Fantasy Football Player Notes

It was going to be easy to name Shenault as a breakout candidate in 2021, as he was the clear-cut No. 2 option behind D.J. Chark on the Jaguars depth chart. Suddenly, the Jaguars have a new play-caller, a proven veteran receiver (Marvin Jones), and a first-round running back (Travis Etienne) they're calling a wide receiver. This has created some doubt in the role that Shenault will play under Urban Meyer. There's upside in selecting him as a bench receiver, though, as Trevor Lawrence should be a massive upgrade at quarterback, and it's not like Chark/Jones haven't dealt with injuries over the last couple years (Jones is also getting up there in age). Shenault is purely an upside pick that you stash on your bench until you find out just how he's being used.

There are many trying to figure out the target share for Laviska Shenault, Marvin Jones, and Travis Etienne, but the one who's the clear-cut No. 1 option on this team is Chark. If Trevor Lawrence turns out to be the real deal, Chark can be the 2021 version of Tee Higgins when he was with Joe Burrow (was the No. 11 wide receiver in eight full games with Burrow). Chark already flashed WR1 potential in 2019 when he racked up 73 receptions for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns with the combination of Gardner Minshew and Nick Foles, so why can't he be more with Lawrence? The coaching staff is a big question mark, but you don't draft Lawrence to run the ball 40 times per game. Chark comes with some risk but even more upside.

I'll be the first to admit it's possible we're all underestimating Jones this year. Sure, he's now 31 years old, but he's also coming off 1,757 yards and 18 touchdowns over the last two seasons, and that was while missing three full games. The Jaguars and their new coaching staff sought him out in free agency and paid him $7 million per year, so he's not likely going to be "just a mentor" to the young receivers. It is tough to see him being a consistent producer, however, as D.J. Chark, Laviska Shenault, and Travis Etienne are all going to be heavily targeted as well.

While on the field, Brown has delivered for fantasy managers. The issue is that's been a struggle staying on the field. He's missed 14 full games over the last four seasons and portions of others. Still, he produced a 1,000-yard season in 2019, and finished with 70-plus yards in five of the nine games he did play in 2020. Now going to Las Vegas where there is no clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver, Brown could have a Nelson Agholor-like 2021 season where he essentially goes undrafted, but winds up being a borderline WR3 most weeks, but he needs to stay healthy in order for that to happen.