One of the first wide receivers to land a lucrative multiyear deal this offseason, former Tennessee Titans wideout Corey Davis becomes the de facto No. 1 target for the rebuilding New York Jets. The agreement marks the completion of the career turnaround for Davis, who initially underwhelmed after entering the league as the No. 5 overall pick in 2017.
Corey Davis signing: Fantasy football impact
From a scheme perspective, Davis fits what the Jets need for new offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur’s offense. LaFleur spent the past the past seven years working under Kyle Shanahan at various places around the NFL and learning his outside-zone, play-action-heavy offense. That system also made its way to Tennessee in 2018 via Matt LaFleur, Mike’s older brother and fellow Shanahan acolyte, and remained there when the elder LaFleur left to become the head coach of the Green Bay Packers. Davis revived his career in that offense, recording 65 catches for 984 yards and five touchdowns this past season.
But while Davis arrives with an understanding of the Jets’ new scheme, he will have to adjust to a far less accomplished quarterback. New York will either enter 2021 with Sam Darnold, the struggling former No. 3 overall pick, under center or a quarterback drafted later this offseason. In either case, Davis will have to navigate a likely drop-off from Ryan Tannehill, the Titans’ starter most of the past two seasons.
Accordingly, Davis might struggle to match his 2020 production early in his Jets tenure. Teams running the Shanahan scheme have also historically needed a full season to acclimate, as both the Atlanta Falcons and Packers endured growing pains during their first years in the system before exploding the following season. It follows that Davis could go overdrafted in fantasy in 2021 and become a value pick in 2022.