New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard signed a four-year, $44 million contract to join his longtime quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the organization last offseason, but after Rodgers went down with a torn Achilles on the first drive of the year, Lazard had a disastrous campaign. The former undrafted free agent caught just 23 passes for 311 yards and one touchdown in 14 games. With Rodgers back, Jets reporter Rich Cimini labeled Lazard as a potential bounce-back candidate. "Lazard was one of the standouts in the Jets' first practice, making two nifty catches on passes from quarterback Aaron Rodgers," Cimini wrote. "One good practice doesn't equate to a full comeback, but it should do wonders for his confidence. Privately, some in the organization felt he suffered from a confidence problem last season, his first in New York after signing a big free agent deal." With Mike Williams (knee) on the PUP list, Lazard will see extra reps with the first-team offense. Additionally, there's no guarantee that third-round rookie Malachi Corley will start the season ahead of Lazard in the target pecking order. While it's tough to get excited about Lazard's fantasy prospects, his cost outside the top 100 wide receivers makes him worth a dart throw in deep leagues. After all, he has the most chemistry with Rodgers, who is known for being a stickler on familiarly.
Jets Have Made Allen Lazard Available In Trade Talks
The New York Jets have made wide receiver Allen Lazard available in trade talks this offseason, according to league sources. Lazard is due a $10 million salary this season, so he's not likely to generate a ton of interest from other clubs after catching 23 of his 49 targets for 311 yards and one touchdown in 14 games (12 starts) for the Jets in 2023. The 28-year-old former Green Bay Packer came over before last season as a favorite of quarterback Aaron Rodgers from their time together in Green Bay, but Lazard didn't have much of a chance to excel once Rodgers tore his Achilles in Week 1. Perhaps Lazard could rebound with Rodgers returning this year if he sticks around, but it sounds like the Jets would rather just move on. If there are no takers for Lazard, the Jets could end up cutting him after June 1.
New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard will fittingly end his first year with the team in the Week 18 regular season finale against the New England Patriots as a healthy scratch on Sunday. He was a full participant all week despite dealing with an illness and was removed from the final injury report on Friday, but he won't be active on Sunday. It is his second healthy scratch of the season and he'll finish with only 23 receptions for 311 yards and one touchdown in 14 games for the Jets. The 28-year-old former Green Bay Packer was brought in to serve as a reliable target for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but that went out the window when Rodgers was lost for the year in Week 1 with a torn Achilles. With Lazard out on Sunday, Jason Brownlee and Xavier Gipson should continue to get more opportunities in the passing game behind No. 1 Garrett Wilson.
New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard (illness) was a full participant in Wednesday's team practice. Lazard missed last week's game against the Cleveland Browns with an illness. But he appears to be past it as he enters Week 18 against the New England Patriots fully healthy. The 28-year-old has had a rough first season with the Jets, catching just 23 passes for 311 yards and one touchdown. He also has only caught one pass since Week 11. With that in mind, Lazard should not be on anyone's fantasy radar this weekend in both season-long leagues and DFS contests.
Allen Lazard Out Sick Thursday, Randall Cobb Active
New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard (illness) is inactive for the Week 17 game on Thursday night against the Cleveland Browns after coming into the game listed as questionable to play. As a result of Lazard being too ill to play, veteran Randall Cobb will be active for just the 10th time this season. He'll still be behind Garrett Wilson, Jason Brownlee and Xavier Gipson in the receiving pecking order and probably won't be on the field all that much on offense. The 33-year-old has only four catches on 16 targets for 35 yards and a touchdown in his first year in New York. Lazard has been even more of a bust for the Jets in his first year in 2023, catching 23 of his 49 targets for 311 yards and a touchdown in 14 games. He was expected to be a solid No. 2 next to Wilson, but it hasn't worked out that way.
Allen Lazard Officially Listed As Questionable With An Illness
New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard (illness) is officially listed as questionable for his team's Week 17 matchup against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night. Lazard practiced fully on Monday and Tuesday but he apparently was feeling under the weather on Wednesday, forcing him to miss practice and earn a questionable tag heading into Week 17. If Lazard doesn't play against the Browns, look for Xavier Gipson and Jason Brownlee to both see extra opportunities.
New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh said that wide receiver Allen Lazard will be active on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 13 after he was a healthy scratch in last Friday's loss to the Miami Dolphins. The Jets sent a message to the struggling 27-year-old by benching him last week. After signing a $44 million deal with the Jets in the offseason, Lazard has been hurt by drops and penalties in his first year with the team. He currently has 20 receptions on 41 targets for 290 yards and one touchdown in 10 starts. Lazard will be active against the Falcons this weekend, but he could see fewer snaps and isn't a recommended flex option, even in deeper fantasy leagues. Garrett Wilson remains the only fantasy wideout in New York worth trusting in lineups.
New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard, who has struggled in his first year with the team after signing a four-year, $44 million deal in March, was a healthy scratch for the Week 12 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Friday. Lazard also received $22 million over the first two years of his deal, the largest guarantee for any free agent receiver in the 2023 offseason. He had just 20 catches for 290 yards and a touchdown while struggling with drops (three) in the first 10 games. Saleh said the benching was "kind of a challenge to see if he can recapture the edge and who he is and the person that we have a lot of faith in. He's a good football player. I do believe that. For Allen, he will be back sooner rather than later." In Lazard's absence on Friday, young wideouts Xavier Gipson, Jason Brownlee and Irv Charles combined for four catches for 35 yards.
New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard will be inactive for the Week 12 game against the Miami Dolphins on Friday, according to sources. Lazard, who signed a $44 million deal in the offseason, dropped his seventh pass of the year last week and has just 20 receptions for 290 yards and one touchdown in 10 games in his first year with the Jets. Garrett Wilson remains the No. 1 wideout for the Jets as the team transitions from quarterback Zach Wilson to Tim Boyle this week. With Lazard out at least temporarily, rookie Xavier Gipson should have a bigger role while veteran Randall Cobb should be active and potentially get involved against Miami. Tight end Tyler Conklin should become slightly more attractive as a TE2 streamer as well.
New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard did not secure his lone target against Buffalo, giving fantasy managers a goose egg in the team's 32-6 blowout loss. The output wasn't entirely Lazard's fault. Quarterback Zach Wilson completed less than half of his attempts for 81 yards before being benched in the second half. Backup Tim Boyle barely hit the 50% completion mark in his time on the field. The Jets' leading receivers were Breece Hall and reserve tight end Jeremy Ruckert. Garrett Wilson, Tyler Conklin, and Lazard weren't involved whatsoever. Coach Robert Saleh was noncommittal about who his starting quarterback will be on Friday against the Miami Dolphins. Regardless of who is under center, Lazard does not need to be on fantasy rosters moving forward.
