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Week 8 Game Recap: Jacksonville Jaguars 13, Tennessee Titans 30
Jacksonville Jaguars
| QB David Garrard, Pass: 14 - 27 - 139 - 0 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 3 - 22 - 0 |
David Garrard was supposed to tear apart a ravaged Tennessee Titans defense in a great Week 8 matchup, but apparently the Titans had other plans. Garrard was under constant pressure in the pocket, and when he was able to buy some time his receivers could not get open. Tennessee had some starters coming back from injury and with a well-rested squad ready to go after the bye the Titans rose to the challenge. Garrard left the game for the final two minutes as the Jaguars did not want to risk him to injury behind a shaky offensive line. Garrard will be back under center next week but even in what appears to be another good matchup on paper (at Kansas City) it remains to be seen after this lackluster performance.
| QB Luke McCown, Pass: 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 TD / 0 INT |
Luke McCown entered the Week 8 game against the Titans only to close out the game. Starting quarterback David Garrard was getting crushed in the pocket, so rather than risk injury to Garrard, head coach Jack Del Rio let McCown close out the game. Think nothing of it as Garrard will start again next week.
| RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Rush: 8 - 177 - 2, Rec: 1 - -4 - 0 (4 targets) |
Some people like to say that "if you take away one or two runs from a running back, he doesn't have a very good day". Well, that is likely true, but when two of your eight carries are 80-yard and 79-yard touchdowns. Jones-Drew "only" had 18 yards on his other six carries, but I think everyone can forgive him based upon those other two. It is remarkable that Jones-Drew did not have a carry until Jacksonville's fourth drive, which was when he broke the 80-yard touchdown. Clearly he should be getting the ball more often as the passing attack was below average at best and more likely "horrible" would be a better description. Expect a ton of Jones-Drew work in Week 9 against the Chiefs.
| RB Rashad Jennings, Rush: 3 - 8 - 0, Rec: 1 - 1 - 0 (1 targets) |
Young rookie Rashad Jennings had four touches (three carries) in Week 8 against the Titans. He remains marginally rosterable at best in deeper leagues where his only real redraft value is if Maurice Jones-Drew suffers an injury.
| RB Greg Jones, Rush: 1 - 3 - 0 |
Fullback Greg Jones had one carry in Week 8 and has no real fantasy value.
| WR Mike Thomas, Rush: 1 - 7 - 0, Rec: 4 - 55 - 0 (6 targets) |
With Torry Holt and Mike Sims-Walker struggling to get open against Tennessee, Mike Thomas stepped up and led Jacksonville with four catches and 55 yards, working mostly as a slot receiver. Thomas continues to contribute on both offense and special teams in returning kicks. The young playmaker shows good speed and has good hands, making him a nice sleeper pick to get more targets going forward.
| WR Torry Holt, Rec: 2 - 17 - 0 (6 targets) |
Starting wideout Torry Holt continues to struggle as a Jaguar, this week only making two catches in Week 8. Holt lost an 11-yard catch due to a penalty and was trying to stretch the field early in the game but could not catch his two deep targets. Holt added his two catches later in the first half but after his six first half targets Holt never had another chance on the afternoon. Holt is a strong veteran wideout but with David Garrard struggling and his offensive line collapsing around him, the entire Jacksonville passing game is one to avoid.
| WR Ernest Wilford, Rec: 2 - 18 - 0 (5 targets) |
Ernest Wilford was listed as a starting tight end for the Jaguars and he grabbed two short passes in Week 8 to help out a struggling Jacksonville passing game. After his best grab went for 13 yards, he was flagged for taunting that cost him all the yardage (and it was a terrible call). Wilford used to be a wide receiver, but since he filled out his frame some more he plays closer to the line and is a hybrid WR/TE. With no clear role for Wilford and his status behind Mike Sims-Walker and Torry Holt in the passing attack, Wilford can be avoided in most fantasy leagues.
| WR Mike Sims-Walker, Rec: 2 - 9 - 0 (3 targets) |
Tennessee might have a subscription to Footballguys, or they might just have broken down enough Jacksonville game film to know that they have to cover Mike Sims-Walker extremely well in order to slow down the Jaguar passing attack. That is exactly what they did between good coverage schemes and strong pass pressure as they collapsed the pocket around David Garrard. Look for Sims-Walker to bounce back and do well against Kansas City next week.
| WR Jarett Dillard, Rec: 1 - 23 - 0 (2 targets) |
Wide receiver Jarett Dillard contributed to a struggling passing game in Week 8 with a 23-yard catch down the middle of the field in the third quarter, making a solid grab from David Garrard. Unfortunately that was Dillard's only catch, and with both Mike Sims-Walker and Torry Holt firmly ahead of him on the depth chart, Dillard has no real fantasy value.
| TE Marcedes Lewis, Rec: 1 - 20 - 0 (1 targets) |
TE Marcedes Lewis caught just one pass, a 20-yard throw down the middle in the third quarter. With the Jacksonville passing game struggling right now, Lewis is barely rosterable.
Tennessee Titans
| QB Vince Young, Pass: 15 - 18 - 125 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 12 - 30 - 0 |
Vince Young did just enough to win in his return to starting for the Titans in Week 8. Young completed just six passes for 10 yards or more but zero over 18 yards, illustrating how much of a short passing game the Titans employed against Jacksonville. Young's best throw was his touchdown pass, a short 6-yard fade to WR Nate Washington that fell into his hands with nice touch. Young made more plays with his feet than with his arm, but combining the two made for a capable starter although not much for fantasy purposes. The win over the Jaguars is likely to boost his confidence going into a tougher matchup at San Francisco next week.
| RB Chris Johnson, Rush: 24 - 228 - 2, Rec: 2 - 11 - 0 (3 targets) |
If Chris Johnson had not gotten tired, NFL records may have fallen in Week 8. Johnson was a one man wrecking crew against Jacksonville, running around and through the defense almost at will. Johnson eclipsed 200 yards rushing for the second game of this season as he used his elite speed to elude would-be tacklers on nearly every play. Johnson gave way to LenDale White whenever Johnson was tired, which appeared to be a bit more often than usual but then again 200+ yard rushing games are not the norm. Johnson had three runs of 20 or more yards, including a 52-yard dash in the third quarter and an 89-yarder to start the fourth, both of which went for touchdowns.
| RB LenDale White, Rush: 13 - 47 - 0 |
LenDale White had a decent amount of touches in Week 8 against Jacksonville, but he did not do much with his chances. White averaged under four yards per carry, failing to break off any of his 13 chances for more than nine yards. The difference in abilities and upside between White and Chris Johnson was huge in this contest as Chris Johnson could practically make any Jaguar defender miss almost at will, yet White plodded up the middle for a few yards here and there. White's only real fantasy value is as a handcuff for Chris Johnson owners.
| WR Justin Gage, Rec: 3 - 41 - 0 (5 targets) |
Starting Titans' wideout Justin Gage had three grabs against Jacksonville, all in the 10-15 yard range as Gage ran mostly intermediate routes against the Jaguars. QB Vince Young did not throw very often, resulting in both a minimal performance for Gage but still keeping him as the top target and the receiver with the most yardage. Gage is a very risky fantasy option as the Titans do not throw a ton and when they do throw they tend to spread the wealth.
| WR Nate Washington, Rec: 2 - 22 - 1 (2 targets) |
Nate Washington lined up as a starter in Week 8 for the Titans, but the game plan dictated very few throws for Tennessee against the Jaguars. Washington had two balls head his way, reeling in both including a very nice touch pass six-yard touchdown from Vince Young in the second quarter. Washington is a risky fantasy start even in the best of matchups.
| WR Kenny Britt, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (1 targets) |
Rookie wideout Kenny Britt had only one target and catch in Week 8 against Jacksonville. Britt is not quite ready to break into the Titans' starting lineup, and even if he does it is still a risky fantasy position given the Titans lack of a strong passing attack.
| TE Bo Scaife, Rec: 4 - 27 - 0 (4 targets) |
Bo Scaife was the leader in Week 8 for the Titans with four catches, highlighted by an 18-yard catch and run in the second quarter. Scaife is the top tight end for a Tennessee team that loves big targets running shorter routes, making him a solid option in PPR leagues. Scaife should continue to collect several catches next week against San Francisco, especially with Vince Young back under center.
| TE Alge Crumpler, Rec: 2 - 14 - 0 (2 targets) |
Backup TE Alge Crumpler caught one short pass in the second quarter on his only target. His value is minimized with Bo Scaife as the starting tight end for the Titans.
| TE Jared Cook, Rec: 1 - 3 - 0 (1 targets) |
Rookie tight end Jared Cook caught one short pass on the opening drive for the Titans but that was it for his Week 8 contributions. Behind both Alge Crumpler and Bo Scaife, Cook has a long way to go to become a viable fantasy tight end.