Depth Chart Battle: Jaguars Wide Receivers

The Jaguars were busy this off-season, making many improvements to their miserable offense from last season. After signing wide receiver Marvin Jones in free agency, they selected Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the first overall pick of the NFL Draft, and then took Lawrence’s teammate, running back Travis Etienne, at pick 25. After finishing bottom-five in yards per game in 2020, the Jaguars’ new-look offense under Darrell Bevell should be much more exciting. However, one big question that remains is who exactly will emerge as the target leader of the offense. D.J. Chark, Laviska Shenault, and the aforementioned Jones all have serious cases for the number one option in the Jaguars offense. Come draft day, this could lead to confusion for fantasy managers, as all three pass catchers seem like good fantasy options. Here’s a look at how I think the hierarchy will shake out in Jacksonville:

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D.J. Chark (Underdog ADP: 72.8, WR34)

Chark is being drafted the highest out of the Jaguars receivers, going around pick 73 according to Underdog half-PPR ADP. After being selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of LSU, Chark broke out in his sophomore year, putting up over 1,000 receiving yards and finishing as the WR16. He fell back down to earth last season, accumulating just 706 receiving yards en route to a disappointing WR48 finish. However, it’s possible that we can give Chark a pass for his poor performance last year. He got very little help from his quarterback—per SportsInfoSolutions, Chark had 15 uncatchable deep targets in 2020, which ranked top-five in the NFL. With Lawrence coming into town, this should hopefully change. According to SiS, Lawrence had the second-highest on-target percentage (70%) in the NCAA last season, trailing only Zach Wilson. With a bump in quarterback play, Chark has the opportunity to re-emerge as an elite fantasy option this season.

One area of concern for Chark is head coach Urban Meyer. The OSU legend recently spoke rather negatively of Chark, saying “I just didn’t like his size, his strength, I just thought it was way below average, way below what we expect from our receivers.” If Chark fails to address Meyer’s concerns, it could create an even more confounding situation in the wide receiver room. Chark has also tended to be a boom-or-bust type player. In the past two seasons, he has had eight games with over 15 fantasy points, but nine with under 6.

Laviska Shenault (Underdog ADP: 78.5, WR38)

Shenault is going soon after Chark in fantasy drafts, being taken around the 79th pick as the WR38, per Underdog. Shenault, also a second-round pick, had a solid rookie season, finishing with 600 receiving yards and five touchdowns, actually out-scoring Chark in half-PPR (Shenault finished as the WR47). He was utilized all over the field, taking 376 snaps out wide, 168 from the slot, and even 24 from the backfield. He is also a monster in the open field—per PFF, Shenault tied for the most missed tackles forced among all wide receivers in 2020 (22), doing stuff like this:

Career long 36-yard reception for @Viska2live 😤



📺:CBS pic.twitter.com/7XeteK6TbW

— #DUUUVAL (@Jaguars) October 25, 2020

Shenault is the type of player that will get touches manufactured for himself, which gives him the highest floor among the Jaguars receivers. Given his versatility and explosiveness, Shenault has a Robert Woods-esque upside that could make him a steal in fantasy drafts this year.

Marvin Jones (Underdog ADP: 116.2, WR57)

If Marvin Jones had a nickname, it would be Mr. Value. Year in and year out, Jones is priced low in drafts, and he consistently outperforms where he is drafted. Here’s a look at how he’s finished in relation to his ADP, since 2015:

As you can see, Jones has eclipsed his average draft position in four out of the last six seasons, often vastly producing over his expectation. This season, he has a chance to do it again—Jones is being drafted way below his fellow receivers in Jacksonville, going around pick 116 in half-PPR drafts. Jones is the only proven wide receiver on the Jaguars, and his prowess as a red zone machine only makes him a better value–he has 31 touchdowns since 2017, which ranks sixth amongst wide receivers. There’s simply no reason why Jones should be going below guys like Rashod Bateman, Elijah Moore, and Mecole Hardman.

Who Should You Draft?

Given the Jaguars’ poor defense and offensive talent, Chark, Shenault, and Jones realistically could all be great fantasy options, replicating what D.J. Moore, Curtis Samuel, and Robby Anderson did last season in Carolina. However, if I had to rank who the three based on who I like most in drafts, it would go as follows: Shenault, Jones, Chark.

Shenault’s upside and explosiveness make him the most appealing to me. He is a well-rounded receiver capable of doing damage anywhere on the field, and it’s easy to see a path where he has a second-year breakout. His draft position of 78.5 is a perfect spot for him to go in drafts, and he is a solid mid-round target with a high floor and plenty of upside.

Jones’ draft value is simply too good to pass up on. At an ADP of 116.2, he is worth essentially nothing and is priced so low that there’s little downside if he doesn’t pan out. He hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down at the age of 31, and if he puts up similar numbers as he has in the past few seasons, he could be a diamond in the rough for your fantasy team once again.

Chark is a good player, but he’s going a bit too high for my liking. While he should benefit from Lawrence’s arrival in Jacksonville, he has the makings of a volatile fantasy option that offers little consistency from week to week. It’s possible that he bounces back with another strong season, but I like the upside of Shenault and the value of Jones better.