Jaguars Fantasy Football Fridays: 3 storylines to watch in Week 8

The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) will host the Indianapolis Colts (2-5) on Sunday, Nov. 1, at EverBank Stadium, the team's first true home game since September.Six games in, Jacksonville's fantasy football standouts are emerging. Still, the team's backfield has plenty to learn, and the potential emergence of another offensive weapon leaves a lot to consider.Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten remains the team's top fantasy option out of the backfield, but Chris Rodriguez Jr. is making a case for more opportunities. Meanwhile, tight end Brenton Strange continues to produce consistently, while two-way player Travis Hunteris coming off his best offensive performance of the season.Brian Thomas Jr.: I haven't lost confidence despite trade rumorsEach Friday until the fantasy football playoffs are over, Fantasy Football Fridayswill examine the biggest fantasy football storylines surrounding Jacksonville, from player trends to favorable matchups to lineup decisions and potential breakout performers.This week, we're looking at three Jaguars storylines to watch in Week 8. Is Chris Rodriguez Jr. a threat to Bhayshul Tuten's fantasy ceiling?Jacksonville's backfield could be developing into a more balanced attack, which could impact Tuten's fantasy football production. In Week 6 against the Houston Texans, Rodriguez led the Jaguars with 55 rushing yards on 11 carries. Tuten, meanwhile, rushed for just 39 yards on 12 carries. Rodriguez jumped from nine offensive snaps against the Philadelphia Eagles a week prior to 21 snaps (30%) against Houston. Still, Tuten remains Jacksonville's most valuable fantasy back for now. He caught four passes for 48 yards and two touchdowns against Houston, giving him 24.7 PPR (points per reception) fantasy points. Rodriguez managed just 5.5 without receiving targets out of the backfield. Rodriguez's increased involvement raises a question for fantasy football managers: Can Tuten maintain his production if Jacksonville continues splitting rushing opportunities? Tuten is the stronger option for now, especially in PPR leagues, but Rodriguez's workload, especially at the goal line, is worth monitoring against Indianapolis in Week 8.Is Brenton Strange becoming a must-start fantasy tight end?Strange quickly built on his 2025 production this season and remains one of quarterback Trevor Lawrence's reliable, primary targets. That makes him an appealing fantasy football option, especially given his production in the last three games. Over the last three games, Strange has caught 19 passes on 23 targets for 207 yards, including a seven-catch, 95-yard performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4. Strange averaged 13.2 fantasy points in PPR leagues despite not scoring. This season, Strange has caught 26 passes for 279 yards and one touchdown. He also accounts for 17.9% of Jacksonville's targets, proving he can be a consistent force in the passing attack. Against Indy, Strange could do more. The Colts have allowed the sixth-most receiving touchdowns to opposing tight ends. While his limited touchdown production has kept him from reaching the upper echelon of fantasy tight ends, Strange is consistent, making him a viable TE1 option entering Week 8. Want tickets to Jaguars-Colts for Sunday?What does Travis Hunter's breakout mean for fantasy managers?Hunter delivered his best offensive performance of the season against Houston, but it's unclear whether that production will translate into consistent fantasy football value. In Week 6, Hunter caught four passes for 59 yards and a touchdown, finishing with 15.9 PPR points. He received a season-high nine offensive snaps and had caught just two passes for 17 yards through Jacksonville's first five games. The performance offered a glimmer of what Hunter could provide to Jacksonville's offense. Still, his responsibilities remain on defense. Against Houston, he played 62 of Jacksonville's 63 defensive snaps. Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski indicated Thursday that Hunter's involvement could fluctuate significantly from week to week as the team continues to expand his offensive responsibilities. The uncertainty places Hunter squarely in the fantasy risk category, especially in standard leagues. However, his performance against Houston should give managers a reason to hold on to the two-way player. Keep stashing Hunter as he works through Jacksonville's playbook.Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky at Demetrius.If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, please consider subscribing to support local journalism in Northeast Florida.This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars Fantasy Football Fridays: 3 storylines to watch in Week 8Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.