Good things in fantasy sometimes comes in strange packages and that couldn’t be truer than in the case of New York Jets tight end Jeff Cumberland.
This is his fourth year in the NFL, but due to an abundance of time on the bench because of injuries and a lack of offensive involvement, Cumberland has hardly established himself as a household name in fantasy circles or anywhere else.
Now, with fellow Jets TE Kellen Winslow out on suspension, Cumberland has a chance to establish himself as rookie quarterback Geno Smith’s security blanket and secure himself some decent fantasy value in the process.
The Jets do have two other tight ends (Konrad Reuland and Zach Sudfeld) on the roster who might get snaps, but it sounds like Jets head coach Rex Ryan will do whatever he can to let Cumberland take the job and run with it. “The guy’s a young stud tight end, big guy, can block and he does a nice job receiving,” Ryan said. “He’s a good player.”
During the past 10 games in which he was targeted with a pass (the 26-year-old has missed some games recently) Cumberland has accounted for 26 catches, 414 yards and four touchdowns on 39 targets. His per-game average numbers (2.6 catches, 41 yards, 0.4 touchdowns) aren’t great but quarterbacks are completing passes thrown his way at a fairly healthy 66.6 percent clip. Given that those quarterbacks have all been playing for the Jets, that number isn’t half bad.
Cumberland might not be someone you want to trot out there this week, (New England hasn’t allowed a tight end other than Tony Gonzalez more than five catches, 65 yards or to score) but he’s definitely worth keeping an eye on. Smith looked his way five times during Week 6 and he hauled in four of those looks for a team-high 59 yards.
Cumberland may be a low-upside player, but he’s at least going to be fairly consistent if only because he’ll be handling every-down tight end duties for the foreseeable future.
Another tight end in a similar boat, Jared Cook, has put up the following line over six games this season: 22 catches, 311 yards and two touchdowns on 37 targets. Break those down on a per-game basis (3.6 catches, 51.8 yards, 0.33 touchdowns) and they aren’t really a huge upgrade over Cumberland at all. Cumberland is owned in eight percent of leagues; Cook 77 percent.
Evan Bleier is a freelance writer based out of wherever he can plug in his laptop. You can send him questions, comments and Buffalo wing suggestions @itishowitis or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
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