The Jacksonville Jaguars Are Hoping To Get Back To An Elite Defense In 2019.
My series covering every NFL team continues with this article taking a look at the Jacksonville Jaguars. I will be identifying players that I would consider adding ahead of the 2019 season. Also included will be my recommendations on what it might take to acquire these players.
Marcell Dareus, Defensive Tackle:
Marcell Dareus, 29, will be entering year three on that Jacksonville defense. Last season, he ended with 23 solo tackles, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, and one sack. All of this was done across 15 starts. While Dareus isn't the player he used to be, he did see a slight increase in overall production compared to the last few seasons. I'm expecting Marcell to start all 16 games this season, thus continuing to show an increase in his overall production. Some owners may have forgotten about him and that makes him a great buy low, because of what Jacksonville wants to do on defense....rush the passer.
Fantasy Recommendation:
He should be available on the waiver wire. If not, it shouldn't cost you more than a late round pick. I see Dareus as a great depth/bye week fill in for this season.
Honorable Mention: Abry Jones, Defensive Tackle.
Leon Jacobs, Linebacker:
Leon Jacobs, 23, was a seventh-round pick by Jacksonville last year. Jacobs draft profile coming out of Wisconsin reads as follows from Draft Analyst: "Jacobs offers solid size, plays with an aggressive mentality and could be used as a situational 3-4 linebacker who defends the run and rushes the passer." He ended last season with 16 solo tackles across 12 games played and three starts. I think he has the talent to be a productive starter on this defense and should have a slight advantage over any linebacker that the Jags draft. He makes for a great buy-low going into next season.
Fantasy Recommendation:
Jacobs should be available on your waiver wire. I do expect the Jaguars to draft a linebacker in the upcoming draft, but the thing to watch is which round Jacksonville chooses to address the position. That will have a direct impact on Jacobs' role for the upcoming season.
Honorable Mention: Whichever linebacker is drafted by Jacksonville in the NFL draft.
Ronnie Harrison, Safety:
Ronnie Harrison, 21, was a third round pick by Jacksonville last season. He ended his first season with 24 solo tackles, three tackles for loss, one quarterback hit, and one sack. He did this in 14 games and eight starts. So with the loss of Barry Church and Tashaun Gipson, I think Harrison has a great chance to claim one of the open safety spots for the upcoming season and beyond. He makes a great buy low with nice upside in my mind.
Fantasy Recommendation:
Harrison should be available on your wavier wire, but if not, shouldn't cost you more then a late round pick.
Honorable Mention: Jarrod Wilson, Safety.
Conclusion
I think all of the players mentioned will need to play a bigger role this upcoming season if the Jacksonville Jaguars hope to get their defense back to their dominant form of a couple of years ago. I still feel that this teams success, in 2019, will hinge on the overall production of this unit. Ranking these buy lows in order of priority, it would be Ronnie Harrison, Leon Jacobs, and Marcell Dareus. Hopefully, you find these recommendations helpful in your quest to build that championship roster for 2019. Please keep an eye out for the Kansas City Chiefs edition of this series soon.
