Twitter Observations: Post-Draft Developments for Zach Wilson and Mac Jones
Now that the NFL Draft is complete, NFL and dynasty teams are rounding into their 2022 form. Below are a few tweets that highlight the updates to those teams we saw this week.
Heart of Jarvis
WHO DAT 🚀🚀 pic.twitter.com/UKlnZRfeva
— Jarvis Juice Landry (@God_Son80) May 13, 2022
Like most players who have played for the Browns, Jarvis Landry’s departure from Cleveland ended in a whimper. He missed five games during the 2021 season and had the worst statistical season of his career. The 87 targets, 52 receptions, 570 yards, and two touchdowns were all career lows. Even his per-game receiving average of 47.5 yards was virtually tied for the lowest of his career. So it wasn’t surprising when Cleveland released him after trading for Amari Cooper, with the Browns more than ready to move on from Landry.
Two months later, and with an influx of rookie receivers thanks to the NFL Draft, Landry ends up going home to Louisiana after signing a one-year deal. Despite the Saints drafting receiver Chris Olave in the first round, the depth chart was still thin before Landry, which means he should see ample opportunity to rack up fantasy stats.
Dynasty Impact: Unless you were in a PPR scoring league, Landy was never a great option for your dynasty team. He was the epitome of a volume receiver with his stats buoyed by the crazy amount of targets he saw. Despite a career average of 11 yards-per-reception, he managed to total three 1,000-yard seasons between Cleveland and Miami which propelled him as high as it did in dynasty ADP.
But for most of his career, he was the top option in the receiving game. That won’t be the case in New Orleans where, at best, he’ll be third behind Michael Thomas and the rookie Olave. And that doesn’t count all-purpose back, Alvin Kamara. Landry’s dynasty ADP sits in the 60s right now which is about right. Don’t expect a lot of improvement from there and certainly don’t spend draft capital on him.
Zach Attack
QB-to-TE chemistry 📈@ZachWilson 🎯 @T_Conk1 pic.twitter.com/w8ZojvrLV9
— New York Jets (@nyjets) May 14, 2022
We’re a long way off from the season so padless practice highlights are what we have to work with. Nonetheless, it’s hard to not get excited by Zach Wilson, whether he’s throwing to new tight end Tyler Conklin or either of the young receivers the Jets drafted the last two seasons in Elijah Moore or Garrett Wilson. After a shaky rookie season, where he did get better as the season wore on, the training wheels are off and Wilson will be expected to produce.
Dynasty Impact: As mentioned above, Wilson’s rookie season statistics were a mixed back. He struggled early, throwing nine interceptions in his first five games while throwing just four touchdowns and never totaling more than 300 yards. Then the Jets’ bye week happened, Wilson got injured the next game and he missed the next four games. He was much more productive upon his return, throwing five touchdowns but just two picks. The Jets also ran him more which resulted in four rushing touchdowns to end the season.
Currently, Wilson is DLF’s 18th-ranked quarterback behind players like Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Fields. That seems incorrect now that we’ve gotten to the other side of the draft. Yes, the Dolphins traded for Tyreek Hill for Tagovailoa but new coach Mike McDaniel’s offense isn’t exactly pass-first. And the Bears did nothing to help Fields this off-season, unlike the Jets who spent a first and second-round pick on receivers this year and last.
I’d be targeting Wilson as a value option in superflex leagues before he starts lighting it up in preseason.
Mac Pro
Tatum & Mac Jones 🤝
Future of Boston sports is bright! pic.twitter.com/tmbBSm16q0
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 15, 2022
Why am I picking a tweet of Mac Jones dabbing Jayson Tatum? It’s not to highlight Jones seemingly enjoying his off-season. It’s the opposite. According to the Athletic, Jones’ appearance at the Celtics game was a break from the work he’s been putting in during the off-season. He’s become Tom Brady-lite when it comes to his work ethic and embodying the ‘Patriot Way’ which has New England fans thrilled. It shouldn’t be a surprise since Jones came from one no-nonsense coach (Nick Saban) to another (Bill Belichick) and seems to be setting up Jones as another Patriot legend.
Dynasty Impact: There will be no shortage of hype surrounding Jones and the Patriots this off-season especially if stories like this keep coming out. But it’s warranted. Jones was the most impressive rookie quarterback last season in a draft that saw five go in the first round, him being the last one. Add an off-season, a competent receiver in DeVante Parker and Jones has the tools to be a relevant fantasy quarterback. According to the DLF Trade Finder, Jones is being traded for everything from a first-round rookie pick on down in superflex leagues. If your superflex team is lacking a quarterback option, that would be a fair trade, especially considering this year’s class of rookie quarterbacks.
Silence is Cohen
This sucks. Free agent RB Tarik Cohen seems to have suffered a pretty bad injury while working out on Instagram Live. Poor guy can’t catch a break. pic.twitter.com/zysFSHxKeQ
— uSTADIUM App (@uSTADIUM) May 17, 2022
Welp. If getting hurt while trying to catch on with a team wasn’t bad enough for Tarik Cohen, viewers of his IG page got to see it happen in real-time. It’s unfortunate as Cohen was working out, literally, by himself before he went down with what ultimately was diagnosed as a torn Achilles. Cohen was attempting a comeback after missing most of the last two seasons with a torn ACL. Now it looks like his career might be over.
Dynasty Impact: Injury or not, the prospects of Cohen catching on with a team – and being productive – were already slim. If he went back to Chicago, he’d be part of an offense that plans on being more run-heavy which isn’t ideal for a pass-catching back like Cohen. If he were to move on, he’d still be four years removed from being fantasy-relevant. He managed to tally over 1,000 total yards in 2018 and scored eight touchdowns. Now, he can safely be dropped from your dynasty no matter how deep the roster limits.
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