Consider starting Jets' WR Elijah Moore
I have a mouth. Like all mouths, it has two sides: a left side and a right side. Excuse me for a moment as I talk out of both sides.
First: No, you should not have started Jets wide receiver Elijah Moore on Thursday night. There was no good reason to. The rookie had scored exactly one touchdown all season.
Second: He was coming off his best game the Sunday before, but that was for just six catches for 67 yards, and that was catching every target — something that won’t happen often. And that game was particularly weird, with rookie backup quarterback Mike White having an all-world debut in an upset of the Bengals.
There was no reason to think new trends were being established, and every reason to think that game was just an anomaly. And a reminder: that game produced just OK results for Moore.
Then came Thursday, when Moore had his breakout game — seven catches on eight targets for 84 yards with two touchdowns for 27.4 PPR fantasy points. That was double his best fantasy production of the year.
Would you have liked to have those points in your lineup? Of course. but the idea benching him was a mistake is revisionist history. When making lineup decisions, you can’t base them on best-case scenarios — especially when those scenarios have never happened. You have to base decisions on useful knowledge, which is past performance.
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Moore’s potential was good enough to warrant a roster spot but not starting consideration. After a game like Thursday’s, that is when you can start changing you evaluation and push him into consideration for a fantasy starting role. That game adds texture to his preceding games, in which he has made progress each week. It makes his previous Week 8 showing look less like an accident.
Of course, what happens when Zach Wilson returns? Or Corey Davis gets back on the field? Well, it doesn’t make sense to punish Moore for great play with fewer snaps, so we expect him to stay on the field. He is a member of the 2021 Jets Rookie Club — along with Wilson, running back Michael Carter and also coach Robert Saleh.
The Jets aren’t going anywhere this season, so their best and only goal should be to get experience for their young core. That means playing them and making them the focus of the offense.
Now that Moore’s breakout has occurred, and the situation is such that he should continue to get significant volume … now he is worthy of starting consideration.
Consider: In Week 10, the Jets face the Bills, who are one of the best defending opposing WRs. We’re going to sit him then. Consider: Week 11 and 12, they face the Dolphins, who rank in the bottom half, and the Texans, one of the worst versus WRs. Start him both games.
Here’s the good new: He is available in most leagues. It would be a good idea to consider picking him up.
Buy! Buy! Buy!
Carson Wentz QB, Colts
His solid fantasy production is flying under the radar. Ranks 10th among all QBs — ahead of Aaron Rodgers and Ryan Tannehill. Has just one game with fewer than 17 fantasy points.
James Conner RB, Cardinals
Chase Edmonds is expected to miss up to a month with a high-ankle sprain, so Conner’s volume will increase. With Kyler Murray dealing with an ankle problem, fewer worries about the QB vulturing TDs.
Jordan Howard RB, Eagles
Seems to have pulled ahead in messy Eagles backfield. Had more carries than Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell combined on Sunday. Miles Sanders will be at least a game or two away from returning.
Russell Gage WR, Falcons
Olamide Zaccheaus had the impressive fantasy day (two TDs), but he did it on just three targets. Follow the volume instead. Gage had eight targets (seven catches, 64 yards). He got the attention that we thought Tajae Sharpe would.
Bye! Bye! Bye!
Myles Gaskin RB, Dolphins
Too inconsistent to start, too good to drop. If you can find a trade in which you can throw in Gaskin to close on an upgrade elsewhere, do it.
Damien Harris RB, Patriots
Upside is limited, and use of Rhamondre Stevenson and Brandon Bolden has been increasing. Try to sell Harris based on six TDs in past five games, double-digit PPR score in past four.
Malik Turner WR, Cowboys
Don’t get fooled by his two garbage-time TDs on Sunday. Michael Gallup’s expected return in the next week or two will render Turner and Cedric Wilson as afterthoughts. Leave Turner on waivers.
George Kittle TE, 49ers
Great outing in his return from a calf injury. If you found a solid plug while he was out the past month — think Mike Gesicki, Dallas Geodert, Zach Ertz — check trade interests to see if you can get ample return for Kittle.
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