We thought last season was the worst-case scenario for Allen Robinson, but things got off to an even worse start in 2017, as he was forced to exit Week 1 with a knee injury.
Robinson caught one ball for 17 yards, but seemed to land awkwardly as he was forced out of bounds. Robinson left the field with the team's head trainer, and was ruled out for the rest of the game.
The extent of the injury isn't known, but reports came out Sunday evening indicating the Jaguars believe Robinson suffered a torn ACL in the game. That will be confirmed Monday when he undergoes an MRI, but for now we can at least look at the potential ramifications of the injury. If Robinson does indeed miss significant time, what would it mean for the Jaguars' offense?
Obviously, it wouldn't be good. This is an offense that has a slim margin for error; even in 2015, when things were "good," the Jaguars ranked just 14th in the NFL in scoring.
However, if there is one place they might have an excess of talent, it's at wide receiver. In 2015 Allen Hurns racked up 1,031 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, and then Marqise Lee stepped up in 2016, hauling in 63 passes for 851 yards while Hurns struggled with injuries. This team has multiple talented young receivers who can potentially step up, if Robinson is forced to miss multiple weeks or more.
So, which one should you target? Hurns is owned in 15 percent of CBSSports.com leagues, while Lee is on rosters in 18 percent of leagues, so both are widely available. In all likelihood, both players will be on waivers in Week 2 in your league, so which should you add?
Lee was the better option in 2016, and has the better pedigree as a former second-round pick. He hauled in 63 of 105 targets, giving him a catch rate of 60.0 percent, by far the best mark on the team among wide receivers. At least last year, Lee looked like the team's best wideout.
However, we've seen better from Hurns at his best. Hurns has real game-breaking ability down the field, and his 2015 season saw him haul 13 passes thrown at least 20 yards down the field; Lee has just nine such receptions in his entire career.
It is possible that Lee's role may not change much in Jacksonville if Robinson has to miss time. He established himself as a reliable option for Blake Bortles last season, and could remain the team's go-to option when they need to move the chains.
However, Robinson, at his best, is the kind of receiver who takes the top off the defense, and Hurns could benefit more from his absence by filling in that role. Lee may get more targets, but Hurns' targets could be more valuable. If you're looking to target one, Lee may be the more reliable option, while Hurns potentially has more upside.
Keep an eye on rookie Dede Westbrook, at least later on in the year. Westbrook began his rookie season injured reserve, and isn't eligible to return until Week 10, but the fourth-round pick could be someone who make an impact in the second half of the season. He had 1,524 yards and 17 touchdowns last season at Oklahoma, before sliding in the draft due to concerns about off-field issues.
In all likelihood, however, none of these players needs to be a priority on waivers at this point. Bortles is still their quarterback, which means consistency is going to be an issue for everyone in this offense. And, if the Jaguars have their way, they won't be throwing the ball much this season anyway, so opportunities could be somewhat hard to come by as well.
Taking a wait-and-see approach to this situation is probably the best bet, as neither got off to a great start in the first half of Week 1. However, if you can't afford to wait, Hurns' big-play ability may be more valuable as a lottery ticket.
