Post-DeSean Jackson fantasy outlook gives glimpse of apocalypse in D.C.

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Here's a look at how the Washington will cope with the loss of WR DeSean Jackson to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jackson's value in Tampa Bay is assessed here.

DeSean Jackson, targeted 107 times last season, is gone. Pierre Garcon, targeted 117 times, is gone. The team is actively holding QB Kirk Cousins hostage despite his pleas for mercy. On the bright side, they re-signed second-string tight end Vernon Davis. Things are going swimmingly in the capital!

For now, the most likely candidates to replace the lost production from Jackson and Garcon are third-year pro Jamison Crowder, sophomore-to-be WR Josh Doctson, and Pro Bowl TE Jordan Reed, who has averaged 8.5 touchdowns and 819 yards on 102 targets over the past two seasons.

Crowder, who tallied seven TDs and 847 yards on 99 targets in 2016, is a low-end WR3 in 10-team leagues. He's currently being taken as the 35th WR off the board with an overall average draft position of 86, per Fantasy Football Calculator.

At only 5-foot-8, it's improbable Crowder will excel if elevated to the top of his team's depth chart, but at this point, Cousins has to throw to someone. He could once again finish with seven TDs and close to 900 yards, with additional targets balancing out the likelihood of decreased effectiveness on a per-target basis.

Even though Crowder's statistical ceiling could be slightly higher, Reed's value is far greater because of the scarcity of elite talent at his position. Reed was the second TE off the board last season and despite failing to live up to his 11-TD, 952-yard 2015 campaign, he's still being selected as the third TD off the board in standard leagues this season.

Using a late fifth-round or early sixth-round pick to select Reed isn't bad value. Even though he'll see greater defensive pressure with the team's best two receivers gone, Washington has little choice but to force-feed him targets -- especially in the red zone.

Reed and Crowder accounted for eight of Washington's 14 red zone TD receptions; without Jackson and Garcon each seeing close to one RZ target per game this season, Reed and Crowder should see their own TD opportunities increase. Neither is going to be able to put up gaudy yardage totals but can survive if they can convert on their premium scoring chances.

Washington's offseason is far from over and it wouldn't be a shock to see them add something to the receiving corps, either on draft day or through free agency or both. They could also end up trading Cousins -- to a team looking to contend for the playoffs or a rebuilding franchise.

With so much uncertainty, Cousins' should be avoided outside of two-QB leagues or as part of a three-QB platoon in MFL10s, where the risk in drafting him is mitigated by pairing him with other talents with stable floors. At his current 77.9 ADP, the cost of drafting Cousins removes the opportunity to add a RB or WR with a superior combination of floor and upside.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)