The New York Jets are movin’ on up, but not to the East side. They’re climbing the ESPN Power Rankings, even though they’ve lost two games in a row.
The Jets are now No. 25 on the list, a two-spot climb from No. 27. Gang Green lost a close one, 31-24, to the Detroit Lions, but went toe-to-toe with one of the better teams in the NFC. They were marching down the field for a potential tie when a swarming Lions defense caused a fumble, ending the contest but inspiring hope among Jets fans that this team is capable of far more than they have been given credit for.
This week, the ESPN NFL reporters were asked to look at every team’s fantasy football surprise (good or bad) this season. They went off ESPN Fantasy‘s draft rankings, average draft position (ADP) and current scoring leaders in points per reception (PPR) \leagues.
The NFL analysts evaluated how all 32 teams stack up against one another, ranking them from No. 1 to 32.
Acting as the fantasy surprise for the Jets was tight end Kenyon Sadiq, who had his coming out party on Sunday with more than 100 yards receiving and a brilliant diving catch for a touchdown.
No rookie tight end has had a 100+ yard game earlier than Sadiq in the history of the New York Jets. The names on that list of tight ends who managed to hit triple digits include Richard Caster, Jerome Barkum, merely two of the top tight ends in Jets history. Caster and Barkum accomplished their 100-yard games back in the 1970s, so you know it’s been a long time between drinks of water for the Jets tight end group.
Sadiq was the No. 16 selection in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Jets, a controversial choice at the time by those who felt there were other areas of need.
Then he missed training camp while recovering from a sports hernia. But he now has 12 catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns (one receiving, one rushing). “He’s 10th among tight ends in fantasy points, and his role should continue to grow as he gains a better grasp of the offense,” says ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
Sadiq was a surprise weapon against Detroit, as the absence of No. 2 receiver Adonai Mitchell opened some opportunities for the tight ends, as directed by offensive coordinator Frank Reich. You can bet Sadiq won’t be a surprise to anyone viewing game video of the Detroit contest.
