- - The Big Debate Over Travis Hunter’s Fantasy Football Value at Wide Receiver

Jordan OMalleySeptember 27, 2025 at 1:57 AM

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It’s Week 4 of the fantasy football season, and one name has everyone second-guessing their lineups. Travis Hunter, drafted as the second overall pick in 2025, came into the league with the hype of a two-way phenom who could change how we think about football. Fast forward three weeks, and fantasy managers are split: some are stashing him for the long haul, others are shipping him to waivers without a second thought. It might be a messy question, but what exactly is his value right now as a wide receiver in fantasy? The fantasy community is looking at what's happening with his role and production, and many seem to agree on the same thing.

Early Season Struggles

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Hunter’s rookie campaign has opened with disappointment. Through three games, he has managed 10 receptions on 16 targets for 76 yards with no touchdowns. In Jacksonville’s Week 3 win over Houston, he caught only one pass for 21 yards. For a player drafted as a fantasy WR3, those numbers sting.

The issues go beyond the box score. Hunter isn’t being used like a full-time wide receiver. After barely playing defense in Week 1, his snaps on that side of the ball shot up in Weeks 2 and 3, peaking at over 62 percent of Jacksonville’s defensive plays. In fact, he played more defensive than offensive snaps last week, which is devastating for his fantasy outlook. The Jaguars drafted him as a weapon for Trevor Lawrence, yet his workload looks more like a split role between cornerback and receiver.

A Fantasy Dilemma

This unusual deployment has fantasy managers divided. Many have already moved on by dropping him after three disappointing outings. Some are holding, convinced his athleticism and playmaking upside will shine once Jacksonville’s offense finds its footing. His draft-day price makes selling low tough, and benching him feels safer than cutting ties completely.

Both perspectives have merit. Hunter is behind Brian Thomas Jr. in target share, and Lawrence hasn’t been efficient enough to support multiple wideouts. Still, Hunter ranks among the most talented players on the roster, and the season is long. For those with deeper benches, patience could still pay off.

What Needs to Change

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The path to Hunter becoming startable again isn’t complicated. First, he needs to spend more time on offense and less on defense. At the moment, his average depth of target is only 6.56 yards, ranking near the bottom among qualifying receivers. Without more routes downfield, he won’t deliver the chunk plays that push fantasy totals higher.

Second, Jacksonville’s passing game has to improve. Lawrence is averaging 5.9 yards per attempt with a passer rating just above 70, numbers that drag down the entire offense. If the quarterback improves and Hunter’s role shifts toward consistent offensive snaps, his talent gives him a chance to climb quickly.

The Verdict For Now

So, is Travis Hunter a startable fantasy wide receiver? "Not yet" is the general sentiment. His current usage doesn’t justify a lineup spot unless you’re in a deep league or dealing with bye-week chaos. That said, cutting him outright is premature. He remains a bench stash for now, a player whose long-term upside still makes him intriguing if the Jaguars adjust his workload.

For managers deciding what to do, it’s a patience play. The numbers don’t support starting him, but the ceiling is high enough to justify holding on at least until we see if his offensive role grows over the next few weeks.

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Source: “AOL Sports”