Where to draft the top Jaguars players in fantasy football
Last year, the Jaguars showed flashes of what could become a top offense in the NFL. With their recent offensive success comes high expectations for many Jacksonville players in fantasy football.
With the emergence of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the second year in head coach Doug Pederson’s offense, and the arrival of wide receiver Calvin Ridley, many Jaguars will be considered when fantasy football players are drafting their teams.
This is where fantasy footballers should target the top Jacksonville players in their drafts:
Travis Etienne Jr.
Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. is currently the highest-drafted Jacksonville player in standard ESPN fantasy football leagues. He has an average draft position of 30.7, which makes him the No. 28 fantasy player, according to ESPN’s rankings. And his ranking is entirely justified.
Etienne might be the Jaguars player with the most potential heading into the season. He is the undisputed No. 1 rusher on the team, and his upside as a pass catcher makes him one of the top fantasy targets at the position. Etienne finished last season as the 17th ranked fantasy running back, but projecting him as a top 10 player at the position this season feels appropriate.
He went into last season competing for touches with former Jaguars running back James Robinson. Etienne rushed for 86 yards in his first start Oct. 16 against the Indianapolis Colts, and he ran for 156 yards in his first game after Robinson’s trade against the Denver Broncos on Oct. 30.
While Etienne isn’t as proven as many of the top fantasy running backs, he should see improvements in his second season playing in the NFL. He suffered a season-ending injury before his rookie season, so the third-year back is going into his second full season.
Etienne should be a top 10 running back target in points-per-reception (PPR) leagues. In 12-team PPR leagues, he should be a late second-round or early third-round target.
However, in dynasty leagues, he should be firmly in the second-round conversation. He figures to project even more after this season and should be a top fantasy running back for years.
Calvin Ridley
Ridley is going into his first season with the Jaguars and hasn’t played in almost two seasons, so his success will be difficult to forecast this season.
Ridley will first and foremost need to readjust to the NFL, but a receiver as talented as him figures to reach his usual production. At his peak, Ridley was the fifth highest scoring receiver in fantasy football.
Like the rest of the roster, Ridley’s success will depend, in part, on the development of Lawrence. If the star quarterback plays as well as expected, Ridley should be a top fantasy football option.
He’s currently the No. 37 player and No. 17 receiver, according to ESPN’s rankings. If he reaches his potential, Ridley could finish near the top 10. However, fantasy managers should consider his lack of play in recent years and injury history before taking him.
Ridley should be drafted late in third rounds or early in fourth rounds in 12-team PPR leagues. His draft value should stay about the same in dynasty leagues.
Ridley is currently 28 years old and in what should be the prime of his career. Therefore, a third-round grade could be a little rich for the new Jaguars receiver in dynasty leagues, but it is justifiable in standard 12-team PPR leagues.
Trevor Lawrence
Lawrence is going into his third season in the NFL. A year ago, he looked like a young, struggling player, but now he’s a potential MVP candidate. And he should get even better.
Lawrence is going into his third season and his second with Pederson at the helm. The boosted chemistry of the offense, the addition of Ridley, and the natural development of Lawrence could result in him being a top five fantasy quarterback.
Last year, he ended the season as the seventh ranked passer, and that was without Ridley. He doesn’t often add much with his legs, but he’s going to be a part of what should be one of the most prolific offenses in the league.
Lawrence is currently the No. 61 player and No. 8 quarterback in fantasy football for the upcoming season.
While many people wait to draft quarterbacks, Lawrence is one of the few worth taking early. He should provide consistent production and is a fair player to take around the fifth round after most of a fantasy team’s running back and wide receiver positions have been filled in 12-team PPR leagues.
In dynasty leagues, Lawrence’s value should increase to at least the fourth round. He should be one of the league’s best quarterbacks for the foreseeable future.
Evan Engram
Last season, Jaguars tight end Evan Engram had a career year. He was the fifth highest ranked tight end in fantasy football, recording 73 catches for 766 yards and four touchdowns.
This year, a step back for the tight end is a realistic outcome. Pederson got the most out of Engram, but Ridley’s addition made an already crowded group of offensive weapons even more competitive, and Engram is a candidate to regress.
However, he should still be a more-than-viable option at the position. Engram is one of the more involved pass-catching tight ends in the league and should still see his fair share of targets this year.
Engram could realistically be the sixth best fantasy tight end this season — he’s projected to be No. 8, according to ESPN — but the tight end position isn’t a prolific position in fantasy football.
Engram should be drafted after the top tier of tight ends — Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, T.J. Hockenson, Darren Waller, and George Kittle — but taking him above Kyle Pitts and Dallas Goedert could pay off this season.
In dynasty leagues, his value is about the same, but he should be taken after Goedert and Pitts, who have more potential in the long run.
Christian Kirk
Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk was the main beneficiary of Lawrence’s development last year. Not only did he enjoy a career-best season last year, but he had one of the best-ever seasons for a Jacksonville receiver. He posted an 84-reception, 1,108-yard, eight-touchdown season in 2022.
It’s hard to imagine he has as much success as last year, but with Ridley drawing most of the attention from opposing defenses, he could turn in a similar season. Last year, he ended the season as the No. 12 fantasy wide receiver; he’s now projected as the No. 34 receiver, according to ESPN’s rankings.
Kirk is often taken in the seventh or eighth rounds, which is a comfortable spot to take a chance on the 2022 fantasy football star. He likely won’t put up the same numbers as last year, but it’s a risk worth taking on someone who’s shown he can serve as a fantasy WR1.
Kirk is still just 26 and may have more improvement in his future, but as long as he’s playing with Ridley, he figures to be the WR2.
Zay Jones
Jacksonville wide receiver Zay Jones is another player who benefitted from the sudden improvement of Lawrence. He connected with Lawrence 82 times for 823 yards and five touchdowns, but it is unlikely he will be as fantasy relevant as last season.
Jones is often taken as a late-round flier, which is an appropriate spot to take him. He showed a strong connection with Lawrence, but, at best, he’s the third option in the offense.
The former Raiders receiver is currently just insurance for Ridley or Kirk, but could have a handful of productive weeks.
Dynasty League Targets
Jacksonville running back Tank Bigsby and wide receiver Parker Washington don’t figure to make much of an impact in fantasy football this season but could be good options to stash in dynasty leagues.
Bigsby has more potential to see the field this season. He should serve as a change-of-pace back behind Etienne and could step into a starting role if Etienne were to suffer an injury.
Since he’s a rookie, Bigsby’s positive play in training camps and the preseason make him worth a roster spot in dynasty leagues. He isn’t in line to be as relevant in non-dynasty leagues, but if managers can hold onto him, he may find a way onto the field in the future and has shown an ability to take advantage of those opportunities.
Washington — who was selected in the sixth round of the 2023 draft — garnered interest from teams around the league ahead of the roster cut deadline. The Jaguars decided not to move the rookie, showing a belief he could develop into a solid contributor. He won’t see the field much, assuming the team stays healthy, but he may be worth a late-round pick in dynasty leagues.
