According to ESPN’s Michael DiRocco, the Jaguars are considering giving hybrid DB/WR Travis Hunter an increased role on offense this week against the New England Patriots. Hunter has only one catch for 8 yards and one carry for 3 yards on 11 total offensive snaps this season, but HC Liam Coen stated Wednesday that the team is “going to look at giving him some more this week.”
This is something for fantasy football gamers to monitor as the WR position behind Parker Washington is murky. Jakobi Meyers has a right thumb injury, and Brian Thomas Jr., despite a 22% target share, has struggled with consistency and drops. ~Jason Diaz
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. ...
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. ...
John Shipley of Sports Illustrated highlights improved ...
Fowler reports that an extension for Parker Washington could come before week 1, which is Parker Washington’s preference, but the Jaguars are comfortable with negotiating into the regular season. Washington’s 2.2 YPRR ranked No. 16 last season as he emerged as a featured passing game option during the back half of last season.
For piece of mind, Washington wants to get the extension completed before the season starts, while Jaguars are open to wanting to see a little more that the breakout was real. Both sides are motivated to get this done. Undrafted coming out of Penn State, Washington will be a free agent at the end of the season and has been a standout all camp. He currently is PlayerProfiler’s WR24 across both redraft and dynasty rankings services.
Parker Washington is establishing himself as the primary target for Trevor Lawrence, building on a 24.7-percent Target Rate and +19.6-percent Target Premium from late last season. Fantasy drafters are taking notice, positioning Washington at WR31 in ADP ahead of Brian Thomas Jr. at WR33.
Backed by an 18.5 (96th-percentile) College Breakout Age and elite route separation metrics, Washington profiles as an efficient WR2/WR3 play with bankable weekly volume. He has moved up to PlayerProfiler’s WR28 in the seasonal league rankings.
With Jacksonville seeking to ramp up its 12 personnel usage under Liam Coen, Parker Washington possesses the positional versatility to earn target share after playing 264 slot snaps as well as extensive perimeter reps. His elite 18.5 Breakout Age (96th percentile) and impressive 2.20 Yards Per Route Run (No. 16) point to high-level efficiency in a full-time role.
If Washington secures snaps in tight-end heavy packages, he will offer fantasy WR2 upside with a dependable every-week starter floor that high-stakes fantasy league managers crave. PlayerProfiler is ahead of consensus on Washington ranking him at WR31 for redraft and WR33 in best ball formats.
Travis Hunter is working his way back from a 2025 knee injury and is expected to be a full go for the beginning of training camp, according to Wolfe. The 23-year-old is still going to play both sides of the ball, though Wolfe stated Hunter can be “unleashed” as a starter on defense and “the goal is to eventually have him play nearly all the snaps on defense in a particular game.”
The Jaguars seem to like Hunter much better as a cornerback but he will still play offense with his wide receiver snaps fluctuating depending on the game. Hunter is attending meetings for both sides of the ball and will presumably practice both sides come training camp. He is expected to be healthy and ready to go by the time Jags veterans report to training camp in late July. Hunter is the ultimate boom-bust, upside-only fantasy draft target in fantasy football best ball, dynasty, and seasonal league formats.
Most recently, Trevor Lawrence said he and Brian Thomas Jr. have “taken a huge step” toward improving their on-field chemistry, and ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe reports that Thomas will be used “on vertical routes” in 2026.
If Jacksonville plans to expand its deep passing game, the Jaguars will have to lean directly into a rejuvenated Thomas. He is impressing coaches and teammates by commanding separation at minicamp after a muted sophomore season containing just 9.9 Fantasy Points Per Game (No. 42).
Thomas faces target competition from teammate Jakobi Meyers, and especially Parker Washington, who earned an impressive +19.6-percent Target Premium (No. 15) and a 124.0 Total Route Win Rate (No. 4) last year. Despite the crowded wide receiver room, Thomas’ vertical profile makes him an absolute best ball bargain at his current depressed draft day cost.
