Jaguars Stud Rookie Brian Thomas Jr. to Dominate WR touches in wake of Kirk & Davis Injuries
Rookie Brian Thomas Jr, who has been ascending in this offense, exited last Sunday’s game with a rib injury. The MRI show no breaks or fractures and he is looking good to go this weekend. Unfortunately, we can’t say the same for the rest of the wide receiver room. Gabe Davis exited with a shoulder injury, he is not expected to play. Christian Kirk suffered a broken collarbone, which will be a season ending injury.
Arrows are up this week for rookie Brian Thomas Jr. in the wake of the Kirk and Davis injuries. He he profiles as an alpha and his play so far this year has done nothing but confirm that assessment. In the wake of the injuries to Kirk and Davis, Thomas Jr. looks too absorb the majority of the vacated targets, dominating the wide receiver touch share for the Jaguars in week 9. Another beneficiary of the vacated targets in Jacksonville will be Evan Engram.
Both Engram and Thomas Jr. had recently seen a value bump on Kirk trade rumors. Now with Kirk out for the season, we can expect increased production from both players rest of season, setting the stage for the stud rookie’s WR 1 breakout.
Joe Prinzivalli | @latehottakes
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. hauled...
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. ...
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. ...
Brian Thomas Jr. is one of the top risers in PlayerProfiler’s Dynasty Deluxe lifetime value rating for the end of October.
Brian Thomas’ dynasty fantasy football value is skyrocketing, thanks to his impressive performances in recent games. Over the past four weeks, Thomas has scored 20+ ppr fantasy points in three out of four games, including three touchdowns. His chemistry with Trevor Lawrence is improving every week, and his ability to make big plays have made him a reliable target and the leading rookie in receiving yards with 513 so far this season.
In addition to his on-field success, Thomas’ role in the offense has expanded, garnering five or more targets in the past five games. This increased involvement has translated into higher fantasy points, making him a valuable asset for any dynasty team. His combination of speed, agility, and hands has made him a nightmare for defenses.
Given his current trajectory, it’s only a matter of time before Brian Thomas is firmly regarded as a top-10 wide receiver in dynasty leagues. Savvy fantasy managers should act quickly to acquire him before his value becomes more baked in. Thomas has been the subject of debate on how to be valued, and isn’t being fully recognized yet as a rising star who will allow you to reap the rewards of his continued success for years to come.
-Jonny Tooma (@FantasyPicasso)
Brian Thomas Jr. is showing an early ability to learn complex concepts quickly. Expect early returns in fantasy football for the rookie wide receiver.
The Jaguars are set to let Brian Thomas Jr. “swim” in 2024. Given that Thomas Jr. is a rookie, the team is publicly giving him praise while not putting too much pressure on the LSU standout.
The wide receiver position has had plenty of bullish hype for the 2024 rookie class. Led by Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze it is easy for fantasy gamers to let Brian Thomas Jr. slide further due to the depth of the class.
Brian Thomas Jr. has been a perfect pick in round 7 on UnderDog best ball drafts, an even later pick in redraft, and is gaining solidified value in dynasty leagues. If you have Brian Thomas Jr. on your roster, expect him to return value early in the season. Taking everything in stride with an adaptable ability to learn quickly, expect Thomas Jr. to stride by secondaries and make a habit of connecting with Trevor Lawrence for a plethora of touchdowns.
Since Week 1 of the preseason, Brian Thomas Jr. has moved up 3.3 spots in ADP.
Jaguars rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has moved up 3.3 spots on UnderDog since week 1 of the preseason. Thomas Jr. is one of the biggest risers in ADP inside UnderDog’s top-100 players.
Brian Thomas Jr. is going in the 7th round of drafts and is an appealing player in builds when stacking the Titans and Jaguars for their week 17 matchup in Tennessee. DeAndre Hopkins, who has been a strong piece in drafting the aforementioned correlated build, has seen his ADP drop due to injury.
Additionally, in his first preseason game, Brian Thomas Jr. caught a beautiful deep ball with a one-handed grab securing a 41-yard reception against the Chiefs. It is easy to see the upside and value in selecting Thomas Jr. as your 4th wide receiver in best ball builds. The beauty is that drafters don’t have to pay the exorbitant price that Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers cost when selecting Thomas Jr. in the 7th round.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have drafted LSU Wide Receiver, Brian Thomas, with the 23rd pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
Thomas had a quiet Freshman and Sophomore year for the Tigers before exploding onto the scene in 2023 as a Junior, leading the nation with 17 receiving touchdowns. Thomas played with other star rookie receiver, Malik Nabers, and both were able to shine at LSU while catching passes from Heisman winner Jayden Daniels, similar to how things were when the Tigers had Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase paired with Joe Burrow in 2019.
Now, Thomas enters another exciting situation with the Jaguars. He projects as a true X receiver who can stretch the field as a deep threat for Trevor Lawrence with his tremendous 4.33 40-yard dash speed. He has some polishing to do with his route running and hands, but has the talent to become an immediate contributor in his rookie season.
For Fantasy Managers, Thomas going in the first round as the 4th receiver off the board solidifies his status as a first round pick in Superflex rookie drafts. You can expect him to go in the later rounds of redraft leagues, and his high ceiling and wide range of outcomes make him an intriguing addition to any fantasy team. Christian Kirk is minimally impacted by the addition of Thomas, and Gabe Davis takes a slight hit in fantasy value, as both Davis and Thomas project to play a similar role for the Jags offense in 2024.
