons with a torn ACL in his left knee and a left shoulder issue in 2019. Lee flashed a possession skill set in 2016 (63/851/3), but he’s failed to live up to expectations after getting drafted in the second round in 2014. Waiver wire player if the Patriots show a pulse in their passing game in 2020, and Lee works himself into a WR3 role.
WR Jakobi Meyers, NE
In his rookie season, Meyer caught 26 of his 41 targets for 359 yards over 15 games. In his only start, he gained 74 yards with four catches on nine targets. Meyers played well in Week 6 (5/47) and Week 7 (5/47) when he caught all nine of his targets off the bench. Last preseason with Jarrett Stidham behind center for most plays, Meyers caught 20 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns.
In his junior season at North Carolina State, he finished with 92 catches for 1,047 yards and four TDs. Meyers runs good routes, and his hands graded well, coming out of college. There’s intrigue here if he earns a starting role.
Other options: Damiere Byrd, Gunner Olszewski, Devin Ross, Quincy Adeboyejo
Tight Ends
The decline in production for the Patriots’ TEs started in 2018. That season Rob Gronkowski (47/682/3) played in 13 games, but he finished with only 5.5 targets per game. In 2019, New England struggled to find opportunities for their tight ends, leading to only 37 catches for 419 yards and two TDs on 53 targets.
TE Devin Asiasi, NE
Asiasi looked in better shape in 2019, after weighing in at almost 280 earlier in his college career. He showed the talent to make plays (44/641/4 on 70 targets – 14.6 yards per catch) at all three levels of the defense. His best value appears to be when moving forward with the ability to sit down vs. zone coverage. Asiasi loses some separation when asked to work back to the ball out of breaks over the field's short areas. His hands should be assets, and he offers deceiving speed and quickness downfield. Asiasi grades as a neutral option in the blocking game, which will improve with better foundation skills. The Patriots have a big void at TE, which gives Asiasi a chance to be semi-productive in his rookie year. Player to follow with the opportunity to develop into a TE2 option in fantasy leagues.
TE Dalton Keene, NE
Over three seasons at Virginia Tech, Keene caught 59 of his 70 targets for 748 yards and eight TDs. His best opportunity and production came in 2018 (28/341/3). The Patriots will look to use him out of the backfield or on movement plays at tight end. His next step is developing his pass routes, which will help improve his playing time.
Other options: Matt LaCosse, Ryan Izzo, Jake Burt
Kicker
K Justin Rohrwasser, NE
Over two seasons at Marshall, Rohwasser made 33 of his 42 field goals (78.6 percent) while showing growth (18-for-21) in his senior year. His college career started at the University of Rhode Island, where he saw limited field goal chances (15-for-20) over two seasons. Before last year, Rohwasser only made three of his ten kicks from forty yards or more (no tries over 50 yards). The Patriots’ kicker typically ranks in the top-ten, but the change at quarterback points to a regression in scoring. Rohrwasser improved in 2019, but his resume is short. Only a flier and he may not win the job over the summer.
Defensive Schedule
In their division, the Patriots have four games (NYJ X 2 and MIA X 2) against teams that struggled to run the ball in 2019. New England also has three contests (KC, LAR, and LAC) that ranked below the league average rushing the ball. Their biggest struggles against the run will come against the Ravens and the 49ers.
Over the final 12 games in 2020, the Patriots face seven opponents (DEN, BAL, ARI, BUF X 2, and NYJ X 2) that ranked poorly last year passing the ball. Denver and Arizona should be improved, and the Bills and Jets added help at wide receiver in the draft or through free agency. New England will be tested in the passing game by Kansas City. I expect the Rams and the Chargers to regress from last year’s stats in the passing game.
Defense
The Patriots allowed 4.2 yards per rush in 2019, but game score led to only 22.8 rushing attempts, and the 7th ranking in rushing yards allowed (1,528). Their run defense tightened up in the red zone leading to only seven rushing TDs. They gave up six runs over 20 yards, but four of those plays gained over 40 yards.
New England finished 2nd defending the pass with QBs passing for 2,886 yards with 13 TDs and 25 Ints. Their defense had only 47 sacks.
CB Stephon Gilmore
In his third year with Patriots, Gilmore set a career-high in interceptions (6) while returning two for touchdowns. Over the past two years, he allowed fewer than a 50 percent completion rate while ranking high in defended passes (20 each year). Gilmore remains a top player in coverage, but opponents continue to test him in the passing game. His play in run support in 2019 did regress.
CB Jason McCourty
In his career, McCourty has shown risk in multiple years, which was the case for him in 2018. Last year he missed four games and a minimal role in two other games. McCourty held receivers to a career-low in yards per catch with no TDs allowed. Only a league-average player for me who was helped by his supporting cast in 2019.
CB J.C Jackson
Jackson played well in coverage off the bench. In his 28 games of action, he already has eight interceptions and 16 defended passes. Jackson minimizes the damage in touchdowns with receivers catching a low percent of passes against him. In 2019, he started the last seven games (including the playoffs) with Jason McCourty banged up.
S Devin McCourty
The Patriots re-signed McCourty for another two seasons in March for $23 million. He continues to be one of the better players in the league at his positions with value in coverage, tackling, and run support. Before last year (one TD allowed), McCourty would give up some TDs. His tackles (58) came in at a career-low level in 2019 while having a spike in interceptions (5).
S Kyle Duggar
Duggar projects as an impact player while expected to take over at free safety once Devin McCourty hangs up his spikes for the Patriots. Duggar should see plenty of action in his rookie season with the talent to make plays all over the field. His most considerable risk early in his career may be in coverage.
New England should fill the strong safety position in 2020 with Patrick Chung and Adrian Phillips. Chung struggled in all areas last year, and he did have an off-the-field incident. When at his best, Chung can help in coverage while being a steady tackler. Phillips will look to regain his 2018 form with the Chargers (94 tackles and nine defended passes) after missing nine games last year.
LB Dont'a Hightower
Hightower can no longer be considered a top player at linebacker. His play vs. the run faded over his last four seasons. He saw a rebound in his success rushing the quarterback (5.5 sacks) and tackles (71). Hightower will give up some big plays in the passing game and TDs.
LB Chase Winovich
In his rookie season off the bench, Winovich picked up 5.5 sacks and 26 tackles. He comes into the league with a linebacker’s frame. His high motor and first step quickness will create edges vs. the run and rushing the QB. Winovich’s next step is improving his field vision while learning a better feel for the developing play. His style works best when attacking the line of scrimmage, which may lead to some early weakness in pass coverage. Winovich should see a bump in playing time in 2020.
The Patriots Anfernee Jennings and Josh Uche can be productive in their rookie seasons. Both players will add value to the pass rush. Uche should see the most playing time thanks to some value in pass coverage.
DT Lawrence Guy
In each season with New England, Guy set a career-high in tackles (58, 59, and 61). He made his last 80 starts while offering minimal upside rushing the quarterback. His best play tends to come vs. the run.
DT Adam Butler
Over the last three seasons, Butler worked as a rotational player with improving value in the pass rush. He set a career-high in sacks (6) in 2019 while inching forward defending the run.
DE Deatrich Wise
Last year Wise didn’t play well, which led to the lowest number of snaps in his three-year career. He flashed pass-rushing value in his rookie season while never being an asset in run support.
Team Defense
The Patriots’ defense played great last year, and they added three more players over the first three rounds of this year’s draft. Their secondary remains their strong suit. New England should be improved at the second level of the defense, and they want to rush the quarterback with their linebackers. I don’t see any impact players on the defensive line. I expect regression vs. the run and game score should lead to deterioration in all areas in 2020. Even with a top 2019 billing on defense, this defense falls a few spots in the draft ranking this year.
