Patriots
The tight finish’s reference to Patriots quarterback Mac Jones has been known as “probably the most constant in camp.”
One of many continuous challenges for fantasy soccer managers over the previous a number of seasons has been the dearth of depth on the tight finish place.
Outdoors of a choose few (led by Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce), most accessible choices have been inconsistent at finest.
In consequence, it behooves managers getting ready for his or her drafts to examine on each potential choice, together with Patriots tight finish Hunter Henry.
Henry, 28, appeared poised for a robust season in 2022. Following his first marketing campaign in New England during which he caught 9 touchdowns (with 603 receiving yards), it was logical to anticipate he would proceed to have a central position as a crimson zone goal.
But like the remainder of final 12 months’s Patriots offense, Henry took a step again. Coming off a 12 months during which he made simply 41 catches for 509 yards and two touchdowns (TE21 in half-PPR leagues), Henry’s inventory is at present low.
His present ADP in half-PPR leagues is 215, placing him on the very backside of most drafts at finest. So, in a way, Henry might not even be price drafting.
Nonetheless, amid a dearth of tight finish manufacturing, Henry might turn out to be a value-play both late in a draft or as a free agent pickup.
“I do assume Hunter Henry might be a serviceable week to week choice on this offense, particularly within the crimson zone,” famous Patriots reporter Phil Perry in an interview with the Rotoworld Soccer Present earlier in August. “He clearly, to me, has Mac Jones’s belief.”
NBC Sports activities fantasy analyst Matthew Berry has additionally advocated for Henry.
“I’m going to name it proper now. I believe Hunter Henry has an incredible 12 months,” Berry instructed Perry at the beginning of preseason. “He’s not being drafted as [a top-10 tight end]. Individuals truly are drafting Mike Gesicki forward of Hunter Henry. Now, the harm might change that, however up till like a day in the past, Gesicki was going forward of Hunter Henry in drafts, and I believe that’s a mistake.”
To Berry’s level, Gesicki — one other tight finish who signed as a free agent with the Patriots throughout the offseason — remains to be carrying a better ADP (202) than Henry. Gesicki suffered a dislocated shoulder in coaching camp however lately returned to the observe area.
“Hunter Henry very quietly led the group in finish zone targets final 12 months,” Berry defined. “There’s a connection there. I perceive he’s having a robust camp. I actually like Hunter Henry this season.”
Earlier in coaching camp, Henry was described as Jones’s “go-to goal” within the crimson zone by ESPN’s Mike Reiss, a sign that he might return nearer to his 2021 landing whole than his a lot smaller tally a 12 months in the past.
Earlier than getting too enthusiastic about the opportunity of a fantasy-relevant tight finish being accessible on the finish of the drafts, do not forget that Henry is tied to the Patriots offense, a unit that completed twenty sixth in yards in 2022 and within the decrease half of the league in most different classes.
The position of Gesicki might additionally show difficult from a fantasy standpoint. But when Jones can attain a better degree within the passing recreation within the upcoming season, there ought to be loads of alternative for Henry. With Jakobi Meyers gone (taking with him a team-leading 96 targets), Jones will likely be in search of different pass-catchers to step up.
And once more, the phrase from coaching camp is that he’s turn out to be a security valve for Jones.
“His reference to Jones has been probably the most constant in camp,” wrote Boston Herald Patriots reporter Andrew Callahan on Wednesday.
Join Patriots updates🏈
Get breaking information and evaluation delivered to your inbox throughout soccer season.