Buy or Sell: Cecil Shorts

Jaguars wideout Cecil Shorts has 121 catches and 10 TDs over the last two seasons – certainly not a WR1 in fantasy football, but no slouch, either. Shorts’ Jaguars have been among the league’s laughingstocks in recent years, but showed the second half of 2013 that they might be headed in the right direction.

Now the remaining question is what role does Shorts play as the Jags continue their efforts at a turnaround? Does he become the top target while rookies learn and Justin Blackmon tries to convince the league to reinstate him? Or do rookies Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson usurp his looks?

Cecil Shorts
ADP: 107.5
WR:38

Buy: Maggio

Cecil Shorts made his preseason debut on Friday against the Lions. I’m hoping his absence due to a hamstring injury is what’s been keeping his ADP depressed—but if not, it’s a buying opportunity for those paying attention. Sure, the Jacksonville passing game isn’t going to be mistaken for the 2013 Denver Broncos, but that hasn’t stopped Shorts from being productive in the past.

Really it’s been Shorts’ health issues that have kept him from earning the respect his talent deserves. I wouldn’t expect the Jags to be any worse passing the ball than they were last year—and could be better if Blake Bortles continues to shine and forces Chad Henne to the bench. And thanks to Justin Blackmon’s indefinite suspension, Shorts is by far the Jaguars’ No. 1 target.

Now I’m not saying this guy is the next superstar at the position now entering his fourth season, but there’s WR2 upside here. Right now he’s not even being drafted as a WR3. Sure, the health risk lingers, but at that point in the draft there’s risk everywhere. It’s the reward that counts, and the upside with Shorts is easily worth the gamble.

Sell: Andy

Cecil Shorts. Cecil Shorts. Ahh, yes, I remember Cecil Shorts – played for the Jaguars a couple years ago, right? Fifty-five catches? Seven touchdowns? What’s he up to these days?

Wait, what? People are selecting him in fantasy drafts this year? I guess Shorts did put up 777 yards on 66 catches in 13 games last year, adding three scores in the process. But he missed three games. And he’s been out most of training camp with a hamstring, leaving the impression that injuries are trend, not mirage. And he’ll have either Chad Henne – one of two QBs who helped him put up pedestrian stats last season – or Blake Bortles, a rookie the team has said all along is a project.

Plus the team drafted Allen Robinson and Marqise Lee this offseason and you have to think they are going to want to see what they have in those guys.

This is an improving team that is finally headed – or at least turning anyway – in the right direction. But it’s far from a finished product. I’d feel differently, maybe, if Shorts was on a different team with a good, veteran QB and he had fewer injury issues and a more defined role. But on this team I wonder why anyone is looking at him at all. His ADP is 107.5 and he’s WR 38, according to ESPN – that’s an 11th round pick in 10 team leagues. That’s a prime spot to take someone with far more upside than Cecil brings to the table. I would rather have, in no particular order, Mike Evans, Greg Jennings, Brandin Cooks, Justin Hunter, Kelvin Benjamin, Markus Wheaton, Jarrett Boykin and maybe Josh Gordon on the off chance that he avoids a season-long suspension – and that’s just the guys who are within the next 15 or so spots behind him in the rankings.

The tall and the Shorts of it this season is that you won’t find him anywhere near any of my rosters this year.

 Loading ...

Previous Buy/Sell: Montee Ball
Next Buy/Sell: Pierre Thomas

For cheat sheets, click here.