Counting down the greatest New York Jets fantasy football performances
It’s fantasy football championship week!
First, a quick congratulations to any readers who made it to their league’s championship. To those who didn’t… better luck next year.
For the occasion, we at Jets X-Factor decided to go back in time to remember some of the greatest fantasy football performances from New York Jets players throughout the years.
It's fantasy football championship week, so #Jets X-Factor goes back in time to remember the greatest New York Jets fantasy football performances throughout the years. @NickHeilman15 pic.twitter.com/7KpgTHndZW
— Jets X-Factor (@jetsxfactor) December 29, 2021
WR Brandon Marshall, 2015
- Week 12 vs. Miami: 9 receptions, 131 yards, 2 TD — 34.1 PPR fantasy points, 25.1 standard fantasy points
That 2015 season was a huge outlier for the Jets, standing out like a fly on a wedding cake among all the losing seasons of the past decade.
A huge reason for that team’s success was the incredible success of wide receiver Brandon Marshall, whom the Jets received from the Bears during the 2015 draft.
This performance against the Miami Dolphins was Marshall’s most dominant of the year. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick hit him over and over again, leading to one of the best fantasy days from any wide receiver that season.
Jets D/ST, 1997
- Week 16 vs. Tampa Bay: 3 TD, 2 INT, 1 blocked punt, 3 sacks — 35 fantasy points
The 1997 season was the first year of defensive-minded Bill Parcells’ tenure as the Jets head coach. In a particularly dominant outing for the Jets defense and special teams units, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were completely stifled.
The Jets trampled them 31-0, thanks in large part to a blocked punt by defensive back Ray Austin, two pick-sixes by cornerback Otis Smith, a sack each from defensive tackles Jason Ferguson and Rick Terry, and one more sack that linebackers James Farrior and Mo Lewis combined on.
It was a signature defensive performance from Gang Green — one that would be nice to replicate against the Buccaneers this Sunday, as unlikely as it is.
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RB Curtis Martin, 2000
- Week 7 at New England: 34 carries, 143 yards, 3 TD, 2 catches, 18 yards — 36.1 PPR fantasy points, 34.1 standard fantasy points
Probably the Jets’ best running back of all time, Curtis Martin was truly something else. He managed to surpass 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first ten NFL seasons.
That included the 2000 season, which saw him finish with 1,204 rushing yards. His best fantasy output of the year was a 161-yard, three-touchdown outburst against his former team, the New England Patriots.
Thirty-four carries is a lot for anyone, but Martin made the most of every one, averaging 4.2 yards per carry.
QB Joe Namath, 1972
- Week 2 at Baltimore: 15/28 completions, 496 yards, 6 TD, 1 INT — 41.84 fantasy points
Broadway Joe was bound to be on this list somewhere. Why not save the game with the most fantasy points for last?
In an all-time quarterback performance, Joe Namath shredded the Baltimore Colts (the very team he beat in Super Bowl III) for almost 500 yards and (checks notes) six touchdowns — a mark only a handful of NFL signal-callers have been able to achieve, and just one short of tying the all-time record. It remains tied for the Jets’ franchise record, only being matched by Brett Favre in 2008.
It’s important to keep in mind that passing performances like this were almost unheard of at the time. In 1972, the average NFL team passed for 152.1 yards and 1.1 touchdowns per game.
Namath truly is an all-time great passer.
