Fantasy Billboard: Jets and Giants pre-training camp outlook

It’s July, that wonderful time of year for beach, barbecues and NFL training camps. A lot has changed on the Jets roster this offseason, and the Giants are hoping to keep their roster intact. Let’s take a Fantasy Billboard look at where New York’s favorite football teams stack up for 2023.

QB Aaron Rodgers — Name the last Jets quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards. It wasn’t Pennington, O’Brien, or Todd The shocking answer is Joe Namath with 4,007 way back in 1967. That’s 55 years of bad air quality. The Jets hope a cool breeze from Wisconsin will provide a climate change. I think the elder Rodgers has the renewable energy to solar power his way to 4,000 yards and 25 TDs.

RB Breece Hall — Coach Saleh said “Breece looks fantastic” back in April as he recovers from his ACL injury. If that’s the case, expect Hall to pick up where he left off, breezing past linebackers and catching plenty of balls. He should have over 1,000 yards rushing and 400 receiving along with 8-10 TDs.

Wide Receivers — Jeff Mans, FantasyGuru.com’s resident genius, has this to say about Garrett Wilson: “Everybody wants to anoint Wilson as the new Davante Adams because Aaron Rodgers is in New York. But with Breece Hall, [Allen] Lazard, [Mecole] Hardman, [Randall] Cobb and [Corey] Davis all requiring targets, that Davante Adams volume is simply not possible without the use of a time machine.”

I say Wilson is still a legit No. 1 wideout who will win many championships for Fantasy owners. Lazard will be a familiar face for Rodgers, but I don’t expect his stats to improve over last year (788 yards, 6 TDs). The rest of the Jet WRs are undraftable for now. Newcomer Hardman will be the Swiss Army knife, running end-arounds and possibly returning kicks. Veteran Davis is just as talented as Wilson but hasn’t been healthy enough to prove it. Rodgers recruited Cobb, who said he’s “got a lot left in the tank.” I think he’s on “E.” Former second rounder Denzel Mims complained he got no respect last year, which is only fitting since he hails from Daingerfield, Texas.

Tight Ends — Tyler Conklin averaged 60 catches the last two years, but Rodgers rarely peppers his tight ends. Sharing time with C.J. Uzomah doesn’t help matters. Look elsewhere for TEs this season.

The Pinstripe Express

Weekly

The Daily News sports editors handpick the week’s best Yankees stories from our award-winning columnists and beat writers. Delivered to your inbox every Wednesday.

QB Daniel Jones — The Giants surprisingly threw for fewer yards in 2022 (3,431) than 2021 (3,463) and I don’t see that improving. Danny Dimes is chump change in the passing game, but Fantasy gold in the running game. He ran for 708 yards and 7 TDs, making him the twelfth best QB in Fantasy last year.

RB Saquon Barkley — The July 17 deadline approaches and Barkley has yet to sign his franchise tag offer. I think the Giants will do the right thing and sign him to a multi-year deal worth up to $55 million with $25 guaranteed. Saquon would make $22.2 million over the next two years under the tag anyway. He’s a top five NFL back and the Giants will go nowhere fast in the NFC East without him. Jeff Mans says of Barkley: “Saquon may want more than $10.09 million in 2023, but fantasy owners would like more than the 15.9 fantasy points that he averaged after Week 9 last season too. As my good friend Mick Jagger once said, ‘You can’t always get what you want’. I am still drafting Saquon early in 2023.″

Wide Receivers — Until the passing game improves, it’s best to wait and see before acquiring any Giant WRs for Fantasy. Wan’Dale Robinson, the speedster whose season was cut short by injury, was Jones’ favorite target. He’s a good bet to start in the slot. The last time we saw Isaiah Hodgins he was ambushing the Vikings for 105 yards and a TD in the playoffs. Stolen from Buffalo by Brian Daboll, Hodgins has carved out a roll he won’t relinquish without a fight. The 2022 Biletnikoff Award winner for the best college wideout, rookie Jalin Hyatt was a beast at Tennessee. He should start by mid-season.

Darius Slayton led the Giants with an impressive 16 yards per catch average. He may nonetheless give way to Hyatt and play a reserve role. Parris Campbell is a former Colts’ second rounder with 4.3 speed who will rotate with Robinson until one of them cements the position. Jamison Crowder and Sterling Shepard are on the wrong side of 30 and have not been able to stay healthy. I don’t see the Giants moving away from their younger talent to keep them. Jeff Smith (former BC quarterback), Collin Johnson (at 6-6 the tallest WR in the NFL) and David Sills (tenacious talent who was recruited by USC in seventh grade) look practice squad bound.

TE Darren Waller — The former Raider should lead the Giants in receptions and is a good bet to be a top 10 TE in Fantasy. Jones will find it easier tossing 9-yard outs to Waller rather than risking injury running around end.

* * *

Preseason Blowout Offer! 30% off the subscription from FantasyGuru.com, the finest source for Seasonal, DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports) and Sports Gaming advice. Just go to FantasyGuru.com and enter the code NEW30 for instant savings.