What is the Fantasy Value of Julius Thomas on the Jaguars?
One half of the Thomas connection has found a new home this offseason. Julius Thomas who played the past few seasons with Demaryius Thomas in Denver recently agreed to five-year deal worth $46 million dollars with the Jacksonville Jaguars. This was a key blow to the Broncos passing attack but even a bigger blow to his fantasy value.
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Thomas has spent the past few seasons playing for not only the Broncos but also playing with one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game. This one key factor turned him into one of the top fantasy tight ends in the NFL despite not being able to play an entire 16 game NFL schedule. Last season Thomas was limited to just 13 games pulling in 43 catches for 489 yards to go with 12 touchdown receptions.
This came one season after Thomas finished with 65 catches to go with 788 yards and 12 touchdown receptions. Now Thomas heads to Jacksonville to take over as the Jaguars top tight end and provide second year quarterback Blake Bortles another key weapon on the offensive side of the ball. Last season the Jaguars added Marqise Lee, Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson with their later draft picks.
Now entering the season Thomas will be much more of a gamble pick at the tight end position for the Jaguars. When you compare his former quarterback Peyton Manning to his new quarterback Bortles it is hard to imagine how exactly he will succeed. Last season Manning threw 28 more touchdown passes then Bortles as well as two fewer interceptions. Manning is just two seasons removed from breaking the single season passing yard record as well as the single season passing touchdown record.
As far as a bright spot for Thomas, now he gets out of the shadows of Demaryius who continues to be Manning’s number one target. This limited the amount of touches the other receivers had in Denver the past few seasons. For fantasy owners Thomas will need to stay healthy for 16 games to make a big time fantasy impact for his fantasy owners. Last season Thomas caught one more touchdown pass then Bortles threw the entire season.
The debate can be made to pass on Thomas this year as well as for some to argue that he could have his best season in the NFL. We are in the favor of the entire Jaguars offense to improve including Bortles who was working in large part with an entire rookie cast. Hurns finished the season with 51 catches for 677 yards to go with six touchdowns. Robinson finished with 48 catches for 548 yards and two touchdowns. Lee finished with 37 catches for 422 yards and one touchdown.
The other factor that could benefit the entire offense is a healthy Denard Robinson for an entire 16 game season. Robinson emerged in the middle of the season to be a solid option at the running back position before the team limited his touches down the stretch.
For now it is hard not to imagine Thomas being the number one target for Bortles entering the 2015 NFL season making his fantasy stock valuable for potential owners heading into the season.