2010 Team Outlook: Jacksonville

Jacksonville went into the 2009 season with some new faces in starting positions and it was unclear how they would perform. Well the team made a slight improvement in the overall record from 5-11 to 7-9 and they were able to answer 2 very important questions: Can MJD be an every down back and handle the abuse an every down back takes, and the answer was a resounding yes. The other question was, will any wide receiver step up and become the play maker the team needed, and the answer to that was also yes. They have Mike-Sims Walker to thank for that. The Jags got back to doing what they do best and that is running and went from the 18th best rushing team to the 10th. With MJD in the backfield you should expect to see Jacksonville in the top of league rushing for years to come. For fantasy owners MJD is a must have, and Mike Sims-Walker will make for a great #2 WR (or if he improves on last season's numbers he has an outside shot at being a low end #1 fantasy WR). QB David Garrard makes for a solid back up fantasy QB. Other than that, the only player who might be worth a late round flyer is receiver Mike Thomas. Here is a look at the starters and top back ups in Jacksonville.

QB David Garrard, JAX (QB - #24) - Quality Backup

After a surprising season in 2007, Garrard has followed that up with 2 pretty identical seasons of 3500+ passing yards and 15 touchdown passes, to go along with 645 rushing yards and 5 rushing TDs. While those numbers are solid, people were hoping for more and he has become nothing more than a fantasy back-up. The biggest problem Garrard faces is his lack of weapons. MJD and new fantasy stud Mike Sims-Walker are the only 2 real play makers Garrard had last season and they don't have much in the off season to change that. Add in a suspect OL and you have David Garrard, fantasy back-up QB; until the Jags get some more play makers, he will never be much more.

August 4, 2010: Nothing much has changed with Garrard. The Jaguars just don't have enough play makers and Garrard isn't good enough to be anything more than a fantasy back-up or bye week fill-in.

RB Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX (RB - #3) - Stud (low risk)

MJD was as advertised last season, in almost all formats he was a top 3 fantasy back. He set career highs in many categories, including carries (312) yards (1392) and rushing TDs (15). While his receiving stats didn't improve like his rushing stats, they were still pretty solid. MJD caught the 2nd most receptions of his career (53), but he has his lowest receiving yards total of his career (374) and 1 receiving TD. MJD is young, durable and very consistent and will be a fantasy stud for years to come. He is an every down back for the Jags and his receiving stats just add to his already impressive rushing stats in any format.

August 4, 2010: MJD should be considered a top 4 fantasy back in any and all formats. He is one of the few backs who won't be sharing carries and doesn't come off the field on 3rd downs as he is a great receiver out of the backfield. MJD will go top 4 in all leagues, so unless you have one of those picks, you can forget about getting him.

RB Rashad Jennings, JAX (RB - #78) - Fantasy Handcuff

Rashad Jennings will once again be MJD's main back up; unfortunately the backup running back in Jacksonville doesn't play very much. Jennings played in 15 games, and only rushed the ball 39 times for 202 yards and 1 touchdown. The Jags' coaching staff wasn't sure what they were going to get when they drafted Jennings in the 7th round of the 2009 NFL draft. While they were very happy with his production, there is no reason to believe they will reduce MJD's workload, so Jennings is nothing more than a handcuff at this point in his career. If you have MJD, it's not a bad idea to draft Jennings at some point near the end of the draft.

August 4, 2010: Jennings still isn't anything more than a fantasy handcuff and he might even be losing that job to rookie Deji Karim. Watch for this battle throughout training camp and the preseason; which ever player wins the job as MJD's back up should be taken as a handcuff late in the draft.

RB Greg Jones, JAX (RB - #103) - Over the Hill (decreased production)

At this point in his career Greg Jones is nothing more than a fullback and depth guy. Last season he spent most of his time being MJD's lead blocker until he got injured and missed the last 3 games. There isn't much tread left in Jones' tires, so I wouldn't even consider drafting him. With MJD carrying the load and Garrard doing a lot of running out of the backfield, there isn't much opportunity for anyone else to carry the ball. No reason to think about drafting Jones, his chances have come and gone.

August 4, 2010: Jones appears healthy after his off season surgery on his ankle and should be in line for another season as MJD's lead blocker. Still no reason he should be drafted in any formats

RB Deji Karim, JAX (RB - #84) - Super Sleeper (high risk/potential)

The running back situation in Jacksonville is very clear, it's MJD and then everyone else. It was thought that Rashad Jennings would be a lock for the back up job, but Karim showed great explosiveness and moves during OTA's and has a chance to pass Jennings on the depth chart. Karim is a freakish athlete with 4.37 speed and a 43" vertical, and might be the guy who can spell MJD here and there and give the Jaguars someone with explosive playmaking moves off the bench. Follow his battle with Jennings through training camp, he might be one of the sleepers of the 2010 NFL draft.

WR Mike Sims-Walker, JAX (WR - #15) - Solid/Safe Pick

Sims-Walker barely played over his first 2 seasons, dealing with injuries and ineffectiveness, and then it seemed to click last season. He was a waiver wire pick up in most leagues last year and a very good one at that. Despite missing almost 2 full games, Sims-Walker caught 63 passes for 869 yards and 7 TDs. He still has room to grow and things to learn and with his physical skills that shouldn't be a problem so long as he stays healthy. While teams will know who he is this year, most of the attention will still be on MJD and Garrard will do all he can to use Sims-Walker to help open up the game. Look for Sims-Walker to get plenty of passes thrown his way. Has what it takes to be a top level fantasy receiver.

August 4, 2010: The Jags are being cautious with Sims-Walker and as long as he stay healthy he should be considered a top 20 fantasy WR.