The NFL season got off to a nice start for the New York Jets after they were able to capitalize on a big mistake from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win at home on Sunday, but now that they are hitting the road against the Patriots, the team will need all the help it can get and the sleeper option for the team in the game Thursday is tight end Kellen Winslow.
The tight end position has plenty of sleeper options out there this season, including Jordan Cameron, Julius Thomas and Zach Sudfeld and now Winslow can be added to that list as well after making a solid debut with the Jets on Sunday in the victory over his former team in the Buccaneers. Winslow made seven catches for 79 yards and a touchdown in the 18-17 win and he was targeted eight times in the process and had a long of the day of 25 yards and he could be a top five or top 10 fantasy option the rest of the season, especially in PPR leagues.
The Jets are a team without much firepower on offense and since Geno Smith is a rookie, he could use Winslow as a security blanket, especially on third downs and that could be huge for the team and for fantasy owners. Winslow is coming off a rough stretch after he played in just one game for the Pats last season and despite his age, he will get plenty of looks, as the Jets have Jeff Cumberland, who is not nearly the pass-catcher that he is.
Winslow was listed on the injury report with a knee issue for the game on Thursday, but all signs point to him playing as expected. He is a great sleeper option and is available in most ESPN and Yahoo leagues and he made a very clutch catch on the drive down the field at the end of the game to set up the winning field goal. Winslow hadn't played in nearly a year when he took the field and he also hadn't scored a touchdown in that time either, making his last score since back in 2011 and now he has the chance to try and make good on the promise he had as a young player.
Before dealing with injuries he was considered one of the best young tight ends in football and he previously put up great numbers with the Buccaneers, making at least 66 catches in his three seasons with the team, gaining over 700 yards each time and he also made a recent high of 75 catches on 121 targets for 763 yards back in 2011. If he can put up anything close to those numbers or what he did back in Cleveland, the Jets should be able to make great use of him.