The Tennessee Titans host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CST at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Titans are coming off a huge loss to the Washington Commanders and look to rebound with a division win at home this week. The likely absence of Trevor Lawrence (concussion) means that Mac Jones will be on the field, which changes how the Jags attack as well as how the Titans will defend.
It’s just the second time the Titans have been favored in a game all season. Both teams are on the struggle bus this year, but there are a handful of players who still have fantasy value in this game. The Jaguars’ defense isn’t great, and even though the Titans’ defense has been strong this season, they didn’t look strong last week.
If you roster any of the following players in your fantasy league, you definitely want to consider starting them this week.
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Tony Pollard is projected to score 16 fantasy points this weekend, the 11th most points among all running backs. He’s averaging nearly 70 rushing yards per game, and last week should have shown the Titans that eight touches in a game are simply not enough to get the ground game going. This week, against a Jaguars defense that allows nearly 150 scrimmage yards to running backs each game and has given up 16 touchdowns to the position, Pollard should have solid fantasy value. The Jaguars also allow the most fantasy points to running backs than any other team in the league, so even if Tyjae Spears plays, Pollard is the main guy, and he will get the most touches.
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Currently, Travis Etienne Jr. is projected to rank 20th among running backs this weekend, but his load has increased since he returned from injury. Last week, he maintained the lead back role over Tank Bigsby, and there’s no reason to think that will change this week especially in the absence of Trevor Lawrence. Last week, the Titans’ defense let Brian Robinson Jr. put up 103 yards and scored a touchdown, and the Jags definitely saw how he did it. Etienne will get more touches this week as the Jags rely more on the ground game, and if he attacks the Titans’ defense the same way as Robinson, he will get his points this week.
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If this week’s play calling is anything like last week’s play calling, the Titans will be targeting Calvin Ridley early and often. He ranks 20th among wide receiver projections and averages just under 83 receiving yards since the departure of DeAndre Hopkins. Against a Jaguars team that’s allowing 181.4 yards per game to wide receivers, third-most in the NFL, Ridley has solid fantasy value against a struggling secondary in Week 14.
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Brian Thomas Jr. has already developed chemistry with Jaguars backup quarterback Mac Jones, which is good for the Jags and might be a problem for a Tennessee secondary that continues to lose players. It’s unlikely that Trevor Lawrence will play, and after he left Week 13 with a concussion, Thomas recorded 76 yards and a touchdown with Jones under center. The Titans’ secondary has been strong this season, but they are running out of personnel to put on the field, which is why Thomas is a solid WR2 this week.
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It feels weird to have Will Levis on this list, but if we’re being honest, his improvement is real. Since he returned from injury, his play has been exponentially better, and last week’s loss is nowhere near his fault. He didn’t even turn the ball over, which is saying something. This week, Levis is projected the 8th most fantasy points among quarterbacks. Part of that is playing against a Jaguars team that has a poor defense, but part of that is Levis’ new-found ability to find his receivers on the field. He’s not a starter every week, but this week is an interesting matchup that could see him garner some enough fantasy points to make an impact. As long as he doesn’t turn the ball over.
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It simply doesn’t feel right to leave these two players out of the fantasy discussion. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine isn’t called Mr. Reliable for nothing, he’s usually good for at least one touchdown and this week is no different. He actually had more targets than Calvin Ridley last week as the Titans learn how to use him more effectively. Against a struggling Jags defense, Westbrook-Ikhine is a good flex option in Week 14.
Nick Folk has 97 fantasy points this season and is projected to have the third-most points among kickers this week. He’s a veteran and he’s reliable, and this week, the Titans should be able to move the ball against the Jacksonville defense. In the event that they cannot put it in the end zone, Folk will be called upon to put the ball through the uprights. Even when they get into the end zone, Folk is still kicking that extra point. He’s definitely worth a start this week.
