Vincent Jackson Is Perfect Buy-Low Fantasy Football Target

Thanks to a flurry of factors, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Vincent Jackson is a must-add option in any and all fantasy leagues. Get him. Now.

Right now, out-of-the-loop owners are surely upset with Jackson. The man who scored in double digits six times last season and wound up as the No. 13 highest scorer at his position has been an absolute dud in 2014, scoring nine or fewer points in four straight games.

Chalk that up to Josh McCown being totally reliant on quarterback whisperer Marc Trestman in Chicago for his impressive season last year. Direct the anger at Tampa Bay coach Lovie Smith, who thought it wise to not even hold a quarterback competition this past offseason, banking on McCown to miraculously keep up the same level of play. 

Gene Puskar/Associated Press

Surprise—Mike Glennon was the man under center last week, and Tampa Bay got its first win of the season. Jackson's season-high nine points came right along with it as the veteran nabbed the game-winning touchdown in the waning moments.

But wait, there's one other thing—Jackson's 10 targets on the day were his highest of the season, too.

Glennon is certainly not the only reason Jackson should be acquired and inserted as a WR1 or WR2 based on the matchup (don't worry, that is coming up). But while we are here, let's also point out that Jackson scored nine times and averaged 9.46 targets per game in 15 contests last season with Glennon under center.

Now let's bring in some other factors. Rookie Mike Evans has taken a bite out of Jackson's production, but according to Mike Garafolo of FoxSports.com, he will miss two or more weeks with a groin injury.

Time for the matchups. In the next two weeks, Jackson is set to explode:

WK	OPP	Rank vs. WRs (Avg. points surrendered)
5	@NO	28 (24.8)
6	Bal	26 (24.0)
7	BYE
8	Min	18 (21.0)
9	@Cle	8 (17.0)
10	Atl	17 (20.8)
11	@Wsh	24 (23.5)
12	@Chi	27 (24.3)
13	Cin	11 (18.3)
14	@Det	2 (12.8)
15	@Car	23 (23.3)
16	GB	12 (18.8)

Let's stick with the short term for a moment.

As Rotoworld.com's Adam Levitan points out, Jackson is far and away the top target during Evans' absence:

Many are clamoring over Louis Murphy and foolishly hitting the waiver wire to gobble him up. Murphy caught six of a team-high 11 targets in Pittsburgh last week, which got him a cool 99 yards.

But let's review. Murphy lost his roster spot this past preseason due to a back injury. Red flag. He returned to the team a mere five days before the game against the Steelers and inexplicably exploded. Red flag. It stands to reason that the Steelers did a few things wrong with Murphy that day:

• They had no film on the guy, for whatever it is worth.
• They were clearly more concerned with Jackson and Evans.

Murphy is a questionable WR4 in most leagues moving forward. It would be a waste of time to go into detail about special teamer Russell Shepard and rookie slot man Robert Herron.

For those who want more than a few sound weeks of production, rest assured Jackson will be providing at a consistent level the rest of the season. Evans figures to return by Week 8 after the bye at the latest, but by then Jackson and Glennon will have their usual strong rapport in pristine form, and the rookie will fade in terms of being a hindrance to Jackson from a fantasy standpoint. 

Skeptics can still take solace in the schedule and that wicked three-week stretch in which Jackson will feast on Atlanta, Washington and Chicago. Things are a bit messier around playoff time, but a No. 1 wideout will produce like a WR1 or WR2 in most cases regardless, and Jackson has proved each year to do just that, even more so with Glennon under center.

Really, what are the alternatives? Those on the hunt for wideout help can hit the waiver wire and gamble on a Murphy or perhaps give up even more for another receiver via trade. Jackson, on the other hand, appears a lock to produce at an elite level in a minimum of five contests moving forward.

This particular buy-low window is cracked pretty wide at the moment in a majority of leagues. One look at all of the surrounding factors suggests it will slam shut in emphatic fashion in mere days. Reel Jackson in before it does. 

All scoring info courtesy of ESPN standard leagues, as is points-against info. Statistics courtesy of ESPN.com.