The New York Jets have one of the ugliest offenses in the NFL. Still, it’s time for fantasy football owners to consider pursuing a trade for the Jets’ new centerpiece: running back Le’Veon Bell.
The Jets seem to be on the verge of taking a huge step forward, and that will no doubt help Bell. Buy low.
His yards per carry (2.9) have been horrible in 2019, largely because quarterback Sam Darnold has been out with mono. As a result, the Jets turned to Trevor Siemian, who immediately got injured, and finally to Luke Falk. Falk hasn’t looked ready for the promotion, and defenses have taken notice, keying almost exclusively on limiting Bell’s production.
The return of Darnold won’t fix the Jets offense, but it will make for a more efficient version of Bell. Not only is he likely to get more yards per carry, but he’s also probably going to see an uptick in touches in the passing game. Yup, that’s PPR value. And most important, Darnold should help create space for Bell in the red zone. He has no rushing touchdowns, just one as a pass-catcher on a 9-yard reception. (Of course, the pass came from Darnold.) Bell will likely have more trips into the end zone with Darnold on the field.
This isn’t to say Darnold is a cure-all. Coach Adam Gase has not proved to be the offensive guru he was hyped to be. At no point has he wowed with his offense as a head coach, whether in New York or Miami. But Darnold will create balance, which is what Bell so desperately needs to get going as a true RB1. This week, before Darnold returns, is the best time to pursue Bell on the trade market in your fantasy football leagues.
