Fantasy Football and NFL News, Rumors and Injury Updates

Jacksonville Jaguars Week 8 Analysis

October 26, 2006 @ 16:00:00

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Cory J. Bonini

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

The Jacksonville Jaguars come off an embarrassing 27-7 loss to the Houston Texans, a team that has played the Jags surprisingly well in recent seasons. Perhaps it was a mistake to let quarterback Byron Leftwich (ankle) play in Week 7, but there's no time to second-guess. The Jaguars (3-3) travel to Philadelphia to tangle with the Eagles (4-3), who are reeling after back-to-back heartbreakers of their own. One of these teams will go home feeling a lot less impressed with themselves this Sunday.

PASSING MATCHUP: QUARTERBACKS

Head coach Jack Del Rio expressed regret after letting Leftwich start in Week 7. Leftwich's late-week ankle flare-up made him a gametime decision, and it appeared to limit him throughout the game. He went 14-for-28 with 125 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. Leftwich is questionable for Week 8; he and backup David Garrard have been splitting reps with the first team in practice. In the past four weeks (three games) Leftwich has completed 53.0 percent of his throws for 185 yards, 1.67 touchdowns and 0.33 interceptions per game. If he can play, he's a weak play and should be benched. Stay tuned to KFFL for the latest on Leftwich's status.

If Leftwich can't play, Garrard would get the nod. Garrard hasn't attempted a pass this season, but last year he filled in admirably for Leftwich. In five starts, Garrard completed 60.6 percent of his passes for 200 yards, 0.8 touchdowns and 0.2 interceptions per game. He also rushed for 0.4 touchdowns per game in that time. If he must start, consider him a weak play and keep him on the bench this week.

Philadelphia has allowed 205 yards and 0.8 touchdowns passing, with 0.3 touchdowns per game rushing, to quarterbacks in the last four games. They have also 1.8 interceptions per game against the position in that time.

RUSHING MATCHUP: RUNNING BACKS

Starting tailback Fred Taylor rushed 16 times for 84 yards and caught one pass for 19 yards versus Houston, but he couldn't punch one in. In the last four weeks (three games) the team has utilized Taylor 16 times per game (29 percent), including 1.67 times per game in the red zone (23 percent) and 0.67 times per game inside the 5. He has parlayed them into 70 yards rushing, one reception, 19 yards receiving and 0.33 touchdowns per game. Taylor could serve as a low-end No. 1 or high-end No. 2 back for you this week.

Rookie back Maurice Jones-Drew carried eight times for only 10 yards Sunday, but one of those resulted in a score. He also hauled in seven pass for 58 yards. Since Week 4 (three games) Jacksonville has utilized him 12 times per game (22 percent), including an encouraging 3.33 times per game in the red zone (46 percent) and once per game inside the 5. In that time he has recorded 24 rushing yards, 3.33 receptions, 37 receiving yards and one touchdown per game. He is also capable of performing as your low-end No. 1 or high-end No. 2 back this week.

Fullback Derrick Wimbush has received just one utilization (0.6 percent) in the past four weeks (two games). It was on his reception for one yard against Houston. He is a weak play and has no fantasy value.

In the past four games the Eagles have allowed backs to tally 104 rushing yards, 7.8 receptions, 49 receiving yards and 0.3 touchdowns per game.

RECEIVING MATCHUP PART I: WIDE RECEIVERS

Wide receiver Reggie Williams was shut out of the receiving section of the box score Sunday, but he did carry the ball once for eight yards. He has averaged three receptions, 49 yards and one touchdown per game in the past four weeks (three games). In that time the team has targeted him 7.67 times per game (14 percent), including once per game in the red zone (14 percent). Despite the uncertainty at quarterback, owners should feel confident starting Williams as a low-end No. 1 or high-end No. 2 this week.

Wide receiver Ernest Wilford has been playing more with wideout Matt Jones (hamstring) sidelined. That hasn't translated into much more production. Sunday he caught two passes for 26 yards. In the past four weeks (three games) he has averaged two receptions and 32 yards per game, with no scores. During that stretch the team has targeted him five times per game (9.0 percent), including 0.67 times per game in the red zone (9.1 percent). Wilford is a weak play versus Philly and should be benched.

Jones has practiced two straight days and may return to action this week. He is listed as questionable. He averaged 3.3 receptions and 39 yards receiving, without scoring, in his four games this year. In those games the team targeted him 6.8 times per game (10 percent), including 0.8 times per game in the red zone (8.5 percent). If Jones can play, he may be limited and would be a weak play. Owners should probably just bench him until they are certain that he is at full strength.

Wide receiver Cortez Hankton caught two passes for 18 yards Sunday, and has seen a few passes with Jones out. In the past four weeks (three games) the team has targeted him 1.67 times per game (3.0 percent), but not at all in the red zone. He has averaged one reception and 6.67 yards per game in that time. He is a weak play and should remain on your league's waiver wire.

Since Week 4 Philadelphia has limited receivers to 9.5 catches, 126 yards and 0.8 touchdowns per game.

RECEIVING MATCHUP PART II: TIGHT ENDS

Tight end George Wrighster had only one catch for three yards Sunday. In the past four weeks (three games) has tallied 2.67 receptions, 23 yards and 0.33 touchdowns per game. The Jags have thrown at Wrighster 4.67 times per game (8.4 percent), including 0.33 times per game in the red zone (4.6 percent) and 0.33 times per game inside the 5, since Week 4 (three games). Wrighster is a weak play against the Eagles and should only be used as an injury or bye-week sub.

Rookie tight end Marcedes Lewis has seen minimal action this season. In the past four weeks (three games) he has recorded totals of two receptions and 40 yards, which all came in Week 4. They were his only targets in that time (1.2 percent). He has considerable promise, but he needs more looks before he's a legit fantasy prospect. He is a weak play and bench material for Week 8.

Tight end Kyle Brady is most effective as a blocker, but he occasionally gets involved in the passing game. He wasn't Sunday, however. Since Week 2 the team has targeted him a total of twice (1.2 percent). He has no catches in that time. He is a weak play and shouldn't be owned.

In the past four games tight ends have notched 3.3 receptions, 30 yards and no touchdowns per game versus Philly.

KICKING MATCHUP

Place kicker can't do much while the offense stalls. He hit his lone kick Sunday, an extra point in the third quarter. In the past four weeks (three games) Scobee has attempted 1.67 field goals and three extra points per game. He hasn't missed a kick in that time. Scobee is a strong play in Week 8 and can serve as your No. 1 kicker.

In the last four games the Eagles have allowed kickers to attempt 2.5 field goals and two extra points per game. Kickers have gone 9-for-10 on field goal attempts and haven't missed an extra point attempt in that time.

DEFENSIVE TEAM MATCHUP

The Jags D was, sadly, ineffective against Houston. They allowed 27 offensive points and 355 yards of offense while recording only one sack and no turnovers. In the past four weeks a unit that at one time looked lethal has allowed 21 offensive points and 346 yards per game. They have generated one turnover and sacked the passer 2.33 times per game in that time. This Sunday the Jacksonville defense is a strong play and can be your No. 1 defense.

Philadelphia has lost twice in a row thanks to the offense. The unit has scored 27 points and generated 403 total yards of offense per game in that time, so that's not the problem. The problem has been the 1.5 fumbles lost and one interception thrown per game in that time. Three of their turnovers during this span, or 0.8 per game, have gone for touchdowns. They have also yielded 2.8 sacks per game since Week 4.