Week 6 – James Jones vs. San Diego Chargers
Always a supporting cast member in Green Bay, James Jones is the leading receiver for the Raiders, with 21 receptions for 272 yards and two touchdowns in four games. Being Oakland’s number one receiver is a tough job, but someone’s got to do it. Still, the ineptitude of the Raiders leaves Jones as a borderline WR3, especially with San Diego’s pass defense on a roll.
Week 4 – James Jones vs. Miami Dolphins
After catching 12 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns the first two weeks of the season, James Jones came back to earth last Sunday as Oakland was unable to pull off an upset over the Patriots. James hauled in three passes for 43 yards. Although fantasy owners never like to see regression, it was not entirely unexpected given New England’s prowess in pass defense. While Miami also boasts a solid pass defense, they do not inspire the same kind of trepidation. With so many teams on bye, Jones is a firm WR3.
Week 3 – James Jones at New England Patriots
Given their 0-2 record and substandard personnel, it is hard to praise the Raiders for much of anything. But their decision to sign James Jones has paid dividends. Last Sunday, Jones caught nine passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. He also hauled in a touchdown pass on opening day. The small amount of fantasy owners who have gambled on James have to be happy.
Nevertheless, if you start Jones this weekend, that smile will turn into a frown. New England picked off four passes in last week’s win over Minnesota and Jones could be spending some time on Revis Island. You need to look for other WR3 candidates.
Week 2 – James Jones vs. Houston Texans
Although James Jones did not start Oakland’s week one loss to the New York Jets, he managed to catch three passes for 34 yards and a touchdown. Nonetheless, a utility role on an offense that is still in development mode does not bode well for one’s fantasy reliability. If you choose to rely on Jones this week, you need to plan on taking a selfie where you are frowning.
Week 1 – James Jones at New York Jets
After seven years in Green Bay, James Jones will be taking the field as a member of Oakland Raiders for the first time on Sunday. Jones, who has always been capable of big plays, will be matching wits with New York’s unstable cornerbacks. If this game was later in the season and rookie quarterback Derek Carr had established himself as a respectable starter, it might be tempting to take a closer look at Jones. Unfortunately, it is not, and you need to look elsewhere for a lottery ticket.
It was just two years ago that James Jones was scoring touchdowns almost as often as commercials featuring twins Chris and Cliff Paul air during a nationally-televised NBA game. He finished that magical season in Green Bay with 14 trips to the end zone. Ultimately, it was a fluke, as it has been the only season in his career where he finished with double-digit touchdowns, but it provided hints Jones is capable of bigger things. After all, he was never the number one receiver in Green Bay during his seven seasons in Wisconsin. Now, he may emerge as the main target in Oakland. Can Jones take it to the next level?
Fantasy Upside
Jones is the most proven commodity among Oakland’s receivers. Rod Streater has been decent during his first two seasons, but players such as Denarius Moore have been inconsistent. While he is not a superstar, it has been awhile since the Raiders have had a veteran with any kind of track record. That history may earn him more looks in the red zone. Oakland has not had a winning season since 2002 and is not likely to have one this year. Jones can pad his stats when the Raiders have to play catch-up, which will happen a lot. James has always been a long-distance threat, with five career touchdowns over 65 yards.
Fantasy Downside
The downgrade from Aaron Rodgers to Matt Schaub is the equivalent of going from driving a race car at the Indianapolis 500 to going 30-miles-per-hour on a cramped two-lane rural road in Wells, Texas. At some point, rookie Derek Carr is going to take over for Schaub, but it remains to be seen if he will have a productive rookie season, especially with Oakland having a miserable schedule. Jones did most of his damage in Green Bay because the Packers had other weapons such as Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson. Opponents will now make Jones a stronger part of their focus. Streater has a legitimate shot at being targeted more, as he is fairly well-regarded as a possession receiver. Oakland will try to run far more often than they pass with veterans Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren McFadden in the backfield.
Bottom Line
Hopefully, someone else in your league will take Jones based on his name recognition, giving you the chance to take someone more useful. In light of his now-terrible situation, James is not worth a roster spot outside of really deep leagues.
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