Gross Bombs: NFL Props for Week 16
Josh Gross
Ding dong, the witch is dead. After months of speculation, the game of chicken between the Packers and Jets has reached its conclusion. Aaron Rodgers is on his way to the Big Apple, after the Packers traded him to the Jets. What are the fantasy football implications?
Aaron Rodgers traded to the Jets – Fantasy Reaction
To facilitate the deal, the Packers and Jets will swap picks in the first round of this year’s draft (Packers move to 13th and Jets move to 15th) along with receiving one of the Jets’ second-round selections (pick 42 overall), the Jets’ sixth-rounder (pick 207) and a conditional 2024 second-round pick from the Jets that will escalate to a first if Rodgers plays at least 65% of snaps in 2023.
At worst, this haul moves the Packers up two spots and nets them an additional Day 2 pick in each of the next two drafts, along with an additional Day 3 pick this year. If Rodgers plays most, or all of the season, they’ll land another first for next year. Not too shabby for an organization looking to turn the page to the next chapter.
Fantasy impact on Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, and Breece Hall
While Rodgers isn’t coming off the most impressive season in 2022, it’s a stretch to suggest his skills are on the decline. Yes, he’ll turn 40 in December. That’s an age that is well past many quarterback’s expiration dates. But Rodgers appears to be the rare breed that can defy Father Time longer than others. That’s not to say that he’ll have a late-career run like Tom Brady, but he’s much closer to that than he is to a broken-down signal-caller who is limping his way down the back-nine of his career.
In New York, Rodgers steps into an appealing situation with a solid group of pass-catchers that is headlined by the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, Garrett Wilson. His dynamic ability meshes well with Rodgers’ propensity to place the ball so receivers can make plays after catch. He’ll also have his former Packers teammate Allen Lazard and recently signed Mecole Hardman at his disposal along with the backfield trio of Breece Hall (when healthy), Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight. While it’s a stretch to expect elite fantasy numbers in New York, he has more than enough juice to be considered a relatively high-floor, fringe QB1 option. While that isn’t a huge win for Rodgers, the Jets’ skill position players may be the biggest fantasy winners in this trade.
Of course, that’s only half the story, as the Packers are now set to hand the reins over to Jordan Love, who has waited patiently for the last two seasons. Love was a surprise first-round selection in 2021, especially given his very rocky performance during the 2020 college season. However, he’s had time to develop, which is rare in today’s NFL. It’s tough to evaluate the fantasy merits of a player who has only attempted 83 passes over the last two years, but there is appeal to Love. He’s going to have a long leash and has a fleet of young wideouts, including Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. Love won’t be a priority fantasy option in drafts, but he’s intriguing enough to warrant a look in the late rounds of deeper 1QB leagues and as either a deep second or high-upside third quarterback in superflex formats.
