Jets at Falcons
Game Info
Kickoff: August 15th, 2019, at 7:30 PM
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Betting Odds: ATL -1 via Oddsshark
Network: Atlanta CW
New York Jets
More Starters, More Production
While the Jets may have lost last week to the Giants, the clean opening drive for Sam Darnold and co. was a key take-away. Week 2 of the preseason vs the Falcons should feature more playing time for the starting unit. Look for Darnold to continue to build on his strong rapport with the likes of Jamison Crowder, Chris Herndon, and involve Robby Anderson as well, who did not play last week. I would bet we’ll see a safe yet fair amount of Darnold the remainder of the preseason; the more live reps for him in Gase’s offense the better.
It will also be important for backup quarterback Trevor Siemian to show out as he did last week because having a capable backup ready to go at a moments notice can keep a teams season afloat.
Bell of the Ball
Could this be the week we see Le’Veon Bell back on the field? It’s already known that Adam Gase has no intentions of rushing or overplaying his hand with Bell in the preseason, though getting him back on the field in-game action sooner than later is ideal. He had a pretty busy Monday in practice, which could be a sign for Thursday night. As seen in Pittsburgh, Bell’s running style relies fairly heavily on his offensive line; he’s a patient runner who takes a quick glimpse to assess the break of the snap and then takes off. Having Bell suit up, as well as newly acquired center Ryan Kalil, will give Gase and his staff a chance to work out any rust the two returning vets may have. This should be the beginning of Bell-watch, relative to how high up the draft boards he may find himself over the next few weeks.
Also look for more of Ty Montgomery, who is having a strong camp, to continue to carry himself as Bell’s backup and be worthy of a mid/late-round draft pick in PPR formats. However, in this game vs Atlanta, I am keeping my eye on the time both Elijah McGuire and Bilal Powell are given, as that RB3 role is up for grabs. It won’t surprise me if the Jets end up keeping both on the roster, but the capacity in which they are and will be used is up for discussion.
CB Woes
The cornerback room for the Jets has taken another yet. Aside from releasing Derrick Jones over the weekend, Trumaine Johnson suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday in practice, one in which Gase seemed “a bit concerned” about. At this point, he is listed as week-to-week. For what it’s worth, that concern could go two ways – the severity of the injury, or for the sheer fact that the CB chart is the weakest point of the defense, and the team overall. The unit lacks depth, and GM Joe Douglas needs to make moves ahead of the start of the season to improve on the current state.
Atlanta Falcons
Three’s a Matt
Matt Ryan sat out last week versus the Dolphins (healthy scratch), though he is expected to make his preseason debut against New York. I wouldn’t bet on him being in the game for too long, and so it will be key to see how Matt Schaub and Matt Simms continue to serve as Matty Ice’s backups. They are two veterans who you rather not see in any capacity behind center, but this is their time to familiarize themselves with the playbook. Let’s see how all three can exploit the Jets weak cornerback group.
Free Devonta, Man
Much like Lev’ Bell for the Jets, Falcons fans are anxious to see Devonta Freeman make his preseason debut. He’s fully healthy and impressing his coaches in camp, and without Tevin Coleman no longer behind him, this has the makings of a bounce-back season for Freeman. It only helps that his offensive line has improved as well. Don’t look for him to play all that much, but a decent sample size will be a good sign towards his fantasy & real-life implications. You can argue at his current average ADP – round 3 – he is tremendous value in that spot and could end up with first-round stat lines week in and week out.
WR Depth
The staring three are locked in for Atlanta; Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, and Mohamed Sanu. We may see them play a bit vs the Jets, but I wouldn’t bank on much time. Behind them though is where roster spots are up for grabs. Veteran Justin Hardy may be a last-resort option, but he knows the offense in place. Look for second-year Russell Gage to get some continued looks this preseason as a receiver, as he already has a stronghold on the Special Teams unit.
-Matthew Cava (@CavaM_)