Blaine Gabbert: Jags QB Now a Starter, but Does He Have Fantasy Value?

When the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up six spots to select Blaine Gabbert with the 10th pick in the 2011 NFL draft, it was only a matter of time before they turned the franchise over to the young quarterback.

Well, that's happening sooner than anyone expected, as the Missouri product will get the start on Sunday.

Now that the Jaguars are handing the keys to the franchise over to Gabbert, it's likely that they'll just start him for the rest of the season. While he has loads of potential, don't get too excited about his fantasy prospects.

Gabbert struggled during the preseason, completing 35 of 70 passes for 365 yards with one touchdown and an interception. He'll be under fire as soon as he steps under center, as teams will surely attempt to pressure and confuse the young signal-caller.

A big problem for Gabbert will be a lack of weapons at his disposal. The Jags are currently 30th in the NFL in passing yards per game (125.5 yards) and have no receivers that have even gained 100 yards on the season.

Running back Maurice Jones-Drew will have to carry an even bigger burden with a rookie quarterback, and Gabbert is sure to rely heavily on him. That means the young quarterback's fantasy value will go right down the drain.

While Gabbert's long-term future may end up being bright, this will not be his season. It would also be a good idea to sit all Jags receiving targets for the foreseeable future, as Jacksonville is almost certain to go run-heavy.

Gabbert is the future in Jacksonville. As soon as David Garrard was released, it was clear that the 21-year-old would get his chance soon.

That time is now, but the youngster isn't yet a viable fantasy option.