Zach Wilson has arguably garnered the most press and the most buzz across the NFL offseason. All of that noise comes from being drafted No. 2 overall by the New York Jets (a notoriously friendly fanbase and a super welcoming crowd) after rocketing up draft boards following an impressive final season at BYU.
So far through two preseason games, Wilson has impressed. After testing the waters in Preseason Week 1, he played four series in the first half in Week 2 against the Packers, and finished 9-of-11 for 128 yards and two touchdowns.
Zach Wilson looking like a number 2 overall pick 👀
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 21, 2021
The question still remains, however, if Wilson will be a viable fantasy QB2. The consensus following the draft, in terms of fantasy value at least, was that Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, and Trey Lance were situated in favorable situations in terms of roster depth and skill. I still believe that Fields was the second-best quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft, but that argument can wait. That leaves Wilson and Mac Jones from last April’s first round.
Jones has impressed in the preseason, and another bout with COVID-19 restrictions from fellow Patriot QB Cam Newton cracked the door ever so slightly for him to see significant time this season.
That leaves New York’s newest golden boy, Zach Wilson. I personally would like to aim Jets fans ready to anoint Wilson their next Broadway Joe to the preseason hype of the 2014 Knicks. Derrick Rose very proudly asserted that THIS crew was a superteam on the same level as the Warriors (Yeah, the threepeat, unanimous MVP + Kevin Durant + Klay + Draymond Warriors team).
All joking aside, I’d argue that Wilson is aligned in the best spot outside of the three rookies mentioned earlier.
His instant connection with newly inked wideout Corey Davis is garnering major attention, and not just in their home market. Then, there’s the emergence of rookie wideout Elijah Moore, who’s picking up the playbook and making plays like a seasoned vet.
There’s one other major factor that could bolster Wilson’s chances this year. Robert Saleh and Mike LaFleur, key members of Kyle Shanahan’s coaching staff, just happen to be the head coach and offensive coordinator in the Meadowlands this season. Saleh’s stingy defense and LaFleur’s vast knowledge of the Shanahan offense should lend aid to a young quarterbacks’ success.
Through two preseason games, Wilson is thriving in a scheme that is adding wrinkles to mimic BYU’s playbook to a degree, and an offense that rewards early, easy reads coupled off run plays with similar action.
“We were, I think, top-three in rushing in ’19 and Jimmy had a great year,” LaFleur said. “That run game really helped him out. It created that space behind him to, basically what I like to say, take some plays off of him, where it just turns into routes on air. If we get the run game going, we’re going to get those big play-action passes over the top where a lot of times you really don’t have to read anything.”
Wilson, who is still considered raw, has the talent, tools, and work ethic to make a year-one splash.
Saleh said Zach Wilson’s “process is light years ahead” of a normal rookie. “The results, sometimes will be good, sometimes will be bad, and he’s just got to continue to find ways to get better.” #Jets
— Andy Vasquez (@andy_vasquez) August 21, 2021
The Wolf has Wilson slotted in as the QB20 as of his updated Big Board, +7 vs ECR and +5 vs ADP. The Jets signal-caller is behind Fields (QB13), Lance (QB14), and Lawrence (QB16), but with Lawrence being the only other established starter at this point in the season, Wilson has definite QB2 potential, even more so with his current ADP of 196 per fantasypros.com.
Right now, we’d suggest taking a flier on one of these stud rookies and pairing him with a late-round, stable veteran, such as Ben Roethlisberger, Ryan Fitzpatrick, or Kirk Cousins.
