The Jaguars were expected to be a Super Bowl contender in 2008, but instead they turned into a dud.
Injuries were a major factor, especially on defense, but Jacksonville looked lost. The Jaguars will try to get back on track, and they made some moves in a positive direction to make that happen. They tried to improve the offensive line by bringing in veteran tackle Tra Thomas and drafting rookies Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton. They added a proven talent at wide receiver in Torry Holt and brought in rookies Mike Thomas, Jarett Dillard and Tiquan Underwood to replace former busts in Matt Jones and Reggie Williams. Quarterback David Garrard even lost 20 pounds in an effort to be more mobile.
The Jaguars did part ways with longtime running back Fred Taylor, who was still productive at 33. But with Taylor in New England, this opens the door for a move Fantasy owners have been waiting for. Maurice Jones-Drew is now the starting running back, and he should be even more productive than before when he was sharing carries with Taylor. Jones-Drew always posted dominant stats, but we could see him as the No. 1 running back in Fantasy leagues this year if he lives up to his potential.
Garrard could also be in line for an outstanding season if Holt still has something left in the tank, but Holt has a lot to prove. You should consider Garrard a No. 2 Fantasy quarterback coming into the season and Holt a No. 4 Fantasy wide receiver, and both need to show owners a lot before anyone can count on them as starters. The same goes for tight end Marcedes Lewis, who is looking to become an elite tight end.
Sleeper ... Greg Jones, RB
Everyone knows about Jones-Drew. He became part of a terrific tandem with Taylor as a rookie in 2006 and has gotten better each year. But before Jones-Drew turned into an instant hit, he was supposed to be playing behind Jones. You see, the Jaguars expected Jones to be in a tandem with Taylor in 2006. The idea was for Jones to be the short-yardage back and receiving threat and score double-digits in touchdowns, just like Jones-Drew did. But Jones blew out his knee and was lost for the year. He came back in a limited role and was the fullback last season, but we see him getting an expanded role this year. Jones-Drew is going to be the do-it-all back for the Jaguars, but when he needs a rest, Jones should step in. He should also do well catching the ball, and we like Jones as a handcuff option for Jones-Drew as well as someone worth drafting with a late-round pick. Another sleeper for the Jags should be rookie running back Rashad Jennings, who could compete with Jones for carries.
Breakout ... Mike Walker, WR
We're always looking for third-year wide receivers who are ready to take the next step in their careers, and Walker falls into that category this season. The Jaguars are desperate for playmakers in the passing game, which is why Holt was brought in. With Dennis Northcutt now gone, Walker could be someone that Garrard can rely on. He only has 16 catches for 217 yards in his career, but he's having a good offseason and does have good size (6-foot-2, 209 pounds) and speed. If he can stay healthy, we can see Walker turning into a No. 3 Fantasy wide receiver by the end of the year. The Jaguars are never going to be mistaken for a passing team, but Garrard has done well in turning mediocre receivers (Matt Jones and Reggie Williams) into productive options.
Bust ... Torry Holt, WR
We hate to call Holt a bust because he comes to Jacksonville full of optimism after spending his entire career in St. Louis. But that's where the problem lies. He's used to playing indoors, and his numbers reflect that. Holt has exactly one touchdown in his last 18 road games and hasn't posted a 100-yard game outdoors since Week 1 of the 2005 season. Holt also is 33 this season and has knee problems. Last year, we saw him decline before our eyes with his worst numbers since 2000 with 796 receiving yards on 64 catches with just three touchdowns. Holt didn't have a single 100-yard game and scored all three touchdowns in St. Louis. Now, Holt does play indoors at Indianapolis and at Houston within the first three weeks of the season, so he could be good early on. But if you draft Holt as anything more than a low-end No. 3 option with a late-round pick, you're wasting a draft pick on an aging wide receiver.
Training camp topics
The Jaguars don't have many position battles to worry about, but the No. 2 wide receiver spot is up for grabs opposite Holt. Walker has the inside edge with Northcutt now in Detroit, but the trio of rookies could also factor into the mix. It will be interesting to see if former first-round bust Troy Williamson makes the team. As you can see, Garrard needs Walker to step up because this passing game needs help. We know Jones-Drew will also be the focal point of the running game, but Jones has to prove he's ready for the backup job as expected or else Jennings could take over.
If the offensive line can come together, Garrard should be fine. He lost the weight with the anticipation he would need to be more mobile, and while we love his running ability, we don't want to see him forced into making plays. He was a great Fantasy option in 2007 because he didn't make mistakes (three interceptions) compared to last year when he tried to do too much (13 interceptions). We can see the Jaguars becoming a more competitive team this year, but they won't make the playoffs in a division with the Colts, Titans and the up-and-coming Texans.
Injury updates ... None.
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