Jacksonville Jaguars

Somebody had a very good Sunday. 

A bettor at DraftKings put $1.4 million on the line Sunday, betting that the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cincinnati Bengals would combine to exceed 42 points in their game. The over bet hit after Aldrick Rosas nailed a 50-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, leaving the bettor with a cool $531,000 in winnings. 

Here's a factoid for you: Rosas signed for a little more money this season ($679,412) than what the bettor cleared when that kick went through the uprights. 

Jacksonville Jaguars running back James Robinson amassed 129 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in his team's 31-13 home loss to the Miami Dolphins on Thursday.

Given his excellent performance, it's worth taking a look at Robinson's fantasy football prospects moving forward.

Robinson has been one of the NFL's most pleasant surprises through Jacksonville's three games. The undrafted running back out of Illinois State has 339 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns.

His 113 scrimmage yards per game ranks 10th in the league, ahead of backs such as the Tennessee Titans' Derrick Henry, the Kansas City Chiefs' Clyde Edwards-Helaire and the Cleveland Browns' Nick Chubb.

Robinson has totaled at least 17 touches in each of his first three games. He's averaging 4.9 rushing yards per carry and has all three of his TDs on the ground.

Expect the rookie to be the Jags' unquestioned top back moving forward. Quarterback Gardner Minshew II is second on the team in rushes, and wideout Laviska Shenault Jr. is third.

Running back Chris Thompson is fourth with just four carries through three weeks, which should explain all you need to know about how positively the Jags view Robinson's place in the backfield.

The most encouraging fantasy-related aspect from Robinson's Week 3 performance was his work in the passing game: The 22-year-old caught six passes on six targets for 83 passing yards.

The Jags were forced to all but abandon the run after being behind nearly all game, so Robinson's pass-catching stats are a bit inflated. He caught just four passes on five targets through his first two games.

However, the Jags clearly view Robinson as an asset out of the backfield. Thompson, who largely succeeded as a pass-catching back for the Washington Football Team prior to his arrival in Jacksonville, figured to be the team's passing-down option. That hasn't consistently been the case, though, and Robinson should see more work there moving forward.

His work after the catch was also encouraging, with Pro Football Focus providing these statistics:

James Robinson had 77 receiving yards after catch vs. MIA

4th most by a RB in a game this season pic.twitter.com/aPPqcM6yXK

— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) September 25, 2020

James Robinson had 4 receiving missed tackles forced vs. MIA

Tied with Joe Mixon and Kareem Hunt for most in a game this season pic.twitter.com/A0cOQH8iQt

— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) September 25, 2020

ESPN's Mike Clay provided his endorsement:

James Robinson, man. This kid is legit.

— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) September 25, 2020

At this juncture, Robinson should be rostered in all fantasy leagues. If he's on the waiver wire, he's a must-add.

He's also a must-start as a clear-cut RB2 moving forward.    

Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Cam Robinson was ejected against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football after making contact with an official.  

The incident occurred during a pile-up near the line of scrimmage when a fumble from Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew II led to a scramble for the ball from both teams. Robinson lay at the bottom of the pile, and he was seen on replay pushing away the hand of an official who was digging for the ball.

Kyle Van Noy with the strip sack and fumble recovery! @KVN_03 #FinsUp

📺: #MIAvsJAX on @NFLNetwork
📱: NFL App // Yahoo Sports App: https://t.co/12dXbqaBVJ pic.twitter.com/OmBV8JMEfb

— NFL (@NFL) September 25, 2020

It's unclear if Robinson knew who was reaching past him as the official blocked his field of vision. 

The Dolphins recovered the ball and scored a touchdown moments later to take a 28-7 lead. 

The ejection immediately elicited criticism from the broadcast booth of Troy Aikman and Joe Buck, as well as from rules expert Mike Pereira.

Pereira, the NFL's former vice president of officiating, was especially skeptical of the decision given the circumstances. 

"If you're an official digging into a pile, and you're doing your job, a player doesn't know who that is behind him," Pereira said on the broadcast. "You have to use some common sense."

The NFL rulebook explicitly lays out the grounds for ejection when a player comes into contact with an official: "Under no circumstance is a player allowed to shove, push, or strike an official in an offensive, disrespectful, or unsportsmanlike manner. The player shall be disqualified from the game, and any such action must be reported to the Commissioner."

It seems unlikely NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell would hand down additional punishment here as Robinson's shove appeared to be more in self-defense than an offensive or disrespectful act. 

Jacksonville Jaguars receiver DJ Chark Jr. has been ruled out of Thursday's game against the Miami Dolphins because of chest and back injuries, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. 

Mark Long of the Associated Press added the Jaguars are taking a "cautious approach" with Chark and he's expected to return for the Week 4 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Chark missed practice Wednesday and was limited earlier in the week.

The 24-year-old leads his team with 109 receiving yards this season to go with his one touchdown, although his opportunities have been limited through the first two games. He currently ranks fourth on the Jaguars in targets (7) behind Keelan Cole (12), Laviska Shenault Jr. (8) and Chris Conley (8).

Each of these receivers will likely see a bigger role in Week 3, while tight end Tyler Eifert could be a key target around the goal line.

There were high expectations for Chark going into the season after a breakout 2019 when he had 73 catches for 1,008 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, leading Jacksonville in each category. It led to a Pro Bowl selection in his second NFL season.

An injury could slow the development of the 6'4" wideout and damage the Jaguars passing attack, but this does not appear to be a long-term injury.

With fall right around the corner, people usually look forward to leaving Ohio behind for the more comfortable surroundings of Florida, not the other way around. Those people don't have to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jaguars traded third-year safety Ronnie Harrison to the Cleveland Browns for a 2021 fifth-round pick last week. Harrison appears very happy to be heading north:

So Relieved To Be Out Of Jacksonville And Around A New Team Who Wants One Common Goal! Thank You God! ✊🏿💯💯💯

— Ronnie Harrison II (@Rharr_15) September 6, 2020

The Jaguars reached the AFC Championship Game during the 2017 season and led the New England Patriots until the final three minutes of the game. Since then, the front office has systematically dismantled what was one of the NFL's best defenses.

2017 #Jaguars defense had 6 Pro Bowlers:

Jalen Ramsey
Yannick Ngakoue
AJ Bouye
Calais Campbell
Malik Jackson
Telvin Smith

All 6 are gone.

— Evan Silva (@evansilva) August 30, 2020

General manager David Caldwell told reporters Saturday the franchise "can't afford a rebuilding year," but the team isn't exactly being subtle about its aims.

Trading Harrison and Yannick Ngakoue while letting Gardner Minshew II run the offense aren't the moves of a team with playoff aspirations in 2020.

Jaguars loaded for 2021 draft in which many expect Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence to be the No. 1 pick. Jaguars now scheduled to have eight picks in first five rounds — two firsts picks, a second, a third, two fourths and two fifths, with chance one of those fifths could go higher. https://t.co/GkoIzVFYkB

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2020

Caldwell's comments echo those of Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores when he said in September 2019 the Dolphins weren't throwing in the towel with an eye toward the future. Later that month, Miami traded Minkah Fitzpatrick, who became an All-Pro with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

There's a level of irony in Harrison signaling his enthusiasm to play for the Browns, who haven't made the postseason since 2002.

But Cleveland unquestionably has higher expectations for the upcoming year. The franchise just gave Myles Garrett a five-year, $125 million extension, and its biggest offseason moves—hiring Kevin Stefanski, signing Austin Hooper and Jack Conklin, and selecting Jedrick Wills Jr.—were about helping Baker Mayfield after an underwhelming 2019.

Football careers are generally shorter compared to other sports, and NFL contracts aren't fully guaranteed. As a result, it can be difficult to sell players on contributing to a losing team, even if it's only for a season.

Maybe the Jaguars will prove to have a brighter long-term outlook than the Browns. In the short term, going from Jacksonville to Cleveland was an obvious upgrade for Harrison.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are reportedly meeting with former Atlanta Falcons star Devonta Freeman about joining the club after releasing running back Leonard Fournette earlier this week.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Freeman is visiting with Jacksonville on Saturday. 

The 28-year-old played 14 games with Atlanta last season, running for 656 yards and two touchdowns.

Freeman was released in March after six seasons with the Falcons in which he was named to the Pro Bowl in 2015 and 2016. The tailback recorded 2,135 yards and 22 touchdowns over that two-year stretch, but has steadily declined in years since. 

The 2019 season saw him attempt 184 rushes—the fewest in his career when starting at least 13 games. 

Yet Freeman's ability to fool defenders on each run may not be as important as his durability and consistency if he's able to reach an agreement with the Jaguars. 

As the team continues to rebuild, Freeman would offer some necessary depth in a tailback group that is expected to start Ryquell Armstead or Chris Thompson in Week 1. Neither running back has seen the proven success Freeman has shown he's capable of throughout his career.

Fournette was released on Sept. 2 after three seasons in Jacksonville, including a 2019 season that saw him rush for a career-high 1,152 yards but find the end zone just three times in 15 games. 

The former No. 4 overall draft pick out of LSU signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the same day his release became official. 

The Jacksonville Jaguars released running back Leonard Fournette, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft, after just three seasons in Duval County on Monday. 

Now Mark Long of the Associated Press reported on 1010 XL Radio that some of Fournette's ex-teammates wanted him out:

.@APMarkLong says he believes some Jaguars players were responsible for getting Fournette cut pic.twitter.com/juspo8stvM

— 1010 XL / 92.5 FM (@1010XL) September 1, 2020

Regardless of the circumstances behind his sudden release, Fournette took the high road upon hearing the news, sending out this statement via social media:

Thank you, Jacksonville 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/LcckBRao4k

— 7⃣ Leonard Fournette (@_fournette) August 31, 2020

His teammates were also reportedly surprised upon hearing about the cut news from Fournette himself, per running back Chris Thompson (h/t Hays Carlyon of 1010 XL Radio):

#Jaguars RB Chris Thompson says Fournette popped into a meeting to tell teammates he was cut. "We didn't believe it," Thompson said. Says they were shocked.

— Hays Carlyon (@HaysCarlyon) September 1, 2020

Jags head coach Doug Marrone told reporters that cutting Fournette was a football-related move (h/t Kevin Patra of NFL.com):

"Really just trying to take the team and put the best team together from what we've seen in our practices so, at the end of the day, I just felt that was the best decision for us as a team. I think it gives us the best opportunity with the skillsets that we have with the other players in there, I just thought that was the best for the team and doing it now. We exhausted all trade opportunities; we weren't able to get anything there so I just felt that now we can work on the team and the plan and get ourselves ready for the season."

Marrone said the Jaguars tried to deal Fournette but could not find any takers, even for late-round draft picks: "My question was, 'Can we get any value?' And we couldn't get any. Fifth, sixth, we couldn't get anything."

Fournette, a former LSU star, has gained 3,640 yards from scrimmage and scored 19 touchdowns in 36 games over his three-year career. He's gained 4.0 yards per carry and caught 134 passes for 1,009 yards.

January 21. 2018. Foxborough, Massachusetts.

The New England Patriots are down. Bill Belichick's dynasty looks to be on the ropes with an aging Tom Brady unable to move the ball against the NFL's best defense—that of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

A team that once tarped off sections of its stadium because of a lack of fan interest. A team that was once the laughingstock of the NFL after multiple failed draft picks and offseason moves. That team, early in the fourth quarter, had a 20-10 lead over the greatest coach and quarterback to ever play the game.

But then the Patriots restored order. Brady and Belichick led a riveting comeback for a 24-20 win.

New England's dynasty continued. Jacksonville's run never started.

This is the story of that team falling apart, with the release of running back Leonard Fournette this week signaling the end of that era.

The 25-year-old cleared waivers on Tuesday after a lengthy wait, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Editor's Note: According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Fournette agreed to a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday night. 

Fournette, fresh off the best statistical year of his career with 1,152 rushing yards and 76 catches, is out despite being owed only $4.2 million in 2020 base salary and being 25 years old. Running backs have become somewhat disposable in the modern NFL, but not like this.

Even if the front office was ready to move on from the No. 4 pick in the 2017 draft, the Jaguars' inability to flip Fournette for picks is concerning. Rival NFL executives know that the environment is bad enough in Jacksonville that if a player isn't traded and wants out, they'll simply be released. That means adding a piece like Fournette becomes cheaper for a contender.

He now has his pick of NFL teams as a free agent. As the news of Fournette clearing waivers was happening, Josina Anderson reported the New Orleans Saints are now "open" to moving star running back Alvin Kamara:

I'm told the Saints are open to trading RB Alvin Kamara, per source.

— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) September 1, 2020

Fournette is a Louisiana native and starred at LSU from 2014 to 2016. A homecoming in New Orleans could be a possibility, but the Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Football Team, Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams have all been linked to Fournette as well. And he would no doubt boost them all.

There is still plenty to like about Fournette, especially for those teams interested in a short-term rental. As a free agent, he's not commanding a long-term deal but instead a prove-it deal that can bring considerable value for a hard-nosed running-style team.

If the Baltimore Ravens weren't flush with running back talent or if the Tennessee Titans didn't have Derrick Henry, this is the type of back they would go after. Teams looking to emulate either club's style of play in the running game would be wise to look at Fournette. That includes the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers given the health of their running back corps.

To understand not only the exodus of Fournette and others, but how and why the Jaguars went from a fourth-quarter lead in the AFC Championship Game to a team many NFL insiders believe is tanking to secure better draft picks, we have to look at just how different the team looks today versus that night about three years ago.

Quarterback Blake Bortles? Gone after the team doubled down by signing him to a contract extension in 2018 and refusing to believe the 2014 No. 3 overall pick was a draft bust—a conviction that led general manager Dave Caldwell and team president Tom Coughlin to pass on quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson for Fournette in the 2017 draft.

Fournette's rookie season saw him rush for over 1,000 yards and lead a talented cast of young skill players, but of that group only Keelan Cole and Dede Westbrook remain, and neither figures into the team's long-term future as free agents following the 2020 season.

The 2017 Jags weren't about the offense, though. They had the NFL's best defense, allowing the second-fewest points per game (16.8) and fewest passing yards per game (169.9) while also ranking second in interceptions (21). The D was stacked.

But like Will Smith in the series finale of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Myles Jack is the only key contributor who remains from a defense that kept Brady and Belichick under wraps.

Telvin Smith quit football. Jalen Ramsey was traded. Calais Campbell was traded. A.J. Bouye was traded. Dante Fowler Jr. was traded. And Yannick Ngakoue was traded just two days ago. 

The Vikings and DE Yannick Ngakoue worked overnight on an adjustment to his franchise tender, landing at a little under $13 million. That's down from $17.778 million. And Minnesota made clear its intention to do a long-term deal in '21.

So ... Ngakoue REALLY wanted out of Jax.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 30, 2020

Every star player, minus Jack, is gone. And while you might look at the cast of characters being shipped out of town and surmise that the team was loading up on draft picks to replace them...you're forgetting the mediocre draft record of Caldwell and Co. Here are their first-round picks for Caldwell's first six years as Jacksonville's general manager:

2013—Luke Joeckel
2014—Blake Bortles
2015—Dante Fowler Jr.
2016—Jalen Ramsey
2017—Leonard Fournette
2018—Taven Bryan

Not all bad picks, of course, but the foundation for the team should have been established during those years, and instead it's a hollowed-out shell with only Bryan still on the roster and not exactly setting the world on fire.

Caldwell alone isn't to blame. In fact, the hiring (and firing) of football czar Tom Coughlin is a major reason this team fell apart, according to league sources.

Coughlin—a two-time Super Bowl winner with the New York Giants and the first coach of the Jaguars—was supposed to establish a tough, winning culture when ownership brought him on to basically manage Caldwell in January 2017. And the early results seemed to be positive as Caldwell worked with Doug Marrone, both of whom reported to Coughlin, and led the team to the AFC title game.

But the seeds sown by Coughlin—famous for "if you're five minutes early you're late" and an outdated approach to player relations—would be the downfall of the team.

"It got to the point," said one prominent agent who represented players in Jacksonville, "where we knew there is no way our guys are re-signing there. Even if they liked living in Florida and liked their teammates, it was just a bad environment."

Coughlin's old-school mentality didn't mesh with new-school players, with one unnamed player going as far as telling us that players weren't allowed to express themselves in any way. Said one former player, "We weren't told to not have dreads or listen to rap music, but it was very much hinted at. [Coughlin] just didn't like a lot of the young players."

To add fuel to the fire, the NFL Players Association went so far as to warn players against signing with the Jaguars after the team was accused of mishandling an injury to Fowler.

That letter would lead to Coughlin being fired by owner Shad Khan, but the damage was done.

The once-proud defense was torn apart with Ramsey and Ngakoue forcing their way out of town and the other pieces being sold off for parts. And while there are promising young pieces for a rebuild in place with 2019 first-rounder Josh Allen and 2020 first-rounders CJ Henderson and K'Lavon Chaisson, trading Ngakoue and waiving Fournette has rival teams convinced the Jaguars are attempting to win by losing.

"Oh, they are tanking," said one area scout who is familiar with the Jaguars organization. "You can call it a culture shift or whatever they want, but at some point you have to blow it up to rebuild, and that's what they're doing."

There is a belief in today's NFL that the only way to win is with an elite quarterback on a rookie deal or a Hall of Famer at the position. With two first-round and two second-round picks in the 2021 draft, they are in a position to attack a draft class loaded with intriguing quarterback prospects.

Whether it's Trevor Lawrence (Clemson), Trey Lance (North Dakota State) or Justin Fields (Ohio State) coming in as the quarterback of the future, the organization will look very different from the one that had a lead on the Patriots in the AFC title game.

       

Matt Miller covers the NFL and NFL draft for Bleacher Report.

Leonard Fournette isn't done with the Jacksonville Jaguars even if the team is moving on from him.

The recently released tailback has filed a grievance against his former club to recover the $4.167 million base salary from the contract the Jags voided, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter:

Former Jaguars’ RB Leonard Fournette officially has filed a grievance against Jacksonville to try to recoup the $4.167 million in base salary that the team voided, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 1, 2020

Jacksonville placed Fournette on waivers Monday following three seasons with the club.

A non-injury grievance must be filed within 50 days of the onset of a dispute, according to the National Football League Players Association. Fournette waited less than 24 hours. The union says it is successful in more than half of filings.

The LSU product was drafted No. 4 overall in 2017 and is coming off his most productive season yet. 

In 2019, he rushed for 1,152 yards on 265 carries (4.3 yards per attempt) but recorded just three touchdowns. It was a bounce-back year after he played just eight games in 2018 because of a hamstring injury and a later one-game suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness.

Still, it wasn't enough for the Jaguars to keep their lead back on the roster. 

On Leonard Fournette after he went unclaimed on waivers: I'm told wherever he lands won't be a money decision. 2020 is going to be about scheme fit and the coaching staff that leans into a power running game. Opportunity will be important, but skill fit will be absolutely vital.

— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) September 1, 2020

After parting ways with quarterback Blake Bortles during the 2019 offseason and cornerback Jalen Ramsey prior to last year's trade deadline, Jacksonville continued to dismantle a roster that reached the AFC Championship Game in 2017 by dealing expensive signal-caller Nick Foles to the Chicago Bears and Pro Bowl defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to the Minnesota Vikings before cutting Fournette.

Schefter reported Monday there were trade conversations between the Jaguars and various teams concerning their former bell cow, but head coach Doug Marrone revealed "we couldn't get anything" for Fournette.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport noted the running back was not picked up before Tuesday's waiver deadline and is likely headed for free agency.

Fantasy football drafts got a significant shakeup Monday after Leonard Fournette was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

Fournette had been a third- or fourth-round pick in fantasy drafts, per ESPN, but he is now only a late-round flier until he finds a new team. Meanwhile, Ryquell Armstead should immediately jump into fantasy relevance as a presumed starter, while Chris Thompson could be an exciting option in points-per-reception leagues.

Both players should be added immediately off waivers or taken in the middle rounds of drafts after previously going unselected in most leagues.

The first challenge for fantasy managers is determining who will replace Fournette on early downs, something that will be tougher to determine without preseason games.

Both Armstead and Devine Ozigbo have a chance at significant playing time and each has a quality profile:

On #Jaguars Ryquell Armstead:

Gets ID'ed as power RB, but has deceptive speed (4.45) for his size (5-11 1/4, 220). Really impressed coaches last season with hands in passing game.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) August 31, 2020

What doesn't excite me about Ryquell Armstead:

In 2019, he forced five missed tackles on 49 touches and posted a very pedestrian 2.57 YAC per attempt.

Ozigbo was a tackle-breaking beast at Nebraska. He's the closest player to Fournette between-the-hashmarks.

— Brad Evans (@NoisyHuevos) August 31, 2020

There have been good reports on each from training camp, so who should you pick?

Both Armstead and Ozigbo were on the roster last season, Armstead joining as a fifth-round draft pick and Ozigbo as a waiver claim after previously going undrafted.

The Jaguars clearly had Armstead ahead on the depth chart with 35 carries, 24 targets and 150 offensive snaps, leaving Ozigbo with a limited role (nine carries, five targets and 10 snaps).

There is a new offensive coordinator in town in Jay Gruden, but Armstead has the higher upside and should get the first crack at the starting job. Though Ozigbo is worth drafting in the final rounds just in case he plays, Armstead should be the priority and taken in Rounds 8-10, around other backs with questionable roles (Jordan Howard, Kerryon Johnson, Phillip Lindsay).

Of course, the upside for any between-the-tackles running back is limited on the Jaguars, the worst team in the NFL based on Super Bowl odds, per Caesars Palace.

Touchdowns will be hard to come by—as Fournette learned last year with just three scores—and Jacksonville will be trailing in a lot of games, leading to a lot of passes from Gardner Minshew.

This could put Thompson into a bigger role, making him valuable in PPR leagues. Injuries remain a problem, but he still averaged 41 catches per year over the last five seasons in Washington and could get around 60 catches with the Jaguars.

It makes him a useful flex option and puts him ahead of other pass-catchers like Duke Johnson and Nyheim Hines in draft boards, likely Round 11-12.