Imagine journeyman and perennial cast-off (and former aerospace engineering major) Joshua Dobbs in a Jets uniform. It would have cost this franchise pennies compared to the cost of throwing away a season. Instead, they've gone for broke with Zach Wilson, who's produced zero touchdowns in 12 of 30 career starts, and only one in 10 other starts. It's an ugly track record that has often led to middling fantasy production from great talents like Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson, and to unstartable fantasy production from middling talents like Allen Lazard and (last year) Elijah Moore.
Zach Wilson is a painful lesson in sunk costs. Head coach Robert Saleh has stubbornly stuck with the former #2 overall pick, who up until last night had been shielded from all-out scrutiny, because the Jets were 4-3. Never mind that Wilson has shown almost no improvement. Against the Broncos -- which has yielded the seventh-most QB fantasy points per game -- Wilson mustered 8.6. Then against the Eagles -- which has surrendered the third-most QB fantasy points per game -- Wilson amassed 10.4.
But the Jets won both contests. And while most would argue that wins are not a QB stat, Wilson's probably hung onto the starting job because of those wins. As a result, this team ignored the warning signs before the NFL trade deadline. They embraced the notion that a strong running game and frequently exceptional defense could keep them afloat until (supposedly) Aaron Rodgers' miraculous January return.
Entering last night, the Chargers had given up the *most* QB fantasy points per game in the league. But against Wilson, this unit looked elite, engineering eight sacks and limiting the Jets' mainstay starter to 5.4 yards per throw. If you started Garrett Wilson or Tyler Conklin, you got your points. Otherwise, there wasn't much to cheer about. And if you're planning to start any Jets in Weeks 15 (@Miami) or 17 (@Cleveland), all I can say is good luck.
Justin Herbert wasn't any better, though that was expected. New York's D has been brutal to opposing quarterbacks at home, which is why I benched Herbert this week. They coaxed three interceptions from Josh Allen in Week 1, barely 13 fantasy points from Mac Jones in Week 3, two picks from a subdued Patrick Mahomes in Week 4, and three interceptions from Jalen Hurts in Week 6 (although Hurts did most of his damage on the ground).
All home games, and three of them against elite fantasy QBs. With two of his top three WRs sidelined (I'm including Mike Williams), Herbert didn't have much of a chance. Once again, Austin Ekeler and Keenan Allen crushed it. Presumably Quentin Johnston will pick up steam next Sunday against Detroit.
Regarding Ekeler, the veteran RB is a great example of decline wrapped in fantasy gold. He's still getting it done because of overall volume, including targets and goal-line looks. All deserved. There's no knocking him.
And yet, like the similarly aging and heavily worked (for their careers) Alvin Kamara, Ekeler has struggled on the ground like never before. In his four outings since returning from his injury, the bellcow has rushed 57 times for 148 yards. That's 2.6 yards per carry. On the whole, Joshua Kelley has run better on the ground, and the Chargers clearly are committed to not overloading Ekeler at this stage. As long as the veteran remains front-and-center in the passing game, there's nothing to worry about. But it's worth noting.
Finally, one more thought on the Jets, and looking forward to hearing your thoughts. What do they do at this point? What *can* they do with only QB Tim Boyle waiting in the wings? Probably nothing. It's too late in the season to upgrade, or at least that's what they're probably thinking. Still, if this team loses to the Raiders next week -- with Buffalo and Miami on deck -- the Jets' once-promising season might be all but over.
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Happy Daylight Savings Time for those who celebrate. Denver, Detroit, Jacksonville, and San Francisco are