Week 3 at New York Giants
DeSean Jackson caught just three balls for 40 yards on five targets last week. Jackson wasn't high on our WR list but with big games in the past against the Cowboys, some owners took a shot only to be disappointed. Such is the life of a Jackson owner who is usually plagued with inconsistencies.
This week, Jackson gets the Giants a team that has managed to keep him in check a lot of times in his career. Last year, Jackson had a 2-66-1 game in Week 12 but he struggled mightily against the G-men in 2014 with a total line of 4--24-0 (12) in two games. Jackson is again way down our list this week and with the struggles of Kirk Cousins, he's certainly not a safe play. The Giants are 22nd in allowing fantasy points to the position but remember, they're coming off a game where they held Drew Brees in check. But, owners should also keep in mind this does begin a pretty nice stretch of favorable matchups for Jackson, straight through Week 7.
Week 2 vs. Dallas
DeSean Jackson caught six balls for 102 yards last week and was one of the few bright spots for the Skins offense against Pittsburgh. This week, Jackson gets a tough matchup against Dallas, which is ranked fifth in regard to giving up fantasy points to WRs. Jackson's matchup takes a hit as a result, and he comes in just 36th on our WR PPR list. One thing to keep in mind is Jackson's success against Dallas over the years with Philly and the Skins. While he didn't play in Week 17 last year, his three previous matchups saw him collect either a TD or go over 100 yards. In that three-game span he averaged a line of 3.5-75.7-0.5 so he may be worth a play despite the matchup on paper working against him.
Week 1 vs. Pittsburgh
DeSean Jackson missed the first seven weeks of 2015, but came back strong and provided the team with a much-needed deep threat. Jackson started slow but peaked between Week 11-15 when the team made a strong push to the playoffs. Jackson had four TDs in that five-week stretch.
Now owners are hoping Jackson picks up where he left off last year. He gets a real nice matchup on paper as the Steelers were 31st in allowing fantasy points to WRs last year. Given the struggles of the Washington run game, and the Steelers rankings fourth in allowing fantasy points to RBs, the Skins may have to take to the air in Week 1 and as a result Jackson could benefit. For the most part, Jackson's big play ability has made him an inconsistent fantasy performer over his career and that's likely to be the case again this year. He comes in ranked 32nd on our WR list but should make for a decent low-end WR3 or high-end WR4 option if you need him.
Fantasy Upside
When it comes to making big plays, DeSean Jackson is still among the most dangerous in the league. Over the past two seasons, in 15 games with a healthy Kirk Cousins under center and at least one target headed his way, Jackson has averaged 3.2 catches for 66 yards and 0.47 TD, which equates to solid WR2 numbers in standard formats and high-end WR3 numbers in PPR leagues. Overall, Jackson was a pretty consistent fantasy WR last year in limited games, collecting four TDs and averaging over 16 YPC.
Fantasy Downslide
Our biggest worry about D-Jax is his ability to stay healthy. He was injured Week 1 and didn't return until Week 9. Jackson's big play ability can often make him inconsistent when it comes to fantasy production, because he relies on his speed more than size. All things considered, Jackson was pretty consistent last season, but that hasn't always been the case in his career with the Eagles, especially prior to Chip Kelly.
Bottom Line
Jackson comes into this season ranked 41st among our WRs with an ADP of the seventh round. If you're loading up early on WRs, Jackson is a guy to fill out the position and play during byes or certain matchups more than a guy to depend on as an every-week starter if you're looking for that come the middle of your draft. Jackson's ADP shows he's going a little earlier than he should vs. our rank, so you may rather have players like DeVante Parker and Tyler Lockett over Jackson.
Week 18 vs Green Bay
DeSean Jackson didn't see a target in Week 17 against the Cowboys in a game that didn't mean anything for the Redskins in terms of playoff seedings. Jackson will have to be involved this week against the Packers in what is an OK matchup. Green Bay is 12th in allowing fantasy points to WRs and Jackson is a top-10 play on our list. Outside of last week's game, he had four TDs in his previous six contests so he and QB Kirk Cousins were finding the end zone. Jackson lives and dies by the big play in terms of fantasy production and the Skins aren't afraid to take deep shots and may have to in what could be a high-scoring game.
Week 17 at Dallas
DeSean Jackson had just four catches for 40 yards on six targets in Week 16, but it was a win over his former team to clinch the division and a playoff berth. However, that doesn't give owners fantasy points and for the most part Jackson was held in check after posting TDs in four of the last five games.
This week, Jackson is a risky play for a couple of reasons. One, the Cowboys are tops in allowing fantasy points to WRs so this isn't a great matchup. Two, the Skins could rest some guys or at the very least pull them from the game early as they've locked up the fourth seed and aren't budging from that spot. We rank Jackson down our list at 26th this week.
As for next year, there was talk the two could part ways with Jackson's off-field issues but since his return from injury Jackson has been pretty good and presents a deep threat for Kirk Cousins. Jackson will likely always fall in that WR2-WR3 range and even if he changes teams that's still a reasonable spot to rank him next year.
Week 16 vs. Philadelphia
DeSean Jackson caught six balls for 153 yards and a TD last week against the Bills. It was the most yards he's had this season while the catches and targets (8) tied yearly highs.
Jackson now comes into Week 16 in a must-win game for the NFC East going against his former team. He missed the two teams' first meeting this season, but you can bet Jackson is eager for this one going against a banged up Eagles secondary. In his last two games against the Eagles, Jackson has totaled nine caches for 243 yards and a TD. Jackson should be a nice play this week as he always seems to get up going against his former team. We rank Jackson 15th with is a borderline, low-end WR1 play.
Week 14 at Bears
DeSean Jackson scored a TD for the third week in a row last week, finishing with a line of 6-80-1 (7) against the Cowboys. After not doing much his first two weeks back, Jackson is averaging about a 4-75-1 line his last three games. It's a tough matchup this week as the Bears have been pretty good at keeping WRs in check in terms of fantasy points (ranked 11th), so Jackson is still a WR3 option in most formats.
Week 13 vs Dallas
DeSean Jackson has put together back-to-back weeks of solid fantasy performances thanks to a couple of big play TDs. Last week, Jackson caught two ball for 66 yards with one of those catches a TD. It's pretty typical numbers for DJax, who often depends on a long TD for a productive fantasy game. The problem this week is Dallas ranks fifth in allowing fantasy points to WRs, so this isn't a great matchup for the Redskins passing game. Jackson is more of a WR3 play but obviously his upside is pretty good.
Week 12 vs. New York Giants
We finally had a DeSean Jackson sighting last week. He caught five balls for 87 yards and a TD on eight targets. It was his best game since getting injured in Week 1. Jackson gets a favorable matchup this week against the Giants, who are 27th in allowing fantasy points to WRs. Despite perhaps being back on the track to fantasy relevance, Jackson is ranked as more of a WR3 option this week as it's hard to predict just what you're going to get from the Redskins offense. The odds are a little better this week in a favorable passing matchup against NYG.
