At PFN, we’ve researched more than 350 fantasy football players, trying to identify which ones are overrated, underrated, and priced right. With that in mind, here is New York Jets RB Breece Hall’s fantasy outlook for 2023.
Behind in research? Get a trade offer in your dynasty or redraft league? Not sure who to start or sit this week? Leverage PFN’s FREE fantasy tools — our Fantasy Football Draft Kit, Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and Calculator, and Start/Sit Optimizer! Put the finishing touch on your A+ draft with 1 of our 425+ fantasy football team names.
Breece Hall’s 2023 Fantasy Outlook
Hall is one of the most fascinating running backs in fantasy. As the first RB drafted in 2022, he entered the league largely as a can’t-miss rookie prospect in an ascending offense.
Despite getting eased into the offense in September, he went on to destroy defenses to the tune of 463 rushing yards and four rushing scores on 5.8 yards per carry, along with a 19-218-1 receiving line. He was the real deal.
It was notable, given how odd the Jets’ passing game was. Joe Flacco started the first three games, averaging a whopping 52 throws per contest. When the entirely overmatched Zach Wilson took the reins beginning in Week 4, the focus shifted to Hall, who largely carried the offense those next three games.
But in his seventh outing, Hall tore his ACL in the first half. He’d participated in only 12 offensive plays but already had racked up 72 yards and a touchdown on four carries. He was on pace to dominate yet again. What might have been…
Heading into Year 2, he’s yet another stellar RB coming off a serious season-ending injury. Some in his shoes have thrived right off the bat. Others have never looked the same. Still, others need weeks to return to form, and they might not be back to 100% until the following season.
That’s the major question hanging over Hall, and fantasy managers must recognize the risks and rewards of selecting him. He could easily be a top-five fantasy RB this year if he is the main option over Dalvin Cook. He could just as easily play only 12 games at 60-80% capacity.
The recent addition of Aaron Rodgers, as well as a beefed-up receiving corps, have helped transform the Jets into a legitimate AFC East title contender. Hall has options like Zonovan Knight, Michael Carter, and Israel Abinkanda behind him further down the depth chart, but the offseason addition of Cook is the biggest obstacle in his way to seeing a substantial workload in 2023.
This all changes the calculus for Hall. Will the Jets need him every week? Adding Cook and renting Rodgers for perhaps no more than one year reinforces the fact that they’re all-in — not only on a division title pursuit but on a Super Bowl title pursuit.
Hall has proven that he can obliterate solid run defenses like those of the Dolphins and Broncos. But this team cannot afford to risk a re-injury ahead of a potential postseason push. As a result, I expect the Jets to play things relatively cautiously with their prized bell cow and lean on Cook to begin the season.
That means he might have a reduced role for some weeks to help manage his overall workload. It also means he might not receive as many goal-line looks as we might expect, perhaps completely seceding that role to Cook.
Of course, this might sound unnecessarily alarmist. As highlighted above, Hall could be an elite RB this season. He has the tools to thrive, and the Jets’ improved aerial attack should open things up for him.
However, there are always warning signs, and Hall’s need to be understood. Managers who draft him might have to hold their breath in Weeks 1 and 2 to see how he’s utilized, and they might continue holding their breath for most of the season.
If Hall is listed as questionable on the injury report with knee soreness or with any other injury that might have resulted from overcompensation for his ACL tear, it could be a serious situation.
Yes, this is true for any running back. But because Hall’s ceiling is so high, and because the timing of his truly “full” recovery remains uncertain, managers should weigh their risk tolerance.
If you go all-in, Hall is a great fit on a title-contending fantasy team with his ADP dropping slightly. If you want to avoid a high chance of heartburn, look elsewhere.