Why Mike Thomas Trade Makes Cecil Shorts a Must-Own Fantasy Player

When the Jacksonville Jaguars traded Mike Thomas to the Detroit Lions, Cecil Shorts instantly became a must-own fantasy football player. 

Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union reports:

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Shorts got the starting assignment at the outside X receiver slot the last two games and played well enough that he will keep the job even though [Laurent] Robinson has recovered from his concussions...Shorts’s emergence made Thomas, who was supposed to be the slot receiver this year, expendable.

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Shorts and Blaine Gabbert have started developing some nice chemistry. Shorts has started getting better at reading what coverages opposing defenses are running, and over the last two games, he has caught 12 passes for 195 yards and one touchdown. 

Blessed with good size, above-average speed and tremendous after-the-catch abilities, Shorts has truly emerged as the go-to guy within the Jaguars offense.

With 20 catches, he has more than any other player on the roster, despite the fact that he was only targeted 10 times between Week 2 and Week 5. He also leads the team with three touchdown receptions, and he's the only player on the team with more than two catches for 20-plus yards (Shorts has seven). 

Now that he's made his case as a main weapon for the Jaguars, you can be sure that Shorts will be targeted early and often in games. And given his recent success, you can be sure that he'll continue making the most of his opportunities. 

Shorts is a must-own player for your fantasy league—especially if you've been struggling with production in your wide receiving corps. Make the move now to pick him up, or he'll be gone for good. 

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