New York Jets: Players You Should and Should Not Draft for a League This Year

In recent years, the New York Jets have not had many players worth drafting for fantasy football.  Last year, the most popular picks of people on the Jets were Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes and the Jets defense.

Even though there is still a lockout going on, it is time to think about fantasy football, especially if you want to win your league this year.  This list is a look at players people consider when they draft that play for the Jets and whether or not they should actually be drafted. 

Should Draft: Jets Defense

Al Bello/Getty Images

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots gets up after being sacked by Drew Coleman #30 of the New York Jets during their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Pho

Just like in 2009, the Jets defense performed well and was one of the top five defenses for a second year in a row.  With defensive mastermind Rex Ryan leading the team and Defensive Coordinator Mike Pettine, the Jets will likely repeat their success if there is a 2011 season.

With Darelle Revis at cornerback (and Antonio Cromartie will likely be resigned once the lockout is over) the Jets will have shutdown cornerbacks for a second year in a row.  With Bart Scott and David Harris leading the way, the linebackers need no further praise. 

In order to fill their need on the defensive line because of age, the Jets drafted Temple’s Muhammad Wilkerson with their first-round pick and later drafted Hampton’s Kenrick Ellis. 

Both bring a lot to the table and are the kind of players Rex Ryan wants for his defensive line, they will definitely be a big help when it comes to putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Should Not Draft: Jets Kicker

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Nick Folk #2 of the New York Jets reacts after missing a first quarter field goal against the New England Patriots during their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

Since the days of Mike Nugent, the Jets have had kicker issues.  Last season, the Jets signed former Cowboys kicker Nick Folk. 

In 2010 he made 77 percent of his field goal attempts with a career long kick of 56 yards (keep in mind that it was in Denver where the ball travels a lot better).

In some situations, Folk did well like against Indianapolis in the playoffs, but then there are other games like the Browns overtime game where he made two of five, which could have prevented the game from going into overtime.

As of right now, Folk is a free agent and his return is unlikely.  The Jets will probably turn to free agency once again to fulfill this need, but don’t expect a great season from a Jets kicker in 2011.

Should Draft: Shonn Greene

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

SAN DIEGO - JANUARY 17: Running back Shonn Greene #23 of the New York Jets celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Qualcomm Stadium on January 17, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Stephen

Drafted in 2009 is Shonn Greene.  The Jets traded up to get the Iowa running back in the third round as they saw great potential in him.  There is no doubt that Greene has flourished in the New York Jets system thus far.

Since the end of the 2009 season, the Jets have been trying to include Greene in their game plan more and more. 

It started in the 2010 playoffs when he impressed coaches and fans with his clutch plays throughout the three weeks the Jets tried to make the Super Bowl.  This attempt to infuse Greene in the system some more continued during the 2010 preseason and into the regular season. 

When the Jets saw LaDainian Tomlinson was playing a lot better, they began to give Tomlinson the majority of the carries.

One of the struggles Greene had early in the season was keeping control of the football as he fumbled on occasion, which is one of the reasons the Jets turned to Tomlinson more as the season went on. 

Even though he was not starting, Shonn proved himself again in the 2011 playoffs as he delivered for the Jets; his best play of the playoffs was scoring a touchdown against the Patriots and telling the fans to go to sleep as his celebration.

It is very likely that the Jets will try Greene at the starting position again; he will be entering his third year.  This means he will be more mature than he was and he will have improved physically; as long as he does not put the ball on the ground, he should have the starting position because of his youth and talent. 

Therefore, Greene would be a great pick in the middle to late rounds as a second running back (depending on the kind of league you play in).

Should Not Draft: LaDainian Tomlinson

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 08: LaDainian Tomlinson #21 of the New York Jets celebrates after he scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Ja

LaDainian Tomlinson proved to the nation in 2010 that he could still play well when he shined as a New York Jet. 

Most people would draft Tomlinson because of his 2010 season, which was impressive considering what most people said about him (219 attempts, 914 yards, and 6 touchdowns).

The reality with LaDainian is that the Jets are not concerned with his future as they are with Shonn Greene’s.  In 2009, the Jets drafted Greene in the third round.  Since then, he has proven that he can play well at the professional level, especially when the pressure is on. 

In the last two years the Jets have made the playoffs, Greene has shown an exceptional ability to run the football in the divisional round against San Diego (2010) and New England (2011).

In both game, he put the proverbial nails in the coffins by scoring late touchdowns that put their opponents away in each game.

Should Draft: Dustin Keller

Marc Serota/Getty Images

MIAMI - SEPTEMBER 26: Tight end Dustin Keller #81 of the New York Jets catches a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on September 26, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

Entering his fourth year is Jets tight end Dustin Keller.  Since his debut in 2008, Keller has steadily improved, as he becomes a bigger target for Sanchez.  In 2009, he was the go-to guy when the Jets ran a bootleg with Mark Sanchez, in most cases, the play would go for a big gain.

One of the problems the Jets face this year is free agency; last year they had Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes as receivers, as of right now, they are both free agents.  If anything, this is a great thing for Keller because the Jets will likely only re-sign Holmes. 

Because of his D.U.I. after the Week 2 victory against New England this year, Braylon Edwards violated his probation in Cleveland and could be facing jail time, it makes no sense for the Jets to spend millions of dollars on a player that could end up in jail.

What this all means for Keller is that he will see an increase in targets.  Like I said before, his on-field abilities have increased since 2008 and he will be a favorite target for Sanchez in 2011. 

Even though the lockout is going on, he and Sanchez have already begun working to prepare for the 2011 season as Sanchez had his second “Jets West Camp” in Mission Viejo, California early in May. 

Expect Keller has not had spectacular seasons, expect him to have a solid season this year, he is definitely a sleeper in the mid to late rounds.

Should Not Draft: Mark Sanchez

Nick Laham/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Quarterback Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets gestures as he looks towards the sideline against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Since being drafted in 2009, quarterback Mark Sanchez has improving, slowly but surely. 

For example, in 2009, Sanchez could not slide for his life, leading to a knee injury in the middle of the season; in 2010, he was able to slide proficiently and did not suffer a similar injury.

Although he has shown improvement, Sanchez still is not the quarterback you want starting for your fantasy football team. 

He is still inconsistent, which means he may get you touchdowns one week and throw three interceptions the following week. 

In about a year or two, Sanchez will be a good late pick-up, but for now, don’t worry about drafting him.