STAMFORD, CT: I don’t think we’re in the “dog days” of summer but we’re close. The puppy days? What’s going on around town? The Yanks are Mets are at the break but I’m not gonna tell you anything you don’t already know. They both need pitching! Let’s look elsewhere. Garrett Wilson got a large contract, just-in in time with Justin Fields about to destroy his stats. And I’m looking at an exciting rookie class of RBs in 2025, as a lot of backs landed in great spots. Let’s do it.
Garrett Gashes In, But Catches Should Plummet
Wilson signed a four-year contract on Monday for $130 mill. Based on some cursory Googling and math, that puts him as the fifth-highest paid WR in the league on AAV. Wilson signed before Sauce Gardner, the team’s other star coming off a rookie contract. Seems like a bit of an overpay to me.
The Jets threw the ball more than any other team last year. Seems smart, when you have a 40+ year old QB coming off a missed year and major surgery. Wait, I mean the opposite of smart. But now that they’re going with the more nimble but less talented passer in Fields, they need to reverse last year’s play calling and run the damn ball. With Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, and Fields, plus an improved O-line, they have the personnel to run it a lot.
Rookie RB Class
Speaking of RBs, this year’s crop of rookie RBs looks to be an impactful one, with a group of talented backs set up to get an opportunity to shine right away.
Ashton Jeanty was the first back taken and he is set up to get 30 carries on a game on an offense without a ton of outside weapons. In Jeanty and Brock Bowers, the Raiders have two young studs to build around. Omarion Hampton should get at least a split with reliable but unspectacular Najee Harris for the Chargers. TreVeyon Henderson is in a similar split situation with Rhamondre Stevenson in New England.
Quinshon Judkins was set to be featured in Cleveland, but just had a domestic violence arrest. Leave it to the Browns to find the criminal in the group…Alleged, that is. RJ Harvey landed in a great spot in Denver in an emerging offense with little backfield competition. Kaleb Johnson is also in a good spot in Pitt, with only Jaylen Warren to contend with for carries. Don’t let those guys slip too far in your fantasy drafts.
Those are the obvious ones, but an honorable mention goes to Cam Skattebo of the Giants. I haven’t heard one mention of Skattebo without the term “contact balance” in there. Apparently, he’s hard to tackle. He may not get half the carries to start, but he should get plenty of touches. Jaydon Blue of Dallas is a sneaky dark horse. The Cowboys brought in veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, but those dudes live on Mount Mediocre.
Expect heavy turnover on the top 20 rushers this year.
That’s it for me. Come back tomorrow for a guy who resides on Preeminent Peak, Angry Ward.
