Summer Sleepers: Jacksonville Jaguars

Coin Flip Posted On August 1, 2016

We continue our annual 32-part Summer Sleeper series where DLF scribes identify a lightly-touted player on each NFL roster who may be worthy of your consideration. Our subjects all have varying levels of “sleeperness,” but each merits a bit of in-depth discussion here in the Premium Content section.

To help everybody along, we are going to be categorizing our sleepers under one of three headings:

Super Deep Sleepers – Players who aren’t roster-worthy in 12-team leagues, but are still worth keeping an eye on.
Deep Sleepers – An end of the roster player who is more often than not on the waiver wire in 12-team leagues.
Sleeper – A likely rostered player who makes for a good trade target. Their startup ADP puts them out of the top-175 or so.

Because we aren’t going give you the likes of mainstream sleepers like Jay Ajayi or Isaiah Crowell, most of these players will undoubtedly fizzle. All we are asking is for you to keep an open mind and perhaps be willing to make room for one of these players on your bench. You never know when the next Alfred Morris is going to spring up. Feel free to add your own thoughts about our choice for the designated sleeper, or nominate one of your own in the comments below.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars have a team full of running backs. Obviously, they will trim the core down when NFL roster cuts begin, but today they have a stable full. If you look on the practice field this week you cannot miss T.J. Yeldon and Chris Ivory’s jerseys as the two noticeable standouts. We know they are securing most of the playing time. You likely know Denard Robinson as another popular running back on the team. He served as the back-up running back to Yeldon for the 2015 season. If the coaching staff was impressed with Robinson’s ball control and talent, Ivory would not be on the roster. I would be surprised if the Jaguars re-sign him next year when his contract is expires. The main reason for my concern is named Corey Grant.

Corey Grant, RB Deep Sleeper

Corey Grant had the unfortunate luck of experiencing a hip injury after six weeks in the NFL during his rookie year. He is a former track star and although he began his college football career for the Crimson Tide, he transferred to Auburn. He was an UDFA when he arrived in the NFL last year. The Jaguars needed depth and speed in the return game. Grant was the answer prior to his injury. Despite his UDFA status, the Jacksonville Jaguars listed Grant as “active” all six games he played prior to his injury. He is a young, 24-year-old promising player that easily could be the plan to replace Robinson when his contract expires next season.

If your league offers points for return yards and notably touchdowns for return players, Grant could be a player you may want to stash on your roster. In the unfavorable event Yeldon or Ivory miss time in 2016 it is conceivable that Grant could see some extra playing time as well. He is pushing Robinson at training camp this summer and I like his chances moving forward.

In order for Grant to continue earning a spot on the Jaguars roster he will also have to fight off Jonas Gray and Joe Banyard. I have little concern that Gray will challenge Grant for a roster spot given his professional career and medley of NFL teams on his history belt. Those notches include Miami, Baltimore, New England and now Jacksonville. It was surprising to see New England cut Gray after scoring four rushing touchdowns and 201 yards in one game leading the Patriots to a win over the Indianapolis Colts back in 2014. I categorize that move as an incredible offensive line and not so much as an applause for Gray’s talent. If he was loaded with talent he likely would still be a Patriot. However, if reminding you in this article of that very game, and it gives you hope, maybe you feel Gray has the goods to make the roster over Grant. Before you dig too deep into that hole, remember Gray was later cut again by the Miami Dolphins for the second time in his career.

Grant has Joe Banyard in his rear view mirror, but still must outperform him in order to make the Jaguars roster. Banyard was more of an insurance move when signed by the Jaguars. He was originally signed by Jacksonville to begin his career and later played for New Orleans and Minnesota. Grant and Bernard Pierce were both sent to the Jaguars’ injured reserve and promptly Banyard was signed. This proves he was an insurance policy to their run game, not a player that might grow roots in Jacksonville.

I am excited to see the improvements on offense and defense the Jacksonville Jaguars will demonstrate this season. They should make a solid leap and open some eyes this year with the recent talent they have added. Corey Grant is most certainly available on your waiver wire and if your league rewards return yards keep an eye on him. I have confidence Grant is on this train ride in 2016 and he should be one of your roster stashes.

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