Josh Scobee

Scobee was one of the few bright spots for the Jaguars in 2013, hitting on 92 percent of his field goals, including a 4-for-5 showing from 50-plus yards. While Scobee’s conversion rates have been above the league average for three consecutive seasons, the Jaguars’ annual struggles on the offensive end have denied him consistent opportunities to show off his accurate leg. The team’s fortunes in 2014 probably won’t dramatically improve under either holdover Chad Henne or rookie Blake Bortles, yet again making it difficult for Scobee to crack 100 points.

After agreeing to a four-year extension in July that made him one of the game's highest-paid kickers, Scobee generally lived up to expectations, hitting 25-of-28 field goals. Scobee has shown he can hit kicks from distance (career 61.3 percent from 50-plus), but a poor offense that often struggled to reach opposing territory afforded Scobee just two attempts from 50-plus last season. With Chad Henne or Blaine Gabbert back to lead the Jaguars offense, it should be a familiar refrain for Scobee, who has failed to eclipse the 100-point barrier four times in the last five seasons.

Flanked by one of the more anemic offenses in the league, Scobee had a predictably low-scoring year with only 93 points. Scobee appeared to turn the corner individually in 2011 in spite of the limited kicking opportunities, connecting on a career-high 92 percent of field-goal attempts, including 5-of-6 from 50-plus yards. Still, the 25 attempts tied Scobee’s career low for a full season, and the offense doesn’t project to be dramatically better in 2012. Scobee opted not to sign the franchise tender the Jaguars offered during the offseason, but expect him to be inked before the season starts.

Scobee’s environment is not the climate for fantasy success. He kicked less than 80 percent on field goals for the third consecutive season last year and has not attempted more than 30 field goals since 2006. While his extra points improved last season from 30 to 41, it wasn't enough to salvage his fantasy prospects. The Jaguars' 63-percent red-zone touchdown efficiency, third in the league, was a contributing factor to the low number of field-goal attempts, and the Jaguars were minus-15 in turnover ratio (31st in the league), which limited possessions. Better quarterback play (21 interceptions, fourth in the league) would help Scobee's situation. But too many things have to go right in this anemic offense for Scobee to be fantasy relevant again. In seven seasons in Jacksonville, Scobee has had more than last year's 107 points just once.

Scobee has had consecutive lackluster seasons for the Jaguars. In 2009, he had a career-high 10 missed field goals and was a dismal 7-of-16 from beyond 40 yards. The Jaguars were 24th in the league in scoring (18.1 points per game) despite the continued excellence of Maurice Jones-Drew. Quarterback David Garrard has struggled to live up to his breakout season of 2007, while the receiving corps is still below average as a unit. Scobee hasn’t been fantasy relevant since 2006, and we don’t see that trend changing this season.

Scobee endured his worst season as a pro last year, scoring just 90 points on a career-low 76 field-goal percentage. The lone bright spot was his work from beyond 50 yards where he hit 4-of-5 field goals. The Jaguars signed Torry Holt to be their No. 1 receiver, but have little else in the way of wideouts. David Garrard threw 13 interceptions to only 15 touchdowns last season as the Jaguars finished 24th in scoring (18.9 points per game). Maurice Jones-Drew is the No. 1 back, but can he handle 250-300 carries in the NFL? With all these questions in Jacksonville, there are better options on the board than Scobee.

Injured in 2007, Scobee kicked in only eight games, but his 62 points project to a solid 124- point season and almost eclipsed 49ers kicker Joe Nedney's 16-game season total (73). The Jaguars have a very good up-and-coming quarterback, excellent running game, developing receivers and a sound defense – a great formula for kicker production. He does have two potential bad weather games in December, but if healthy, Scobee should get back into the top-10 in scoring. A strained quadriceps kept him benched for weeks 2-10, but he showed no ill effects when he returned, hitting on 11-of-12 field-goal attempts.

Despite the Jaguars’ quarterback problems, Scobee made three more field goals last year than in 2005, made more than 80 percent of his field goals and finished sixth in the league in kicker scoring with 119 points. Scobee made less than 80 percent during his first two seasons, so it’s a good sign he’s becoming more accurate. With the a good defense and running game in Jacksonville

As the Jags become part of the AFC’s upper crust, their kicking game is becoming valuable, not since Mike Hollis left in 2001 have we been able to make that claim. Scobee’s accuracy will improve with age and we expect more opportunities in 2006. Jacksonville increased its touchdowns to 39 (up from 26 in 2004), helping Scobee score 106 points. Coach Jack Del Rio has been quick to yank under-performing kickers in the past, but might be less so with Scobee, who led the NFL in touchbacks last season.

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio has a quick hook when it comes to kickers, so it’s a good sign Scobee survived his rookie season and is slated to be the team’s 2005 kicker. Scobee fared well enough last season, hitting 24-of-31 (77.4 percent) attempts and making all 21 extra points attempts. But what really endeared Scobee to his coach were his 11 touchbacks on kickoffs. Unfortunately for the strong-legged Scobee, he’s kicking for a team that scored 26 touchdowns in 2004. The team made offseason moves to address the passing options available to quarterback Byron Leftwich, which should raise Scobee’s value if they pan out.

Scobee is competing for the placekicking job, which hasn't been settled since Mike Hollis in 2001. He's got the better leg and has the early edge. The Jags' offense is developing and could make their kicker a fantasy asset, but there are more sure things out there.