Justin Jefferson, Vikings: Jacksonville plays the most man coverage in the league, which might not be such a good thing for them, considering they’re playing the best receiver against man coverage in the NFL. Sam Darnold has leaned on Jefferson week in and week out, and he will continue to do so on the road (on the grass), where the Vikings have struggled in the past. The Jaguars have let up 9.11 yards per target, which is the worst in the league. Look for Jefferson to be one of the locks of the week as he puts up 100 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Tank Dell, Texans
Dell thrives in man coverage, and although the Texans have a difficult matchup against Detroit, I think they can take advantage of the Lions secondary, which can be beaten when they lose confidence. Nico Collins is practicing but he might be another week away from a return. Dell should have another game where he leads the team with double digit targets. Look for Dell to have about 80 yards and a touchdown.
Josh Downs, Colts
We’ve talked a lot about flop lag this season. Simply put, flop lag means that a player who underperformed against expectations the week before has a rebound week and excels. We can say that about the entire Colts’ offense against Minnesota. Look for Joe Flacco to feel more comfortable at home and work their offense better. If Jonathan Taylor can find a few holes, the passing game should be able to make some big plays, too. Lock Downs in for a rebound with 70 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Darnell Mooney, Falcons
There was a video on social media on Thursday showing Drake London at Falcons’ practice still looking tentative with his injured hip. While there might be a chance that London plays, I don’t expect that he’s going to have a huge week. This should play right into the hands of Mooney, who is sensational against man coverage, which is primarily what New Orleans plays. Look for Kirk Cousins to take a couple of chances deep down the field and find Mooney on at least one—if not multiple– big plays. I love Mooney to have 100 yards and a touchdown this week.
Brian Thomas, Jr., Jaguars
Let’s not forget that Mac Jones used to be considered one of the top young quarterbacks in the league. Because Mac has been a backup, it makes sense that he’s going to come in and probably feature one receiver, and I expect that receiver to be Thomas. The Vikings run a lot of zone coverage, and Thomas is quick enough to exploit the holes in the Vikings secondary. I think he’s going to have double-digit targets with about seven receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown.
