Santonio Holmes Injury: Why You Should Start Jets WR in Fantasy Football

New York Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes has been limited in practice this week with knee and quad injuries, but the latest report says he will be active for Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite being banged up, Holmes faces a tantalizing matchup against a Jags secondary that looks awful.

Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez looked very comfortable in the team's Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys. He showed tremendous improvement in his decision-making, though he does need to up his completion percentage. Against the Cowboys, Sanchez completed 26-of-44 passes for 335 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception.

Sanchez targeted Holmes a team-high 10 times and completed six passes to him for 70 yards. Holmes didn't find the end zone in Week 1, but he's clearly the first guy Sanchez looks for in the offense. If he starts this week—and with this morning's report, there is no reason to believe he won't—Holmes is going to see a lot of balls thrown his way.

In their 16-14 Week 1 win over the Tennessee Titans, the Jaguars looked terrible in pass defense. They allowed a rapidly decomposing Matt Hasselbeck to complete 21-of-34 passes for 263 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. Working together, Sanchez and Holmes could carve up the Jaguars.

While the Jaguars did a great job stuffing the run—allowing just 43 yards in Week 1—the Jets won without getting much out of their running game against the Cowboys. New York gained just 45 yards on 16 carries against Dallas, as they were clearly looking for the passing attack to lead the way.

I expect Holmes to start today, and I expect him to play well. The Jets will try to take advantage of the Jags' secondary and weak pass rush.

With the matchup he faces this week, it is almost impossible to sit Holmes.