By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Each offseason brings change to NFL rosters, and those changes often have fantasy implications. Below, I lay out the changes at the skill positions and how those moves impact the fantasy status of the new roster.
2017
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QB: Blake Bortles, Chad Henne
RB: Leonard Fournette, Chris Ivory, T.J. Yeldon, Corey Grant
WR: Marqise Lee, Allen Hurns, Dede Westbrook, Allen Robinson, Keelan Cole
TE: Marcedes Lewis, James O’Shaughnessy
2018
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QB: Blake Bortles, Cody Kessler, Tanner Lee
RB: Leonard Fournette, T.J. Yeldon, Corey Grant
WR: Marqise Lee, Dede Westbrook, Donte Moncrief, Keelan Cole, D.J. Chark
TE: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, James O’Shaughnessy
Pre-Draft Offseason:
The most impactful move by the Jaguars this season was retaining Blake Bortles instead of going after a quarterback who is actually good. Of course, Bortles had his moments last season, but he’s too inconsistent and needs his defense and running game to be great for him to lead his team to wins. And that’s what Jacksonville is banking on, as the organization let both Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns walk this offseason.
Robinson and Hurns are two big losses, but might not be a huge setback for a team that rather win in the trenches and score off turnovers. The Jaguars did go out and get Donte Moncrief and Austin Seferian-Jenkins, with Seferian-Jenkins likely the prize of the two. The Jaguars need a good pass-catching tight end for their bring offense, and Seferian-Jenkins was one of the best tight ends on the market. He should have some value in a weak fantasy position.
The receiver turnover doesn’t do a whole lot to the depth chart, as Robinson was injured all season and Hurns missed six games. There isn’t a no-doubt No. 1 receiver in Jacksonville, but the veteran and receiver at the top of the chart is Marquise Lee. Lee should be followed by Dede Westbrook and then Keelan Cole. There’s talent in this group, but without a dominant No. 1, the targets will likely be spread out and in this offense, there won’t be many to go around. Lee is who I would look at for value, although Westbrook is my favorite of the group and has the best chance to excel with extra targets.
Post-Draft Update
The Jaguars didn’t do much to upgrade their offense or look to the future at quarterback, even though they drafted Tanner Lee out of Nebraska in the sixth round. Lee is clearly a developmental quarterback with little hope to be a full-time starter in the NFL. That means Jacksonville will be sticking with Blake Bortles and his mediocrity for a while.
The only other offensive skill player the Jaguars picked was wide receiver D.J. Chark from LSU. He is a speed demon, clocking a 4.34-second 40 at the combine, and he will take the top off a defense. Unfortunately, the Jaguars are built to stop opposing offenses and run the ball with Leonard Fournette, which means Chark, even if he does see snaps this season, won’t be utilized very often.
At this point, we can only hope for a strong offensive line and defense to keep Fournette running downhill with a lead and put him in good field position to score touchdowns. And after grabbing a defensive lineman with their first pick and a safety and offensive lineman with their third and fourth picks, those scenarios seem likely. As long as Fournette can stay healthy, he’ll have a ton of opportunity this season.
2018 Fantasy Outlook:
Stud: Leonard Fournette
Solid: None
Sleeper: Marqise Lee, Austin Seferian-Jenkins
For more recommendations, check out WalterFootball.com’s Fantasy Football Rankings.
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Fantasy Football Rankings
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 8/21 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/18 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 9/1 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/30 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/27 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/23 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/22 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/16 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/9 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/2 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/1 (Chet)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 7/26 (Walt)
Fantasy Football 2-QB Dynasty Draft - 5/25 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Rankings - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Articles:
2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: OTAs, Training Camp - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Busts - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Mid-Round Values - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 NFL Preseason Game Recaps - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Preseason Games - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Notes - 8/31 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Quarterback Preseason Targets Tracker - 8/30 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football D/ST Drafting - 8/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Running Backs - 8/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/15 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Quarterbacks - 8/15 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends to Target - 8/9 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football - PPR Draft Strategy: Rounds 1 and 2 - 7/27 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Doug Baldwin's Value - 7/25 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Chris Hogan's Value - 7/18 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Alvin Kamara's Value - 7/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Tight Ends - 7/11 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Wide Receivers - 7/6 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Running Backs - 7/5 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Quarterbacks - 7/4 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends Better Than ADP - 6/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers Better Than ADP - 6/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Target Shares - 6/22 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Points Per Game - 6/13 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator - 6/2
2018 Fantasy Football Value Players - 5/25 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Quarterback Look-Back - 1/28 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Running Backs with the Most Carries - 1/28 (Walt)
2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 16
NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22
Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19
NFL Picks - Feb. 12
