Travis Hunter Fantasy Overview

2024 Summary

College Production

Hunter was a rare two-way stud in college, dominating at both WR and CB.

He started his college career with HC Deion Sanders at Jackson State in 2022. Hunter posted a 17-187-4 line on offense along with two INTs and eight pass breakups on defense across eight games as a true freshman.

He followed Sanders (and QB Shadeur Sanders) to Colorado for the 2023 campaign. Hunter missed three games with a lacerated liver but averaged 80.1 receiving yards per game while leading the nation with 1,102 total snaps (631 on defense, 475 on offense, and 32 on special teams).

Then came a huge 2024 season. Hunter racked up 96 catches, 1,258 yards, and 15 TDs — all top-five marks in the country. He added 36 tackles, four INTs, and 11 passes defensed on the other side of the ball. Hunter played 86.8% of Colorado’s offensive snaps and 82.9% on defense.

He stocked his trophy case, winning:

• The Heisman
• The Walter Camp Award (best player in college football)
• The Biletnikoff Award (best receiver)
• The Chuck Bednarik Award (best defensive player)
• The Paul Hornung Award (most versatile player)

Efficiency Metrics

Hunter’s 2024 efficiency metrics fall a bit short of elite.

His 37.5% Dominator Rating (share of team receiving yards and TDs) ranked 11th among 49 WRs at the Combine. His 2.51 yards per route ranked 20th. And his 2.75 yards per team pass attempt ranked 11th.

But Hunter finished fourth among those 49 WRs in Pro Football Focus receiving grade. And the efficiency needs context: The guy was also playing a full load of snaps on defense!

Plenty of film evaluators had Hunter as the best WR in the 2025 class. He earns high marks for his route running, ball skills, and after-catch ability.

Injury History

Hunter suffered a right ankle injury in his final high school season that required surgery. He aggravated that injury and missed five games in 2022. A lacerated liver cost him three games in 2023.

Hunter played in all 13 games last year, although his snaps were limited vs. Kansas State and Arizona due to a shoulder injury.

2025 Expectations

Projected Role & Competition

The big question with Hunter in 2025 (and beyond) is how his snaps will be divvied between offense and defense. The team said shortly after drafting him that Hunter would play “primarily” offense to start, but he was already getting defensive reps in May OTAs.

Hunter’s offensive role will be a big storyline throughout the summer. We might not know for sure how much action he’ll get at WR until Week 1 — and it could be a situation that changes throughout the season.

Hunter will need to play the majority of Jacksonville’s offensive snaps if he wants to be a reliable fantasy contributor. Over the last three seasons, top-24 PPR WRs have averaged an 89.4% route rate. 90% of those WRs have topped an 80% route rate, with 81% of them going over 85%.

On top of the uncertainty about Hunter’s role on offense, he’ll also be battling for targets with an emerging superstar in Brian Thomas Jr. He’s coming off a 1,282-yard rookie season, becoming just the sixth first-year WR to top 2.3 yards per route over the last five seasons. The other five: Puka Nacu, Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Chris Olave, and Ladd McConkey.

Thomas drew 24.4% of Jaguars targets on the season, including 30.4% over the second half of the year. Hunter will have a tough time overtaking Thomas for the team target lead this season.

Coaching & Offensive Scheme

The Jaguars surprised no one by firing HC Doug Pederson shortly after the 2024 season ended. They landed Liam Coen as new HC a few weeks later.

Coen arrives fresh off leading the Buccaneers to a fourth-place finish in points and a third-place finish in total yards — up from 20th and 23rd under OC Dave Canales in 2023. Tampa Bay ranked:

• 3rd in passing yards
• 6th in yards per pass attempt
• 2nd in passing TDs

WRs Chris Godwin and Mike Evans finished third and 11th, respectively, at the position in PPR points per game last year.

Coen is a big positive for Hunter’s fantasy outlook — especially after the new regime made the big trade up to take Hunter second overall in this year’s draft.

Supporting Cast

QB Trevor Lawrence returns after an underwhelming, injury-shortened 2024 campaign. He’s yet to deliver on the promise that made him the No. 1 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. But Lawrence isn’t lacking in ability, is still only 25, and should benefit from Coen’s arrival.