D.J. Chark

Week 2 vs. Denver Broncos
D.J. Chark and Trevor Lawrence only connected on three of 12 targets in Week 1, but one of those catches went for a 41-yard touchdown, resulting in a solid WR3 day for Chark in an otherwise forgettable performance from the Jacksonville offense. The 12 targets is a great sign for Chark, as he beat out both Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault for looks from Lawrence. The inefficient day despite the encouraging target share could stem in part from all the time Chark missed in camp while recovering from hand surgery, and his chemistry with Lawrence should improve with more reps. The Jags are going to face plenty of negative game script this season and if Chark continues to lead the team in targets, he will have exciting upside given his big-play ability. Chark gets a tough matchup against a strong Broncos secondary in Week 2, but he is a workable flex coming off a 12-target game in another matchup where Lawrence could throw a ton of passes.

Fantasy Upside
As USA Today put it, "D.J. Chark is quickly developing into a receiver who is simply unfair." The young pass-catcher already had excellent size and a large frame for a No. 1 receiver, and this offseason, according to NFL Network's James Palmer, the wideout has gained 10 pounds, putting his weight at 210. However, don't expect the extra muscle to slow him down. Palmer said on Twitter that in spite of the weight increase, Chark has actually gotten faster this offseason. Beyond that, he remains one of the top young receivers in the league in spite of average (at best) quarterback play and some injury issues during his time in Jacksonville (Chark has missed nine games in three seasons due to injury and has 13 career touchdowns). A big receiver with excellent ball skills, a bigger, faster Chark is a scary thought for the AFC South and the NFL at large.

Fantasy Downside
With struggles at quarterback in 2020, Chark saw his production drop off noticeably. After cracking 1,000 yards for the first time in his career in 2019, his totals fell off across the board. This year, as ESPN's Mike Clay pointed out, Chark's target volume could be in jeopardy with Laviska Shenault Jr. entering Year 2, and with Marvin Jones Jr., Phillip Dorsett and Jamal Agnew added to the fold.

2021 Bottom Line
Chark will clearly enjoy an upgrade at quarterback with the addition of Trevor Lawrence. If healthy, the Jaguars are counting on Chark to remain the lead wide receiver in an offense geared toward spreading the ball around. From a fantasy perspective, Chark investors are getting WR1 upside at WR3 prices.

Week 16 vs. Chicago Bears
With Gardner Minshew passing for 226 yards in the loss against the Ravens last week, D.J. Chark led the team with four receptions for 53 yards. While it was his most productive game since Week 10 Chark has not found the end zone in five straight. Chicago owns the No. 13 pass defense, so consider Chark at best a WR3/flex option.