Editor’s note: To help you prepare for your fantasy football draft, NESN.com will profile each NFL team and analyze which players are worth picking and which players aren’t worth your time. Today, we look at the Jaguars.
The Jacksonville Jaguars took a big step toward contention last season and they should have several players who can help you contend in your fantasy football leagues.
In advance of the upcoming fantasy season, we took a closer look at the Jaguars players you should draft, avoid and peg as sleepers.
DRAFT-WORTHY
Allen Robinson, Wide Receiver: Just 22 years old, Robinson had his coming out party last season. He caught 80 passes for 1,400 yards and a league-leading 14 touchdown passes. He’s going 16th overall as the seventh wide receiver and probably could go even higher.
Blake Bortles, Quarterback: Talk about a coming out party. Everything finally started to click for Bortles last year, and he finished with over 4,400 passing, 35 touchdowns in the air and two more on the ground, good for the third-highest fantasy points among quarterbacks in standard leagues. He was quite a steal last year and likely will be again now, considering he’s going as the 10th QB in the ninth round.
Allen Hurns, Wide Receiver: Hurns also took a big leap forward in his second year in the league after going undrafted in 2014. He missed time due to injury last season or likely would have been even better, but still finished with great numbers: 64 catches, 1,034 yards and 10 TDs. His 1,707 yards and 16 scores over his first two years are the most for an undrafted player in NFL history, per The Florida Times-Union. He’s being taken one pick ahead of Bortles, but is the 33rd WR off the board. If he puts up those numbers from that draft slot, you’ll probably win your league.
Julius Thomas, Tight End: Injuries derailed the beginning of his Jacksonville career, but we’re not convinced he’s just fallen off the face of the Earth. If you’re looking for a second tight end or someone to take a shot on at the position, he’s not a bad option as the 14th TE off the board in the 12th-13th round. We still prefer the former two pass catchers listed here, though.
AVOID
Jaguars Running Backs: For now. Chris Ivory joins a backfield that already has T.J. Yeldon and Denard Robinson. One of them will break out, we think, though it might not be whoever initially wins the starting job. Still, this is a passing offense, so look elsewhere for RB help if you can.
SLEEPER
Jaguars Defense/Special Teams: They’ve made some nice upgrades for the second offseason in a row. We’re not saying last season’s 25th-ranked fantasy defense suddenly is draftable. But could they turn into a decent streaming option? Sure. There’s a chance.
Click for all fantasy players to draft and avoid this season >>
Thumbnail photo via Derick E. Hingle/USA TODAY Sports Images
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