Jakobi

Meyers

Per Shipley, Washington is now “in a full-time role on offense,” and believes the Jaguars are ready to let him “take his chance and run with it.” Jaguars coach Liam Coen said earlier this offseason that he wants to “unlock” Washington’s post-catch potential. Recently, he celebrated Washington’s ability to line up out wide, in the slot, run routes at all three levels and his improvements in reading coverages pre-snap. Last season, Coen employed three-wide receiver sets at the league’s third-highest rate (70.9 percent). If he does so again, the offense might be able to produce usable fantasy stat lines for Washington, WR Brian Thomas Jr. and WR Jakobi Meyers. If Coen shifts even 5-10 percent toward two-wide receiver sets, things could get slightly volatile. We should learn more in training camp. Stay tuned.

The Jaguars acquired Meyers via trade in Week 10 last year. He then led the Jaguars in targets (63) and receptions (43) until their season came to a close with a Wild Card Round loss to the Bills. Fellow Jaguars WRs Parker Washington and Brian Thomas Jr. have generated buzz in recent weeks, but Meyers should not be overlooked. He still has a chance to repeat as the team’s target leader this season.

NFL reporters and commentators who have suggested the Jaguars will shift Hunter to play mostly cornerback in 2026 and beyond are “completely misrepresenting” comments made by general manager James Gladstone and other front office officials, Shipley said. A lack of “media literacy,” Shipley said, has led league observers to incorrectly believe Hunter’s time as a full-time wideout are over. “At zero point have the Jaguars ever once indicated he will not play both ways, just as he did last year,” Shipley said, adding that head coach Liam Coen has “embraced the disrespect” of reporters who intentionally misinterpret what Jacksonville’s front office says. “He will just play more cornerback.” Hunter in 2025 averaged four receptions and 42 yards per game before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 7. Hunter’s offseason and preseason usage could provide some clues as to how he will be deployed in 2026. Those discounting his role as an every-down receiver may be proven wrong if Shipley is right.

With Parker Washington erupting for over 100 yards plus a score and Brian Thomas Jr. getting a touchdown of his own, there simply wans’t room in the struggling Jags’ passing game for Meyers to do much. Acquired midseason by Jacksonville, Meyers was brought in to backfill Travis Hunter’s role as a short and intermediate target for Trevor Lawrence. Meyers caught at least four passes in all but one of his nine regular season games with the Jags. The only miss was in his Jacksonville debut. He ended the year with 75 catches for 835 yards and three scores. He posted slightly better per-game numbers during his regular season appearances with the Jags. Meyers is the stable option in the Jaguars’ receiver room, but he might also have the lowest ceiling heading into 2026. Fantasy managers will likely treat him as a WR4 in early drafts.

The words “extension of the running game” come to mind looking at that line. And while it was mostly true, Meyers managed a ridiculous catch to bail Jacksonville out of third-and-long near the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter. It cut the distance to a reasonable fourth-and-short that Trevor Lawrence would convert with a quarterback sneak. Meyers will be on the WR2 line in a must-win game for the Jaguars against the Titans in Week 18 to sew up the division title.

Meyers had a somewhat quiet game after five straight fantasy-viable outings as the Jaguars’ No. 1 receiver. He again served as Trevor Lawrence’s main intermediate target while Parker Washington dominated air yards and led the Jags with 145 yards and a touchdown. Meyers’ eight targets were second to Washington’s 10 targets; Brian Thomas Jr. had just two looks on the day. Meyers, who had been targeted on 25 percent of his routes going into Week 16, should be a playable WR2/3 option in Week 17 against the Colts thanks in part to the pass-first nature of the Jacksonville offense.

The deal reportedly includes $40 million in guarantees. Since joining the Jaguars in Week 10, Meyers leads the team in targets, receptions and yards, while scoring the second-most receiving touchdowns, catching 27-of-37 targets for 355 yards and three touchdowns. He is a versatile, inside-outside wide receiver, thriving in head coach Liam Coen’s offensive scheme. It is a healthy payday for a 29-year-old player.

Meyers led the Jags’ receiver corps in receiving but not their skill corps, as Travis Etienne somehow turned his three catches into 3/73/3. Meyers’ 71 yards were his second most as a Jag. Good stuff, if maybe a bit disappointing on an afternoon where Jacksonville erupted for 48 points. Somehow, four of Trevor Lawrence’s five passing scores went to running backs. 5/71 is close to both Meyers’ weekly floor and ceiling. That makes him a perfectly fine WR3, but not much more as fantasy managers go upside hunting during the playoffs. The Broncos are a brutal Week 16 matchup for the Jags’ pass catchers.

Meyers was being used as an almost ever-present part of this offense, even taking three carries for nine yards as an end around threat on key downs. He’s got low-end WR2 vibes heading into Week 15’s game against the Jets and has now gone over six targets and scored in each of his last three games. It’s clear he’s become Jacksonville’s No. 1 receiver and is now fully integrated into the offense after coming over at the trade deadline.

Meyers operated as the Jaguars’ No. 1 wide receiver, despite Brian Thomas Jr. returning to the lineup. He led Jags pass-catchers in targets, receptions, yards, and snaps on the day. Meyers first took a slant 50 yards in the first quarter, getting tackled inside the ten-yard line. He caught the touchdown a few plays later. In a blowout victory, Meyers and the pass-catchers were not needed much in the second half. With Parker Washington suffering a hip/abdomen injury this game, Meyers could be playing from the slot more moving forward. He is in the fantasy WR3 range for Week 14 against the Colts.