While the reality is that New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry has been inconsistent in his performance over the first two weeks of the season, given the state of the Patriots’ offense, Henry should still be a strong consideration for fantasy football managers each week.
So, what does that mean for Henry being in fantasy lineups for Thursday’s matchup with the New York Jets?
Should I Start or Sit Hunter Henry in Fantasy This Week?
Henry was on the field for 83% of the Patriots’ offensive snaps in Week 1, and for 84% of their snaps in Week 2. He also had the same catch percentage in each game — 66.7%.
But that is just about where the similarities end when it comes to comparing Henry’s first two games this season.
Henry was almost a non-factor in the Patriots’ Week 1 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, catching just two passes (on only three targets) and finishing with 18 receiving yards and no scores. Henry ended up with just 3.8 fantasy points, his fewest in a game since Week 13 of last season against the Los Angeles Chargers (3.5).
But last week was a much different story, as Henry had one of the best games of his career. He had career highs in targets (12), receptions (eight, tied a career-high), and receiving yards (109) in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Henry finished with 18.9 fantasy points. Dating back to last season, it marked the third time in his last four games he’s had at least 18 fantasy points.
It is this inconsistency that probably makes starting Henry in fantasy lineups regularly a difficult decision for managers. Last season, for example, Henry had four games in which he accumulated 15 or more fantasy points, but he also had nine games in which he finished in the single digits.
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However, when it comes to evaluating Henry, the good appears to outweigh the bad. These first two games notwithstanding, Henry has a track record of success getting in the end zone. He has 38 career touchdowns, including 17 over his first three seasons with New England.
This is also a team that is missing a go-to guy at the wide receiver position. This makes the tight end position a viable option for quarterbacks, and Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett has been able to find the veteran.
Henry leads the team in targets (15), receptions (10) and receiving yards (127). No other New England player even has 40 receiving yards this season.
Henry’s career against Thursday’s opponent, the New York Jets, is hardly dominating. In six career games facing the Jets, Henry has just 12 receptions (on 22 targets). While he has two receiving touchdowns in these six games, he has been held out of the end zone in each of his last three games against them.
Since Brissett has favored tight ends and running backs as his targets on throws, it would seem as if Henry would be a solid candidate to start in lineups. If fantasy managers need help, getting the tight end spot out of the way on Thursday night could be a fruitful endeavor.