An offense and a team with next to nothing in the talent department is now relying on its 2019 undrafted wideout, Jakobi Meyers, as Cam Newton’s true target hog. On the Monday Night Football/ #TankForTrevor comedy show against the Jets, Newton continued his love affair with Meyers, targeting him an obscene 14 times, resulting in 169 yards on 12 receptions. Meyers also played 80 of the team’s 81 snaps.
With the likes of Damiere Byrd, Gunner Olszewski, James White, and Rex Burkhead “competing” for targets, it’s easy to see why Jakobi Meyers’ fantasy outlook is skyrocketing. Even though Newton’s arm is shot and he’s having serious accuracy issues down the field, Meyers is available in 88 percent of leagues and is a must-stash, and potential start in the right matchups, off the Fantasy Football Week 10 Waiver Wire.
“Hopefully I am building that trust and the coaches can see what I can do,” Meyers said about his breakout performance against the Jets. “It was a fun game, I am not going to lie.”
In the last three games with N’Keal Harry (concussion) out of the lineup, Meyers has had a team-high target share of 24 percent, 40 percent, and 40 percent, respectively. Furthermore, Meyers’ snaps should not decrease when Harry returns, as the undrafted wideout has more yards than the former first-rounder on 100 fewer snaps this season.
While a below-average NFL Combine and athletic profile kept him off draft boards across the league, Jim Nagy, who runs the Senior Bowl, wasn’t surprised by Meyers’ Monday night performance.
Jakobi Meyers is no fluke. Dude can play. Arguably the best contested ball-catcher in ‘19 draft. Savvy and reliable player. Might be the next great Patriots possession receiver.
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) November 10, 2020
The former high school quarterback turned receiver at NC State is still learning the position, but it’s clear he has the talent to continue this upward trend, especially now that he’s earned Newton’s trust.
“I feel like a lot of receivers who play receiver all their life, they’ve had opportunities to experience different coverages, different man techniques, and I feel like I’m still learning that,” Meyers said last week. “Every day I see something new that I realize I have to combat that, or I have to find a way to work around it and win my route. I think I’m still learning, still getting better. A lot of little details I’ll keep focusing on.”
Is Meyers the second half’s Travis Fulgham? He could be. And Cam’s favorite target is still out there for the picking off the Week 10 Waiver Wire.
Expect Meyers to fly up The Wolf’s Rest of Season Big Board after its next update.
