Game Info
Kickoff: Saturday, January 7th, at 8:15 PM EST
Location: TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Florida
Betting Odds: TEN+6.5, 38.5 total via Oddsshark
Network: ESPN
Writer: Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ Twitter & Reddit)
Tennessee Titans
Quarterback
Joshua Dobbs (Sit)
If you had Joshua Dobbs starting a win-for-the-South Week 18 game for the Titans this year on your bingo card, consider yourself one in a million. With Ryan Tannehill on IR, and rookie Malik Willis not a capable option, this leaves the Titans no choice but to roll out recently-signed Dobbs to tread water in an effort to win the AFC South. In the loss last week to Dallas, Dobbs completed 20 of 39 attempts for 232 yards, one touchdown and an interception. In case you didn’t figure ahead of time, Dobbs is not a viable streamer if you find yourself in a Week 18 championship.
Running Back
Derrick Henry (Start, RB1)
Derrick Henry had himself an extra BYE week in Week 17, as the Titans opted to sit him out against Dallas with a “hip” injury; in all reality, the game meant nothing to Tennessee, thus resting him was on the table. With Dobbs under center, Jacksonville will surely bank on Henry to see a heavy workload, but you’ll deploy him as an RB1 without hesitation. Back in Week 14, Henry racked up 121 yards and a rushing touchdown on just 17 carries in a 36-22 loss to the Jags.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Treylon Burks (Start, FLEX), Robert Woods (Sit), Chigoziem Okonkwo (Start, TE2)
Treylon Burks caught half of his eight targets for 66 scoreless yards against the Cowboys last week, which was good for 12.6 full-PPR points. With Dobbs under center again, Dobbs will have to target someone, and Burks is the Tennessee receiver you’d start over Robert Woods if you had to choose. Tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo caught three of four targets for 24 yards last week, which was an upgrade from recent weeks with Willis, and if you’ve gotten this far and need a TE, you could do worse than Okonkwo.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Quarterback
Trevor Lawrence (Start, QB1)
For those in a Week 17 Final that had Trevor Lawrence as their QB, they were severely letdown, as the second-year QB who had been on fire coming in, completed 17 of 21 attempts for 152 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He was later pulled from the game in the 3rd quarter, as the Jags were holding a 28-3 lead against the Texans. Should the Jaguars win this game, they’ll be champions of the South, and make the playoffs for the first time since the 2017-18 season. Back in Week 14, Lawrence completed 30 of 42 attempts for 368 yards and three touchdowns against the Titans.
Running Backs
Travis Etienne Jr. (Start, RB2 with RB1 upside), JaMycal Hasty (Sit)
Last week against Houston, Travis Etienne Jr. turned just nine carries into 108 yards and a touchdown, also adding three receptions for 32 yards. Etienne only played the first half, and JaMycal Hasty took over the backfield. He won’t be pulled in this one, and should be treated as an RB2 with RB1 upside, when you factor in other ‘backs around the league may be resting dependent on their team’s situations.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Christian Kirk (Start, WR3), Marvin Jones Jr. (Sit), Zay Jones (Start, WR3), Evan Engram (Start, TE1)
If you find yourself in a Week 18 Final, the likes of Christian Kirk and Zay Jones are more appealing options from this Jacksonville receiver room over Marvin Jones Jr. In the Week 14 win against the Titans, Kirk and Jones combined for 13 receptions on 19 targets, totaling 122 yards and a touchdown. Jones had just one target and reception for 22 yards in that game. Evan Engram, who has been hot since Week 13, was a disappointment last week, catching only one of two target for 16 yards. Before that, in four games, Engram racked up 31 receptions on 40 targets for 367 yards and three touchdowns. Even more notably, in Week 14 against the Titans, he posted 11 receptions on 15 targets for 162 yards and two touchdowns.