FANTASY FOOTBALL IN-SEASON FEATURES

Sortable Player Projections | Game Predictions Summary | Projections by Team

Prediction: JAC 10, ATL 27

The 4-9 Jaguars bring their 1-5 road mark to Atlanta where the 8-5 Falcons have realistically already lost the NFC South (official this weekend) but currently are in the driver's seat for a wild card bid. This is the Thursday night game.

QUARTERBACK: By now no reason to waste ink. Blaine Gabbert comes of a big game with 217 yards and two touchdown passes (both to Jones-Drew) but he has never scored more than once in a road game and has just ten touchdowns on the season with the worst stats of all quarterbacks. He has no reliable fantasy value and will do well enough to get one score this week.

RUNNING BACKS: Maurice Jones-Drew comes off a career best game with four touchdowns (two rushing , two receiving) that also set a franchise record. The rest of the offense may sputter every week but Jones-Drew has always showed up big and even adds receptions to his totals.

The Falcons are top five against running backs but have still allowed nearly one rushing touchdown per opponent. Arian Foster recently became the only back with over 100 rush yards on the Falcons and that required 31 carries and was in Houston.

I like the chance for one touchdown but his yardage should decrease this week.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Hard to determine where Gabbert's poor throwing ends and the wideouts poor playing begins. The starting wideouts have accounted for only three touchdowns all season and never more than 73 yards. This is as bad as it gets. No fantasy value. #32 of 32.

TIGHT ENDS : Marcedes Lewis still has not scored this year and offers marginal yardage at best.

Pregame Notes: The Falcons still have one more road trip to New Orleans before the end of the season and assuming that does not go well - and you really should - will 10-6 win a wild card in the NFC this year? Probably so and more apparent after this week. The Falcons have managed to remain a good team this year without ever being considered great. But two easier home games remaining on the schedule should ensure a nice ending to the year.

QUARTERBACK: Matt Ryan is winding down the season on a hot streak and already has passed for five 300 yard games and a total of 23 touchdowns. He has scored in every matchup since the season opener and remained above 260 passing yards in each of the last six games.

This week is a bigger challenge than the records may indicate since the Jaguars have been very good against the pass and allowed only four opponents (TEN, NO, SD and HOU) to pass for more than 200 yards. They average only one passing score given up per game. But Ryan has been hot and has all hands on deck again. This week won't be a monster game for him, but Ryan should hold his own against the Jaguars who just kicked HC Jack Del Rio to the curb last week.

RUNNING BACKS: Michael Turner was more productive earlier in the season and has scored just once in the last five weeks along with only one game over 100 rushing yards in the last six games. He remains the focus of the rushing attack but the success by Ryan passing the ball (or needing to catch up) has decreased the carries and overall effectiveness of Turner who they were concerned might wear down later in the season. Turner has been nursing a groin injury as well for one reason he has declined.

The Jaguars are softer against the run in road games and allowed three of the last four road opponents to feature a 100 yard rusher who also scored on them. Turner will be rested this week and is still expected to play. He should have a good shot at one score and decent yardage if his groin holds up.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Roddy White has shrugged off his slow start to the season and scored in each of the last three games along with solid yardage in each. He has been a lock for around 70 yards and has scored six times so far. Julio Jones has been limited in practices because of his back but there has been no concern expressed about his playing status. Jones left Carolina with his second two-touchdown performance and gained 104 yards on three catches.

The Jaguars secondary has been very good though allowed ten touchdowns this season. Both White and Jones are must starts but White has been the more likely to score and Julio has been less consistent because of his hamstring and back.

TIGHT ENDS: Tony Gonzalez has been very effective and more so as the season grows old. He's remained at or over 70 yards for each of the last five games and scored in three. The Jaguars are weaker against tight ends and have played only a few truly elite players with good results for the tight end.

 Print