Joe McKnight

McKnight may see a few carries from time-to-time but will see the field as a dynamic kick returner.

McKnight saw double-digit carries in just one game last season, but he impressed in that outing, totaling 121 yards during a Week 12 game in Denver. He finished the year with a poor 3.1 YPC mark, and it’s pretty clear the Jets view him as nothing more than a complementary player incapable of handling a lot of touches. But starter Shonn Greene has proven to be a plodder, and it’s not implausible McKnight outplays him in 2012; it’s just that it may not result in more playing time. For what it’s worth, McKnight reportedly gained 15 pounds of muscle during the offseason.

Expecting to be the No. 3 running back on the depth chart behind Shonn Greene and LaDanian Tomlinson, the Jets surprised McKnight by drafting Bilal Powell in the fourth round of the 2011 Draft. Whether this dampens McKnight's work ethic or increases it is completely up to him. McKnight showed some promise in Week 17 of the 2010 season, but if there is any week to take with a grain of salt, it's that one. McKnight will be given an opportunity to be the primary kick returner, but his fantasy value will be limited to that role.

Here's a name to be aware of; you never know what might happen to Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson, and the Jets OL is a star-making machine. That said, let's be very clear on this: McKnight is unlikely to get a lot of carries as a rookie unless someone gets hurt.