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Vincent Jackson a top Week 1 fantasy option?

By Kevin Parvizi

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When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the Tennessee Titans tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. ET, the biggest storyline will understandably be the battle between No. 1 and 2 overall picks Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota. However, the most important matchup could prove to be the one between the Buccaneers receivers and Titans cornerbacks. Since Bucs star Mike Evans was able to practice on Friday and earned a positive review from head coach Lovie Smith, he and Vincent Jackson could both end up facing an extremely light matchup on paper.

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The Titans are already missing top corner Jason McCourty for tomorrow’s matchup, and veteran No. 2 corner Perrish Cox is listed questionable after suffering an injury at practice this week. Although Cox, like Evans, practiced and is expected to play, the fact of the matter is that the Titans are banged up and vulnerable against a big, fast, and dynamic wide receiver duo.

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Given that Cox and Evans are both questionable, Jackson looks like an extremely appealing fantasy play as the Bucs No. 2 receiver at worst. Both he and Evans should hoard a comparable amount of targets in the Buccaneers offense, and Jackson’s veteran savvy could come in handy in the red zone, though it will be interesting to see if Winston shares a better rapport with the more talented Evans.

Whatever the case, Jackson is in a strong position heading into tomorrow’s game, because he is the healthiest impact player among the Buccaneers pass-catchers and Titans cornerbacks. There’s nobody out there on that Tennessee defense who can handle his 6’5″, 230-pound frame, and even if Evans plays, Jackson will still have an excellent opportunity to have a big day. Because if Evans plays, he’ll probably draw the tougher assignments, which means that V-Jax can feast on Blidi Wreh-Wilson or Coty Sensabaugh.

If Evans does play, there’s always a chance Smith and the Buccaneers choose to limit him as a precaution, which would only increase the number of targets that Jackson receives.

Last season, V-Jax averaged 62.2 yards per game and 14.3 yards per reception with just two total touchdowns, and all three totals were the lowest of his career with the Bucs. Evans’s presence had plenty to do with all of that, but Jackson did hit 70 receptions and 1,002 receiving yards, giving him his fourth straight season with quadruple-digit receiving yards.

I want to see if Jackson’s touchdown totals go up this year, and he could get off to a hot start in that department tomorrow, though any limitations on Evans’s playing time wouldn’t include him sitting on the bench for red zone and third down plays. Even so, we’ll get to see Jackson and Winston working together for the first time in a real game, and the upgrade from Josh McCown to Winston gives Jackson even more upside.

Of course, Vincent Jackson is such an attractive fantasy play this week because of the injuries and the easy matchup- not the Winston upgrade. Locked in as a WR2, Jackson could come up with five receptions for 70 yards if Evans plays without limitations, and a touchdown and 100 receiving yards as the clear top option against an easy secondary seem like a near-lock if Evans is unable to play. If Evans is limited, a 7-100 line with a good shot at a TD is in play for V-Jax, whose upside is admittedly limited by the fact that this Titans-Bucs game could have a slow pace.

Next: Which WRs Should You Start Over V-Jax?

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