Things have not been picturesque in Jacksonville in recent years. Yet change is in progress in Florida’s capital, featuring new faces in a rebuilding vision all brought about by Head Coach Gus Bradley. The Jaguars seem to be moving away from their reputation of mere house-cat and reverting back to the ferocious jungle cat that once roamed Florida thousands of years ago.
Yet what will this rejuvenation of a consistently stagnant franchise mean for one’s fantasy hopes and dreams? What will rookie wide receivers Allen Robinson, and Marqise Lee do for Chad Henne and potentially Blake Bortles? Will Denard Robinson land a significant role within the team’s offense? But most importantly, which Jaguars must you draft this season?
Chad Henne, Quarterback
With the first player off the board in the 2014 NFL Draft lurking and developing in the background, Chad Henne takes over an offense teeming with talent yet lacking in experience. Henne is far from a starter at first glimpse in the preseason due to a tenacity for turning over the football, the only real hope for a fantasy solution coming from Jacksonville is if Bortles should take over and excel.
Toby Gerhart, Running Back
Filling the shoes of a legend is not simple nor easy, yet Stanford graduate Toby Gerhart has as good a chance as any to replace Maurice Jones-Drew. With reports circulating that Gerhart will be the workhorse for Jacksonville, the former Minnesota Viking is being taken as the 23rd running back in fantasy drafts, and the 40th player overall. The rush on ball-carriers is typically early in drafts, yet Gerhart could prove a mid-round steal should he fall in the right place.
Cecil Shorts, Wide Receiver
Shorts caugt only 66 of the 123 balls thrown his way in 2013, but amassed 777 yards and three scores on those touches. Shorts will be the number-one for the Jaguars until either Lee or Robinson matures, so expect big production here despite the almost-guaranteed poor quarterback play.
Allen Robinson, Wide Receiver
The Jaguars selected a six-foot two wide out with the ability to run any route with the 29th pick in the second round of this season’s draft. Lacking top end speed, Robinson used his size to gain separation at Penn State, and is expected to start opposite Cecil Shorts and ahead of first-rounder Marqise Lee. Though ball-carrying could be an issue, Robinson should be the second option in Jacksonville’s passing game this season. That being said, a second option on a run-heavy team in his rookie year has limited upside.
Marcedes Lewis, Tight End
A lock simultaneously on the waiver wire and in the Jaguars’ starting lineup, Lewis tends to disappear on the stat-sheet come game day. Though a vital part of the run-block game be it Fred Taylor or MJD over the past decade, Lewis simply is not relevant in the spectrum of fantasy football except in the deepest of formats.
Biggest Fantasy Surprise: Toby Gerhart
Being drafted towards the back of the pack of expected starters, this is Gerhart’s time in the sun after being stuck behind Adrian Peterson in Minnesota. With a recently-soldified offensive line and no other relevant horses in the stable, Gerhart will surprise many and break the top 15 in running backs this season.
Biggest Fantasy Disappointment: Denard Robinson, Offensive Weapon
Though he was touted as a versatile force in both the rushing and receiving areas coming out of college, Robinson is all but irrelevant in terms of fantasy. The 2014 season will be the final nail in Robinson’s coffin as he finds himself buried in both the receiver and running back depth charts.
How the Schedule Impacts Jacksonville’s Fantasy Options
In a division with cupcake defenses like Indianapolis and Tennessee in addition to dates with the NFC East this season, the table is set for a major turnaround for the Jaguars in 2014. Though the AFC North is also on the menu, expect Chad Henne to be just enough of a complement for Toby Gerhart to generate points from the skill positions.