Jets @ Packers
Final Score: Jets 23, Packers 14
Writer: Joe Orlofski (@joeorlofski on Twitter)
Have the Jets finally found their franchise Quarterback? Zach Wilson for sure seems to be making a case. Add to that the departure of Head Coach Adam Gase, who has a history of underperforming, and you have the makings of a potential solid NFL team. The Jets’ offense looked solid in this one, as did the Packers’ run game.
Besides Zach Wilson, the Jets have an interesting rookie in Running Back Michael Carter, who looks to be grabbing the starting role over a few veteran backs. On the other hand, the Packers continued to rest their starters, leaving it up to the backups who are fighting for playing time…or potentially just a roster spot.
Let’s take a look at some of the more fantasy-relevant players in this game.
New York Jets
Quarterback
Zach Wilson: 9/11, 128 yards, 2 TD
Mike White: 7/9, 39 yards
James Morgan: 1/3, 5 yards | 3 carries, -6 yards
Zach Wilson got the start and made some solid throws in the first series, but the Jets’ offense sputtered and settled for a field goal. He did make a nice throw to Corey Davis to extend the first drive. The next drive was mostly run plays and short screen passes that didn’t go anywhere.
Wilson looked often to Davis, making a bad throw here and there but also completing passes of 14 and 27 on a drive late in the first quarter. He also made a nice throw when he head-faked a crossing route receiver and threw it to an open Davis instead. Wilson finished the drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Tight End Tyler Kroft.
Wilson to Kroft for SIX!!
📺 #NYJvsGB on @nflnetwork & https://t.co/IDocpYHJpV pic.twitter.com/M0cmC8rU06
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 21, 2021
The throw was a bit off, but Kroft was able to adjust and make the catch. And the Wilson/Kroft connection didn’t stop there. Late in the second quarter, Wilson took advantage of a short field (thanks to a big kick return) and found Kroft for another touchdown.
The connection is HOT from @ZachWilson to @Kroft86 🔥
📺 #NYJvsGB on @nflnetwork, https://t.co/IDocpYHJpV & mobile app pic.twitter.com/bbH1OaOmie
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 21, 2021
It was a great throw off his back foot, but credit to Kroft for a quick stop to make a defender miss and allow him an easy touchdown.
Mike White came in the game with one minute left, ending Wilson’s solid game. White is in competition with James Morgan for the backup role. Both are young Quarterbacks with no experience, so we will see if the Jets pick up a veteran at some point or decide to roll with their youngsters.
White looked sharp but didn’t really attempt any deep passes beside a long throw to the endzone that went incomplete (although it had a shot at being caught). He was hit hard in the third quarter and Morgan entered the game.
Running Back
Tevin Coleman: 4 carries, 19 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, -1 yard
Ty Johnson: 6 carries, 23 yards
La’Mical Perine: 6 carries, 16 yards
Michael Carter: 10 carries, 52 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, -1 yard
Tevin Coleman got the start in this one, getting the first carry and the first reception back to back. Coleman is hoping that he can win this starting job after never really living up to the hype as a starter in Atlanta and San Francisco. Ty Johnson also got some carries on the first series, although did nothing of note.
Coleman continued to get carries in the second quarter but was mostly bottled up. The same can be said of Ty Johnson.
La’Mical Perine got the next crack at trying to find some running room, but also seemed to struggle.
Finally at the 10-minute mark of the third quarter, we got to see rookie Michael Carter, who took his first carry 18-yards. Carter has been hyped all preseason as a guy who should get a shot at the starting job, and he looked like the best running back on the Jets today (yes I know he probably was playing against third-stringers). Carter ran hard, hitting the line with speed time and time again.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Corey Davis: 6 targets, 4 receptions, 70 yards
Tyler Kroft: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 36 yards, 2 TD
Trevon Wesco: 1 target, 1 reception, 17 yards
Braxton Berrios: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 17 yards
Vyncint Smith: 1 target, 1 reception, 8 yards
Jeff Smith: 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards
Kenny Yeboah: 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards
Chris Herndon: 1 target, 1 reception, 5 yards
Keelan Cole: 1 target, 1 reception, 4 yards
D.J. Montgomery: 1 target, 1 reception, 5 yards
Corey Davis joined the Jets this offseason and got PAID to do so, so there are some high hopes for him this year to join Jamison Crowder as a top Wide Receiver pair. Davis started off hot, making a 24-yard catch on the opening drive on a long third down. He didn’t slow down, getting 4 targets on the third drive of the game. Here is a montage of his catches:
.@ZachWilson & @TheCDavis84 got goin' yesterday pic.twitter.com/P1qDz4UkJU
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 22, 2021
Crowder did play in this game, making a catch that was called off due to a penalty. On the next play, Wilson connected with Tight End Tyler Kroft for an 18-yard touchdown. Kroft, who previously played for the Bills and Bengals, actually has a good chance at being the starting Tight End for the Jets. He could be a sneaky fantasy pick if he does grab the starting role. The 18-yard catch was a very nice adjustment by Kroft.
As I said above, Kroft continued his solid play by making a nice move for another 18-yard touchdown late in the second quarter.
Braxton Berrios made some nice catches and is fighting to make the Jets’ roster as a slot receiver. He probably won’t be relevant for fantasy with Crowder and rookie Elijah Moore ahead of him, but he did have some good PPR performances in the past few years.
Green Bay Packers
Quarterback
Kurt Benkert: 18/25, 151 yards, TD, INT | 4 carries, 6 yards
Jake Dolegala: 0/1, 0 yards, INT
Jordan Love sat this game out after tweaking his shoulder in Preseason Week 1, so it was up to Kurt Benkert to lead the Packers in this one. The Packers ran the ball a ton on the first few drives, so Benkert really didn’t do much of note early on. He did make a few good throws on the run, but he also looked a bit clunky, falling down on consecutive plays.
Benkert looked a bit better midway through the second quarter, making short, sharp throws, including a nice 21-yard completion to rookie Malik Taylor. He finished the 10-minute drive with a nice touchdown pass to Jace Sternberger.
.@_Jstern hauls in the score! 🙌#NYJvsGB | #GoPackGo
📺 @nflnetwork
📱 https://t.co/bE19jZCodD pic.twitter.com/OMeDgGoCKE— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 21, 2021
Sternberger did run a good route, but Benkert is the hero on this play. That is a perfectly placed pass between defenders.
Benkert didn’t really do much in the third quarter, besides throwing a bad interception late in the third. It’s hard to say if it was a bad route or if Benkert just threw it behind the receiver.
Benkert did look good on the run in this game, but it was not enough to pull off a win.
Running Back
AJ Dillon: 4 carry, 28 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 12 yards
Kylin Hill: 7 carries, 29 yards, TD | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 11 yards
Patrick Taylor: 8 carries, 48 yards | 3 targets, 1 reception, 7 yards
Dexter Williams: 8 carries, 22 yards | 1 target
AJ Dillon once again got the start, and like his counterpart, Tevin Coleman, he got the first two touches of the game. After a short 1-yard catch, Dillon showed off his strength by dragging defenders for a first down on the next play. He didn’t slow down, making a nice 5-yard and then 10-yard run where he mowed defenders down.
Kylin Hill came in later in the drive after Dillon was done destroying the Jets’ defense, and took his first carry 12 yards to the endzone.
.@H_Kylin to the end zone! 🏃💨#NYJvsGB | #GoPackGo
📺 @nflnetwork
📱 https://t.co/bE19jZCodD pic.twitter.com/qc7S4ff9op— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 21, 2021
I will say that Benkert made a nice pump fake after handing the ball off, which froze the secondary. If you watch the clip, you can tell the play looked like a screen to a Wide Receiver and it completely fooled the Jets’ defense. That said, Hill continues to impress and is showing that the Packers may have a third Running Back getting carries this season.
Patrick Taylor came in early in the second quarter, however, Hill continued to perform well. Hill did have a big run of 18 yards that was called back due to holding with ten minutes left in the second. Taylor had a couple of chances in the redzone, making a nice 10-yard gain.
Taylor continued as the primary back in the third quarter, but fumbled the ball away on the first carry of the second half. Hill once again came back in and made a nice catch and run, once again proving he should steal some carries from AJ Dillon this season.
Dexter Williams came in late in the third quarter and didn’t do much in the run game. If he does make the roster, he probably won’t see the field much.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Malik Taylor: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 66 yards
Amari Rodgers: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 31 yards | 1 carry, 2 yards
Jace Sternberger: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 5 yards, TD
Reggie Begelton: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 15 yards
Daniel Crawford: 1 target, 1 reception, 4 yards
Malik Taylor started the game off with a nice sideline catch, but as I mentioned above, it was all running on the first drive.
.@KurtBenkert to @Taylor12Malik. What a completion!
📺: #NYJvsGB on @nflnetwork (or check local listings)
📱: https://t.co/cpzdYUarjZ pic.twitter.com/fYQcOyIKlm— NFL (@NFL) August 21, 2021
Jace Sternberger had a pretty bad drop on the second drive, and it sounds like he is currently on the roster bubble. Sternberger is set to miss the first two games after falling asleep behind the wheel due to alcohol in February 2020. Robert Tonyan continues to be the leading Tight End and will be the one you want in fantasy.
Malik Taylor continued making nice first-down catches early in the second quarter, including the 21-yard catch to extend a drive.
.@KurtBenkert ➡️ @Taylor12Malik 🎯 #NYJvsGB | #GoPackGo
📺 @nflnetwork
📱 https://t.co/bE19jZCodD pic.twitter.com/0ZaKVPJnIA— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 21, 2021
Amari Rodgers finally got his first catch in the second quarter, making a nice move to gain a few more yards.
Near the end of the second quarter, Sternberger caught a short touchdown pass from Benkert, which was detailed above.
Rodgers and Taylor continue to impress, although Devin Funchess didn’t play in this one after getting injured in the first preseason game. I’d assume all three will make the roster, but we still don’t know how the receiving corps will look.
— Joe Orlofski (@joeorlofski on Twitter)
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Great read thank you!