Jaguars WR Laviska Shenault will be a fantasy sleeper to keep an eye on

Jacksonville Jaguars second-year wide receiver Laviska Shenault is poised to have a breakout season on the football field but is he worth a pick in your fantasy football leagues? 

The Jaguars wide receiver corps looks like a strength ahead of the 2021 NFL season. DJ Chark Jr. should see his production go up with quarterback Trevor Lawrence taking snaps behind center. Also, the team’s brass brought in Marvin Jones Jr. in free agency. The former Detroit Lion has scored 32 receiving touchdowns over the last four seasons. As important as Chark and Jones will be to the team’s success in 2021, Laviska Shenault Jr. could have the biggest impact of the bunch in 2021, both on the field and in fantasy football.

Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report recently put together a list of fantasy sleepers ahead of the 2021 season and Shenault popped up. Moton says that the 2020 second-round pick has been trending lately. He points out that Hays Carlyon of 1010 XL said Jaguars coaches have been ‘buzzing about’ the sophomore wide receiver. He then cites Michael DiRocco of ESPN and says he’s been turning head this offseason.

"Shenault has arguably been the Jaguars’ best offensive player throughout OTAs and minicamp. The Jags are keeping him at receiver instead of trying to use him in the backfield at times, and his development has been one of the highlights of the spring."

Moton notes that Shenault hauled in 58 receptions for 600 yards and five receiving touchdowns as a rookie in 2020. Moreover, he tallied 18 carries for 91 yards. He thinks that if the Jaguars run a pass-heavy offense this upcoming season, Viska’s production will most likely go up. In fact, Moton believes that second-year wideout could thrive in spite of Chark’s and Jone’s presence in Jacksonville.

The Jacksonville Jaguars should feel good about Laviska Shenault.

Shenault displayed flashes of playmaking prowess in 2020 even though the Jaguars lacked consistency at quarterback. With more stability behind center, the Colorado product should flourish this upcoming season, barring major injuries. Chark is still the team’s number one receiver while Jones will get his fair share of targets. However, there’s a good chance Shenault takes off in 2021.

From a fantasy football standpoint, Shenault is worth a late-round pick. Depending on how deep your league is, he should be available in the sixth or seventh round. Also, the former Buffalo may not be the only fantasy sleeper on the Jaguars’ roster this season. Contrary to what you might have heard, Lawrence won’t be a fantasy bust. You shouldn’t draft him in the first round but he’s worth a flyer in the fourth or the fifth.

Then, there’s running back James Robinson. If you opt to take a top-end quarterback or an elite wide receiver early in your fantasy draft, you will probably find the Illinois State product in the third or fourth round. Robinson can also be a solid number-two running back in your fantasy team.

You won’t see many Jaguars players get drafted early in fantasy football. That doesn’t mean they don’t currently have players worth a selection. They have a few contributors that should turn out to be sleeper picks and Shenault is probably the one with the biggest upside.