With the Jaguars No. 1 wide receiver D.J. Chark in a walking boot and already ruled out for Sunday’s match-up with the Oakland Raiders, Gardner Minshew will look to Dede Westbrook and Chris Conley to pick up the slack. The Raiders are a team that can be attacked through the air, as the 28th ranked pass defense in the NFL. Who is the most likely to reap the benefits of a greater target share in the absence of Chark?
Fantasy Football Analysis: Jaguars WRs Dede Westbrook and Chris Conley
The Raiders have allowed 30 passing TDs on the year, which is the third highest in the NFL. They also have injuries in their secondary with both cornerback Daryl Worley and safety Erik Harris listed as questionable for Sunday. This is a match-up to exploit. Both Westbrook and Conley showed some chemistry with Gardner Minshew during games earlier in the season. The Jaguars offense has been somewhat defunct as of late, with turmoil at the quarterback position, yet this could be the week that Minshew really settles back into his starting role.
Dede Westbrook has had more than six targets in all four games since the Jaguars Week 10 bye, though he was held under 35 yards in two of those outings. Playing in the slot, Westbrook’s role should remain fairly unchanged in Chark’s absence. The slot position also leads to a shorter average depth of target and thus less big play potential for Westbrook. Volume provides him with a decent floor, but Westbrook is less likely to have a monster game if you need big points.
Chris Conley leads the Jaguars in average air yards per target at 14.6, however he has only managed to average 8.0 fantasy points per game since the Week 10 bye and has not managed to surpass the 60 yard mark in any of those games. His role should certainly increase this week as the Jaguars top option on the outside at wide receiver. He is a boom/bust option with a good match-up this week.
Start/Sit Recommendation:
Start Westbrook as a WR3/Flex
Start Conley as a WR3/WR4 with upside potential