After showing some flashes of potential in a shortened rookie season, Dede Westbrook showed a whole lot more in 2018. His 101 targets, 66 receptions, 717 receiving yards, and 5 receiving TDs all led the Jaguars, and he was doing it all with Blake Bortles as his quarterback. Bortles is now a backup in LA, freeing Westbrook and his teammates up to catch passes from Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles and setting the stage for what could be a big leap in Year 3.
Dede Westbrook was 4th in the NFL last season in targets from the slot, and 8th in yards from that position as well. His quick feet, crisp route-running, and massive YAC potential make him a potent option in the slot, especially when paired with Nick Foles, who has completed over 70% of his passes to slot receivers in his career. That pairing could put up some gaudy numbers in 2019, especially with not much receiving competition in Jacksonville. Last year’s WR2 Donte Moncrief has fled to Pittsburgh, Marquise Lee is fresh off missing the entire 2018 season with a knee injury, and Keelan Cole had just 38 receptions and was tied for 10th in the league with 7 drops last year. Jacksonville needs Westbrook to continue to develop into a top receiving option, and he’s shown the potential to be exactly that.
Westbrook currently finds himself as The Wolf’s WR42, the highest of anyone on his team and 14 spots ahead of Lee, his next-closest teammate. He won’t be your WR1 that you ride to a championship, but a late-round flyer on Westbrook could leave you with a steady, reliable WR3/Flex option for the 2019 season.
