Xavier Gipson's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

The New York Jets traded wide receiver Mike Williams to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday, meaning Xavier Gipson, who has four catches for 23 yards on the year on seven targets, will move into the WR3 role in New York behind Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson with Allen Lazard (chest) on Injured Reserve. While Gipson's role should expand in the short term, the 23-year-old probably still isn't worth a waiver-wire pickup in standard-sized, 12-team fantasy leagues. In his first NFL season in 2023, Gipson caught 21 of his 38 targets for 229 yards and no touchdowns in 17 games (three starts). Expect the Jets to utilize more two-tight end sets with Tyler Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert with Williams gone and Lazard still sidelined.

New York Jets wide receiver Xavier Gipson is listed ahead of third-round rookie Malachi Corley as a starter on the team's first released depth chart. It's worth noting these depth charts aren't official yet, but team reporter Rich Cimini said Gipson has worked ahead of Corley during training camp. Gipson went undrafted out of Stephen F. Austin last year, but he was active for all 17 of New York's games and caught 21 passes for 229 yards. He also turned in 830 total return yards and one punt return for a touchdown. Star wideout Garrett Wilson figures to be the clear target hog in the New York offense, but Allen Lazard, Gipson, Corley, and Mike Williams (knee) could all make an impact as secondary options for Aaron Rodgers in what should be an improved passing attack.

New York Jets wide receiver/kick returner Xavier Gipson (leg) will miss a week or two of training camp with a "lower-extremity" injury. Head coach Robert Saleh said that Gipson injured his leg in practice on Thursday. The 23-year-old second-year player finished his rookie season last year with only 21 receptions for 229 yards and no touchdowns in 17 games played, but he also worked as the Jets' primary kickoff and punt returner on special teams. He's going to have to stay healthy this summer to hold off the likes of Tarik Cohen and Isaiah Davis for the return jobs, though. Even if Gipson wins WR3 duties for the Jets this year, he's unlikely to be much of a fantasy option, even with quarterback Aaron Rodgers returning from his Achilles injury.

New York Jets wide receiver Xavier Gipson "made plays throughout OTAs and minicamp and seems to have taken a leap forward after a year of NFL experience," according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Rosenblatt even suggested that Gipson might have a leg up on the No. 3 receiver role over Malachi Corley, the fast-rising rookie who has turned some heads during camp but is still adjusting to NFL speed. If Gipson does open 2024 ahead of Corley on the depth chart, he'll still fall behind Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams in the pecking order. As a result, the second-year receiver is merely a bench option in deeper redraft leagues.

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh said wide receiver Xavier Gipson still has "first dibs" on the kick-return job this year, but that it's also an "open competition" involving former Pro Bowl return man Tarik Cohen. Saleh said the soon-to-be-signed running back is an "explosive playmaker" and remembers it being "a nightmare" trying to defend with the Chicago Bears. Cohen could be intriguing with the league's new kickoff rules, starting in 2024, but the 28-year-old speedster is going to need to finally stay healthy to put himself in a position to make an impact for the Jets on special teams. Gipson, a former undrafted free agent out of Stephen F. Austin, returned 33 punts for 319 yards and a touchdown and 22 kickoffs for 511 yards in his rookie campaign in 2023 as the Jets' primary return specialist.