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New York Jets running back Breece Hall (20) runs with the ball while Atlanta Falcons cornerback Casey Hayward (29) looks to tackle him during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Approach Jets backfield with caution in fantasy drafts

By Dan Treacy | Last updated 9/1/22

Rookie Breece Hall is one of the more popular rookie running backs in fantasy football drafts, but recent buzz on the Jets' offensive plans should give fantasy owners pause. Hall apparently hasn't separated himself from Michael Carter as New York's lead back.

After ESPN's Rich Cimini reported last week that Carter is "still RB1," NFL insider Jordan Schultz tweeted that he spoke with the Jets and was told both Hall and Carter will get "a ton of work," adding, "both are super viable fantasy options."

Both can be viable options, but a healthy blend of Hall and Carter would dilute the duo's ceiling from a fantasy perspective.

The notion that Hall and Carter are interchangeable mirrors what we saw in the preseason. In the Jets' final preseason game, considered the regular-season dress rehearsal, Hall and Carter split time in the first quarter. Neither impressed much, as Hall received five carries for 13 yards and Carter ran four times for 10 carries, fumbling once.

Jets RB room: Carter and Hall are the leads. Johnson could be third-down back. Knight could be RB4. #Jets
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) August 30, 2022

Maybe it shouldn't come as a shock that Hall isn't the clear No. 1 running back in New York. Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur comes from Kyle Shanahan's system, which rarely relies on just one running back. Three 49ers backs received between 80-130 carries in 2020, albeit with injuries a factor, and San Francisco alternated Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman on its way to the Super Bowl in 2019.

In fact, Mostert and Coleman each received 137 carries, and Matt Breida wasn't far behind with 123. By the end of the season, Mostert would be featured on one drive and Coleman would be featured on the next. Neither ran for more than 800 yards. Is that a window into the dynamic we could see between Hall and Carter early on?

Head coach Robert Saleh had high praise for the Jets backfield, according to a New York Daily News report on Wednesday.

"They’re young, they’re fresh, they play hard, they’re smart, they’re dynamic, they’re four very different backs and you just trust that with their mindset that they’re going to be able to get it done," Saleh said of the running back room.

Behind Hall and Carter on the depth chart are Ty Johnson and Zonovan Knight, who don't figure to be major fantasy factors unless injuries hit.

Hall's biggest advantage on Carter might be his draft position. He was the first running back off the board in April when the Jets selected him 36th overall. Taking a running back that early indicates how highly New York views Hall.

The best-case scenario for fantasy owners, provided everyone is healthy, might be that Hall separates himself in the early weeks of the season and emerges as the feature back as the year goes on.

Carter's pass-catching ability means he will always have a role in the offense, but Hall is probably better suited to handle early-down work and carries a much higher ceiling. Until one separates himself from the other, though, fantasy owners should be cautious when considering Hall early in drafts.

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