Jacksonville Jaguars Gear Up for First Preseason Game

Jacksonville Jaguars Preseason Opener: All Eyes on Trevor Lawrence

The Jaguars kick off their 2025 preseason this weekend with more intrigue than in recent years. The offseason headline was their bold move to trade up for Travis Hunter, the electric two-way star from Colorado, now set to start as WR2 alongside Brian Thomas Jr..

Lawrence returns for what feels like a critical prove-it season. Once projected as a can’t-miss NFL superstar, he enters 2025 as QB21 in fantasy drafts—a shocking fall for a former No. 1 pick. Lawrence’s combination of arm talent and mobility still offers upside, but inconsistency and injuries have stalled his breakout. This preseason game is the first step toward proving he can elevate this roster.

Skill Position Breakdown

• Thomas Jr. (WR1)
  
  The breakout star of 2024, Thomas thrived even without Lawrence for stretches, producing WR1-caliber numbers with Mac Jones under center. The chemistry between Thomas and Lawrence will determine whether he repeats his dominance.

• Hunter (WR2)
  
  While primarily known for his defensive skills in college, Hunter brings explosive speed and big-play potential to the offense. His presence could draw defensive attention away from Thomas, though his role in year one may be more complementary than commanding.

• Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby (RBs)
  
  Etienne remains the lead back, but his fantasy profile has flattened after an inconsistent 2024. Bigsby flashed early last year before fading—both are more matchup-dependent RB2/Flex plays until proven otherwise.

• Brenton Strange (TE)
  
  A mid-tier TE2 with modest target expectations. His best-case fantasy value likely comes in the red zone if the passing game improves.

Fantasy Draft Implications

The Jaguars’ offense hinges almost entirely on whether Lawrence takes the next step. If he clicks early with Thomas and Hunter, Jacksonville’s WR duo could both exceed ADP, and Etienne’s efficiency could rise with lighter defensive fronts. If not, this offense could remain frustratingly inconsistent, limiting fantasy ceilings across the board.

In single-QB formats, Lawrence is best treated as a late-round upside play or streaming option. In superflex and 2-QB leagues, he’s a viable QB2 with breakout potential—if he stays healthy and improves decision-making.

Betting Market Snapshot

Sportsbooks currently have:

• Jaguars Win Total: 8.5 wins, with slight juice to the under.

• Lawrence Passing Yards: 3,850.5 over/under.

• Thomas Receiving Yards: 1,250.5, making him a top-10 projected WR in yardage markets.

Betting Lean:

• If you believe in a Lawrence resurgence, the over on Thomas’ yards and Jacksonville’s win total offer correlated upside.

• If you’re skeptical, fading Lawrence’s passing props while targeting Thomas in fantasy (based on sheer target volume) could be a way to hedge.

Bottom Line

Jacksonville’s preseason opener won’t settle the debate on Lawrence, but it will give us our first glimpse of Thomas and Hunter together, Etienne’s role in the offense, and whether Lawrence looks more decisive in Doug Pederson’s scheme.

For fantasy managers, this is a classic high-risk, high-reward offense: if Lawrence rebounds, multiple Jaguars can smash ADP. If he doesn’t, Jacksonville could once again be a team with one reliable fantasy starter—Thomas—and a lot of unfulfilled potential.

You can read all about what’s going on in the National Football League at SportsGrid.com.