Fantasy football managers are facing a difficult decision regarding Jacksonville tight end Brenton Strange ahead of the team’s upcoming matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
According to NFL.com analyst Matt Okada, the pass-catcher should be relegated to the bench for the week.
Okada included Strange among four tight ends in his weekly sit category, citing a recent decline in opportunities for the player, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
The analysis suggests that the Jacksonville Jaguars have been winning games decisively, which has led to a reduced passing volume for quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
“Strange was a solid streamer early in the year but has faded lately with the Jaguars blowing out opponents and throwing at a reduced rate,” Okada wrote.
The analyst further noted that the team is expected to maintain this trend against the Titans on Sunday.
Because of this projected game script, experts believe Strange is unlikely to see enough volume to reach TE1 fantasy status.
Statistical data supports this concern, as Strange has recorded only four total targets over the course of his last two games.
During that same two-game span, Jaguars Wire noted that Lawrence has attempted only 40 passes.
While Strange has proven himself to be an efficient option when targeted, the primary concern remains the frequency of his involvement in the offensive scheme.
Throughout the current season, the tight end has successfully caught 81% of his targets, averaging 11.9 yards per reception with one touchdown.
Despite this efficiency, the original report from Jaguars Wire emphasizes that the ability of the team to control the game clock will likely dictate his fantasy utility.
Managers are left to weigh his past performance against the reality of a run-heavy game plan.