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Let’s face it. Greg Jennings isn’t the most exciting receiver, and he hasn’t really been relevant in fantasy football since his 2011 season with the Green Bay Packers, when he reeled in close to 1,000 yards and nine TDs. However, I’m a little more optimistic on him than most for the upcoming season, and here’s why.
Jennings had just over 800 yards and four TDs in 2013. While unimpressive at a glance, I want to focus on the final five games of the season. These were a stretch of consecutive games in which QB Matt Cassel started instead of Christian Ponder. In these five games, Jennings had 32 receptions for 365 yards and two TDs, about half of his total output for the season. If Jennings were to have Cassel under center for the duration of 2014, that would average out to roughly 100 receptions for 1,200 yards and six TDs.
There are two big questions in determining Jennings’ value for 2014. The first is how he will fit into the new offensive scheme, and the second is whom the Minnesota Vikings will start at QB.
The Vikings hired Norv Turner to be the new offensive coordinator, and this should be exciting to see. While with the Cleveland Browns last season, Turner managed to make Josh Gordon a top fantasy WR. Of course, this bodes well more so for Cordarrelle Patterson, as he will no longer be underutilized as he was last year. However, defenses having to account for Patterson will also open up Jennings to more looks and receptions. I think that 100 receptions is a bit optimistic for Jennings, but I could certainly see him breaking 80 in 2014.
More importantly, both Patterson and Jennings will benefit from a better QB. I have nothing against Ponder, but he just isn’t a good NFL QB. The Vikings clearly agree and are moving on, as they opted not to exercise the fifth-year option on Ponder’s rookie contract. Furthermore, Minnesota signed Cassel to a two-year deal this offseason.
I have no knowledge as to the inner workings of the Vikings organization, but it would seem that they plan to ease in rookie Teddy Bridgewater with Cassel as the starter at the beginning of the 2014 season. Regardless of whether Cassel or Bridgewater is the QB at the end of the year, I think that Jennings will do well in the new offense. Cassel seems to trust him, and Bridgewater is possibly the most NFL-ready QB of this draft class.
Jennings is remaining undrafted in most mock drafts until the 12th round or later. I think that he can be a decent WR3 this year with WR2 upside. There are a lot of big name rookie WRs this year, but don’t forget about Jennings. He’s a seasoned veteran who can return to form with the right offense and the right QB under center, and you won’t have to spend a costly pick on him.
Meng Song is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ms0ng, “like” him on Facebook or add him to your Google+ network.
