The Washington Redskins could be without DeSean Jackson for another game in Week 9 after the bye and if he is out, Jordan Reed, Pierre Garcon and Jamison Crowder are solid fantasy start options for Kirk Cousins. Cousins comes into the bye after his best game of the season for which he was named NFC offensive player of the week.
Jackson has not played for the Redskins since Week 1 and he has yet to register a catch this season. Jackson has been dealing with a hamstring injury and it has lingered for weeks, keeping the receiver off the field. According to Pro Football Talk, Jackson tried to practice last week, but he sat out on Thursday and then did not play against the Buccaneers on Sunday.
The Redskins offense has missed the deep threat that Jackson poses for defenses and the team is hoping that he can come back in the next stretch of games. Jackson aggravated the injury in practice and now he could be out for Week 9 after the bye. Last season Jackson averaged 20 yards per catch and that was his highest total since back in 2010 and the Redskins would love to have him back for Kirk Cousins. Jackson had just 56 catches last season, but he went for 1169 yards and six touchdowns and the team wants that explosive option back.
Cousins is coming into the bye after having his best game of the season and he went 33 of 40 for 317 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Cousins has been up and down this season and Jay Gruden has defended his quarterback through the bad games and now he has at least one game to point to. Cousins was named NFC offensive player of the week and he now will try and keep that going this week against the Patriots after the team has a bye week.
Cousins now has nine touchdowns and eight interceptions this season and he is completing nearly 69 percent of his passes in seven games. Jordan Reed came back from a concussion and had a strong game with 11 catches and two touchdowns on 13 total targets his last time out. Reed is a strong tight end option for fantasy owners in the second half of the season and he has 35 catches for 350 yards this year in five games.
Garcon has been the main target for Cousins with Jackson out and Jamison Crowder is also an option for fantasy owners. Garcon has 37 catches for 350 yards this season and three scores, while Crowder has 32 catches for 292 yards. The Redskins are hoping to have Ryan Kerrigan back soon, as he suffered a broken hand and had surgery on Monday. According to ESPN.com, Kerrigan said that he could return for Week 9 after the bye week and that "if things go according to plan I'll be able to play."