The Jacksonville Jaguars made a franchise-defining move in the 2025 NFL Draft, trading up to snag one of the most electrifying prospects in recent memory: Travis Hunter. After months of speculation about whether the Colorado star would play offense, defense, or both, head coach Liam Coen gave us the answer: We want to use Hunter “primarily on offense.”
And just like that, Travis Hunter’s fantasy football outlook exploded.
JAGS GO ALL-IN: FOLLOW THE DRAFT CAPITAL
Let’s start with what this move says about Jacksonville’s intentions. The Swiss-Army Knife didn’t fall to the Jags at No. 5. They paid a king’s ransom to snatch him from the Browns: the No. 5, No. 36, and No. 126 picks this year plus a 2026 first-rounder. That is elite alpha-wideout-level draft capital. It’s not the kind of move you make for a gadget guy or someone you plan to “ease in.”
They’re investing in Travis Hunter to be the guy alongside Brian Thomas Jr.
THE PERFECT FIT: HUNTER + LAWRENCE + COEN
Liam Coen’s offensive system leans heavily on timing, spacing, and play-action. He’s known for creating easy reads for quarterbacks and optimizing athleticism in space, which is a perfect fit for Hunter’s elite movement skills and ball-tracking wizardry. Hunter has that rare twitch to separate at will, and he’s downright acrobatic at the catch point, which is my favorite trait of his.
The Jaguars are also looking to get quarterback Trevor Lawrence back on track. His 204.5 passing yards per game in 2024 were the lowest of his career. Enter Hunter, a dynamic separator with big-play juice who can operate as one part of an electric one-two punch with Thomas from Day 1.
If Coen wants to revive his franchise QB, feeding Hunter early and often is the smartest way to do it.
TRAVIS HUNTER IS A GENERATIONAL PROSPECT
Just watch the tape.
Across two seasons at Colorado, Hunter racked up 153 catches for 1,979 yards and 20 touchdowns—all while playing nearly every snap at cornerback. He showed off rare body control, a filthy release package, and a knack for making the spectacular look routine. He thrives in traffic, adjusts effortlessly to off-target throws, and is a YAC threat every time he touches the ball.
But what sets him apart is his spatial intelligence. Hunter just gets open. He doesn’t need elite size (listed at 6’1”, 185 lbs) when he’s already a technician in space and a highlight machine in contested catch situations.
A LITTLE DEFENSE, A LOT OF OFFENSE
Yes, the Jaguars still intend to give Hunter “a package of plays featuring him as a cornerback.” That sounds fun, but it’s unlikely to meaningfully affect his offensive usage, at least early on.
For fantasy managers, that’s music to our ears. Two-way hype might help them sell jerseys, but it’s his work as a wideout that will win us fantasy matchups on Sundays.
TRAVIS HUNTER FANTASY OUTLOOK AND DYNASTY UPSIDE
In dynasty leagues, I’ve had Travis Hunter firmly in the first round throughout the pre-draft process, operating on the assumption he’d land in a receiver-friendly situation. With Coen’s comments confirming that vision, he’s now leapfrogged Tetairoa McMillan as my WR1 in my 2025 Dynasty Rookie Rankings.
Redraft leagues will be a bit more cautious because of the supreme talent at the position, but don’t sleep on Hunter making an immediate splash. If he’s seeing 6–8 targets per game out of the gate, with occasional manufactured touches sprinkled in, he could be a high-upside WR3/FLEX with weekly boom potential and room to grow.
Expect his ADP to climb steadily throughout the summer, especially when he flashes during camp.
BOTTOM LINE: TRAVIS HUNTER IS A LEAGUE-WINNER IN THE MAKING
Travis Hunter is a unicorn. He’s one of the most dominant college prospects of the last decade and now walks into a situation where his new team needs him to be a star. The Jaguars traded a treasure chest of draft picks to make him the face of their offense, and they’re not being subtle about it.
Fantasy managers, take notice. Whether you’re drafting for dynasty or redraft in 2025, Hunter is a must-target. He’s got the skill set, the opportunity, and the spotlight. If he hits the ground running, you’ll want him in your lineup every week.
Buy in now, before the rest of your league catches up.
