Desean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles (1 Viewer)

2012 Player Spotlight Series

One of Footballguys best assets is our message board community. The Shark Pool is, in our view, the best place on the internet to discuss, debate and analyze all things fantasy football. In what's become an annual tradition, the Player Spotlight series is a key part of the preseason efforts. As many of you know, we consider the Player Spotlight threads the permanent record for analyzing the fantasy prospects of the player in question. This year, we plan to publish more than 140 offensive spotlights covering the vast majority of expected skill position starters.

As always we will post a list of players to be discussed each week. Those threads will remain open for the entire preseason, and should be a central point to discuss expectations for the player in question. Importantly, analysis done in the first week of posting will be part of the permanent record in two ways. 1) At the end of the week, we will tally the projections into a consensus. 2) We will select a number of pull quotes from forum contributors who make a compelling statement or observation. Both the projections and pull quotes will be part of a published article on the main website.

Thread Topic: DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Player Page Link: Hakeem Nicks Player Page

Each article will include:

[*]Detailed viewpoint from a Footballguys staff member

[*]Highlighted member commentary from the message board threads

[*]FBG Projections

[*]Consensus Member Projections

The Rules

In order for this thread to provide maximum value, we ask that you follow a few simple guidelines:

[*]Focus commentary on the player (or players) in question, and your expectations for said player (or players)

[*]Back up your expectations in whatever manner you deem appropriate; avoid posts that simply say "I hate him" or "He's the best"

[*]Avoid redundancies or ... this should be about incremental analysis or debate

While not a requirement, we strongly encourage you to provide your own projections for the player (players):

Projections should include:

[*]For QBs: Attempts, Completions, Passing Yards, Passing TDs, Ints, Rush Attempts, Rush Yards, Rush TDs

[*]For RBs: Rushes, Rushing Yards, Rush TDs, Receptions, Receiving Yards, Receiving TDs

[*]For WRs & TEs: Receptions, Receiving Yards, Receiving TDs

Now let's get on with the conversation! We look forward to your contributions and let me offer a personal thanks in anticipation of the great debate and analysis.

Big fan of Desean Jackson this year. I see his best year as a pro this year. Last year was a waste with contract issues and Vick being injured. This year, he has his contract situation worked out and a healthy qb (and kafka at the backup spot if something happens to Vick who I like more than V Young)

I think Desean breaks into the top 10 this year and maybe higher.

Huge value for where he will be drafted

80 catches

1500 yards (total)

9 tds (total)

'Blackjacks said:

Big fan of Desean Jackson this year. I see his best year as a pro this year. Last year was a waste with contract issues and Vick being injured. This year, he has his contract situation worked out and a healthy qb (and kafka at the backup spot if something happens to Vick who I like more than V Young)I think Desean breaks into the top 10 this year and maybe higher.Huge value for where he will be drafted80 catches 1500 yards (total)9 tds (total)

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I agree he does well, but 80 catches?69/1250/8 is how I see it.ETA: I traded to move up in a 12 team startup draft to get him while he was still on the board in the 6th when he shouldnt have been.

my league rewards long tds, and dejax has always been more valuable than usually ranked here.. I like him this year.. and think 9 tds is right on target with 5+ of those over 25 yards... 75 catches and 1200 yards.

New contract doesn't change his head issues-- concussion issues that is. He is still an "all or nothing" player and defenses last year made it a point to not let him get over the top....and it worked. I'd say he's one of the more over-rated WR's this season and his best fantasy season is gone. You'll get the occasional deep TD but I wouldnt expect much consistency in any aspect.

You'll see what he did last year...give or take 10% each way

60-970-4

And hope he doesnt get another head injury.

The ultimate boom/bust player. That said, Jackson's ADP is much more realistic and you can get him as your #2 or even #3WR. He would be a perfect WR3 if you can snag that. Can score anytime he touches the ball. But he does have his issues with attitude and he isn't a big PPR guy. Too inconsistent to rely on as a #2WR and is better suited for leagues where you start 3WRs.

My thoughts are geared toward typical league with no return yardage. In those leagues, Jackson is worth a lot more. I would be willing to gamble on him in the late 5th round or later.

66 rec, 1050 yds, 8TD

A player I will avoid at all costs at his ADP. In years past, he was the ultimate boom/bust WR who could sometimes carry your team to win your week with some monster games. If you had him, you lived with the infrequent dud games mixed in and reaped the rewards when he blew up. But last year, he was fantasy poison on rosters, too valuable to cut and too risky to start. His concussion issues aren’t going away just because he got a fat contract and just too much of a headache to guess when his good weeks will be.

I’ll hedge a guess of 50/840/5, with his most consistent gameday stat being 3/41/0, with a few fantasy worth games mixed in. Pass.

He looks like one of those players who doesn't care after he gets paid. I hope I'm wrong because I'm an Eagles fan, but he attitude and his size worries me. He is a decent WR2 in Fantasy with a few blow up games. He just disappears in the red zone and defenses have adjusted to his speed.

60/700/7

The last two seasons I was all over the meme that Jeremy Maclin was as good, if not better, than DeSean Jackson. And having watched every game of their careers (half of them live and in person), I stand by that. But what fantasy owners need to ask themselves is whether what Jackson does really well overcomes what he doesn't do well. Maclin does everything well, but doesn't really have an elite arrow in his quiver. He's strong, he runs good routes, he attacks the ball, he works well in tight quarters. But he does't do any of those things at a level akin to the best in the game. DeSean Jackson, on the other hand, does have a few top level abilities. When he's healthy and motivated, Jackson is otherworldly as a deep threat in single coverage, and he's explosive in the open field.

This really comes down to scheme and opportunity. If you were drafting based on a receivers ability to run a full route tree and take big hits over the middle, I wouldn't advocate Jackson. But if you think, as i do, that $$$ motivation and maturity will lead to a resurgent season, and that Reid and his coaches will use Jackson in ways that play to his assets, I really think DJax could be a Top 15 guy this year (pretty easily) and yet is coming off the board much later.

'Jason Wood said:

The last two seasons I was all over the meme that Jeremy Maclin was as good, if not better, than DeSean Jackson. And having watched every game of their careers (half of them live and in person), I stand by that. But what fantasy owners need to ask themselves is whether what Jackson does really well overcomes what he doesn't do well. Maclin does everything well, but doesn't really have an elite arrow in his quiver. He's strong, he runs good routes, he attacks the ball, he works well in tight quarters. But he does't do any of those things at a level akin to the best in the game. DeSean Jackson, on the other hand, does have a few top level abilities. When he's healthy and motivated, Jackson is otherworldly as a deep threat in single coverage, and he's explosive in the open field. This really comes down to scheme and opportunity. If you were drafting based on a receivers ability to run a full route tree and take big hits over the middle, I wouldn't advocate Jackson. But if you think, as i do, that $$$ motivation and maturity will lead to a resurgent season, and that Reid and his coaches will use Jackson in ways that play to his assets, I really think DJax could be a Top 15 guy this year (pretty easily) and yet is coming off the board much later.

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I dont love him at his ADP. he has really not produced consistently since the concussion. add in his awful performance last season and I say let someone else take him. as a birds fan I would not have been that upset if we had let him walk. I guess I would take him as a WR3 and hope that he could produce at that level. expecting anything else and you are fooling yourself. there are plenty of games when you forget hes even on the field

I really think he has a great bounce back year. All reports i've read is his attitude has done a 180 and he is looking to prove he was the player that single handedly took the Giants down in Miracle at the Meadowlands 2. Even with defenses using a deep cover 2 I think he can return close to that same player. Maclin is probably the better player but speed kills.

68-1200-9

Jackson is terribly inconsistent and I don't think the contract is going to improve his attitude. Even before he got this contract he started a music label and was funding ludicrous parties for his entourage. He brags that it only takes him 15 minutes to blow $10K on booze. I'm sure his spending has increased exponentially. He'll be back in debt before the end of the first season of this new contract. He's a dangerous weapon in the NFL and a frustrating WR3 in fantasy.

I'm not totally down on him. I traded for him last year and would draft him at the right spot this year.

IMO, there isnt a player in the NFL that defines feast or famine moreso than Desean Jackson. His ability to stretch defenses is legendary, but his unwillingness to go over the middle (particularly after the 2010 hit that Dunta Robinson laid on him) has also compromised how much defenses truly need to account for him. Make no mistake 3-4 weeks during the season, Desean will be unstoppable and will look like an incredible force to be reckoned with. But at the same time, there are simply too many weeks when he doesnt show up in the stat sheet to matter. And this is why his draft stock has fallen to WR23 (as of 7/16 on FFC). Even as a WR2, his inconsistency is the trait that seems to define him more than his explosive outings.

For whatever reason, the Eagles imploded last year. Jackson could potentially be blamed for the onset of this implosion as it was his contract dispute that seemed to garner negative attention at the outset of camp. His questionable effort also, which Jackson admitted to, also seemed to greatly overshadow not only his individual level of play, but also the entire Eagles franchise as Jackson became a symbol of their underachievement. While Im not a Desean Jackson fan, Ive probably never been more bullish on his at his current value as I am now.

Would I have signed him to the contract the Eagles wound up signing him to? No…but I dont think that displeasure manifests itself in 2012. Jackson in my view qualifies as a chip on his shoulder type player. And despite his newfound riches, I could see 2012 as being a season where Jackson does prepare and play with that chip. From an ability and talent standpoint, Jackson is certainly a top tier player. And the Eagles as a whole simply are anxious to get the rotten taste out of their mouth from 2011. Jackson, despite his mercurial nature, does appear to be a locker room barometer. He can be the cause of harmony and discord for the Eagles from a chemistry standpoint and while he may not qualify as a team leader…it does feel like the Eagles team mood seems to mirror his.

Overall, there is too much talent on the Eagles for them to lay another egg in 2012. And with Jackson happy again because he got his payday, I suspect the Eagles will be a force to be reckoned with. The Eagles could probably still be that force without huge contributions from Jackson, but I think 2012 is a year D-Jax will be rowing in the same direction as everyone else, which only increases the chances for a prosperous season. Hell still frustrate owners with bouts of inconsistency. But hell put up perhaps 2 more superlative efforts that will be reflected in upgraded year end numbers. Now 2013...well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, but on this one-year contract...he's terrific value.

Prediction: 64 Receptions, 1177 Receiving Yards, 8 TDs; 15 Rushes 98 Rushing Yards, 1 TD.

'CentralPA said:

I really think he has a great bounce back year. All reports i've read is his attitude has done a 180 and he is looking to prove he was the player that single handedly took the Giants down in Miracle at the Meadowlands 2.

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I think this kid is back, running hard out there in the games I've seen. Even going up and getting the ball like he never got a concussion before. Big year ahead.