New York Jets Player Stat Projections For 2016

With the start of the brand spanking new NFL season just a week away, we take a look at stat projections for players of the New York Jets.

Ah yes … it’s a fresh season. Again, just automatic as August turns into September, the NFL and, more importantly, the New York Jets, are back.

The narrative surrounding the franchise leading up to this point has featured a few items. Frist and foremost, the discussion around Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith fueled the offseason. The thrower who now holds the Jets single-season record for touchdown tosses went head-to-head with the organization over terms.

RELATED: The New York Jets Final 53-Man Roster

Obviously, we know how it ended.

Another topic of discussion is a much more frightening one. New York faced a cupcake schedule in 2015, squaring off against two of the weakest divisions in NFL history (NFC East and AFC South).

In 2016, the gauntlet to open the season has never been fiercer.

On the slate to open the season are the likes of Arizona, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Cincinnati, and Seattle – some of the league’s very best. How this effects Fitzpatrick and the rest of the squad is something only time can solve.

31 touchdowns, close to 4,000 yards and 15 interceptions was a sparkling season from a guy who was supposed to be a backup. What will happen, though, against a devastating schedule?

Join us as we navigate through each position while we take a stab at stat predictions for 2016:

Begin Slideshow

Quarterbacks

• Ryan Fitzpatrick: 14 GP, 35 TD, 22 INT, 4514 YDS, 4 RSH TD
• Geno Smith: 4 GP, 2 TD, 3 INT, 375 YDS, 1 RSH TD
• Bryce Petty: N/A
• Christian Hackenberg: N/A

Sure, Fitzpatrick, or FitzMagic (as the kids like to call him), is facing a world of difference in terms of opponent nastiness as opposed to 2015. Consider these two important facts, though:

1. We never know how truly tough the schedule is prior to the season
2. Passing opportunities are jacked up when competition is tougher

RELATED: The Jets Employing Geno Is The Proper Football Move

In Week 2 of 2015, the New York Jets faced a toughie on the road in Indianapolis on Monday Night Football. At least we thought it was a toughie prior to the season commencing. It turned out Andrew Luck had zero help around him and the preseason AFC favorite Colts were nothing more than a bottom feeder.

Fans, players and front office members alike never truly know how tough a schedule is until it plays out.

Secondly, and most importantly, the aspect of the tougher schedule helps the statistical output by a quarterback in many regards.

RELATED: Fitz Is Better Option Thanks To Offensive Line

It’s the fantasy football angle: If the Jets defense faces a tougher opponent, then Chan Gailey and Fitz will that much more opportunity to throw the ball.

This is exactly why his touchdowns, interceptions, and yards totals are all higher than what we saw in 2015. Additionally, he will do this in just 14 games. There is no way any logical football mind can project Fitz for a full season based on what we’ve seen through his injury-riddled career.

Where Fitz fails, is that he has a gunslinger’s mentality without the gunslinger’s arm. It’ll produce a quantity over quality type season: High outputs in touchdowns, yards, and, of course, interceptions.

NEXT: Running Backs

Running Backs

• Matt Forte: 15 GP, 945 RSH YDS, 4.3 YPC, 7 RSH TD, 57 REC, 482 REC YDS, 1 REC TD
• Bilal Powell: 13 GP, 590 RSH YDS, 4.9 YPC, 3 RSH TD, 32 REC, 311 REC YDS, 3 REC TD
• Khiry Robinson: 7 GP, 156 RSH YDS, 4.5 YPC, 4 RSH TD, 6 REC, 67 REC YDS
• Julian Howsare: 13 GP, 24 RSH YDS, 1 TD
• Dominique Williams: 2 GP, 56 RSH YDS

This offense is going pass, pass, and pass some more in 2016. This is just the way they’re built.

When Mike Maccagnan allowed Chris Ivory to head to Jacksonville and inked veteran Matt Forte, he made the decision that this offense would ride or die with Fitzpatrick and Gailey’s air game.

RELATED: The Lone Reason Forte Is An Upgrade Over Ivory

Forte and Bilal Powell are perfect compliments in a way that’ll never tip the offense’s hand to the defense. They each play the same versatile role and are 100 percent interchangeable in any scenario. This was the exact opposite when Ivory and Powell changed hands in 2015.

Not only does the Forte for Ivory factor effect things, but the notion that this offensive line isn’t the powerhouse it once was, also decides how the Jets will play offense in 2015.

Everything about this offense suggests they will throw the ball more than anybody in the NFL.

NEXT: Pass Catchers

Wide Receivers / Tight Ends

• Brandon Marshall: 16 GP, 92 REC, 1480 YDS, 15 TD
• Eric Decker: 15 GP, 74 REC, 818 YDS, 7 TD
• Quincy Enunwa: 13 GP, 53 REC, 602 YDS, 3 TD
• Jalin Marshall: 16 GP, 45 REC, 789 YDS, 5 TD
• Robby Anderson: 10 GP, 27 REC, 411, 2 TD
• Kellen Davis: 16 GP, 11 REC, 57 YDS, 1 TD
• Devin Smith: 7 GP, 16 REC, 105 YDS
• Charone Peake: 3 GP, 7 REC, 65 YDS
• Brandon Bostick: 15 GP, 4 REC, 24 YDS

Yet again, despite Mikey Mac’s best efforts, Ryan Fitzpatrick won’t have a real vertical-friendly tight end at his disposal. Jace Amaro didn’t work out. It’s that simple (as the leftovers from John Idzik’s forgettable regime slowly drip away from the franchise).

RELATED: Jalin Marshall Can Turn The Jets Offense Special

Quincy Enunwa will, once again, play the Y in Gailey’s offense when more than two wideouts are on the field. This will automatically default him as Fitz’s third option.

Look for Eric Decker to have a lesser output in stats thanks to a more balanced air attack. Both Jalin Marshall, who’ll provide a lot in terms of versatility, and Robby Anderson, who’ll be that lone speed demon for the Jets, will take some balls away from Decker as well as hurt the brains of defensive coordinators everywhere.

NEXT: D-Line

Defensive Line

• Muhammad Wilkerson: 16 GP, 14 SK, 8 PD, 41 TKL, 1 TD

• Sheldon Richardson: 12 GP, 10 SK, 3 PD, 26 TKL
• Leonard Williams: 15 GP, 8 SK, 5 PD, 39 TKL
• Steve McLendon: 14 GP, 1 SK, 1 PD, 17 TKL
• Deon Simon: 16 GP, 2 SK, 13 TKL
• Jarvis Jenkins: 15 GP, 3 SK, 14 TKL

The New York Jets defensive line statistical output is pretty straightforward. All three beasts, Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams, will do their thing and do it well.

The only question, as the season progresses, is how Todd Bowles deploys these guys.Will an edge rusher from the linebacking corps step up? If not, Big Mo will continue to play his familiar edge role in sub packages while all three of these guys will be depended on to get to the QB.

NEXT: Linebackers

Inside Linebackers

• David Harris: 16 GP, 68 TKL, 2 SK, 1 INT
• Erin Henderson: 16 GP, 45 TKL
• Darron Lee: 14 GP, 55 TKL, 3 SK, 3 INT, 9 PD, 1 TD
• Bruce Carter: 12 GP, 24 TKL, 1 INT
• Julian Stanford: 3 GP, 7 TKL

Edge Rushers

• Jordan Jenkins: 15 GP, 41 TKL, 2 PD, 5 SK
• Lorenzo Mauldin: 9 GP, 19 TKL, 5 PD, 4 SK
• Mike Catapano: 16 GP, 27 TKL, 1 SK
• Josh Martin: 6 GP, 8 TKL

The wild card of the New York Jets this season lies within its linebacking group.

Will David Harris lose a step? Can Darron Lee actually rise to the occasion and play that Nickel/Dime LB role Maccagnan and Bowles envisioned on draft day? Will, most importantly, Jordan Jenkins, Lorenzo Mauldin and/or Mike Catapano provide something along the edge on passing downs?

The questions are many. The answers are soon to come. And the questioning pertaining to edge heat will be the most important all season long.

NEXT: D-Backs

Secondary

• Darrelle Revis: 15 GP, 7 INT, 4 FR, 13 PD, 37 TKL, 1 TD
• Calvin Pryor: 13 GP, 2 INT, 1 FR, 4 PD, 4 SK, 59 TKL
• Marcus Gilchrist: 16 GP, 5 INT, 15 PD, 47 TKL

• Buster Skrine: 16 GP, 3 INT, 11 PD, 32 TKL
• Marcus Williams: 14 GP, 2 INT, 14 PD, 19 TKL
• Rontez Miles: 16 GP, 1 INT, 7 PD, 33 TKL
• Juston Burris: 12 GP, 1 INT, 5 PD, 21 TKL
• Dexter McDougle: 7 GP, 2 INT, 6 PD, 13 TKL
• Ronald Martin: 2 GP

Darrelle Revis should continue to see his interception total rise as his career moves along. QBs will continue to test him more than never, like we saw when Revis Island was at its height.

Calvin Pryor will need to prove he can stay healthy and play a full season prior to seeing his projected games played total go higher than 13.

The question in the secondary currently surrounds the depth at the cornerback spot. It’s questionable and scary at the moment, especially from the shakiness we saw from Marcus Williams this August.

NEXT: Specials

Special Teams

• Nick Folk: 16 GP, 29-35 FG, 55 LNG, 43-44 XP
• Lachlan Edwards: 16 GP, 47.2 AVG, 31 IN-20
• Jalin Marshall: 27.5 KR AVG, 1 KR TD, 10.3 PR AVG, 1 TD
• Eric Decker: 8.2 PR AVG

Nick Folk will return to solid form after missing most of the 2015 season and Jalin Marshall will finally provide the Jets with a consistent return man.

A wild card in the return game could be Robby Anderson. Stay tuned on that.

NEXT: The New York Jets Employing Geno Smith Is The Proper Football Move