NFL Fantasy Preview: Jacksonville Jaguars

James Robinson (Twitter)

In a 32-part series leading up to the start of the 2021 National Football League season, we will take a look at each NFL franchise from a fantasy perspective. The 15th team we will review is the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Heading into the 2021 National Football League season, the Jacksonville Jaguars were to have a time share at the running back position. James Robinson, who was by far the best Jaguars player in fantasy football in 2020, was expected to split duties with Travis Etienne Jr., the Jaguars’ first round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Clemson.

However, things changed on Tuesday, when Etienne had a season-ending foot injury according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN. The injury now means that Robinson will be the go-to Jaguars back in 2021.

Robinson now moves from a RB2 to a clear RB1, and a definite top 10 pick in fantasy football, if you are looking for the short term. In 2020, he had 240 carries for 1070 yards and seven touchdowns, along with 49 catches for 344 yards and three touchdowns.

The fact that Etienne Jr. was selected in the first round at all was a bit of a surprise, when you consider the fact how terrible the Jaguars defense was in 2021. Jacksonville gave up 492 points in 2020. The only defense that was worse was the Detroit Lions, who surrendered 519 points.

The face of the Jaguars franchise for years to come is quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who was selected first overall by the Jags in 2021. But there are better quarterbacks available as Lawrence figures out Urban Meyer’s offense. Lawrence is ranked 19th among quarterbacks in fantasy, right behind Joe Burrow, who was selected first overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2020 NFL Draft. 

The receiver Lawrence is expected to throw the football to the most is Marvin Jones Jr., who Jacksonville signed on March 17 to a two-year deal worth $12.5 million. Last year in Detroit, Jones had 76 catches for 978 yards and nine touchdowns. He is ranked 15th among wide receivers in fantasy football.

Other Jaguars receivers worth taking in the later rounds are D.J. Chark and Laviska Shenault. Chark was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2019 as he had 73 catches for 1008 yards and eight touchdowns, but saw his numbers drop in 2020.  Last year he only had 53 catches for 706 yards and five touchdowns. Meanwhile, Shenault had 58 catches for 600 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie after being the Jaguars’ second pick, 42nd overall, out of the University of Colorado in the 2020 NFL Draft.

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