Jaguars

Def/Spec Team

The Jaguars are last among NFL defenses in turnovers in 2016 and currently sit in a tie for 25th in sacks. The lack of any playmaking ability has severely capped the fantasy potential of the Jaguars D/ST and the same will hold true in Week 11 when Jacksonville travels to Detroit to face the Lions, who have been careful with the football this season.

The third-round rookie has a sack in each of the last three weeks, leading the Jacksonville pass rush that is fourth among NFL defenses with 12 sacks. Jacksonville is on bye in Week 5 and although the Jaguars D/ST has had success in the sack department, the group has had trouble keeping opposing offenses off the scoreboard and will be a mid-level fantasy option at Chicago in Week 6.

To be fair, that does include a Week 5 bye, but the Jaguars have been shut out in the turnover department in three-straight games. To make matters worse, Jacksonville recorded just one sack in those three contests and was thoroughly dominated by Tennessee in Week 8. The Jaguars D/ST is not worth fantasy consideration in Week 9 on the road at Kansas City.

“I think we are coming up with a good game plan and trying to do the best we can to slow him down,” said Jacksonville DC Todd Wash. The Jaguars gave up 199 passing yards and two touchdowns to Aaron Rodgers in Week 1 and now hit the road to take on San Diego. The Jaguars D/ST won’t be an attractive fantasy option in this road matchup.

Jacksonville will need to continue to create pressure this week against an Oakland team that has allowed just seven sacks in 2016, the best mark in the NFL. Jacksonville currently owns the eighth-best pass defense in the NFL, but the Jaguars D/ST has just one top-10 fantasy finish this season due to a lack of takeaways. The Jaguars D/ST is a middling fantasy option this week against Oakland.

The Jaguars’ success in pass defense is encouraging, but has been undone by a sub-par run defense and an NFL-worst turnover differential of -18. The Jaguars D/ST will host the Minnesota Vikings’ underwhelming offense in Week 14 but will remain an unstartable fantasy option, as the unit has just two top-10 fantasy finishes in 12 tries.

Ramsey had a huge game in Week 16 against Tennessee, recording four tackles, four passes defensed, and a pick-six as the Jaguars ended a nine-game losing streak. Jacksonville will travel to Indianapolis in Week 17, where the Jaguars D/ST will not be worth fantasy consideration as the regular season comes to a close.

Tom Brady and the Patriots destroyed a solid Buffalo defense in Week 3, throwing for 466 yards and three touchdowns in a divisional win. This week, the Jaguars have the unenviable task of trying to slow this offense down and the matchup puts Jacksonville’s D/ST unit at the bottom of potential Week 3 fantasy plays. This game kicks off a rough three game road trip for Jacksonville, which means the Jaguars D/ST will remain happily on fantasy waiver wires for the foreseeable future.

This game may be the boost that the Jacksonville defense needs, as they are dead last in the NFL with just one forced turnover in 2015. As an additional bonus, Jacksonville may be squaring off with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck as Andrew Luck’s status is in doubt as he deals with a shoulder injury. No matter who is under center for the Colts, the Jacksonville D/ST won’t be a startable fantasy option on the road in Week 4.

The Florida Times-Union highlighted the defensive deficiencies that were present in Jacksonville’s third preseason game, noting that the defense turned in an “alarming performance.” The Jaguars D/ST is not on the fantasy radar and certainly won’t be an option in Week 1 when they host the ball-control offense of the Carolina Panthers.