Flying can be a real pain sometimes. There’s the stress of booking a flight, the stress of arriving at the airport early enough, the stress of practically undressing in order to get through security, and the stress of not spending a fortune on a cup of coffee before boarding.
Then there’s stress regarding potential delays and you haven’t even gotten on board yet. When you do land, it’s met with people that start clapping as if they didn’t intend to land safely anyway. These happen to be the same people that stand up and crowd the aisle because cutting even 30 seconds off your time on board is an accomplishment.
Bottom line, there’s plenty of stress in flying. As the New York Jets look to once again “Take Flight,” stress is not only something they can sympathize with, but also relate to as well. The last decade-plus is enough evidence of that already, owning the longest playoff drought in the NFL.
The revolving door that has been the roster, front office, and coaching staff are reminiscent of the 1980s film “Airplane.” If you look close enough, you can see the parallels between the cast in that movie and the Jets dysfunction. And much like that classic film, the Jets have been lacking a pilot for quite some time.
While it would be easy to address just how important quarterback Zach Wilson is for this team, we are better off looking to another position that could help unlock the offense.
The tight end spot.
Jets fans may not even know that is a real position in football considering how long it’s been since they’ve seen a real one. For years, keeping with the airplane theme here, fans of the green-and-white were singing, much like American rapper B.o.B, “I could really use a wish right now.”
Well, it appears that wish was finally granted during free agency in March.
Tyler Conklin is the Jets best tight end
If you’re a fan of bigger names you’ll notice C.J. Uzomah is listed first on the depth chart, but perhaps the best kept secret from Jets camp is just how involved new signing Tyler Conklin will be in the Mike LaFleur offense.
For those keeping score at home, the Jets haven’t had a player at the tight end spot with at least 50 catches and 500 yards receiving in a single season since Dustin Keller last did it in 2011.
Now for some context. In 2011, Adele’s first hit “Rolling in the Deep” was released, while Katy Perry had two of the top five songs for the entire year.
Back to football, Conklin recorded 61 receptions and 593 receiving yards in 2021 alone. So yeah, it’s been a while for Gang Green.
Conklin’s 2021 is even more impressive once you consider that was done behind the Vikings star wide receiver duo Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. Then factor in that the Jets offense is tailored for the tight end position and Conklin suddenly becomes a sleeping giant for both fantasy purposes and wagering.
He’s already had an impressive training camp, coupled with first team reps in every preseason game. Sometimes sports can be really easy. Teams try so hard to be secretive that sometimes everything we need is right in front of us.
Why spend a premium on Travis Kelce and Darren Waller when Conklin may just be the position’s breakout player this year?
Especially since he has been going undrafted in most leagues. As bettors and fantasy managers know, it’s always best to be ahead of the curve in these situations. After Week 1, the sure-handed, solid route runner will almost certainly be a hot waiver wire add, while sportsbooks adjust their lines.
Conklin finished as TE16 in PPR (points per reception) leagues in 2021. With a greater target share and some looks in the red zone, the former Viking may just have a top ten season. It’s a worthy dart throw at least for fantasy managers, one that can pay huge dividends later in the season.
Meanwhile, many continue to focus on Uzomah and while he is a good player in his own right, through seven seasons in the NFL, he has yet to post a season like Conklin just did in Minnesota.
The Jets are going to use the tight end position this year. It may just be the team’s worst kept secret, but both Uzomah and Conklin have been targeted heavily no matter who was under center.
If the right players take the right step forward, there is a chance the team finds itself in the coveted “In the Hunt” graphic as the season’s end draws near. And if that happens, it must just be because the Jets found something they haven’t had since the last time they played more games than were originally scheduled, a tight end.
Maybe 2022 is the year the Jets flight finally leaves the terminal.