Jacksonville Jaguars at Atlanta Falcons, 8:20 p.m., NFL Network
Jacksonville has put eight DBs on injured reserve, including five with starting experience. The latest was T.J. Heath; he needs surgery for the shoulder he hurt in practice last week. Free safety Dwight Lowery remains day-to-day with a shoulder injury.
The last time the Jaguars faced a potent passing game, they were lit up by the Chargers. San Diego WRs combined for 10 catches, 207 yards and three TDs.
Roddy White and Julio Jones both are coming off strong performances and there’s no reason they shouldn’t keep it up Thursday.
White posted a +1.5 PFF rating against Carolina while catching seven balls for 84 yards and a score. PFF’s Neil Hornsby notes White abused Captain Munnerlyn and did well against every DB except Chris Gamble. Jacksonville does not have anyone on Gamble’s level.
Jones scored twice on three catches, racking up 104 yards with his unusual combination of power and speed. It’s the fourth time he’s gone over 100 yards, making you wonder what kind of ridiculous numbers the rookie would have if he wasn’t occasionally plagued by the drops.
PFF data shows Jones has dropped seven passes since Week 9, and eight overall. That ties for seventh-most among WRs. White is tied for second with 12 drops.
Matt Ryan (+3.0) earned Hornsby’s game ball vs. Carolina. On pace for nearly 4,300 passing yards and 28 TDs despite his wideouts’ butterfingers, Ryan should dissect the Jaguars in the controlled confines of the Georgia Dome.
TE Tony Gonzalez is defying his age (35) and ranks third in fantasy points behind Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham. Gonzalez has 34 catches over the last five games and seven TDs this season.
Falcons RB Michael Turner has produced three sub-par games in a row, failing to score or surpass 76 total yards in any of them. He’s averaged 3.3 yards a carry in that span and caught one pass for four yards.
The best hope for Turner this week is that the Falcons grab a big lead and use him to milk the clock.
Maurice Jones-Drew has a chance to finish as the No. 1 fantasy RB after scoring four TDs against Tampa Bay last week. Expectations should be tempered Thursday, however. Atlanta gives up the fifth-fewest points to opposing RBs.
QB Blaine Gabbert has played better the past couple weeks, which is helping MJD. But neither Gabbert, nor any Jacksonville receivers, are legitimate fantasy options.
Tight end Marcedes Lewis is strictly a desperation play. He’s averaged four catches over his last four games, but still has not scored a TD this year.
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