Jets' Slot Receiver May Warrant Spot on Your Fantasy Roster
Mecole Hardman helped the Kansas City Chiefs win two Super Bowls, but can the New York Jets' offseason addition help you win a fantasy football title?
No, he's not Justin Jefferson, Stefon Diggs, or Garrett Wilson, but the speedy slot receiver could be worthy of a late fantasy pick this summer. Especially draftable in 14-team leagues, Hardman is a highly attractive draft-and-stash insurance option for a multitude of reasons.
"Mecole, he's a great talent. Obviously, blazing fast. He runs fast, he's got great hands," said veteran teammate Corey Davis after the Jets' fourth training camp practice.
Hardman, a former second-round draft pick, has been known for his elite speed. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.33s at the 2019 NFL Combine.
"When he has the ball in his hands, it’s elite. His vision’s elite, his field presence is elite, his ability to find lanes and gain yards is elite," said Saleh.
Earning somewhat of a reputation as a "gadget player" in Andy Reid's offense, Hardman gained 530+ yards receiving each of his first three pro seasons as his target share progressively increased. He also served as a return specialist during his time in Kansas City, garnering All-Pro honors as a rookie.
"The perception that y'all got was 'Oh, he's a gadget guy.' I'm not a gadget guy, it's what I'm good at in my role on this team [Chiefs]," said Hardman after a training camp practice. "I know I can do those things, but in my last situation, I wasn't required to do those things. We had people [like Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce] to do it."
SI Fantasy expert Michael Fabiano slotted Hardman as WR71 on his draft board early in the spring, but Fabs has since dropped the Jets' WR3 out of his Top 80 receivers. Fabiano initially ranked the fifth-year pro at No. 194 overall in his Fantasy Top 200.
Hardman's stock is likely dropping due to his injury-interrupted 2022 campaign. He appeared in only eight of 17 regular season games, totaling 328 scrimmage yards, but he did score six touchdowns.
The 25-year-old underwent offseason surgery to repair the core muscle problem that forced him onto the inactive list for Super Bowl LVII.
Looking ahead to his first season with Gang Green, the ideal outcome, which is certainly a possibility, is that a healthy Hardman tops the career highs he set in receptions (59), targets (83) and receiving yards (693) in 2021.
No fantasy manager should expect Hardman to be a Week 1 starter, but by mid-season he could be an intriguing low-end WR3 or flex fill-in.
READ Jets' Offseason Addition: Gadget Player or Every-Down WR?
Every fantasy team will likely encounter injuries and underachievers at some point throughout the season. Hardman has the potential to exceed his modest fantasy projections and provide fantasy managers with a viable injury replacement down the stretch.
All indications suggest that Hardman will have the opportunity to earn an increased role in the Jets' offense as the season progresses.
"The thing we’re committed to is helping him evolve his route running and get him away from just being a high cross guy and a go ball guy," said Jets' head coach Robert Saleh after Practice No. 3 in Florham Park. "See if we can help him in the intermediate game and help him strengthen that part of his game."
The more Hardman diversifies his game within Nathaniel Hackett's offensive scheme the more valuable he will become as a fantasy option. The chance for a breakout makes Hardman a worthy late-round draft-and-stash proposition.
WR Mecole Hardman makes a catch at Training Camp on July 22.
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