Born in Scottsdale Arizona, Christian Kirk attended Saguaro High School where he played running back and wide receiver. During the course of his high school career, Kirk accumulated 2,698 yards rushing, 3,943 yards receiving and 103 total touchdowns. He was a five-star recruit who committed to Texas A&M in 2014. Kirk had the best season of his college career at age 18, catching 80 receptions for 1,009 yards and adding 726 yards on special teams. He posted an above average 74th-percentile 36.8-percent College Dominator Rating and a 78th-percentile 26.6-percent College Target Share. He also recorded at least 900 yards receiving in three years as an Aggie.
Kirk declared for the 2018 NFL Draft as a True Junior. At the NFL combine, he ran a 4.47 40-yard Dash, and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the 15th pick in the second round. As a rookie, Kirk was heavily involved in the Cardinals offense, amassing a 20.4-percent Target Share and 85.9-percent Snap Share. He was primarily utilized on the boundary as future hall of famer Larry Fitzgerald occupied the slot. Kirk continued his development as a wide receiver in his second season, seeing even more opportunities and topping 1,000 Air Yards for the first time. Kirk finished the 2021 season with 982 yards receiving and five touchdowns on 77 receptions, as he shifted primarily to the slot (406 Slot Snaps, No. 13).
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Kirk from free agency in 2022, handing him a four-year, $72 million contract that can approach $84 million in value. That is WR1 money, and the Jags used Kirk as such. He finished the 2022 season with the highest fantasy point total of his career, 14.2 PPG (No. 18). Doug Pederson used Kirk all over the formation, although he continued to see significant Slot Snaps (494, No. 3).
Paired with Calvin Ridley in 2023, Kirk didn't enjoy the same success and ultimately missed the team's final six games due to injury. He will now look to rebound in a new look Jacksonville offense in 2024 that now boasts former Buffalo Bills' wide receiver Gabe Davis. While Davis is talented, Kirk will once again be the wide receiver to own for fantasy in Jacksonville. The Jaguars should be a bounce back candidate in 2024 too after faltering down the stretch last season.
