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// Thread // JJAW //
If you have been playing fantasy football for a while then you know that buying low on sophomore WRs who disappointed during their rookie year is a no brainer. JJAW is no exception. Lets dive in!
Please read and watch everything to fully understand!
If you have been playing fantasy football for a while then you know that buying low on sophomore WRs who disappointed during their rookie year is a no brainer. JJAW is no exception. Lets dive in!
Please read and watch everything to fully understand!
JJAW is a physical presence on the field and is elite at using his frame to highpoint the football. The Eagles drafted JJAW to be the direct heir apparent to Alshon Jeffery. AJ is currently recovering from offseason foot surgery and may not be ready to start week 1.
One of the things to take into account is that JJAW could of potentially had a much better college career but, dependent on how you look at it, he was fortunate to share the field with 2 of the statistically great college football RBs of all time in CMC and B. Love.
It was not until JJAW’s senior season that the team switched from a run heavy approach to a more balanced style but JJAW had been quietly dominating the Stanford passing game his sophomore and junior years.
Even in a very run heavy scheme for the majority of his career, JJAW was still the focal point of the passing game.
JJAW’s 16.8 yards per catch in 2018 ranked 9th in the draft class.
JJAW’s passer rating when targeted was 135.6 which ranked 2nd in the draft class.
JJAW’s 16.8 yards per catch in 2018 ranked 9th in the draft class.
JJAW’s passer rating when targeted was 135.6 which ranked 2nd in the draft class.
JJAW led the nation in contested catches (19) in 2018. He had nearly twice as many as the next closest WR.
Now lets talk about his less than stellar rookie year.
Now lets talk about his less than stellar rookie year.
Drafting JJAW was a direct correlation to AJ. Since becoming an Eagle in 2017, Jeffery has only posted 3 games of 100+ receiving yards and only 7 games with 76+ receiving yards. He also missed 9 games over the last 2 years. The writing seems to be on the wall for Jeffery.
Let's be honest, JJAW was thrown into the fire last year as a rookie. The Eagles had very unfortunate injury circumstances w/ the veteran WR core & younger players were forced to step up when they were not fully ready. This however, I believe to be a blessing in disguise for JJAW
At first his snaps were very limited but as the injuries mounted he was forced to play all while being given a ton of information to learn in a short amount of time. As the season progressed and the more balls were thrown his way he absolutely gained confidence and got better.
Moving into his SO season, the Eagles have hired a new WR coach in Aaron Moorehead which can only mean sunny days are ahead. With the addition of several new WRs to the team, JJAW has a chance to focus exclusively on learning the X WR position in this complicated Eagles pass game
Golden Tate spent time with the Eagles back in 2018 & even he struggled to pick up the passing game learning one position and he’s considered to be a very savvy WR. Imagine what JJAW (a rookie) was going through last year as they were teaching him 3 different positions on the fly
JJAW also played hurt most of the year. “JJAW even admitted to needing help getting to the bathroom mid-year because he couldn't walk. Eagles GM Howie Roseman confirmed as much earlier this offseason, stating JJAW was playing through a lower body injury for most of the year.”
Not surprising, but because of the injuries and the difficultly of learning the passing game on the fly, it was difficult for JJAW to form any chemistry with Wentz. However, this offseason, Wentz has been working out consistently with Jalen Reagor and JJAW.
After watching a lot of tape over the course of the last couple weeks, JJAW was open A LOT...I mean A LOT... last year. However because of his lack of chemistry and timing with Wentz, he didn’t get the ball as often nor was he the first read.
Let's look at some tape.
Let's look at some tape.
JJAW’s bread and butter; high pointing the football and using his basketball background to box out the defender all while in double coverage.
Double coverage? I meant to say triple coverage.
JJAWs college tape is highlight real after highlight real. He is elite at high pointing the football & using his body to gain position on the defender. He showed flashes of this play making ability during his injury riddled rookie year. Excellent job of tracking the football here
In this clip, JJAW scored his only TD of the season. In the previous week against the Seahawks, JJAW could have scored another TD but failed to sit in the zone and come back to the QB. One week later, he learned from his mistake and took full advantage.
This clip was probably JJAW’s best play of the year. Sideline catch, secures the ball, tight catch in double coverage.
As the season progressed JJAW got more and more comfortable. Huge leaping catching high point the football over a defender. Then JJAW runs a curl but turns to see his QB scrambling so JJAW immediately cuts back out. It these little nuances like this that come with experience.
PLEASE WATCH 
For all the people that bash his route running, please take the time to watch this 4 minute video. This guy can run every route. He isn’t just your typical jump ball specialist.
For all the people that bash his route running, please take the time to watch this 4 minute video. This guy can run every route. He isn’t just your typical jump ball specialist.
It is not smart to give up on a player after a poor rookie season. DJ Chark had a worse statistical rookie season than JJAW did and now he is being drafted in the top 48 in redraft leagues.
With AJ a ? to start the year, I fully expect JJAW to start for the Eagles at X. GO BUY!
With AJ a ? to start the year, I fully expect JJAW to start for the Eagles at X. GO BUY!
