Fantasy Football Week 7: Start, Sit, Sleepers
Dec 1, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Cecil Shorts (84) catches the game winning pass in the end zone while being defended by Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden (23) in the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Sleepers
Blake Bortles, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars Typically, I avoid rookie quarterbacks in fantasy football. The reason for this is their tendency to make mistakes. However, with the way Bortles has played so of late, I will make an exception.
The Jags rookie signal caller has attempted at least 36 passes in each of his last three games. During that same three game span, he has thrown for more than 250 yards twice including the 336-yard performance against the Titans last week. He’s also added 24 or more yards on the ground in three of his last four games.
He is still a rookie however, and may still make mistakes at inopportune times, however the former UCF standout has proven that his upside might be worth taking a gamble!
Cecil Shorts III, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Yes, that is yet a second Jaguar on my fantasy football sleepers list. Go ahead, call me crazy — then give Shorts some serious consideration this week.
The reason is because he is once again healthy, and when he is healthy he produces.
“Shorts can be a solid WR3 if his hamstring holds up. The Jaguars will be forced to throw all season and if Shorts can stay on the field, he’ll be the benefactor with rookie QB Blake Bortles looking for a veteran receiver to depend on.” – FantasyPros
Shorts has played in only two games in 2014, in those two games these are his statistics:
- 25 targets
- 15 receptions
- 138 yards receiving
- one touchdown
Still not convinced?
Well during those games, Shorts attributed for 33 and 34 percent of the Jaguars aerial assult, those are elite percentages! Furthermore, the Jags have almost literally no running game left. At the moment, Storm Johnson is the starter in Jacksonville. He is the fourth RB to do so in 2014. He is also battling injuries.
Bortles could be forced to go to the air against the Cleveland Browns this week, and I know where a majority of those targets will go.
Thank you for reading another addition of our Fantasy Football: Start, Sit, Sleepers column. Be sure to stay logged into Detroit Jock City all week-long for continued fantasy football coverage all the way up to kick off on Sunday! Best of luck this week!