Travis Hunter’s Week 1 debut with Jacksonville was a rare two-way showcase, logging 42 offensive snaps and six on defense while snagging six catches on eight targets for 33 yards and a defensive tackle. The Jaguars prioritized offense, using him as a primary wide receiver with others helping on the back end, while gradually sprinkling defensive work as the rookie acclimates.

The game also highlighted the matchup dynamic Hunter creates, drawing praise from Trevor Lawrence and exposing the floor/ceiling tension of a true two-way weapon. Jaycee Horn’s late one-handed INT on a Hunter target underscored the risk-reward of deploying him this way, and the plan to grow his role appears to be the focal point for Year 1 fantasy upside.

Jacksonville traded picks for this player to be a game-changer, and through one game Hunter already showed two-way impact. If the offense continues to lean into his playmaking, Hunter’s fantasy appeal could climb quickly, even as defensive snaps provide a cautious floor.

Jacksonville opens 2025 at home vs. Carolina with Travis Hunter listed as a two-way rookie. He’s in the starting WR trio with Brian Thomas Jr. and Dyami Brown, but sits as a second-string CB behind Jourdan Lewis, opposite Tyson Campbell. Jacksonville maintains Etienne and Tank Bigsby as a two-man starting backfield. Hunter’s two-way usage hints at a gadget-forward Week 1 script as fantasy managers weigh upside against a limited early role.

Hunter’s college two-way shine plus Heisman aura adds intrigue, yet the Week 1 projection leans toward a modest target share for him at WR and a niche snap count on defense. Etienne-Bigsby could anchor the offense, while the receiver rotation remains unsettled behind the top three. The Panthers await, offering a test for a Jacksonville plan that blends speed with a cautious rookie deployment.

Trevor Lawrence's development in Liam Coen's offense is creating optimistic playoff potential for Jacksonville in 2025. In the preseason he was efficient (14-for-17 for 119 yards with a TD) and operated the offense cleanly, progressing through reads and attacking the middle of the field. The system's multiplicity should keep defenses off balance and ease Lawrence's load, while a retooled running game opens opportunities in the pass game. On defense, Campanile's vision-based coverage, plus added pass-rush talent, aims for more pressure and more takeaways. If both units improve, Jacksonville can push into the postseason mix in 2025.

Key roster shifts bolster that case: a reshaped line and added playmakers, plus a more aggressive defensive front featuring Emmanuel Ogbah and Dawuane Smoot, with Arik Armstead moving inside and Maason Smith showing year-two potential. The offense is designed to put playmakers in space, reducing the burden on Lawrence and broadening the high-leverage, fantasy-friendly targets. If the run game clicks and the defense creates more chaos, Jacksonville's playoff ceiling rises substantially in 2025.

Bottom line: Lawrence's steady progression, a smarter, more versatile offense, and a defense that can pressure, force turnovers, and stay in games give the Jaguars a credible playoff trajectory next season.

Endgame upside is the theme: $1 auction steals across QB, RB, WR, and TE anchored to upside over safe floor. Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart headline QBs, with Monangai and Giddens as backfield darts, while Dyami Brown and Elic Ayomanor headline lottery-ticket WRs. Chig Okonkwo offers tight end upside, and several honorees—Bryce Young, Kendre Miller, Sean Tucker, Troy Franklin, Isaac TeSlaa, Theo Johnson—provide late-round paths to value. The piece stresses chasing upside in the late rounds, not boring bees.

Put simply: after rosters solidify, you win by seizing big swings. If one $1 pick hits, you climb; if a few miss, you still have a shot at the trophy. The guide pairs concrete sleeper targets with rationale, plus a reminder to consult 2025 rankings for context and to embrace risk as a path to prize-money value.

Overall, it frames the endgame as the place to innovate: use the $1 tier to craft a roster with ceiling, leverage rookie and system-fit advantages, and let upside carry you through the unpredictable weeks of fantasy football.