2026 Team Outlook: Jacksonville Jaguars
WR Brian Thomas Jr., JAX - Gamble (high risk)
Thomas spent two quiet seasons at LSU (28 catches, 359 yards, and two TDs; then 31 catches, 361 yards, and 5 TDs) before breaking out Year WRC SPT WYD YD% YC TGT TD 2025 215 0.625 2810 0.70 13.07 364 15 2024 183 0.534 2461 0.66 13.45 302 16 2023 215 0.522 2602 0.59 12.10 348 16 Jacksonville Jaguars
in 2023 when given a larger role. He made the most of it (68 receptions for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns), averaging a gaudy 17.3 yards per catch. He topped 100 yards in six of his 13 starts, with performances like 7/142/1, 8/124/3, and 6/150/2 showing off his big-play ability. The comp that comes to mind is somewhere between Mike Williams and Randy Moss. His rookie season in Jacksonville was a tale of two halves. Over his first 11 games, targets were inconsistent (five or fewer in five of those starts), but he still flashed in two games (5/122/1 and 5/87/1). He averaged 12.98 fantasy points per game over that stretch, putting him in mid-tier WR2 territory in PPR formats. Then the Jaguars featured him in their passing game. Jacksonville gave Thomas double-digit targets in each of his final six games, and he delivered a high floor every week (4/87/1, 10/105/2, 9/132/1, and 7/109/1), averaging 22.98 FPPG over that closing run. He finished the season with 87 catches on 133 targets for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns, good for fourth in PPR wide receiver scoring (284.00 points). Thomas battled injuries all season, starting with a wrist injury in mid- September, followed by shoulder and ankle issues (three missed games). His catch rate (52.7%) was much weaker than in 2024 (65.4%), while posting a higher value of 14.7 yards per catch (14.7). Thomas was only an edge in Week 6 (8/90/1), with one other playable outcome (4/66/1). Fantasy Outlook: His down season and changes to the Jaguars’ wide receiver structure put Thomas in prove-himself mode this fantasy draft season, based on his WR3 ranking and ADP (82) in the National Fantasy Football Championship. As bad as he was in 2025, Thomas finished 42nd in PPR fantasy points (138.80), with three games with no stats. I expect him to gain value in
drafts as the summer moves on. I see a WR2 profile (70/1,000/7), with explosive potential in multiple games, even with more competition for targets.
WR Jakobi Meyers, JAX - Sleeper (undervalued)
Meyers' 2022 season was interrupted by a concussion and shoulder injury that cost him three games. He came out of the gate with strong three WR1 performances in his first six starts (9/95, 7/111/1, 9/60/1), before hitting a cold stretch with five uninspiring outings over the next seven weeks. He closed the year on a positive note, finding the end zone in each of his final three games (6/83/1, 6/49/1, and 3/32/1). In 2023, Meyers reached double-digit touchdowns (10) for the first time, an elite-level output for any receiver. His receiving yards stayed remarkably consistent over three years (866, 804, and 807), and he averaged 4.7 catches per game from 2021 to 2023. He never topped 85 yards in a single game, eclipsing 20.00 fantasy points just three times in PPR formats (9/81/2, 7/75/1, and 6/81/1). Las Vegas gave him double-digit targets in four of his first seven games, then went cold on him in seven others. A concussion in Week 2 pushed him to the sidelines. Meyers set new career highs in catches (87), receiving yards (1,027), and targets (129) while missing two games. The Raiders leaned on him heavily down the stretch, giving him nine or more targets in 10 of his final 13 starts. He posted a 17.00-point fantasy floor in six of those matchups, with highlight lines of 10/121, 9/123/1, and 8/105. Meyers finished 19th in PPR wide receiver scoring with 218.00 points. Unfortunately, Meyers lost his fantasy momentum over his seven games with the Raiders (33/352/0 on 49 targets), crushing fantasy teams. A midseason trade to the Jaguars revived their passing attack, and his success on the field (42/496/3). His best value came from Week 12 to Week 14 (4/50/1, 6/90/1, and 4/39/1).
Fantasy Outlook: Meyers slots well as WR2 in this offense, but there will be plenty of competition for targets at wide receiver and tight end. His ADP (92) in the NFFC in mid-May ranks him third on Jacksonville’s wide receiver depth chart by drafters. His experience and possession profile suggest about 70 catches for 800 yards and about five scores, making Meyers a slight value.
RB Chris Rodriguez, JAX - Fantasy Handcuff
Rodriguez spent five seasons at Kentucky, totaling 3,759 combined yards, 33 touchdowns, and 20 receptions. His best college season came in 2021, when he rushed for 1,378 yards and 10 touchdowns on 225 carries while adding 13 catches for 61 yards and three scores. A suspension stemming from an off-field incident cost him four starts in 2022, disrupting what had been an upward trajectory. In 2023, Rodriguez was productive when available (175 carries, 904 yards, and six touchdowns over eight games), but he was rarely used as a receiver (5 catches for 41 yards). His two standout performances showed his ceiling: 31 carries for 197 yards and two TDs, and 18 carries for 162 yards and two TDs. After two quiet seasons with the Commanders (86/420/4 with three catches for 24 yards), Washington increased Rodriguez’s role in 2025 despite him sitting out four games (two for coaching decisions). During the year, he battled minor calf, shoulder, and groin issues while missing a game with an illness.
Over his final seven games, covering nine weeks, Rodriguez scored in five matchups while delivering double-digit fantasy points in four contests (12.50, 10.10, 13.90, and 15.30). The Commanders only threw to him four times (3/30) all year. He had over 12 touches in three contests (16, 16, and 17). Washington had him on the field for over 50% of their snaps only once (52%). Fantasy Outlook: Based on his career yards per carry (4.6), Rodriguez brings the feel of an early-down runner for Jacksonville. He had minimal upside in the passing game, with only three of his 198 career rushes gaining at least 20 yards. In the National Fantasy Football Championship in May, Rodriguez has an ADP of 136, ranking him as a mid-range RB4. In PPR formats, I’m not a fan of backs with a low ceiling catching the ball, putting Rodriguez on my do-not-draft list. Update 6/10/2026: In early June, Rodriguez underwent minor surgery on his left foot. Jacksonville expects him to be ready for training camp.
RB LeQuint Allen, JAX - Low Potential
In his sophomore season at Syracuse, Allen emerged as a three-down back, leading to 1,274 combined yards with 10 touchdowns and 38 catches on 283 touches. On the downside, he gained only 4.3 yards per rush and 5.5 yards per carry. Despite the appearance of below average running back, his output pushed even higher in 2024 (228/1,021/16 – 4.5 yards per carry with 64 catches for 521 yards and four touchdowns). Allen upped his yards per catch (8.1). He came to the NFL with a high floor in pass protection. Allen runs with patience and rhythm on his rushes and route-running. His pass- catching value has multiple pluses, suggesting a natural advantage over Bhayshul Tuten on passing downs. He lacks explosiveness at the second level of a defense, while needing to up his power to win in tight quarters on inside runs.
In his first year with the Jaguars, Allen gained 148 combined yards with no touchdowns and 10 catches on 33 touches. Fantasy Outlook: Despite drawing a deep flier price tag in the early draft season in the National Fantasy Football Championship, Allen projects as a third wheel thorn in the fantasy value of Chris Rodriguez and Bhayshul Tuten. I view him as a player to follow, with summer success and news driving his fantasy draft value.
WR Travis Hunter, JAX - Low Potential
Hunter's college career was unlike anything the sport has seen in decades. He began at Jackson State under Deion Sanders, playing both ways from the start with modest receiver numbers (18/188/4) alongside legitimate defensive contributions (15 tackles, 2 interceptions, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown). When Sanders moved to Colorado, Hunter followed, and his production on both sides grew. He hauled in 57 catches for 721 yards and 5 touchdowns as a receiver while adding 22 tackles and 3 interceptions on defense, all while missing three games with a liver injury. His Heisman campaign in 2024 was the culmination of everything he'd built. Hunter caught 96 passes for 1,263 yards and 16 touchdowns while finishing with 25 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 11 pass deflections in 13 games. He opened the season with five straight standout performances (7/132/3, 10/110, 13/100/2, 7/130, and 9/89/1), hit a brief lull against Kansas City State and Arizona (3/26 and 2/17), then caught fire again with a 9/153/2 showing before closing his Heisman run over the final three weeks (8/125/2, 10/116/2, 4/106/1). As a prospect, Hunter's instincts, vision, and quickness set him apart — he finds the football naturally and wins in tight spaces at a high rate. His feel for spacing and timing is exceptional, suggesting a high-volume receiving career at the next level, with Antonio Brown coming to mind as a ceiling comp. His areas to watch are his release against physical press corners at the line and his run-blocking, which will be tested if Jacksonville asks him to contribute there. His route running still has
room to grow, though his natural athleticism has masked any rawness against college competition. How his defensive role translates to the NFL remains an open question, but his highest value is likely as a passing-down weapon on both sides of the ball, a matchup problem that defenses aren't built to handle. In his first year in the NFL, Hunter failed to produce winning stats for his fantasy price point. He caught 20 of his 31 targets for 197 yards and no touchdowns over his first six matchups while gaining only 9.8 yards per catch. A London game led to a future tease performance (8/101/1 on 14 targets), but a torn LCL in his right knee ended his year. Fantasy Outlook: In year two with Jacksonville, Hunter has more to prove, especially in their wide receiver rotation. He brings star power, and his explosiveness will shine through with more experience. The high-stakes fantasy market views him as a deep flier in the early draft season. The Jaguars expect him to be ready for Week 1 and to continue to play on both sides of the ball.
