Dustin

Keller

Keller may be the biggest loser in the return to the Jets’ ground game roots. He’s never been a strong run blocker, so his snaps could be curtailed. He managed just two targets on the afternoon, bringing his five-game average down to 3.8 catches and 53.6 yards. With two straight duds, Keller is no longer a must-start TE1 heading into a Week 6 matchup with the Dolphins.

Keller had just one catch on two targets. “They clearly didn’t want me to get the ball in my hands,” he said. Keller played 44-of-53 offensive snaps, so at least playing time isn’t a concern. He’ll be a low-end TE1 going forward as the Jets try to implement a more run-heavy scheme.

The silver lining is that he led the Jets in targets with five tonight and he leads them on the year, too. The last two weeks have knocked a lot of the shine off Keller, though. Mark Sanchez threw the ball just 25 times in a run-heavy game plan, but the Dolphins allow the most fantasy points to TEs in the league. That Keller struggled in such a good matchup under a game plan that’s likely to stick is not a good sign. He’s going to struggle to hang onto TE1 status at this rate.

ESPN New York’s Rich Cimini cautions that “no deal is imminent,” but the Jets clearly want Keller around for the long haul. Keller’s 2012 base salary is $3,052,500. He led the Jets in receptions, receiving yards, first downs, and 20-plus yard receptions last season. Keller turns 28 years old in September.

Keller’s Week 9 head injury is a dead issue. Averaging 3.6 catches and 54.5 yards, Keller should be a low-end TE1 against a Patriots’ pass defense that will likely focus on taking away Santonio Holmes.

The Jets’ rookie slot receiver, Kerley has seen more targets than Dustin Keller since New York’s Week 8 bye. His absence could translate to a few more passes thrown Keller’s way over the middle. The Jets’ third receiver against the Broncos is now expected to be practice squad type Patrick Turner.

“They put me through all these tests, over and over and over again, which was really annoying, but obviously you have to follow NFL protocol,” Keller said. Unlike teammate Shonn Greene, Keller did come back into the game. He should be fine for next week’s game against the Patriots.

Keller predictably got behind the Eagles’ slow linebackers, even breaking off a 41-yard over-the-shoulder catch in the second half. It’s the most yards he’s had in a game since Week 3. Keller will be a borderline TE1 option against the Giants’ soft secondary next week.

Even without dumpoff targets LaDainian Tomlinson, Shonn Greene and Jeremy Kerley, Mark Sanchez didn’t look Keller’s way until the middle of the second quarter. Sanchez promptly threw high to a wide open Keller in the back of the end zone, forcing Keller’s second foot to come down on the end line. Keller is 14th among fantasy tight ends in points per game heading into a Week 12 matchup with the Bills.

One week after his two-touchdown game, Keller saw six targets. But he was never close to a big play and recorded his lowest yardage total since Week 5. Heading into next week’s game against the Chiefs, Keller is on pace for 781.3 yards -- which would be a career high.