Allen

Lazard

With Aaron Rodgers back for the 2024 campaign, Lazard returned to his old form after a down 2023 in which he caught 23 passes for 311 yards and one touchdown. Lazard caught 37 passes for 530 yards and six touchdowns this season and looked to be on pace for a career year through the first six games (26-354-5) before a trade for Davante Adams following a Week 6 loss to the Bills derailed him. Nearly all of Lazard’s production for his career has come with Rodgers under center, making it hard to buy into his upside in what may be a post-Rodgers season. He remains under contract with the Jets through 2026 but can be cut for a $2.184 dead cap hit after June 1st. Lazard has an $11 million base salary he’s set to earn in each of the next two seasons. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Jets opted to move on from him when it’s financially convenient to do so.

He played a Jets-high 54 snaps but managed just three targets, one of which wound up being Aaron Rodgers’ second interception of the game. Over the last month since coming off IR for his chest injury, Lazard has 13 targets, four catches, and 47 receiving yards despite playing 204 snaps. He’s not a reliable Week 18 stream no matter how desperate things are for you.

Lazard was fifth on the team in targets and had two brutal drops on the day as well. He will continue to be involved because Aaron Rodgers likes him, but he should not be on fantasy rosters.

Lazard returned to the Jets’ lineup after missing more than a month with a chest injury. Lazard ran a route on 36 of Aaron Rodgers’ 46 drop backs and took a distant backseat to Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson, who combined for 21 targets on the day. Lazard is not fantasy relevant.

Offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer was activated from injured reserve as well. Lazard had 412 yards and five touchdowns before suffering the chest injury in Week 8. Most of his production came before Davante Adams joined the mix, so fantasy managers shouldn’t expect him to keep up the pace in the final month of the season. As a distant third receiver for a struggling offense, Lazard is not on the fantasy radar for Week 14.

Lazard could return to action as soon as this week against Miami. He’s been on injured reserve since late October with a chest injury the Jets have described as “strange” in nature. His return to the New York lineup would mean a reduced role for rookie Malachi Corley, who has five targets over the team’s past three games. Lazard likely won’t be fantasy relevant in 12-team leagues.

Placed on IR on Wednesday, Lazard is already set to miss four games no matter what. This makes it sound like the rest of his season is genuinely in doubt. Mike Williams will step in as the Jets third receiver going forward unless Williams is traded. Malachi Corley may get a shot too as long as he stops self-fumbling balls on his own before getting in the end zone.

Lazard was ruled out for Week 9 on Wednesday but will now miss at least four games while recovering from his chest injury. The veteran receiver has caught 30 passes for 412 yards and five touchdowns this season and last played in Week 7 against the Steelers. Even when he returns, Lazard doesn’t figure to have a big role with Davante Adams now in the mix. The earliest Lazard can return is in Week 14 against the Dolphins.

Lazard’s absence could give the Jets one last shot at showcasing Mike Williams for a trade. Williams has become an afterthought in the New York offense with Garrett Wilson and Aaron Rodgers’ buddies rounding out the starting lineup at wide receiver. Williams has 11 catches for 160 scoreless yards this year.

Lazard was listed as a non-participant for the second straight practice. He was inactive against the Patriots in Week 8 and interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said on Monday that Lazard is week-to-week. Expect Lazard to sit out Thursday night against the Texans as Aaron Rodgers will be down one of his favorite targets for a second straight week.