Week 7 at Cincinnati Bengals
In the past three weeks, Chris Conley has received 10 targets but totaled just two receptions for 43 yards. Ten of his 14 catches came way back in Weeks 1 and 2, as did his only TD of the season. Conley just isn’t receiving enough looks to be of any fantasy value at this time.
Week 6 vs. New Orleans Saints
Even though Gardner Minshew threw for more than 370 yards last week in the loss to the Panthers, Chris Conley saw only three looks, finishing with a 27-yard reception. After snagging 10 passes the first two games of the season Conley has recorded just four total grabs the past three contests. D.J. Chark and Dede Westbrook will continue to the featured WRs in the Jacksonville passing attack, so it’s advised Conley remains on your bench.
Week 5 at Carolina Panthers
At Denver last week Chris Conley saw four looks from Gardner Minshew but collected just a 17-yard grab. In the past two contests he’s totaled only three receptions for 47 yards and hasn’t scored since Week 1. Conley has a tough matchup on the road against the league’s best pass defense, so you’re better off leaving him on your bench.
Week 4 at Denver Broncos
Gardner Minshew attempted 30 passes in the win versus Tennessee last Thursday, with three of them going in the direction of Chris Conley. The veteran finished with a season-low two receptions for 30 yards. As the No. 3 WR, Conley will continue to have up-and-down games, so it’s hard to count on him for fantasy production. The Jags have a tough road game on Sunday, meaning Conley is better of staying on your bench.
Week 3 vs. Tennessee Titans
With Gardner Minshew under center last week at Houston, Chris Conley led the Jaguars with 73 yards on four receptions. In his first two contests with Jacksonville, he’s snagged 10 passes for 170 yards and a TD. Conley is battling a sore hip that should not keep him out on Thursday night, however. He'll continue to receive looks from Minshew but will be facing a good Tennessee pass defense on a short week. He should be used as a WR3 option at best.
Fantasy Upside
Chris Conley, the former Kansas City wide receiver, signed with the Jaguars in March as an unrestricted free agent. Conley and new Jaguars quarterback Nick Foles spent 2016 as teammates when Foles was the backup in Kansas City. Upon signing, Conley said Foles was "blowing my phone up" with "those little emoji videos, the little creepy ones." Conley appeared in all 16 regular-season games last year, starting 13 of them. Conley had a keen understanding of how quarterback Patrick Mahomes plays the game, and was on the receiving end of multiple special throws last year -- including the Week 3 touchdown pass against the 49ers that saw Mahomes run 35.7 yards behind the line of scrimmage before zipping it to Conley, and a lunging touchdown catch near the end of the half of an epic Week 11 game against the Rams. Indeed, Conley said he brings to Jacksonville "the ability to strike and score from anywhere on the field" and "consistency."
Fantasy Downside
Conley joins a wide receiver group that includes sixth-year veteran Marqise Lee (coming off a torn ACL), third-year veterans Keelan Cole and Dede Westbrook (the Jags' de facto WR1) and second-year man DJ Chark in what's certain to be a run-first offense.
2019 Bottom Line
While it's hard to envision Conley making good on the "consistency" portion of his upside, Conley could parlay his pre-existing chemistry with Foles into a starting role. And that could result in some big plays. That's not the worst thing considering his current WR5 price.
Week 16 at Seattle Seahawks
Chris Conley came out with three scores in the first two games with Sammy Watkins out, but has since put up 13 and 19 yards, respectively, without a score. Conley doesn't serve much value as a fantasy option at this point in the season.
Week 15 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Chris Conley has been involved more in the offense in Sammy Watkins' absence, but not to the point where he's a good fantasy play. He's had 13 and 25 yards in his last two games. He's also scored three times in the last three weeks, but it's not great to rely on TD-or-bust options at this point in the season.
Week 14 vs. Baltimore Ravens
Chris Conley caught a touchdown last week, but that's about the only value he brought. Conley has been surprisingly good in Sammy Watkins' absence so far, catching three touchdowns in his last two games. Kansas City did bring in Kelvin Benjamin this week, so we'll have to see how much that signing factors in to Conley's role.
Against a tough Ravens secondary this week, we have a hard time seeing Conley having too much of an impact. He's not much more than a WR4 against Baltimore.
Week 13 at Oakland Raiders
Sammy Watkins missed practice again on Thursday, so it looks like he'll have another absence. Stepping up in his place last week was Chris Conley who had a solid seven-catch game for 74 yards and two touchdowns. It's worth pointing out this was a historic game (the only time two teams scored 50+ in the same game) so it's hard to expect that production from Conley again.
He does have a good matchup, and could be a sneaky play in DFS. He's more of a WR4 choice in redraft formats, however.
