Jets @ Texans
Final Score: Jets 21, Texans 14
Writer: James Schiano (@JeterHadNoRange on Twitter)
Two of the NFL’s worst teams faced off in Houston Sunday and played one of the worst football games I have ever watched. It is almost impossible to find an offensive position group, let alone individual players, from either team that impressed. Zach Wilson returned from injury and was running for his life all afternoon. Tyrod Taylor and co. started hot but could not sustain anything. Just an awful game of football.
New York Jets
Quarterbacks
Zack Wilson: 14/24, 145 yards, INT | 2 carries, 3 yards, TD
Josh Johnson: 2 point conversion
The Jets led the NFL in yards per game over the three weeks Wilson missed with his knee injury with a combination of Mike White, Josh Johnson, and Joe Flacco leading their offense. Not exactly a murderer’s row. The hope was that Wilson could jump back into this emerging offense and at least steer the ship.
He floundered early though. After completing his first pass of the game, he did not connect with a receiver again until 6:30 to go in the second quarter. During that time he missed some very easy throws to the flat, zipped a check-down clear over Tevin Coleman‘s head, was sacked twice, and threw one of the most embarrassing interceptions I have ever seen.
Zach Wilson is back and so are the painful turnovers
(via @riversmccown) pic.twitter.com/jBYHwgzHBN
— Pickswise (@Pickswise) November 28, 2021
The first half was abysmal, but Wilson got a little momentum going on the Jets’ TD drive just before the half and came out of the tunnel ready to rip in the third quarter. This completion to Elijah Moore got it started.
Wilson to Moore and how Elijah hit those breaks #jets #NYJvsHOU pic.twitter.com/L88mOKgzFp
— 🗽NYJETS🗽TWEETZ🗽 (@NYJETSTWEETZ) November 28, 2021
He got close to making a spectacular play for a touchdown later on this drive only to see his throw to Ryan Griffin fall a few feet short in the back of the endzone.
Zach and Griffen have to make this play #jets #NYJvsHOU pic.twitter.com/Mcf6WdRhHP
— 🗽NYJETS🗽TWEETZ🗽 (@NYJETSTWEETZ) November 28, 2021
You can see that patented creativity and mobility that got Wilson drafted second overall, just a beat off though. No matter, he found the endzone just a few plays later.
Show off the moves then @ZachWilson!!#NYJvsHOU on CBS pic.twitter.com/zrMRymIpPF
— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 28, 2021
Later on, the Jets exhibited a shocking level of trust in the rookie by leaving their offense on the field on a 4th & 6 just outside of field goal range. They were up four with seven minutes left and Wilson delivered a first down that practically ended the contest.
Jets convert a big fourth-down to Keelan Cole pic.twitter.com/Ojo4A9F4X9
— Rivers McCown (@riversmccown) November 28, 2021
That is the type of quick, on-rhythm throw that Wilson needs to make more of if he wants to succeed in the NFL. I am happy he had the poise to make this one and get the Jets a win.
Running Backs
Tevin Coleman: 16 carries, 67 yards | 3 targets, 2 receptions
Ty Johnson: 6 carries, 42 yards | 1 target
Austin Walter: 9 carries, 38 yards, TD
It is a shame that Michael Carter got injured just as he was coming into his own. His absence left this position group lacking an impact fantasy performer. Much of the DFS community jumped on Johnson (for some season) and got burned by the Jets’ committee approach. The group did well as a whole though, including Johnson in his limited work.
Nice draw call.. RBs have shown up #jets #NYJvsHOU pic.twitter.com/meycIyoZ69
— 🗽NYJETS🗽TWEETZ🗽 (@NYJETSTWEETZ) November 28, 2021
It is shocking how much better the Jets’ offensive line looked on runs compared to pass plays. There were massive lanes open all game! Coleman, the leading rusher, repeatedly ripped off chunks and looked like the best runner in this backfield. Of course, the unknown Walter was the only running back to find the endzone.
AUSTIN WALTER WITH HIS FIRST CAREER TD!!!!
(Via @nyjets)pic.twitter.com/rVWm7qcJUc
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) November 28, 2021
Committee backfields on bad teams need to be avoided like the plague in fantasy.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Elijah Moore: 8 targets, 4 receptions, 46 yards | 1 carry, 7 yards
Braxton Berrios: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 47 yards
Ryan Griffin: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 20 yards
Keelan Cole: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 24 yards
Jamison Crowder: 1 target, 1 reception, 5 yards
The only takeaway here is Moore’s status as the alpha of this group. Wilson targeted him twice as much as any other pass-catcher and it is painfully obvious that he is the most dynamic player in this offense. The Jets are finally doing whatever it takes to get the ball in Moore’s hands.
Monster fourth down conversion from Elijah Moore. #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/9tiKx32Pw2
— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) November 28, 2021
No one else in this group will challenge Moore’s status for the rest of the season. Not even Corey Davis who missed this week with a groin injury. He will explode if Wilson can build on his second-half performance.
Houston Texans
Quarterback
Tyrod Taylor: 17/26, 158 yards, 2 TD, INT | 2 carries, 30 yards
Taylor was a popular choice among streamers this week and that decision looked like a slam dunk around 2:00 pm EST. He was slinging the ball all over the field and had two touchdowns including this BEAUTY to Cooks.
Tyrod Taylor.
On. The. Money.#FantasyFootball || #WeAreTexans pic.twitter.com/HpznQC3cjS
— QB List (@TheQBlist) November 28, 2021
Taylor’s arm strength, accuracy, and cajones were all on display there. Sadly, that was just about the end of his production. He missed a wide-open Nico Collins for what could have been another long touchdown towards the end of the first half and threw for just 24 yards in the entire second half. It was a disappointing game for the veteran.
Running Backs
Rex Burkhead: 12 carries, 27 yards | 3 targets, 3 receptions, 27 yards
David Johnson: 10 carries, 39 yards | 3 targets, 2 receptions, 16 yards
This backfield continues to be a disaster. Johnson got over the 3.0 YPC carry plateau for the first time since Week 7 and did so with double-digit carries in consecutive weeks. That’s…something positive, but there is a very low bar for positivity out of this group. Phillip Lindsay is gone but there is still not enough production to go around for this group to be viable.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Brandin Cooks: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 45 yards, TD
Nico Collins: 5 targets, 2 receptions, 28 yards
Danny Amendola: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 23 yards
Brevin Jordan: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 23 yards, TD
Pharoah Brown: 1 target
Chris Moore: 1 target, 1 reception, -4 yards
There are more positives here than what meets the eye. I showed you Cooks’ TD before. That was impressive concentration from the veteran who continues to be underrated as both a deep-threat and player. He would still be a consistent fantasy performer if he was on a more competent team.
Collins was impressive as well. The old saying says that you should wait until Thanksgiving for rookies to start performing and I could see Collins becoming a moderately consistent performer if Taylor produces at a consistent level over these next few weeks.
As for another rookie, Brevin Jordan looks like a player. He ran a season-high 19 routes in this contest and found his way into the endzone for the second time this season.
It took 8 weeks for the #Texans to play rookie TE Brevin Jordan. Whatever reason you want to believe as to why, I dont have the energy to argue, but he should’ve been playing earlier. Glad he’s showing his stuff now. pic.twitter.com/OIQnRMkBm7
— Jordan Pun (@Texans_Thoughts) November 28, 2021
He has always been more of an athlete than a tight end, but it will not matter what position he is if the Texans’ let him loose in the middle of the field more often.
— James Schiano (@JeterHadNoRange on Twitter)