After their late-game collapse this weekend, the Jaguars suffered another blow on Tuesday. Travis Hunter underwent season-ending knee surgery, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The rookie standout injured his LCL on October 19th against the Rams.
With Hunter sidelined, the Jaguars enter a state of uncertainty. Brian Thomas Jr. and Jakobi Meyers are expected to serve as the team’s top wide receivers. However, there’s room for more pass catchers to contribute on Jacksonville’s pass-heavy offense. That could include Parker Washington, who has come on strong in Hunter’s absence.
Is the slot specialist someone managers can rely upon, or is his recent production fool’s gold? Let’s break down Washington’s role in Jacksonville going forward.
Parker Washington fantasy football outlook
Hunter suffered his injury in Week 7. In the two games since then, Washington has taken on a larger workload for the Jags. Over his past two outings, the Penn State alum has notched 11 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown. In addition, he leads the team with 16 targets during that time. On the year, Washington ranks second among all Jaguars with 51 total targets. Only Thomas Jr. (60) has garnered more.
As previously mentioned, the Jaguars love to throw the ball. Liam Coen’s squad ranks eighth in football with 35.1 pass attempts per game. Granted, quarterback Trevor Lawrence isn’t someone fantasy managers can fully trust. The fifth-year pro has thrown for just ten touchdowns and seven interceptions thus far. Jacksonville ranks near the bottom of the NFL in red zone scoring percentage (51.6%).
A lack of end zone opportunities caps the upside for most Jaguars in fantasy football. That applies even to Thomas Jr., who has vacillated between dominant and invisible this season. It doesn’t help that BTJ is currently questionable to play this weekend with an ankle injury. If the wideout’s ailment persists, the entire fantasy calculus for Jacksonville changes. However, as of now, it’s not expected to be a multiple-week hiatus.
The most encouraging sign for Washington is his recent playing time. Over his last three games, the 23-year-old has taken the field for at least 87% of Jacksonville’s offensive snaps. It’s not as if we haven’t seen the youngster thrive before. Over his final six games last season, Washington recorded four different 10+ fantasy point performances.
Lawrence’s erratic play makes Jacksonville’s offense difficult to fully trust. The recent addition of Meyers only makes things more complicated. Still, at the very least, Washington needs to be rostered in all 12+ team leagues. His role out of the slot, especially in PPR formats, could prove invaluable. Managers desperate for production, especially as a bye week fill-in, could do worse. If available, grab Washington as soon as possible.
