Jerricho Cotchery Profile at Pro-Football-Reference

Identity Crisis

His name is difficult to pronounce - quick, say it three times out loud.  See?  In 2006, Cotchery caught 82 balls for 961 yards and six touchdowns alongside Laveranues Coles; numbers that would usually be expected from a team's go-to receiver.  The two seasons following, Cotchery averaged 994 yards and 3.5 TDs despite Coles' presence as the go-to guy.  In '06 and '07, his 164 receptions were from the ever-efficient, Chad Pennington, and his 71 in 2008 from a guy that guy that won't retire, Brett Favre.  Cotchery was a huge reason that the team was willing to let Coles to free agency.   He's not tall, strong, or flashy.  He's got some mitts on him, though:

This season Cotchery won't have a premiere WR opposite him to keep the pressure or doubles teams away, and he won't have an established QB throwing him the ball.  Cotchery's career 12.5 yards per carry is pedestrian, but he hauled in a first down on 62% of his catches in 2008, besting Terrell Owens' 55% and nearly equaling Anquan Boldin's 63%.  Cotchery's game is oriented around efficiency, and this should serve him well as the WR1.

2009 Fantasy Outlook

The QB situation for the Jets is up in the air as heir apparent is either Kelley Clemens or rookie Mark Sanchez, and neither one will approach what a Pennington of Favre has done for Cotchery.   The Jets have a strong enough offensive line to protect whoever is under center, but this offense will finish among the bottom five teams in passing attempts.   The Jets finished outside the top 20 in pass attempts in 2006 and 2007 (both fantasy starter number years for Cotchery), but that was with the most efficient and accurate QB in the game (Pennington).  When you factor in the QB situation,  low passing attempts, and no Coles, you have to ratchet Cotchery down a ways.