With training camp less than three weeks away for most teams, it’s the perfect time to get a head start on your fantasy football research. We will learn a lot about every player in camp, but some players stand the most to gain or lose in camp. These players are generally newcomers to their current NFL team or just players who may see an increased or decreased role due to the supporting cast around them.
In this series, it will be our job to highlight these players in an effort to help you get ahead of the game in your research. Over the next four weeks, we will preview every division and pinpoint four to five players to track during training camp and the preseason. We broke down the NFC East earlier this week, and you can keep up with the whole series here. Below, the AFC East.
Bilal Powell, RB, New York Jets
There were signs Powell was ready to take over as the Jets lead back last preseason. He edged Matt Forte in just about every advanced metric heading into the year. Still, Forte came off the board several rounds before Powell last offseason. The narrative has flipped after Powell finished as an RB2 overall (just inside the top 20) and an RB1 in PPR leagues over the second half. With a fast-rising ADP, Powell may have to catch a lot of passes to provide a return on investment on what is likely to be the NFL’s worst team.
The narrative: Powell is ready to take over as the featured back
In 2016, Powell finished with 531 snaps in total compared to 487 for Forte. Powell finished with just the 21st-most snaps among all RBs. Powell is currently being selected in the sixth round per Fantasy Football Calculator. Forte is being selected in the ninth round. We’re talking standard-scoring ADP and in order for Powell to return value he will need to inherit a much larger percentage of snaps.
What reports to focus on: Jets training camp will be the time to find out if the team is truly ready to turn the reins over to Powell in more a leading role. All offseason, the Jets have suggested a committee approach. Jets RB coach Stump Mitchell said he will use both backs and Jets OC John Morton confirmed during OTAs. For now, it’s all coach speak and it can change fast if Powell is taking the vast majority of first-team snaps in camp.
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