Week 4 vs. New York Jets
In the loss to the Titans last Sunday, Jacksonville’s offense totaled just 232 yards. Dede Westbrook collected three receptions for 31 yards. Through the first three contests this season, he has 12 grabs and one TD. Westbrook and the Jaguars host the Jets and their No. 7 ranked pass defense this week. He should only be used as a WR/flex option, as the offense may have difficulty moving the ball again.
Week 3 vs. Tennessee Titans
In the game over New England last week, Dede Westbrook turned a short pass into a 61-yard TD that sealed the win. He finished with four grabs for 83 yards, as Blake Bortles and the passing attack was too much for the Pats. Leonard Fournette should be back on the field on Sunday, which should make the offense more balanced. Therefore, Westbrook is relegated to a WR3/flex option.
Week 2 vs. New England Patriots
At the New York Giants last week, Dede Westbrook registered a team-high five grabs for 51 yards. Blake Bortles passed for just 176 yards on 18 completions, so no Jaguars pass-catcher had a big day. In the AFC Championship game in January, Bortles threw for nearly 300 yards and the passing game may be a bigger focus in Sunday’s meeting with Leonard Fournette possibly out down due to a hamstring injury. Still, Westbrook should be used as only a WR3/flex option.
Week 1 at New York Giants
In seven games during his rookie campaign, Dede Westbrook caught 27 passes and scored one touchdown. With Marqise Lee out, Westbrook and Donte Moncrief will be counted on to help in the passing game, but the Jaguars' success is based on running the ball and playing good defense. There has to be a better option than Westbrook during the opening week.
Fantasy Upside
As Bleacher Report put it, "Westbrook is a big play waiting to happen. He can run, track the deep ball and make defenders miss after the catch. He's never going to be the most physical receiver and doesn't catch well in tight areas, but that's not his role in the NFL."
Fantasy Downside
While it's true that Westbrook is an intriguing prospect, it appears that's all the Jaguars view him as at this point. Indeed, he heads into camp with a tenuous grip on the No. 4 WR spot, behind Marqise Lee, Donte Moncrief, and Keelan Cole. Beyond that, with rookie D.J. Chark flashing in camp, Westbrook needs to do more both on and off the field to secure his spot on the depth chart.
2018 Bottom Line
The fantasy appeal is understandable, given Westbrook's big-play ability; but until he's able to carve out a bigger role, the second-year man isn't going to be on the field with the consistency necessary to make him a viable fantasy play.
AFC Conference Championship at New England Patriots
Dede Westbrook got 3 targets last week but turned them into just 1 catch for 8 yards. I think he's a riskier play than Marqise Lee or Keelan Cole, both of whom got deep balls thrown their way last week against the Steelers. But he's not completely out of the picture if you're trying to avoid the chalk plays.
Divisional Round at Pittsburgh Steelers
Dede Westbrook had 5 catches for 48 yards last week, which accounted for more than half of Jacksonville's passing yards in the game. It was an ugly game for the Jaguars' passing game all around, but Westbrook is obviously the top passing option. Even so, that only places him as a WR3 option, even in a week with only four games. There's just no counting on Jacksonville's passing game.
Wild Card Round vs. Buffalo Bills
Dede Westbrook has been wildly inconsistent and had just 1 catch for 9 yards last week as Jacksonville's entire passing game struggled. The Jags don't figure to throw the ball a lot in this one considering Buffalo's run defense has been so poor. That might not leave a lot of opportunities for Westbrook and company. He's a lower-end fantasy play.
Week 17 at Tennessee Titans
Dede Westbrook bounced back from a sub-par performance in Week 15 with 4 receptions for 74 yards last week. But a lot of that was because Jacksonville fell behind to San Francisco. That can't be counted on again. But he should produce enough to be considered as a low-end WR3/high-end FLEX play this week.
Week 16 at San Francisco 49ers
So much for Dede Westbrook's breakout. He got just 2 targets last week and caught them both for 21 yards. But you would have thought he'd have done more with Marqise Lee out with a knee injury. Lee looks unlikely to play this week and Westbrook should bounce back. But it's a leap of faith in Jacksonville's passing game. And that's tough. Use Westbrook as a FLEX play with upside.
