TJ YELDON ON IMPRESSIVE PACE THROUGH 7 WEEKS

David Berding/Icon Sportswire

Jaguars RB TJ Yeldon thriving in expanded role on pass heavy offense. 

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The Jaguars offense has been miserable in five out of seven games in 2018, but perhaps the lone bright spot on an otherwise unremarkable (putting it nicely) offense has been TJ Yeldon. Outside of a untimely drop late in the loss to the Texans - a play that came with the Jaguars down 13 points and driving well into Houston territory - that led to a Tyrann Mathieu interception, TJ Yeldon has been the Jaguars most exciting and dependable offensive weapon in 2018.

This comes in what is a contract year for TJ Yeldon. He's doing the best he can to earn as much money as he can, whether he signs a new contract with Jacksonville or signs elsewhere (perhaps a more likely scenario).

With Leonard Fournette only playing in the first half of two games this season, TJ Yeldon has been a near constant for the Jaguars offense, even battling through an ankle injury of his own for much of the season. He's been a threat as a runner and a pass catcher out of the backfield. Not only is Yeldon the team's leading rusher, but he's second on the team in receptions. Through seven games he has carried the ball behind a struggling, injury plagued offense live 79 times and has 327 rushing yards and a touchdown to show for it. That's good for 4.1 YPC, an impressive number considering the current state of the Jaguars offense. As a pass catcher Yeldon has been even more impressive. He has 30 catches for 263 yards and four touchdowns. He's currently on pace for 1,349 all purpose yards and over 11 TDs.

In the loss to the Texans he made perhaps the best play of the game - A diving one handed grab in the end zone for the only score of the day - and certainly one of the worst - the dropped pass that led to a victory sealing Texans interception.

We've seen a lot more good than bad from TJ Yeldon in 2018 and if his strong play continues in 2018 he could be in line to be one of the top running backs to hit free agency in 2019. He's certainly proving that he can get the job done as a dual threat back in a pass heavy offense.

His rushing totals may take a hit with the addition of Farlos Hyde, but Yeldon still figures to be an integral part of the passing attack.