New York Jets
The Jets D/ST has been a usable unit this season, but Week 8 rankings put it anywhere from the top five to the middle of the pack against Las Vegas. That spread comes from sources that disagree about the Raiders offense.
Role
Team defense, not a player role. Week 8 is at home against the Raiders (vs. LV), and the Jets are listed as 1.5-point favorites with a total near 44.5 (Rotoballer, Oct 27). Rotoballer says the Jets D/ST has scored at least six fantasy points in five of six games, including an eight-sack game against Cleveland in Week 5, and credits rookie David Bailey for part of that. The following opponents are Kansas City in Week 9 and Buffalo in Week 10. I did not read a depth chart or snap report for the defense.
Rotoballer says the Raiders have allowed 30 or more points in four straight games, and that Geno Smith has been sacked 21 times since Week 2. Draft Sharks ranks the Jets third in its Week 8 defense rankings, with a consensus projection of 5.7 points and a strength-of-schedule edge of -38%, Oct 26. Football Nation says the Jets can pressure Kirk Cousins without blitzing heavily and notes Las Vegas allows touchdowns on 78.6 percent of opponent red zone trips. Yahoo says the Jets have allowed only 7.8 fantasy points per game to tight ends.
Rotoballer ranks the Jets in its fourth tier and calls them one of four risky defenses this week. It says the Raiders rank sixth in points per game, a reason to downgrade the Jets. Football Nation says the Raiders passing game ranks sixth in scoring and fourth in passing yards per game, and it calls the game close to a coin flip. The Jets lost 28-25 to Miami last week, a game in which Geno Smith's offense scored but the defense gave up 28.
Where analysts split
The question is how good the Las Vegas offense really is. Draft Sharks has the Jets at No. 3. SI has them at 15, Yahoo at 19, and Rotoballer at about 15. The high rankings lean on Las Vegas giving up sacks and points. The low rankings lean on the Raiders' scoring and passing output.
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
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