Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin is set to hit the free agency market on March 11. According to the NY Daily News, The New York Jets “covet” Maclin and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. The Jets have claimed that they would like to draft a receiver and pick one up in free agency. Given the fact that the Jets had the 31st-ranked offense and have around $30 million to spend this offseason, the move would make sense for both parties.
Maclin will face questions about his health since he is returning from an ACL tear he sustained in training camp last year. It will be difficult for the 26-year old wide receiver to secure a multi-year deal until next season. Maclin told Comcast Philadelphia last month, “for a team that wants to give me a one-year deal, that’s cool … I’ll just go out there and ball out, do the things I think I can do.”
When his is fully healthy, there is no doubt that he can be considered a no. 1 receiver in the Jets offense. In his short career, he has amassed 258 career catches for 3,453 yards and 26 touchdowns. More than half those touchdowns (14 to be exact) have come inside the 20-yard line. He is a red-zone threat who has a history with Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg.
Towards the end of the 2013 season, Geno Smith and the Jets offense seemed to be moving the football with a little more fluidity than they had in the first three quarters of the season. It could be a sign that all Smith needs is a receiver that he can trust and grow with.
This deal would make sense for the player, the team and fantasy football owners alike. If the Jets signed Maclin, he would instantly become Smith’s favorite target and his fantasy value would increase drastically. So, if he would be a no. 1 receiver in New York’s offense, then what could he be considered for fantasy purposes?
Due to a general distrust from the fantasy community in the Jets offense, owners may not value Maclin as highly as they should. This is an offense that will be on the rise, and Maclin would be well suited for the leading role. If he is signed by the Jets, he can be considered to be a low-end to mid-range WR-2 in fantasy drafts. He may not receive much attention from other owners, so he could be a great value pick in the middle rounds.
Alexander Muir is a writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter @AmuirAlex, “Like” him on Facebook or add him on your network on Google.
