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Wake up, people.
There are a handful of guys that fantasy owners aren’t really excited about drafting in leagues. And I get it. You want to play for upside with your late round picks. I’m all for it. But, with all of these high-upside wideouts going earlier in drafts, guys like Cecil Shorts are being pushed down in ADP.
I’m talking wide receiver 53 at the moment, folks.
That’s right. According to Fantasy Calculator, Shorts is coming off the board in the 12th round as the 53rd wide receiver. A number one wide receiver for an offense with unproven wideouts around him, Shorts is going to gobble up targets. And while some people are worried about the health, Shorts played extensively during the Jaguars final preseason game and stated he will be ready for Week 1. Besides, in the 12th round, you aren’t doomed if he does get hurt because he’s more than likely your WR4 or five.
Last year, many were hoping for Shorts to improve off his breakout campaign in 2013, where he hauled in 55 balls for 979 yards and seven scores. He made big plays, averaging 17.8 yards per catch, while nearly 20 percent of his receptions went for 25 yards or more. And last year, even though he caught 11 more balls, his overall numbers regressed, finishing with just 777 yards and three scores. Only three percent of his catches went over 25 yards, so the big play potential disappeared. However, he was battling injury that limited him to 13 contests. I think the Jacksonville offense takes a small step forward this year, especially if rookie quarterback Blake Bortles is under center at any point this season. Their defense should be better, too, which could lead to more offensive possessions, but even if it isn’t, Jacksonville will be throwing the ball, playing catch-up. Last year, according to Pro Football Focus, the Jaguars threw the football 70 percent of the time when trailing in contests. There were also seven games where the Jags trailed by at least 14 points, and as the clear number one wideout, the volume will be there for Shorts.
Don’t forget about him.
Adam Pfeifer is a lead fantasy sports writer for Rant Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @aPfeiferRS.
