James Jones: Green Bay’s rookie saving grace?
If you’re not watching the Green Bay Packers vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars preseason game tonight, you missed Donald Driver getting carted off with what’s being called an “ankle injury.” Now, we’ll know soon enough whether or not Driver is seriously hurt (I certainly hope not since he’s a top-12 fantasy receiver), but the potential injury brings further attention to James Jones.
James Jones was the Packers 3rd round draft choice this year and has consistently been the Packers best receiver in training camp. He’s 6′1″, 207 pounds and played his college ball at San Diego State, earning team MVP honors as a senior with 70 catches for 893 yards and 10 TDs. Jones scouting report said he was a team-first player with “suction cup” hands, but wasn’t adept at getting separation because of a lack of straight line speed.
Judging from Jones’ play in camp each and every day, rumors of his inability to gain separation were greatly exaggerated.
Jones finished tonight’s game with 6 catches for 80 yards. In three preseason games he has:
- 16 receptions
- 196 yards
- 2 TDs
Meanwhile Packers WR2 Greg Jennings has been virtually non-existent this preseason.
While it’s way too early to say Jones is going to earn a starting spot, let’s not forget that Jennings earned a starting spot last year as a rookie. The Packers aren’t afraid to play their best players, and although we’ve not seen enough of Jones to say for sure, he has had a preseason that hints at bigger things.
Jones has an ADP of 257, and is going 83rd among all WRs (in other words, he’s not being drafted in a lot of leagues). If you find out Driver is going to miss significant time, Jones is DEFINITELY worth drafting in the back half of your draft. Even if Driver is going to be OK, Jones is probably worth a late round flier as a top-60 WR knowing what we know.
I would also pay close attention to Greg Jennings over the next week and a half. If he doesn’t play a big role in camp and/or make some plays with the 1st team in next week’s preseason action, you may want to rethink targeting him as a breakout in the middle rounds.
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