Jacoby Brissett fantasy football

Fantasy football outlook: New England Patriots TE Hunter Henry

Could fantasy owners be sleeping on Hunter Henry?

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry has displayed just enough production to be drafted as a TE1 on fantasy rosters. But, seven years into his career, he hasn’t shown the consistency to be an every-week starter.

As a rookie with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2016, Henry made a splash by scoring eight touchdowns on just 36 receptions. In his next three years, he had two seasons with 55 or more catches, despite missing time in each campaign. His career-best 60 receptions came in 2020, coinciding with his opportunity to hit free agency, where he signed a three-year deal with the Patriots.

Henry’s first season in New England saw him set a career high with nine touchdowns, catching 50 passes for 603 yards. It was his connection with young quarterback Mac Jones that gave the Patriots reason to believe at the time Jones would be the long-term answer.

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That didn’t happen, but Henry is a cornerstone piece of the offense as the team readjusts in the post-Bill Belichick era, and he is being asked once again to assist in the development of another young quarterback (Drake Maye).

New England had the option of moving on from Henry after last season as free agency neared. It isn’t unusual when a franchise in a rebuild sheds itself of some higher priced veteran players – even a team captain, like Henry. The Patriots did just the opposite, re-signing him to a three-year deal to keep him in New England.

The Patriots don’t have a lot of dynamic receiving options, so having Henry as a leader on the offense will be critical in the transition of the franchise.

Fantasy football outlook

It would appear Henry’s career is going to be defined as being the security blanket for young quarterbacks. In 2020, when he had the most receptions of his career (60 in 14 games), Henry was one of the go-to targets for rookie quarterback Justin Herbert. His last three seasons in New England were marked by him being a primary target for Jones.

While veteran Jacoby Brissett certainly could open the year at QB1, as the Patriots move into the Maye era, Henry is again front and center in the offensive plans. Tight ends routinely run shorter routes and settle in to soft spots in zones, giving a young QB a good target to deliver passes. Should Brissett linger in the lineup, he has a documented history as a game manager.

The other concern anyone considering drafting Henry should have is that he has a penchant for injury. He has missed multiple games in four of the last six seasons, so anyone who ends up with Henry on a fantasy roster does so with a realistic expectation that he will miss time.

Henry has consistently shown he can be expected to have about 50 receptions for 500-600 yards and four to five touchdowns – decent numbers, but not elite ones. He’s a grinder, who ideally is a No. 2 in tight end-mandatory leagues. With a growing number of athletic young TEs coming into the league, players like Henry will slide down in rankings, because he’s a proven commodity with a known ceiling. He will end up on fantasy rosters, but it won’t be to be a weekly starter.

Examining how the Commanders’ QB situation impacts fantasy football plans

How does Washington’s unsettle QB situation impact the offense?

How else to open an article about the Washington Commanders situation under center than with John Madden’s famous musing, if you’ve got two quarterbacks, you have none. Such is life in DC, where the Commanders prepare to enter camp with Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett set to battle for QB1.

Clearly, Brissett has a vast advantage in experience, starting 48 games across seven seasons. Compare that to Howell, who made one start as a rookie, which came in Week 18 against Dallas Cowboys backups. Where Howell has the edge is that he could still develop. Despite being a fifth-rounder, Howell was well regarded for his deep-ball accuracy, and he has deceptive athleticism.

It feels like Washington wants Howell to win the job. They’ve talked about his potential, and they chose to bypass a quarterback in this year’s draft. So, if Howell can avoid killer errors and shows growth, he should hold the job. If he falters, Brissett could step in – though even then they might take their lumps with Howell for a shot at USC’s Caleb Williams (or another QB) in next year’s draft.

Although Howell wouldn’t be worth drafting, let’s take a quick look at what his presence might mean for Washington’s other skill players, as well as if Brissett’s insertion would make any difference.

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As we revisit the Cleveland Browns’ passing game, having discussed their receiving corps last month, we must once again open with the status of quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was subjected to a three-day disciplinary hearing in late June with post-hearing briefs due on July 12. With training camp now just over a week away, we should expect to learn the length of Watson’s suspension at any point. Speculation has the QB’s suspension ranging anywhere from a few games to a full season, but until we get official word it’s meaningless chatter.

With Baker Mayfield now a member of the Carolina Panthers, veteran Jacoby Brissett stands ready to make however many starts are needed to cover Watson’s suspension. The journeyman has started 37 games in his career across three franchises, compiling a 14-23 record and a 36-to-17 TD:INT ratio in that time. Brissett is as prototypical a game manager as you’re like to find on an NFL roster — he averaged 218 yards and a touchdown per game in five starts with the Miami Dolphins last year. Cleveland also will look to add another veteran passer should Watson miss time.

Although clearly the Browns’ passing attack would be much more potent with Watson at the helm, the strength of their running game should keep defenses from focusing on the pass. To that end, we saw Case Keenum (now with the Buffalo Bills) go 2-0 in his two starts for Cleveland while throwing for 375 yards and three TDs in a role like what Brissett would fill. Those are modest numbers, but outside of wide receiver Amari Cooper there aren’t a lot of proven targets, so the tight ends should see action.