2025 Jacksonville Jaguars Fantasy Preview
The Jacksonville Jaguars are at a pivotal juncture, with new head coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone tasked with turning around a franchise that stumbled to a 4-13 record in 2024. Despite high expectations for quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the former No. 1 overall pick has yet to realize his potential, and the clock is ticking to justify his massive contract extension.
Lawrence’s 2024 season was plagued by inconsistency and a shoulder injury that required surgery. He completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 2,045 yards, with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions before missing most of the second half of the season. Coen, known for his offensive acumen, was hired to stabilize the quarterback position and unlock Lawrence’s potential.
The Jaguars made roster tweaks to bolster the offense, but poor play-calling and offensive line struggles in 2024 exposed vulnerabilities. The unit returns LT Cam Robinson and RG Brandon Scherff, but the loss of depth pieces and injuries exposed the group’s fragility. Running back Travis Etienne’s efficiency continued to erode after a strong rookie showing. Etienne dipped to 3.7 yards per carry and scored only twice while losing touches to Tank Bigsby.
Fourth-round rookie Bhayshul Tuten was one of the Combine’s fastest risers and is a legitimate sleeper to unseat Etienne. Coen has preached about looking forward and creating a new culture in Jacksonville. Expectations are that the committee backfield approach will continue, with Bigsby handling more of an early-down role and Etienne or Tuten being used in the passing game and as a change-of-pace option. It’s a situation for fantasy managers to monitor this summer, but not one to necessarily target.
Jacksonville’s passing game ranked 24th with 204.5 yards per game, hindered by Lawrence’s struggles and a lack of cohesion. The obvious bright spot was No. 23 overall pick Brian Thomas Jr. Thomas posted overall WR5 numbers in his rookie campaign, catching 87 passes for 1,282 yards and 10 scores en route to making the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Thomas is one of the top young wideouts in the league and warrants first-round attention in every format.
New GM James Gladstone announced the team’s bold new direction by making a huge trade up to select Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter with the No. 2 pick. Early indications are that Hunter will primarily play wide receiver, making him an intriguing sleeper as the Jags’ WR2.
Ancillary WR Parker Washington emerged as a reliable No. 2 option, catching three touchdowns in his final six games. Washington will compete with Dyami Brown for WR3/4 duties.
TE Evan Engram was released, freeing up Brenton Strange to take over as the starter. Strange flashed decent pass-catching ability in his second season and offers weekly streaming value for fantasy managers who ‘punt’ the position on draft day.
Fantasy Grade: C+
QB Lawrence, Trevor, JAX [QB1] Sleeper
Trevor Lawrence’s fourth season ended prematurely after a nasty hit resulted in a season-ending concussion. Lawrence also had surgery to repair his AC joint on his left (non-throwing) arm. He’s expected to be fully healthy and ready to learn an aggressive new system championed by new head coach Liam Coen. The Buccaneers ranked 3rd in total offense and 4th in points in Coen’s one season as Tampa’s offensive coordinator. And Lawrence has the athleticism and arm to be a good fit. Jacksonville also has the league’s sixth-easiest schedule in 2025. Lawrence should be an excellent value coming off his worst season.
After consecutive 1,000-yard rushing campaigns, Travis Etienne fell out of favor with Jacksonville’s previous regime. He rushed for a career-low 3.7 yards per carry and 558 yards last season, while Tank Bigsby took on a larger share of the workload. Now, the new regime added Travis Hunter and used a fourth-rounder on surging Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten. There are reports that Etienne, who is entering a contract season, could be on the trade block. His 2025 season has a wide range of possible outcomes, from an undervalued RB3 to a barely fantasy-relevant committee back. Draft (or fade) accordingly.
Bigsby was Jacksonville’s most effective runner last season, which forced Travis Etienne into a reduced role. Bigsby ranked 6th in juke rate (28.6 percent) and produced eight explosive runs. He’s got deceptive speed and breakaway ability, but doesn’t offer much receiving ability. Additionally, the Jaguars are breaking in a new regime that may not use their backs the same. And that new staff also just invested a fourth-round pick on surging Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten, one of the 2025 NFL Combine’s fastest risers. Bigsby is a committee back with plus short-yardage ability and limited upside due to a lack of catches.
One of the draft’s fastest risers after an impressive NFL Combine showing, Bhayshul Tuten is a PPR sleeper with explosive potential. At 5-9 and 206 pounds, Tuten’s 4.32 40-yard dash (100th percentile) and 118.3 speed score (98th percentile) scream big-play ability. In 2024 at Virginia Tech, he posted 1,159 rushing yards, 15 TDs, and caught 23 receptions. His 4.18 YAC/attempt and 54 percent breakaway run percentage rank elite. Tuten’s nine fumbles raise concerns, but his 10.2 target share and zone-scheme fit make him a stash. Travis Etienne’s contract is also expiring after an ineffective 2025 campaign. UPDATE: Tuten fumbled his first touch of the preseason, bringing up a recurring issue.
WR Thomas Jr., Brian, JAX [WR1]
Thomas Jr. emerged as a key target in Jacksonville’s offense, especially after the departure of other pass-catchers. He averaged nearly 100 yards per game over the final stretch of 2024. Thomas ended the season with 2.45 yards per route run and 0.534 PPR points per route, both among the top five for wide receivers. The Jaguars moved on from Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, and Evan Engram, but the addition of 2nd overall pick, Travis Hunter, could steal away some targets. Hunter’s play-making ability could hinder Thomas Jr’s ultimate upside.
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Travis Hunter’s dual-threat versatility as an offensive and defensive player that creates intrigue. He’s now slotted as the Jaguars’ WR2 following Gabe Davis’s release. Last year at Colorado, Hunter caught 96 of 125 targets (76.8 percent catch rate) for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns. His vision, quickness, and ball skills evoke Antonio Brown, but unlike Brown, Hunter has zero character concerns. In IDP leagues where Hunter can be inserted as a CB, he’s a potential cheat code.
TE Strange, Brenton, JAX [TE1] Super Sleeper
ADVICE: Moving into the starting role vacated by Evan Engram, Strange has deep sleeper appeal. He caught 40 balls for 411 yards last season and ranked 13th with 1.93 yards per route run. Sleeper TE2, who is essentially free in drafts.
Little had a solid rookie campaign, making 27-of-29 field goals and succeeding on all 27 of his extra point tries. The Jags’ offense should be noticeably better with a healthy Trevor Lawrence and the additions of Liam Coen, Travis Hunter, and Bhayshul Tuten. You can leave Little on the waiver wire, but he’ll contend for top-12 kicking numbers.
Def Jaguars, Jacksonville, JAX
Jacksonville bottomed out last year, ranking 31st in fantasy D/ST scoring. They only forced nine turnovers in 17 games. Ouch. They should be better with Anthony Campanile, but this is not a unit to target for fantasy purposes in 2025.
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