Mike Williams enters 2024 with a new team, the New York Jets. He also enters the year coming off an injury from 2023. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee during Week 3 of last season. This injury has placed him on the Physically Unable to Perform list to start training camp, and most avid fantasy football managers wonder if he is worth drafting in their leagues this season.
Let’s examine what Williams brings to your team and determine whether he deserves a chance or should be a complete fade.
Mike Williams Fantasy Profile for the 2024 NFL Season
If healthy, Williams will receive passes from Aaron Rodgers, one of the best quarterbacks ever. The Jets’ wide receivers also face one of the easier strengths of schedule in 2024. On the surface, Williams can outperform his average draft position (ADP) of 153rd overall. Considering Williams is the 63rd wide receiver drafted this offseason in most drafts, we must consider taking the late-round flyer on this veteran.
When healthy, Williams will slot into the WR2 role for the New York Jets. However, considering his injury-prone past, “when healthy” is critical to Williams’ fantasy outlook.
According to TruMedia, Williams received 26 targets and produced 19 receptions in the three games he played last season. That resulted in the 23rd overall ranking in reception per target. Williams was also the 14th-best wide receiver in that time frame in yards after the catch per reception.
Williams is a talented wide receiver, but we must understand his role within this offense. New York runs through Breece Hall. After Hall, Garrett Wilson is the next man up in the offense. After that, Williams has a chance to produce but will share time with playmaking youth like Xavier Gipson and possession wide receiver Allen Lazard.
Is Williams a Good Fantasy Pick?
Williams is an easy fade in 2024. Even though Williams is a last-round/possible waiver-wire selection, we could utilize that dart throw in a better area to optimize our draft strategy in 2024.
Your last-round selection should exhibit upside for players who can dominate the entire offense. A perfect example is a young running back in an aging backfield like Kimani Vidal or an up-and-coming tight end who can emerge such as Luke Musgrave.
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Another issue tied to Williams is the timing of his bye week. The Jets enjoy their bye week during Week 12. Most fantasy managers would see this and wonder why this matters in our eyes for Williams’ fantasy outlook. The reason is that Weeks 12-13 are crucial in the season, as the playoffs usually start in Week 14.
We can not worry about the big dance if we aren’t invited, and we need to make sure that our players can help provide the wins necessary to move forward in our fantasy football season.
Drafting Williams is risky as it relates to your fantasy strategy when you can instead draft players like Vidal, Adonai Mitchell, and even Dontayvion Wicks.