Fantasy Fallout: J-E-T-S a M-E-S-S as Geno Smith takes over at QB
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Here are the fantasy implications following the announcement that Geno Smith will take over at quarterback for the New York Jets in Week 7:
Smith is no fantasy savior
Smith gets his long-awaited shot at the starting role after Ryan Fitzpatrick tossed 11 interceptions through the Jets' first six games. It's a stunning turn of events for a team that spent $12 million on a one-year deal, hoping to get the Fitzpatrick who threw for 3,905 yards and 31 touchdowns last season. Sadly, that was not the version they got.
Smith hasn't started a game since 2014, but did have a lengthy showcase in a game against Oakland last season after Fitzpatrick tore a ligament in his thumb on the Jets' opening drive. Smith finished that game 27-of-42 for 265 yards with two touchdowns and an interception while leaning heavily on Brandon Marshall (more on that later).
Smith is little more than a deep-league streaming option or a second quarterback in 2-QB leagues for this week's encounter with the visiting Baltimore Ravens. If he can build enough momentum to fend off Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg and keep the starting role, he could be worth a look as a matchups-dependent start for owners with bye-week issues.
Marshall Plan: plenty of targets
Marshall owners might be freaking out a bit, seeing the move from Fitzpatrick to Smith as a major downgrade - but not so fast. It isn't like Fitzpatrick was lighting the world on fire; he connected with Marshall on just 27 of 60 targets through six games, with most of those misses on passes that no receiver would have caught. And Smith appears to be fond of Marshall.
In Smith's only taste of significant game action with Marshall on his team, he targeted his No. 1 wide receiver 18 times, leading to nine receptions for 108 yards - and that was with WR Eric Decker healthy and contributing. With Decker out for the season, Smith will have no choice but to lean heavily on Marshall, who is good enough to remain a WR1 for the rest of the year.
Downgrade the running game
The real losers here will be Matt Forte owners, who will likely see him matched up against a healthy share of stacked boxes. Between more defensive resistance, a sustained reliance on Bilal Powell on third-down and passing-down plays and Smith likely to run the ball more than Fitzpatrick did, it looks like Forte's value has nowhere to go but down.
It may be time to cut bait on Forte while he still has fantasy value. Heavy workloads earlier in the season are sure to take their toll moving forward, and with the Jets already looking forward to next season, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Powell get more early-down work at Forte's expense. Trade him for whatever you can get - and don't be surprised if it isn't much.