Wed, Mar 11, 2015 at 11:49am

JETS GET A BARGAIN IN FITZPATRICK

The New York Jets acquired quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick from the Houston Texans for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2016.

What does it give the New York Jets
Fitzpatrick isn't quite a star but he is an above-average veteran signal-caller, and that's probably exactly what the Jets need right now. Not only is he capable of making big plays and keeping his team in games, Fitzpatrick is a great match for new No. 1 wideout Brandon Marshall. The arrival of these two vets should provide a huge boost to New York's offense, and it also takes significant pressure of QB Geno Smith (who may have been rushed into a starting job and can now move into a backup role and learn from Fitzpatrick). The fact that Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey was Fitzpatrick's head coach in Buffalo will only help things go smoothly from the get-go.

What does it give the Houston Texans
Houston decided to overhaul their QB rotation this off-season, sending both Fitzpatrick and backup Case Keenum out in trades. With Brian Hoyer signed and two big-armed young prospects in Ryan Mallett and Tom Savage around to back him up, the Texans are set under center. They don't get much at all in return here for a quality QB (Fitz), but they do shed salary in this move.

Fantasy impact
Fitzpatrick is suddenly fantasy-relevant yet again (although maybe not so much in one-QB fantasy formats). Smith clearly gets a downgrade, and should be avoided in most fantasy leagues until he gets a starting job back and shows he can play up to his potential. On the Houston side, this deal should ensure Hoyer starts most of the games for the Texans early in the 2015 campaign (but, like Fitzpatrick, he's a fringe fantasy candidate in most setups).