New England Patriots - Fantasy News

Jets at Patriots Start 'Em / Sit 'Em

by Aaron Bowers

12/29/17

NFL

New England Patriots

Rob Gronkowski

Week 17 features a matchup that figures to be a mismatch at the quarterback position when Tom Brady and the New England Patriots host Bryce Petty and the New York Jets in Foxborough.

After starting 3-2, the Jets have regressed back to the team many expected it to be before the season. The Jets have lost eight of their last 10 games and haven’t been very competitive since Josh McCown broke his hand in Week 14.

The Patriots are currently the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and they will lock up home-field advantage in the playoffs with a win in this game. New England is 12-3 with 10 victories in its last 11 contests.

This game doesn’t figure to be terribly competitive, but we’ve identified players from both teams to start or sit on Dober Play Cards.

New York Jets Week 17 Projected Fantasy Points
Robby Anderson: 10.5 PFP
Bilal Powell: 9.0 PFP
Jermaine Kearse: 8.0 PFP
Matt Forte: 7.5 PFP
Bryce Petty: 7.0 PFP
Chandler Catanzaro: 7.0 PFP
Austin Sefarian-Jenkins: 6.5 PFP

New England Patriots Week 17 Projected Fantasy Points
Tom Brady: 19.5 PFP
Rob Gronkowski: 15.0 PFP
Dion Lewis: 13.5 PFP
Brandin Cooks: 12.5 PFP
Stephen Gostkowski: 10.5 PFP
Chris Hogan: 9.5 PFP
Danny Amendola: 8.0 PFP
James White: 6.5 PFP

Start 'Em: Bilal Powell (9.0 PFP)
Dober Fantasy Points Per Game: 9.26

Nobody eats up the end of the season like Powell. In 2016, he averaged an incredible 20.9 DFP per game from Week 14 until the end of the year. Since Week 14 this season, Powell has averaged a more modest 11.5 DFP per contest. But he now gets a matchup against a soft New England run defense. Over the last five weeks the Patriots have given up 11.2 and 17.2 DFP to LeSean McCoy, 10.2 and 21.8 DFP to Kenyan Drake and 25.0 DFP to Le’Veon Bell. Powell should get some rushing volume early in the game as the Jets try to control the clock. And as it gets out of hand, he’s a great candidate for check-down passes. That should be enough to get him over 9.0 DFP for the fourth time in his last five games.

Sit 'Em: Robby Anderson (10.5 PFP)
Dober Fantasy Points Per Game: 11.38

Fading Anderson is as simple as looking at Petty at quarterback. Since taking over at quarterback midway through Week 14, Petty has completed less than half of his passes, averaged 4.1 yards per attempt and has one touchdown to three interceptions. With McCown, Anderson was a steady fantasy producer, eclipsing 10.5 DFP in six straight games at one point. With Petty, Anderson has DFP totals of 4.2, 6.5 and 7.6. No matter the matchup, we recommend fading Anderson at such an optimistic PFP given his current quarterback situation.

Start 'Em: Rob Gronkowski (15.0 PFP)
Dober Fantasy Points Per Game: 15.06

While New England is almost assuredly going to lock up home-field advantage in this game, there is no player in this matchup with more at stake than Gronkowski. After several injury-ridden years, the Patriots structured Gronk’s contract around a series of bonuses. One of those perks, worth $2 million, is available for Gronk if he gets either 11 receptions or 116 receiving yards in this game. With that added motivation, Gronk should eat up a New York defense that just gave up 17.1 DFP to 37-year-old Antonio Gates. He may not make it to the bonus, but Gronk is an easy start for Dober Play Cards this week.

Sit 'Em: Tom Brady (19.5 PFP)
Dober Fantasy Points Per Game: 19.15

The presumptive NFL MVP, Brady has started to look his age over the past month. Since Week 12, he has DFP totals of 8.32, 9.32, 13.72 and 15.56. He’s currently dealing with shoulder and Achilles injuries and is just trying to get into the bye week to rest up for the playoffs. The Jets have been feisty against opposing quarterbacks over the last month or so, holding Cam Newton, Drew Brees and Phillip Rivers to under 17.5 DFP. Compounding the recent statistical trends is the likely scenario that New England gets a big lead in this game and keeps the ball on the ground with Dion Lewis. We expect the Patriots to protect the veteran passer in this game, limiting his attempts and making it unlikely he gets over 19.5 DFP.