…And Another One
Not a month into the NFL season and the injury reports around the league are looking longer than grandma’s grocery list. The Jaguars have now lost two central cogs in the offensive system. DJ Chark joins rookie running back Travis Etienne on season-ending injured reserve. Chark will most likely undergo surgery to repair a fractured ankle suffered in the Jaguars’ TNF loss to the Bengals, as reported by Ian Rapoport. An already bleak outlook for a struggling Jaguars team just got darker. The offense will be forced to funnel Chark’s usage into other options. Let’s take a look at who the trickle-down will affect.
Redraft Impact
Chark was beginning to see his role diminished in 2021. Proceeding the untimely injury, Chark was third on the team in air targets behind Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault. Both of those aforementioned receivers should continue to see their roles increased in a pass-heavy offense. Jones has been an up-and-down flex option through four games. Receiving some of Chark’s vacated targets should result in a more stable weekly floor for Jones.
Shenault appeared to be the immediate benefactor of Chark’s untimely exit in Week 4. Shenault led the team in targets (7), receptions (6), receiving yards (99), and yards from scrimmage (110) in that contest. He was the only receiver on the Jaguars with more than three targets and will be without competition for increased volume moving forward. Managers panicked early on Shenault. 30% of collective redraft leagues left him on waivers this week. If you happen to be in one of those leagues, I would clear some roster space.
Sophomore running back James Robinson is also in line for an increased work rate. Robinson ranks third on the team in receptions in 2021. Robinson is beginning to shed his one-dimensional label. Now a guaranteed fixture in the passing attack, the 23-year-old back could see an opportunity share reminiscent of his 2020 season, where he finished as the RB5 in points per game.
Dynasty Impact
The Jaguars’ skill players get an increase in value across all fantasy formats. Shenault’s perceived market value has exceeded Chark for months in dynasty circles. An ankle injury of this severity further extends that gap. Sheanualt will be afforded opportune time to develop with the future of the franchise, Trevor Lawrence. This time could be deemed crucial in the eyes of Jaguars’ management.
Newcomer Dan Arnold has some intriguing sleeper upside. The Jaguars are void of depth at the tight end position. Arnold could seamlessly fill into Chark’s role as the big-bodied deep threat for Lawrence. Arnold is worth a stash and could see his numbers push towards TE1 production in some weeks.
Robinson may have the most intriguing spike in value of all the Jaguars’ skill players. An undrafted free agent in 2019, Robinson is only signed through 2022. The return of Etienne is imminent. The former Clemson product has a familiarity with the Jaguars key franchise piece as a collegiate teammate of Lawrence. Robinson’s presumed uptick in usage could provide managers with an opportune time to sell high before his value diminishes next season.
Chark entered 2021 on a contract year without an extension. A season-ending injury at this current juncture in his young career has extensive implications on Chark’s future with the organization. Chark’s return would coincide with Etienne returning as well, further complicating the Jaguar’s decision to re-sign the fourth-year wideout. His career is far from finished, though his tenure with the Jaguars may be. For now, you have no choice but to stash Chark on your IR and hope for a bounce-back season in 2022.
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