Team news: New York Jets | Page 12

The Colts have left their top tight end role open to Jelani Woods, and if his offseason work to reshape his lower half can create a sustainable year, he could break out in the biggest of ways with a play designer like Shane Steichen and a downfield quarterback like Anthony Richardson in a run-heavy, play-action-heavy offense.

It's the second-straight day for Woods hype. On Monday, we reported the Colts could use a lot of three-TE sets this season, but it would be Woods who has the biggest upside and the potential to break out. As this story pointed out, it's not hard to picture Woods excelling on Steichen's tight end screens, in the run-pass-option game and up the seam when safeties commit to Michael Pittman Jr. Woods is just 29th on our TE list, and while he could climb as we get closer to drafts, it looks like he should be available late in fantasy drafts this year for those who want to take a chance on that breakout.

Jelani Woods missed all of the 2023 season due to hamstring injuries, but he offers something none of the other tight ends have shown, an impressive size-speed combination that could make him a devastating downfield target.

Indianapolis will likely use at least three tight ends heavily on offense this season.

Related players: Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, Adonai Mitchell, Alec Pierce, Kylen Granson, Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree, Will Mallory, Anthony Richardson, Jonathan Taylor

Pittman and Downs are the team's top-two WRs with rookie Mitchell and Pierce also battling it out for time. Granson led the way at TE last year but as the story said Woods has the potential to bust out. The use of three TEs certainly indicates the Colts are going to be run-heavy this season. However, any of the team's TEs could be passing options as well in that formation, so the situation is worth monitoring this summer.

The Jets announced Thursday that Mike Williams will begin training camp on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list alongside fullback Nick Bawden and defensive tackle Leonard Taylor.

Related Players: Garrett Wilson, Xavier Gipson, Malachi Corley, Allen Lazard

Locker goes on to state, "In mid-June, head coach Robert Saleh said Williams, 29, likely will follow a similar recovery that running back Breece Hall took last year after his torn ACL, meaning limited snaps until the regular season begins."

With the WR's ADP falling into the 11th round and later, he's worth a stab to gamble on a return to form from Aaron Rodgers.

Speaking of Josh Reynolds’ departure, Jameson Williams isn’t the only option to make up for his production. Antoine Green, a 2023 seventh-round pick, has good speed, and the Lions liked how he developed to end the season. He spent time repping with the first-team offense this spring.

Related Players: Donovan Peoples-Jones, Kalif Raymond

The Lions look as if they will be rotating bodies behind Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown, but Green is an interesting name to bank for super deep leagues. Green had all of two targets last season but made a splash in the team's final 2023 preseason game when he took a 70-yard catch to the house en route to a 3-97-1 stat line.

Braelon Allen, a 2024 fourth-round pick, wasn't known for his receiving in college -- only 49 catches in three seasons at Wisconsin -- but he demonstrated plenty of ability in OTAs and minicamp. He showed excellent ball skills and terrific body control. He's 235 pounds, yet he was able to split out and play like a smaller back. "If you go back and watch his tape at Wisconsin, he caught the ball well," Jets running backs coach Tony Dews said. Allen has a chance to be Breece Hall's primary backup.

Related Players: Isaiah Davis, Israel Abanikanda

There was slight concern that Allen would only be a rotational goal line back but if he flashes some receiving skills, he could have slight standalone value. He's the back to keep an eye on if anything were to happen to Hall.

Breaking: Tee Higgins has signed his franchise tag. He is expected to report for training camp when it begins.

Related Players: Ja'Marr Chase, Jermaine Burton, Andrei Iosivas, Trenton Irwin

So, the mini-holdout has come to its end, and Higgins will suit up for the Bengals in 2024. No word yet on an extension, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Higgins should be considered a borderline WR2/3 for fantasy purposes.

"He's got a long way to go," Saleh said about Mike Williams' recovery from injury. "He's on the same timeline that Breece Hall had. They're very similar injuries, same timeframe. Speaking with Mike, he knows he's got a road to trek, but at the same time, if he does it the right way, we're very confident that we'll have them ready for Week 1."

Related Players: Garrett Wilson, Malachi Corley, Allen Lazard, Xavier Gipson

If the team truly does view the injuries in the same light, we could see a sort of pitch count for Williams to begin the season. Hall had season-lows in snap counts in Week 1 (17) and Week 2 (16) before getting back to his full workload. Regardless, the former Chargers receiver fits very well in this offense and should pop up with WR2 weeks throughout the year.

Jets are signing free-agent RB Tarik Cohen to a one-year deal. Cohen was one of the NFL’s top return specialists and a receiving threat before injuries derailed his career. Cohen last played in the NFL in 2020, but now will attempt his comeback with the Jets.

Related Players: Israel Abanikanda, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis

It feels like ages ago, but Cohen does have back-to-back 70+ reception seasons on his resume. If he can make the final roster, he could be able to take advantage of the new kickoff rules for the Jets. He shouldn't be considered a fantasy option at this point.

Bengals franchise-tagged wide receiver Tee Higgins, who requested to be traded last month, anticipates playing for Cincinnati in 2024, he told reporters Sunday at his youth football camp.

Related Players: Ja'Marr Chase, Trenton Irwin, Andrei Iosivas

While Higgins, understandably, wants to find a lucrative contract, he will be set for a big payday in 2025 on the open market if he plays out the franchise tag in '24. The Bengals are expected to add another pass-catcher through the NFL Draft, and that could come in the first round.

Former Chargers WR Mike Williams is signing with the Jets on a 1-year deal worth up to $15M, another weapon for Aaron Rodgers. He’s on a visit there today.

Related Players: Garrett Wilson, Xavier Gipson, Allen Lazard

A 1-2 punch should do wonders for a struggling Jets WR group, and Williams offers a legit piece to whoever takes snaps at QB. Wilson is a great fringe WR1/2 option, while Williams is down in the WR2/3 range