Brian

Thomas Jr.

It might go without saying, but it’s the latest sign that Coen sees Thomas as the centerpiece of the Jacksonville offense after a rookie season in which Thomas went for 1,282 yards and ten touchdowns, posting an absurd success rate of 66.5 percent. A downfield threat and a short-area dominator, Thomas is primed to be an elite fantasy option in 2025 in Coen’s offense. Coen in January complimented Thomas’ production from the slot. He should be used across the formation in 2025.

Widely considered a strictly boundary option coming into the league, Thomas made the most of his slot opportunities. Twenty-eight percent of Thomas’ 2024 routes came from the slot, and only Puka Nacua and Marvin Mims had a higher yards per route run from the slot. “I did not know he had the ability to do what he did in the slot,” Coen said. “I probably didn’t evaluate him hard enough, but also, they did a good job getting that right.” Only six receivers had more yards after the catch on slot targets than Thomas in 2024. He was fifth in wideout receiving yards as a rookie. Coen’s offense could funnel more short-area targets to Thomas in 2025, making him an elite fantasy option in all formats.

Thomas capped an epic rookie season with his fourth 100-yard performance. He was used as a high-leverage deep threat early in the year, adding some unnecessary volatility to his weekly output. The Jags realized just how special Thomas was midway through the year and got hit with multiple receiver injuries at the same time, putting the spotlight on the rookie for the final two months. Thomas closed the season with seven consecutive games of at least 75 yards. He also scored five times in his final six appearances. His 1,282 receiving yards are the eighth-most for a rookie in NFL history. Thomas has all of the makings of a superstar wide receiver and will only get better as he refines his game in the offseason. He will rightfully flirt with a WR1 ranking in early fantasy drafts.

Thomas also carried the ball once for 18 yards. He adds another highly productive game to his impressive rookie season resume, accentuated by a graceful 31-yard sideline catch in the second quarter and an 11-yard score in the third quarter. Thomas is now the fourth rookie wide receiver in NFL history to have at least 1,100 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns in a season. He will remain the Jaguars’ No. 1 receiving option heading into Week 18 and will be a fantasy WR1 against the Colts.

This was a quiet game for Thomas until he took advantage of a busted coverage to stroll into the end zone with a 62-yard touchdown connection with Mac Jones. That seemed to get things going, and it’s another big game for the 22-year-old rookie. He’s picked up at least eight catches in the last three games, and gone over the century mark in back-to-back contests. Even as the Jaguars struggle, Thomas Jr. continues to look like a future superstar. His next chance to impress comes the Titans in Week 17.

Thomas posted a new career high for catches for the second consecutive week. The two-score game was also his first as a pro. In between, he drew a DPI on Sauce Gardner. A down-field game-breaker who is having to settle for more underneath stuff from Mac Jones, Thomas is nevertheless continuing to prove his versatility. Now a surefire bet for 1,000 yards despite missing starting QB Trevor Lawrence for much of the season, Thomas is looking like a burgeoning fantasy superstar. The Raiders are a plus Week 16 matchup.

Thomas was seldom seen in the first half, doing all his damage in the second half. He caught four straight passes to start the Jaguars’ field goal scoring drive and quickly became a primary target after seeing little usage over the first two-and-a-half quarter. Leading the Jags’ pass-catchers with 12 targets, Thomas is the team’s WR1. With Mac Jones the quarterback for the rest of the team’s lost season, Thomas’ ceiling will be capped. He will be a fantasy WR3 for Week 15 against the Jets.

He dropped one of his incompletions, but most of them floated harmlessly out of his reach. A second potential touchdown was thrown in a spot where Thomas Jr. could only catch it and land with a foot on the line. Thomas Jr. has a score or 80 yards in five of his last seven games and will be a fantasy WR3 in Week 14 against the Titans due to the extremely deficient recent form of the Jaguars passing attack.

BTJ did nearly all of his damage in the second half, catching four balls for 80 yards after the break. The Jags were playing from at least a 22-point deficit for the entire second half, ratcheting up their passing volume while also seeing some lax coverage looks from the Lions. Thomas nearly had a 33-yard, top-tapping reception late in the game, but Detroit challenged the meaningless grab and had it overturned. Thomas didn’t have full possession of the ball as he went to the ground, though the fact that there was enough evidence to overturn the catch was surprising to say the least. If Mac Jones makes another start coming out of the Jags’ Week 12 bye, BTJ will remain anchored to the WR3 ranks versus the Texans.

The same is true of Gabe Davis, who is playing through a shoulder injury. Davis is not on the fantasy radar with Mac Jones under center. Thomas only caught two passes for 12 yards in Jones’s first start. Things should turn around as the Jags go from facing an ironclad Minnesota defense to a more manageable matchup with the Lions. Still, it’s hard to trust BTJ as anything other than a WR3 without Trevor Lawrence on the sticks.