Team Profile
Jacksonville Jaguars
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-2.1% 17thOff DVOA
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13.5% 18thPassing DVOA
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-9.2% 17thRushing DVOA
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18.6% 31stDef DVOA
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35% 32ndDef Passing DVOA
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-2% 25thDef Rushing DVOA
2024 Team Stats
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Points For18.8 26th
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Points Against25.6 25th
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Yards Per Game306.0 25th
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Yards Allowed Per Game390.0 31st
The Jacksonville Jaguars believe that new wide receiver Gabe Davis can do a lot of different things in their offense in 2024. "Gabe is, to me, like a Swiss Army knife. He can obviously run routes, the guy is right around 81-82 targets a year for the last four years if you average them out. He's a big part of the offense in Buffalo," head coach Doug Pederson said about Davis. The 25-year-old averaged 87 targets the last two years in Buffalo and caught 163 passes for 2,730 yards (26.7 yards per catch) and 27 touchdowns in four years with the Bills. With Calvin Ridley now with the Titans, the Jags will have to make up for the 136 targets he drew in 2023. Davis has big-play ability, but he'll be competing for targets with Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and Evan Engram and probably is going to be a boom-or-bust fantasy wideout again in 2024 with his new team.
Although LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. stands in the shadow of teammate Malik Nabers for the upcoming NFL draft, the 6-foot-2 7/8, 209-pounder is viewed as a possible top-20 pick in April. "He's about as naturally talented as you can find at the position," NFL Network's Bucky Brooks said. "Big, fast, physical. Runs great routes. Natural catcher. Does a really good job of watching the ball into his hands. He can shine." The biggest question for Thomas is whether he can step outside the shadow of Nabors and be an alpha dog for an NFL team. Because he didn't work out at LSU's pro day on Wednesday, Thomas may not have answered that question completely, but it doesn't mean that a receiver-needy team won't be willing to take him in the first round in 2024.
Former Green Bay Packers tight end Josiah Deguara signed an undisclosed one-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, according to a source. Deguara will head to the AFC after spending the first four years of his NFL career playing for the Packers. Green Bay took him in the third round (94th overall) in 2020 out of Cincinnati. In his four years with the team, he recorded 47 catches on 58 targets for 436 yards and only two touchdowns in 50 games played (10 starts). In 15 regular-season games (four starts) in 2023, the 27-year-old caught just eight passes for 65 yards and no scores. Deguara will mostly be useful to the Jaguars for his blocking skills on offense and on special teams, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to make an impact catching the ball behind Evan Engram, the team's top pass-catching tight end.
The Kansas City Chiefs will sign rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit to an undisclosed deal on Friday, according to sources. After working out and impressing the Chiefs' coaching staff earlier this week, the two sides have agreed to terms. Rees-Zammit will be playing running back/wide receiver as he attempts to make Kansas City's roster this summer. The 23-year-old played in the NFL's player pathway program earlier this year and also visited with the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and Denver Broncos before the Chiefs agreed to sign him. Rees-Zammit, who has played rugby in Wales, England, is an interesting addition for the Super Bowl champions, but he's probably a long shot to have any real kind of notable role if he actually makes the 53-man roster out of camp.UPDATE: The Chiefs signed Rees-Zammit to a three-year contract that includes some guaranteed money and a signing bonus.
It's clear that the Jacksonville Jaguars want to keep lead running back Travis Etienne Jr. fresh for the entire season in 2024. In the final six games in 2023, the Jaguars averaged just 79 yards per game on the ground. They finished 23rd overall with 96.8 yards per game on the ground. In an effort to keep Etienne fresher, part of the team's plan in the run game is getting second-year back Tank Bigsby more involved. He played just 141 snaps in his rookie season, carrying the ball 50 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns. A couple of fluky turnovers ensured he didn't see much more time down the stretch. "We have to get Tank going, the bottom line. He is too good, that's why we drafted him. I think early he had some 'what is that' type plays for whatever reason right or wrong. Again, in and out of the lineup," said head coach Doug Pederson.