There’s a new sheriff in town in Jacksonville and his name is Mike Mularkey. Known for helping in the the development of the Falcons Matt Ryan, Mularkey turns his attention to young quarterback Blaine Gabbert and a Jaguars team who went 5-11 last season while ranking dead last in offensive yards per game.
Here are the guys in Jacksonville that you should have on your list come time to do the fantasy draft.
*Credit to Cold Stone Creamery for inspiring the categories for this set of fantasy previews. However, I cannot guarantee the fantasy players will live up to high expectations like their delicious ice cream does.
GOTTA HAVE THEM (Elite Category – These guys are must have for any fantasy team)
No Current Jaguars Fit In This Class
LOVE THEM (These guys are game-changers who are a breakout season or two from becoming elite)
RB Maurice Jones-Drew (2011 Finish: 3rd ranked RB at 15.6 points per game)
If it wasn’t for MJD’s ugly contract dispute, he would surely be in the “gotta have them” category. But instead, last season’s rushing leader (topped 100 yards in 10 of his last 11 games in 2011) is deadlocked with owner Shad Khan on improving the last two years of his contract. While it’s easy to understand both sides of the story, Jones-Drew’s reasons for more money are some of the same reasons to avoid picking him top five in fantasy drafts. Not many backs in the league have been a workhorse quite like Jones-Drew and he still plays on an atrocious offense. However, I still love MJD because he’s the poster-boy for athletes playing fantasy sports and he’s still one of the best at breaking tackles. It’s hard to ignore how this little guy has averaged 11.3 touchdowns a year since the 2009 season. I don’t think a hold-out will extend to the regular season, but just in case, back-up Rashad Jennings should be a sure-pick for MJD owners.
LIKE THEM (These guys are solid fantasy options who should help any fantasy team win)
WR Laurent Robinson (2011 Finish: 14th ranked WR at 9.1 points per game)
After coming out of nowhere and scoring 11 touchdowns with the Dallas Cowboys last year, is it legit to say one-year wonder? Possibly, but the fact remains that someone needs to catch the balls in Jacksonville. I would like rookie Justin Blackmon, but a recent DUI really brings him down the rankings. Both Robinson and Blackmon are projected to go 11th or 12th round and for me, Robinson is the less risky move. Don’t put a lot of confidence here, but he could bring some value as a later acquisition to your team.
OUT OF STOCK (These guys can not yet be counted on to bring greatness to a fantasy team)
WR Justin Blackmon
RB Rashad Jennings
QB Blaine Gabbert
WR Mike Thomas
TE Marcedes Lewis
WR Lee Evans
What do you think of the 2012 Jacksonville Jaguars Fantasy Outlook? Did I miss anything or was it pretty spot on? Let me know by commenting below!
Nick Grays is a senior writer at the Sports Bank where he covers the Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers, and Milwaukee Brewers. He also enjoys to share Fantasy Advice and pretend to be a Golf expert from time-to-time. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here or visit his blog Nick Knows Best.
More TSB Fantasy Team Previews:
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
New York Jets
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Pictures:
Maurice Jones-Drew (sports-kings.com)
Laurent Robinson (aol.sportingnews.com)