Jeremy Kerley

Someone other than Pierre Garcon has to catch passes in San Francisco. Kerley signed a three-year, $10.5 million deal with the 49ers in March, making him the most likely candidate. At 5-9, 188, Kerley is small, and he's no threat to go downfield – 4.62 40 time, no catches of 40-plus yards since 2012. But he's a prototypical short pass catcher, with good quickness and reliable hands. Don't expect many red-zone targets, either – it's not Kerley's game. Accordingly, his career-high in touchdowns is three. Kerley is a strict PPR-floor play. Only Garcon is ahead of him on the depth chart, and behind him are one-dimensional field-stretcher Marquise Goodwin and either journeymen or inexperienced backups. If Bruce Ellington can recover from last year's injuries, he could push Kerley for snaps, but for now it's Kerley's role to lose.

Kerley signed on with the Lions after a five-year stint with the Jets, where he saw a steady decline from 95 to 26 targets over the past four seasons. He was subsequently dealt to the 49ers, where he'll try to re-emerge as a reliable slot option for the team.

Signed to a four-year extension last year, Kerley’s 409 yards and 38 receptions in 2014 marked regressions for the second straight season. Additionally, Kerley played four more games last season than in 2013, but only saw three more targets all season. The 26-year-old slot receiver also scored just once, possibly influencing the Jets’ selection of speedy wideout Devin Smith in the second round of this year’s draft. Moreover, New York added Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall via trade this offseason, likely leaving Kerley in competition for the Jets’ fourth receiver spot once Smith acclimates to the offense. With an unstable quarterback situation to consider as well, Kerley’s fantasy value seems to be slipping heading into this season.

It’s hard to get excited about a possession receiver in a below-average offense, but Kerley’s been productive when healthy, and the quarterback play in New York has nowhere to go but up. At 5-9, 188 and without much foot speed, Kerley’s not going to get deep or be a big source of red-zone work. But he caught 56 balls at 8.6 YPT in 2012, a virtual miracle given the state of the passing game, and was consistently involved in the offense for the 12 games he played last year. Some combination of Michael Vick and Geno Smith in Year 2 should be better than what Kerley’s dealt with so far, and having Eric Decker drawing attention should open up more room underneath.

You wouldn't think it from the state of the Jets passing game, but Kerley had a good season, averaging 14.8 YPC and 8.6 YPT on 96 targets. Nonetheless, the Jets passing game is even more unsettled this season, as Santonio Holmes looks to return from a foot injury, Stephen Hill gets another chance to establish himself as an NFL receiver (and not simply an athletic freak) and the team decides whether it wants to suffer through another partial year of Mark Sanchez before turning it over to Geno Smith. At 5-10, 192 and with below average speed, Kerley is never going to set the league on fire or get into the end zone very often. But he's earned a role on the team, and given the other questionable pieces around him could again see his fair share of targets.

Kerley finished the 2011 season with 11 catches in his last three games, perhaps foreshadowing a bigger role for 2012. No one expects a future star here, but he might turn into a reliable slot player for the Jets.

Kerley may not get many opportunities at wide receiver behind Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress, and Derrick Mason, but he could easily fill the void at kick and punt returner after the departure of Brad Smith.