Bam Knight Fantasy Football Outlook (2023)

By Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros), Fri, Sep 1st 2023, 10:35am EDT

The Jets leaned on Zonovan Knight down the stretch in 2022 after injuries hit their backfield between Breece Hall and Michael Carter. "Bam" Knight forced a broken tackle on 34% of his rushes - which ranked No. 1 in NFL last season among RBs with at least 80 carries. The 2022 undrafted free agent completely supplanted Carter as the team's RB1 after the latter suffered an injury in Week 12. He maintained starting usage even after Carter returned to the lineup in Week 14. In Knight's first three games as the featured back (Weeks 12-14), Knight averaged 15.2 PPR points, 76 rushing yards and 18.6 touches per game. Also was a perfect 10-for-10 in the receiving game. Per PFF, for the next four weeks he was running into WALLs with a rotating carousel at QB. -7 yards before contact. 77 yards after contact for a total of 70 rushing yards. He earned it all. Considering Carter finished dead last among all RBs in offensive rushing EPA/attempt last season, I'd bet Knight gets the nod over him on the Week 1 depth chart behind Dalvin Cook and Breece Hall. Per the Athletic's Zak Rosenblatt, Knight has been the Jets best running back in camp. And it's not just one source. Robby Sabo of JetsXFactor also believes Carter is losing this RB battle, quote saying, "Where Michael Carter lacks, Bam Knight excels." Also references Knight's comfort running behind a fullback which should be a new wrinkle in the Jets run game under Nathaniel Hackett.