Tag: tank bigsby

Jaguars vs. Raiders: Key matchups

Jaguars vs. Raiders: Key matchups

The Jacksonville Jaguars head into Week 16 against Las Vegas with some offensive momentum following a productive Sunday in their loss to the New York Jets.

One of the key storylines from the Jaguars’ defeat is their franchise record-setting rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who has emerged as one of the best young playmakers in the league. Jacksonville’s first-round selection will be a high-level target for a healthy Trevor Lawrence in 2025 and beyond.

This week against the Raiders, the Jaguars have a chance to add another win to their lowly season total against a team projected to be selected within the first three slots in April’s NFL Draft. 

Jaguars Wire takes a closer look at the key matchups ahead of Sunday’s late afternoon bout with Desmond Ridder and the Raiders.

Jaguars secondary and linebackers vs. Raiders TE Brock Bowers

This weekend will feature two highly regarded rookie skill players, Thomas and Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, who have quickly become franchise cornerstones on their respective teams.

Bowers himself is on his way to a record-breaking rookie season as he is just over 100 yards away from breaking Mike Ditka’s rookie record for receiving yards by a tight end at 1,076.

Against a Jaguars defense that ranks last in yards allowed (396.4), Bowers has a good chance to break the record this weekend. However, there is a way to keep this from happening for at least another week.

If Jacksonville wants to slow down Bowers, match zone and heavy man coverage will be key. One idea is to allow Tyson Campbell to travel with Bowers and limit his productivity or play match coverage on the second level against Foye Oluokun, Devin Lloyd, or rookie nickelback Jarrian Jones, who we highlighted in this week’s All-22 review.

Either way, Bowers is the best player on the field for the Raiders at the moment. Limiting him would clear a path for a potential Jaguars victory in the Nevada desert.

Jaguars RB Tank Bisgby vs. Raiders defense

With Travis Etienne Jr. back in the starting lineup, Tank Bigsby’s rushing production has varied. His highest rushing total in his last five games is 55 yards. Yet, he continues to create yards after contact and make defenders miss in space at a steady clip.

The Raiders’ rushing defense could provide Bisgby with a productive game. According to Next Gen Stats, they have the 10th-highest missed crackle rate in the league at 13.9 percent. Bigsby has the third-highest missed tackle rate in the league at 36 percent.

Those numbers translate on film as well. Bigsby has a strong contract balance and jittery footwork that allows him to create yards in space consistently. A noisy day from the former Auburn Tiger tailback could spell success for Jacksonville.

Jaguars QB Mac Jones vs. Raiders QB (TBD)

Close your eyes football fans. This is not the superstar quarterback matchup you might hope for this weekend. One of the paths to success for either team is which signal-caller can play a cleaner game.

There is a possibility that Aidan O’Connell will return to the starting lineup for the Raiders this weekend. However, Desmond Ridder could be in line to start again if O’Connell can’t go (or if Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce were to make another quarterback change).

Ridder was efficient on quick-tempo passes against his former team on Monday night, the Atlanta Falcons, going 11-of-15 for 114 yards and one touchdown in that respect, according to Next Gen Stats.

Yet, he also demonstrated why he is already on the third team within one league year. Far too often, he put the ball in harm’s way and made inaccurate throws.

O’Connell doesn’t come without risk either but is a more effective vertical passer, potentially allowing Bowers to see more production downfield. However, neither are particularly great options.

Jones is also a quarterback prone to making questionable throws, including two interceptions against the Jets. He enters the weekend with a four-to-seven touchdown-to-interception ratio on the season. 

While he did give Thomas, second-year tight end Brenton Strange and wide receiver Parker Washington chances to make plays, Jones’ knack for turning the ball over at the worst times continues to plague him. 

That said, if Jones were to put up similar numbers to what he did in place of Trevor Lawrence against Houston three weeks ago, there is a sound opportunity for Jacksonville to get its fourth win of the season in Sin City.

Jarquez Hunter announces plans to enter NFL draft

Hunter was a vital piece of Auburn’s offense for four seasons. Now, he is ready to turn pro.

A major bright spot in Auburn football’s recent history is ready for the next step in his college career.

[autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag], who played a vital role in Auburn’s offense as the team’s premier running back over the last two seasons, announced Thursday that he is declaring for the NFL draft after four great years on the Plains.

Hunter shared the news on social media by writing to Auburn fans, coaches, and teammates. He began his post by sharing his gratitude for the opportunity to play for Auburn.

“First and foremost I want to thank GOD for blessing me with an opportunity to be able to play at my dream school and the position he has put me in. I give him all the glory and without him I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Although underutilized, there is zero doubt that the Auburn fanbase fully appreciated Hunter. Hunter stepped into the premier back role in 2023 following the departure of [autotag]Tank Bigsby[/autotag] to the NFL, where he played at a high level over his final two seasons on the Plains. His first season as the bellcow back saw him rush for 909 yards on 159 carries while scoring seven touchdowns.

He finally reached the 1,000-yard mark as a senior in 2024 by rushing for 1,201 yards on 187 carries. Playcalling limited Hunter’s rushing ability as he recorded less than 20 carries in nine of 12 games this season. Coincidentally, Auburn won three games when Hunter carried the football more than 20 times.

Hunter joins an extensive list of offensive starters who will move on from the program due to graduation including quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag], tight end [autotag]Rivaldo Fairweather[/autotag], and tackle [autotag]Izavion Miller[/autotag].

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Jaguars vs. Jets: Key matchups

Jaguars vs. Jets: Key matchups

The Jacksonville Jaguars head into Week 15 coming off a refreshing victory at Tennessee last Sunday. It’s only the team’s third win of what has otherwise been a tumultuous losing season.

This weekend provides a favorable opportunity to add another mark to the win column, although the team’s draft positioning may once again falter. The Jaguars host the New York Jets in 2024’s first matchup between teams mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.

Jaguars Wire takes a closer look at the key matchups in Jacksonville’s next-to-last home game of the season.

Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. vs. Jets CB Sauce Gardner

It’s becoming clearer that the Jaguars rookie sensation is already one of the best players on the roster. He was a key reason for the team’s success in Nashville last weekend with eight catches on 12 targets for 86 yards, putting his season total at 54 grabs for 851 yards and six touchdown receptions.

This weekend, Thomas will go one-on-one against one of the best cornerbacks in football, Sauce Gardner.

The Jets have not had the season they were hoping for and are a mess of a franchise at the moment. However, the two-time All-Pro Gardner remains a bright spot, and winning against him in coverage is no easy feat.

That said, Gardner has had some struggles this season, especially on deeper crossing patterns, which could favor Thomas in space and offer run-after-catch opportunities against man coverage.

If Thomas has yet another productive day against Gardner and the Jets secondary, Jacksonville has a chance at winning two games in a row.

Jaguars LT Walker Little vs. Jets pass rushers

There’s a reason the Jaguars extended Walker Little to a three-year, $40.5 million contract. His play since becoming the team’s starting left tackle hasn’t been perfect but has been trending upward in recent weeks, especially in pass protection.

According to Next Gen Stats, Little’s quarterback pressure rate is the fourth-lowest among starting left tackles with at least 150 snaps.

Little faces a daunting task this weekend, however. His likely opponent on most snaps, Jets defensive end Will McDonald IV, has 10 sacks and 52 quarterback pressures on the season.

The Jets are like the Jaguars defensively as they have more trust in their four-down linemen to generate pressure by moving them around the line, rather than pulling out all the stops like some teams.

Little will need to be prepared for whoever New York will throw his way. Don’t forget about Haason Reddick, Michael Clemons and, occasionally, Quinnen Williams.

Jaguars RB Tank Bigsby vs. Jets run defense

Bigsby has established himself as Jacksonville’s running back of the future while putting the team in a tough position with his fellow running mate Travis Etienne Jr. While that is not the topic of this section, how Bigsby can beat New York’s run defense is.

The Jets rank No. 16 in the NFL in rushing yards allowed (119.9) and run stuff percentage (17.1%), and have allowed the 11th-most expected points added (EPA) rushing.

This could be another week where Bigsby sees another 20-plus touch game. The key to turning usage into production is trusting the blocks of interior linemen, center Mitch Morse and guards Brandon Scherff and Ezra Cleveland.

Bigsby is one of the league’s better space-creators and the Jets have allowed the ninth-most yards after contact per attempt (3.14) in the NFL. Bigsby’s 4.9 yards per attempt on inside-designed runs are the seventh-most in the NFL this season, according to Next Gen Stats.

While running backs may not matter to some, Bigsby will play a key part in Jacksonville’s chances at victory this weekend. Bringing him down won’t be an easy feat for New York.

Jaguars snap five-game losing streak, beat Titans 10-6

Jaguars snap five-game losing streak, beat Titans 10-6

The Jacksonville Jaguars (3-10) snapped their five-game losing streak on Sunday, beating the Tennessee Titans (3-10), 10-6, to unlock their third win of the season and first since defeating the New England Patriots in London in Week 7.

Tennessee held a narrow lead from its first offensive series until over halfway through the fourth quarter, when Jacksonville running back Tank Bigsby shed two attempted tackles on an eight-yard rush into the end zone, the game’s only touchdown.

The Titans’ offense received two opportunities to match the Jaguars’ score and retake the lead. Tennessee turned the ball over on downs to conclude both possessions, including an 11-play, 61-yard drive that ended at Jacksonville’s nine-yard line.

The Jaguars and Titans combined for seven punts and five turnovers on Sunday, with Jacksonville quarterback Mac Jones tossing two interceptions and Tennessee’s offense failing to convert on fourth down three times in the latter category.

Jones — who took over as Jacksonville’s starting quarterback after the team placed Trevor Lawrence (left shoulder/concussion) on the injured reserve on Wednesday — completed 23-of-31 passes for 220 yards with the two picks against the Titans.

Jacksonville’s defense largely suffocated Tennessee’s passing offense throughout the matchup. Defensive end Josh Hines-Allen and rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones each sacked Levis, and four Jaguars defenders combined for seven pass breakups, including Jones with two.

The Jaguars will host the New York Jets (3-9 and tied with the Miami Dolphins in the fourth quarter of their Week 14 matchup, 26-26, at press time) at EverBank Stadium, in Week 15, on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Fantasy Football: 12 running backs to target on the waiver wire

Christian McCaffrey is hurt again, making Isaac Guerendo a must-add on the fantasy football waiver wire. These are the top RBs to target.

Here we go again.

Christian McCaffrey suffered a knee injury on Sunday Night Football in Week 13 and the San Francisco 49ers announced Monday that he has a PCL injury. McCaffrey will now go on injured reserve and he’s expected to miss the rest of the regular season.

That would have left Jordan Mason as the next man up in San Francisco, but he has a high ankle sprain that will also land him on injured reserve. Mason will now miss at least the next four games.

Following the injuries to both McCaffrey and Mason, Isaac Guerendo is a top priority must-add on the fantasy football waiver wire this week.

Elsewhere on the fantasy front, Russell Wilson (43.1%) is gaining steam at quarterback, Adam Thielen (27.3%) is relevant at wide receiver again, and Will Dissly (32.9%) has a good tight end matchup against KC this week.

Today, though, we’re focusing on the running back position. We’ve put together a quick list of 12 running backs to consider on the fantasy football waiver wire going into Week 14.

Fantasy Football Running Back Waiver Wire Targets

1. RB Isaac Guerendo (1.3%): With McCaffrey and Mason both sidelined, it should be the Guerendo show down the stretch in San Francisco.

2. RB Chris Rodriguez (0.2%): The Commanders placed Austin Ekeler on injured reserve with a concussion, leaving Brian Robinson as their top RB. Robinson is not alone in the backfield, however, as Rodriguez had a big day on Sunday with 94 rushing yards and a touchdown. If Washington continues splitting RB touches, Rodriguez could be a gem off the waiver wire.

3. RB Kimani Vidal (10.7%): J.K. Dobbins (knee) was ruled out and then placed on injured reserve, which means he’ll miss at least the next four games. Gus Edwards seems to be the new RB1 for the Chargers, but Vidal was right behind him in carries on Sunday (six to four). He’s a sleeper.

4. RB Alexander Mattison (47.0%): Mattison and Zamir White were both sidelined on Sunday, leaving Ameer Abdullah and Sincere McCormick (0.1%) as the Raiders’ top RBs in Week 13. Mattison is worth picking up for once he returns. If Mattison and White remain sidelined, McCormick will be worth a look in deep leagues.

5. RB Tank Bigsby (32.5%): Coming out of the bye week, Travis Etienne led the Jaguars’ backfield with 13 carries for 46 yards, but Bigsby also got seven carries plus one target. Up next is a Titans defense that allows 120.1 rushing yards per game.

6-12. Handcuff running backs: Jonathon Brooks (47.6%), Tyler Allgeier (41.5%), Zach Charbonnet (50.9%), Blake Corum (14.2%), Ray Davis (11.4%), Trey Benson (24.1%) and Braelon Allen (22.0%).

Roster percentages for players listed in this article were sourced from ESPN. For more fantasy coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

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Jarquez Hunter accepts invite from Senior Bowl

After rushing for 3,371 yards and 25 touchdowns throughout his Auburn career, Hunter will lace up his cleats one final time in February.

[autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] played his final game in an Auburn uniform last Saturday in the Tigers’ 28-14 loss to rival Alabama in Tuscaloosa. However, the Auburn running back recently accepted an opportunity to lace up his cleats one final time as a collegiate athlete.

On Monday, it was announced that Hunter had accepted an invite to compete in the Reese’s Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile. This would give him one final chance to showcase his skills in front of NFL scouts ahead of the 2025 NFL draft.

Hunter had a stellar four-year career at Auburn, ending his time on the Plains with 3,371 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns. His first two seasons saw him complement [autotag]Tank Bigsby[/autotag] by rushing for 1,261 yards and ten touchdowns during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. In 2023, he took over as the premier back where he added 2,110 yards along with 15 touchdowns to add to his career total. In 2024, he reached the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career by rushing for 1,201 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 6.4 yards per carry.

Hunter joins linebacker [autotag]Eugene Asante[/autotag] as Tigers who have accepted Senior Bowl invites. The Senior Bowl will be held on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 1:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on NFL Network.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Etienne, Bigsby ‘real healthy’ as Jaguars look to spark run game

Etienne, Bigsby ‘real healthy’ as Jaguars look to spark run game

One of Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson’s takeaways from assessing the 2-9 Jaguars during their bye week was that the team needs to get its rushing attack going again.

The Jaguars averaged the second-most yards per rushing attempt, 5.7, in the NFL through Week 4. Their 126.3 rushing yards per game stood at a respectable No. 13.

But starting running back Travis Etienne Jr. suffered a shoulder injury in Week 4, and eventually dealt with a hamstring injury that limited his usage through Week 9.

Etienne’s rushing counterpart, Tank Bigsby, appeared on Jacksonville’s injury report with a hurt ankle in Week 9. He aggravated the injury in Week 10 and did not play in Week 11.

Both Etienne and Bigsby are beyond their injuries following Jacksonville’s bye week, Pederson said Friday, offering the head coach encouragement as he attempts to reignite the Jaguars’ ground game.

“Both guys are real healthy, which is great,” Pederson said Friday.

“There was some — the inconsistency of one guy up and one guy banged up and then kind of flipped and just getting that continuity in that room. But it’s good to have both guys where they are right now. It does give us a lift health-wise in that room and obviously can give us a boost in the run game.”

As a result of Etienne and Bigsby’s limitations, at least in part, the Jaguars now rank No. 11 and No. 25 in the above categories, respectively. They have averaged 4.5 yards per run and 101.6 rushing yards per game through 11 games.

However, Pederson believes it will take more than a healthy running back room to spark Jacksonville’s rushing offense. He pointed to the Jaguars’ need for better blocking at every position and for their quarterback, likely Trevor Lawrence this week, to audible the unit into potentially advantageous run plays.

“That’s something that we have to do better as an offense. We have to run the ball better,” Pederson said Wednesday.

“It’s not just the running backs, it’s all 11 [players], right? It’s the quarterback putting us in the right run if we have run checks. It’s obviously the offensive line, the tight ends, and we know the running backs. So that’s an area that we’ve got to improve, but having two healthy running backs right now definitely helps that.”

Jacksonville will face an average Houston rushing defense on Sunday. The Texans allow 110.8 rushing yards per game, which ranks No. 11 in the NFL, and 4.4 yards per carry, ranking No. 20.

Fantasy Football: 10 running backs to target on the waiver wire

Jeremy McNichols headlines this week’s list of running backs to target on the fantasy football waiver wire.

Happy Thanksgiving Week, football fans.

There are three games on deck this Thursday (Bears-Lions, Giants-Cowboys, Dolphins-Packers), plus a Black Friday game (Raiders-Chiefs).

With four games set to be played before Sunday even arrives, it will be important to set your fantasy football lineups early this week.

Drake Maye (21.7%) is a streaming option at quarterback, Devaughn Vele (1.7%) is emerging as a wide receiver sleeper and Taysom Hill (53%) remains a notable tight end in fantasy.

Today, though, we’re focusing on the running back position. We’ve put together a quick list of 10 running backs to consider on the fantasy football waiver wire going into Week 13.

Fantasy Football Running Back Waiver Wire Targets

1. RB Jeremy McNichols (1.2%): Brian Robinson suffered an ankle injury on Sunday and Austin Ekeler left the game with a concussion. McNichols is left as the next man up for the Commanders.

2. RB Ameer Abdullah (19.3%): Zamir White (quad) and Alexander Mattison (ankle) were held out on Sunday and Abdullah led Raiders running backs with 14 touches for 65 yards and a touchdown.

3. RB Jaleel McLaughlin (15.9%): The Broncos’ backfield will be hard to predict on a week-to-week basis, but McLaughlin led the team with 44 rushing yards on Sunday.

4. RB Tank Bigsby (33.4%): Coming off a bye, Bigsby should be rostered in more leagues in case the Jaguars lean on him down the stretch.

5. RB Roschon Johnson (17.3%): He has six touchdowns with the Bears this season and while chasing TDs is not ideal, Johnson appears to be one of Chicago’s top options at the goal line.

6-10. Handcuff running backs: Tyler Allgeier (41.6%), Braelon Allen (16.1%), Trey Benson (28.3%), Blake Corum (14.2%) and Ray Davis (12%).

Roster percentages for players listed in this article were sourced from ESPN. For more fantasy coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

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Jaguars vs. Lions: Inactive lists

Jaguars vs. Lions: Inactive lists

Find Jacksonville and Detroit’s inactive lists for Week 11 below.

Jaguars inactives

  • QB Trevor Lawrence
  • RB Tank Bigsby
  • OL Javon Foster
  • DL Maason Smith
  • DL Esezi Otomewo
  • LB Yasir Abdullah
  • CB De’Antre Prince

Analysis: The Jaguars ruled starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence out of Week 11 on Wednesday, running back Tank Bigsby out on Friday and backup linebacker Yasir Abdullah out on Saturday.

Not on Jacksonville’s inactive list, importantly, is starting left guard Ezra Cleveland, who will return to action after missing the Jaguars’ last two games with an ankle injury. He was labeled questionable for the contest on Friday.

Lions inactives

  • TE Sam LaPorta
  • OL Colby Sorsdal
  • OL Christian Mahogany
  • OL Giovanni Manu
  • DL Al-Quadin Muhammad
  • S Loren Strickland

Analysis: Detroit’s most notable inactive player is starting tight end SamLaPorta, who was ruled out of Week 11 with a shoulder injury on Friday. The Lions otherwise scratched three reserve offensive linemen, one backup defensive lineman and one depth safety against the Jaguars.

In photos: Auburn tops ULM to earn fourth win of season

Take a look at the best photos from Auburn’s memorable win over ULM on Saturday.

Auburn football earned its fourth win of the season on Saturday, taking down ULM 48-14 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama.

Auburn played an efficient game by gaining 507 yards and committing zero penalties. The Tigers also converted 26 first downs while going 12-of-17 on third-down opportunities.

The win will end on a historic game as several players have reached personal records. Running back [autotag]Jarquez Hunter[/autotag] became the first player since [autotag]Tank Bigsby[/autotag] in 2021 to get the 1,000-yard mark in rushing after earning 102 yards on 14 carries. He now has 1,015 yards on the season.

Wide receiver [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag] had the best game of his young career by making eight catches for 100 yards and three scores, all personal highs. Quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] also logged five touchdown passes, the highest of his career.

Saturday’s win was impressive. Here is a look back at the best images from Auburn’s 48-14 win over ULM on Saturday.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__