Jaguars WR Laviska Shenault getting the spotlight ahead of 2021 season

There are several Jacksonville Jaguars poised to make some noise this upcoming season. Second-year wide receiver Laviska Shenault is among them. 

The 2020 second-round pick had a solid rookie campaign, hauling in 58 receptions for 600 yards. Although that kind of production may not look great at first, keep in mind that the Jaguars had a revolving door at quarterback last season. Had they had a competent signal-caller behind center, Sheanult’s numbers might’ve been even better. That will not be an issue in 2021, as Jacksonville drafted Trevor Lawrence with the top pick in this year’s selection meeting. The Clemson product should be able to get the team’s playmakers the ball.

Viska is having a great offseason and has earned rave reviews during the Jaguars’ organized team activities He appeared at the top of Nate Burleson’s list of top 5 breakout wide receivers for 2021, and was even given a new nickname, ‘Laviska ‘Shenaughty by Nature‘. Moreover, Hays Carlyon of 1010 XL says that Jacksonville coaches are buzzing about Shenault. If that wasn’t enough, he’s also being seen as a potential fantasy football breakout player, showing up on Pro Football Network’s list of top 9 fantasy football breakouts in 2021.

Laviska Shenault is a potential fantasy football breakout in 2021.

Tommy Garrett, the writer of the article, says the Jaguars’ offense will look significantly different this upcoming season and believes Sheanult will be at center stage. He notes that the wide receiver also racked up 18 carries for 91 yards as a rookie. Later, Garrett says that Shenault ranked 46th among receivers in points per reception (PPR) in 2020. However, he points out he dealt with injuries last year and missed two games.

In the 14 matchups he appeared in, he ranking third or better among receivers 43 percent of the time. Furthermore, he played on 76 percent of the Jags’ total snaps on offense and logged 208 total yards and three touchdowns over the last four weeks. Garrett thinks Lawrence’s presence will benefit Shenault’s production in 2021. He sees the wide receiver having a breakout season in 2021 and becoming a utility player in Jacksonville’s offense.

There are certain things Laviska Shenault won’t have control of.

Nobody will argue Shenault has the potential to have a breakout season in 2021 but there a few things you need to factor in for that to happen. DJ Chark is at the top of the depth chart and Marvin Jones will probably start opposite of him, so the sophomore receiver could currently be the third option in the passing game. This may change as the year progresses but he won’t get the majority of the targets early in the season.

Also, Shenault has to stay healthy. Although he just missed two games in 2020, he still needs to show he can last a full season. He came into the NFL with injury concerns and although he’s dispelled most of them, he needs to show he can stay healthy. On the bright side, he’s practicing at full gear this offseason, and it doesn’t look like he’s going to slow down anytime soon.

The Jaguars may have a burden-of-choice kind of situation at wide receiver in 2021 and may have a hard time getting targets to everyone. Shenault is making a case he should get a good amount of them.