JACKSONVILLE (vs Tennessee)
The Jaguars probably won't win this game, but they might make a run at middle-of-the-pack offensive production. Other than the game against Denver (which ...
... is really stout defensively) Jacksonville has scored 19-21 points in each of its other games. And Tennessee is below-average defensively (the Jets, for crying out loud, scored 27 points on them Sunday). ... James Robinson has gotten a lot better in his last two games, with the Jaguars seemingly recognizing the value in getting him the ball more. He's run for 88 and 78 yards in his last two games, with 3 TDs. He's also a good pass catcher, averaging 3 catches for 23 yards per game. This isn't a particularly good matchup, with Tennessee being stronger against the run; it's held three straight opponents under 90 rushing yards. But it's not a shutdown defense, and it's allowed rushing touchdowns in every game. Nobody should be looking to avoid using Robinson. Carlos Hyde (shoulder) sat out the Cincinnati game but presumably will be back in his change-of-pace role; Hyde averaged 32 rushing and 5 receiving yards in the first three games. ... Trevor Lawrence looks like a No. 1 overall pick. He's made some impressive downfield ...
This report is taken from today's Week 5 edition of Fantasy Index Weekly. The newsletter includes our player rankings and 17 pages of matchup previews, plus stat projections and custom rankings for the games being played this weekend.
(If you're looking for help drafting a team, purchase the October 5 Fantasy Index ReDrafter Cheat Sheet, available through the store.)
Haven't ordered yet? BUY IT NOW! Already a subscriber? LOG IN!
... throws, including a pair in the Cincinnati game, and he's starting to use his above-average mobility. He converted four third-downs on runs against the Bengals. He's run for 21-36 yards three games in a row, with a touchdown and another touchdown run that was overturned after video review. Lawrence looks like he might be a top-10 type quarterback next year. But for now, he's not quite good enough to trust. There were too many errors (interceptions and sacks) early, so they've dialed back the offense some. He's thrown for only 118, 219 and 204 yards in his last three games, with 2 TD passes in those 12 quarters. Here there's some potential for above-average overall numbers, given the quality of the defense he's facing. The Titans have been really leaky thus far, with Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson slicing them up and Zach Wilson putting together his first credible game against them last week. Including both passing and rushing, something along the lines of 260 yards and a couple of touchdowns looks possible. ... DJ Chark (ankle) is out for the year, and that makes Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault looks like good options, especially this week. They'll be the main guys in the passing game, and this is a secondary that's really been torched by wide receivers so far. The Titans have allowed 10 touchdown passes, and they've all been caught by wide receivers. Shenault was their best receiver last week, catching 6 for 99, with a goal-line catch that easily could have gone for at touchdown. Jones wasn't much of a factor last week but finished with better numbers in each of the first three games. Jones averaged 6 catches for 65 yards in those three games, with 2 TDs. In general, both of these guys tend to look like starter-type options for Week 5. With Chark out, the Jaguars will need to work in other receivers, but they don't have one who looks compelling. Tavon Austin replaced Chark for most of the Cincinnati game but made essentially no impact. Tyron Johnson has the speed to be a downfield threat, but the Chargers released him a month ago. Jamal Agnew should be mixed in for a few plays, and he's been productive with his limited chances -- he had an 11-yard run last week, along with a 27-yard reception on his only target. But we don't see any of those players being worth sticking onto a fantasy roster. ... The Jaguars traded for Dan Arnold a week ago, and it looks like he'll be a significant part of their passing game. They've got other tight ends who'll play plenty, including Chris Manhertz and Luke Farrell, but Arnold catches the ball better than those guys. When Arnold was on the field last week, it seemed like it was usually with the intention of getting him the ball. He caught 2 passes, and it they were going to him in the end zone on a play that was whistled dead with a penalty. Back in Week 1, James O'Shaughnessy (who's on IR now) caught 6 passes, and it looks like Arnold is now the tight end in that role. ... Josh Lambo missed the Cincinnati game while attending to an unspecified personal matter. Matthew Wright filled in off the practice squad. Regardless of who they use on Sunday, we're expecting below-average production. The Jaguars have finished with either 1 or 3 kicking points in each of their first three games. ... Ryan Tannehill has been dishing up a lot of turnovers and sacks, but the Jaguars Defense doesn't look like the kind of group that will take advantage. Four weeks in, Jacksonville is sitting at last in both takeaways and sacks. The Jaguars have the league's best current kick returner, but with Jamal Agnew having scored 2 TDs on returns in his first four games, you have to wonder if anyone will be willing to kick to him.