There are very few guarantees when it comes to the start of a new fantasy football season. The only developments that one can count on happening year in and year out are inevitable player injuries, surprise underachievers, and shocking breakout stars. This article will place an emphasis on the last development and focus on New York Jets running back Bilal Powell.
While it may come as a surprise to many, Powell finished the 2016 season as the RB16 in PPR formats despite playing behind veteran Matt Forte. Even more surprising, Powell finished the season with the second-highest average yards per carry (5.51). His success went criminally unnoticed last season due to the dumpster fire that was the New York Jets, but it is now time for the fantasy world to know the name, Bilal Powell. There is no reason to believe that the Jets will be better (it is likely they will even be much worse) than they were a season ago. However, here is why that is a good thing for 2017 fantasy owners of Powell.
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The Jets Have no Reason to Keep Matt Forte
By releasing talented veterans such as linebacker David Harris and wide receiver Eric Decker this offseason, the Jets have made it quite clear that they are prepared to sacrifice the present for hopes of a better future, otherwise known as tanking. Following the aforementioned roster moves, it is very possible the Jets decide to release the aging Matt Forte prior to the upcoming season. Forte is not the player he used to be, but he still offers some value to a team in the right position. That team is not the Jets. It would make more sense for the forward-looking Jets to give Powell a chance to prove his worth as the feature back this season. He is not only younger than Forte but also has much less mileage on his body. The 28-year-old Powell only has 533 carries in his six-year career, but he has made the most of them with a career average of 4.4 yards per carry. Forte was only able to muster 3.7 yards per carry a season ago, and would likely find himself behind Powell on the depth chart even if he remained a part of the team.
Powell is Going to be the Centerpiece of the Offense
The New York Jets offense is very bad, and that may not even be a harsh enough description. A bad offense usually scares away fantasy owners, but it should not deter you from Powell. Powell will be the best player on the Jets offense this season, and it may not even be close. He is more proven (yikes), sans Forte, than any other skill player currently on the Jets roster, and he should see a hefty workload both in the rushing and passing game in his first season as the starting back. Jets running back coach Stump Mitchell even stated that Powell would be a “Pro Bowler” when he got the chance to be the lead back in New York. Well, that chance is now, and Powell will have the ability and opportunity to deliver on the claims of his coach.
Conclusion
Bilal Powell has been effective for the majority of his career. He has produced in limited opportunity and done so on a consistent basis (over 4.0 yards per carry last five seasons). With the Jets tank plan in full effect and Powell primed to be featured for the first time in his career, the time is now to take advantage as a fantasy owner. According to FantasyFootballCalculator.com, Powell’s current ADP is 74, a small asking price for a player with real RB1 potential and a low-end RB2 floor. Take Powell in the sixth round and never look back.
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Samuel Dupuy is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Samuel, check out his archive and follow him @samdupuy5.
