After an offseason akin to a soap opera, the New YorkJets finally kick off their season tonight in our first edition of Monday Night Football. Facing the reigning AFC East Champs, the Buffalo Bills, at MetLife Stadium, the Jets will embark on their 2023 campaign with sky-high expectations.
A big part of their Super Bowl pipe-dream rests in the capable hands of Garrett Wilson. The reigning offensive rookie of the year is coming off a debut season in which he accrued 1,103 receiving yards on 83 catches, despite subpar quarterback play.
Enter Aaron Rodgers. The long-time Packers quarterback made his way over to New Jersey this offseason with the prospect of igniting this Jets offense to championship levels.
Also enter Nathaniel Hackett. After a forgettable one-year stint as the Denver Broncos head coach, Hackett is reunited with Rodgers after serving as his offensive coordinator for three seasons with the Packers.
The moving pieces have created lofty expectations for Wilson, who is expected to fill the Davante Adams role as the featured pass-catcher (with Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb reprising their roles as complementary receivers).
Despite the question marks of so many new facets to this offense, and a backfield filled with options making their return from injuries, I love this spot for Wilson to shine in Game 1.
Wilson pushed past this line in both matchups against the Bills last season (once each with Mike White and Zach Wilson at quarterback). And in the one game in which Bills lead cornerback Tre-Davious White was active, Wilson caught four passes for 51 yards (on five targets) when in White’s coverage.
With Rodgers implied at 33 pass attempts by most sportsbooks, I have Wilson projected close to 10 targets. And while I’m favoring Wilson’s receptions line, I’m reducing the juice by tacking on 60 receiving yards, as I have Wilson conservatively at 7.5 yards per target.
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