Week 6 vs. Los Angeles
Last week versus Philly, Marvin Jones played through a foot injury and was held to four grabs for a season-low 37 yards. Matthew Stafford threw for just 180 yards, but one of his three touchdown passes went to Jones. Marvin is still averaging over five catches and 100 yards per contest, so be sure he remains in your starting lineup, especially facing a banged up Rams defense.
Week 5 vs. Philadelphia
After the 205-yard performance in Week 3, the Bears limited Marvin Jones to five grabs for a season-low 74 yards on seven targets last Sunday. The Lions totaled just 248 yards of offense in the loss, with Matthew Stafford throwing for only 213 yards. Marvin is still averaging over 120 yards per game and is listed as our No. 10 WR this week. Keep on starting him, even against a good Eagles D.
Week 4 at Chicago
It’s safe to say Marvin Jones is Matthew Stafford’s new favorite WR. What a performance Marvin put on last week in Green Bay – six catches, 205 yards and two TDs, including a 73-yard catch and run. In the first three weeks with the Lions, Marvin has 18 grabs for a league-leading 408 yards. There is no question he should be in your starting lineup against a Bears defense that yields over 350 yards per game.
Week 3 at Green Bay
Matthew Stafford has built a quick rapport with Marvin Jones, as the WR finished last Sunday’s game against the Titans with eight grabs for 118 yards on 11 targets. In his first two contests with the Lions, Marvin has 12 catches for over 200 yards, but has yet to find the end zone. With the loss of Ameer Abdullah and facing a stout Packers run defense, Detroit’s game plan may call for more pass plays, which should definitely benefit Jones’ owners. Be sure to keep him in your starting lineup.
Week 2 vs. Tennessee
In his first game as a Lion, Marvin Jones was targeted a team-high 10 times by Matthew Stafford. He finished with four grabs for 85 yards, as Stafford connected with eight different receivers. Fellow WR Golden Tate saw seven looks in the victory. The Titans allowed 236 passing yards to the Vikings in the opener and Jones should be a good WR2 play at home on Sunday.
Week 1 at Indianapolis
All Marvin Jones is asked to do in 2016 is replace the sure Hall of Famer, Calvin Johnson. Jones will be the top Lions WR and lineup opposite of Golden Tate. His health was an issue when he was with the Bengals, but Marvin was a viable weapon during his past two injury-free seasons, collecting 116 catches for over 1,500 yards and 14 TDs. He and Matthew Stafford built a good rapport during training camp and preseason and they have a good matchup against an average Colts secondary. Go ahead and start Jones on Sunday.
Marvin Jones Preseason Preview
Fantasy Upside
Playing in the shadow of A.J. Green in Cincinnati, during his past two heathy seasons Marvin Jones caught 116 passes for over 1,500 yards and 14 TDs. Even with Golden Tate, Jones now gets a chance to be the featured WR in an offense. While Tate has built a good rapport with Matthew Stafford the past two years, leading the team in receptions during both, Marvin is a bigger target at 6’2”.
Fantasy Downside
After scoring 10 times in 2013, he missed the entire 2014 season with an ankle injury. Last season, he was limited to only four TDs. Marvin did not have a 100-yard game for the Bengals in ’15 and he caught more than five balls in a game just twice. Jones had only one touchdown reception in the final 11 regular season games.
Bottom Line
Despite never being the top WR on a team, Jones is coming off of his best season in which he caught 65 passes for 816 yards. With the speedy Golden Tate on the other side of the field, Marvin will get some one-on-one coverage and should be in line for another solid year, but likely will have fewer receptions that Tate. Heading in to camp, we have him slated at No. 40 in his position and he could end up being a steal in the middle rounds of your draft.
Week 18 vs Pittsburgh
Marvin Jones has been very quiet the last month of the season. In fact, his highest reception total (6) came against Pittsburgh in the second meeting. Overall, he caught eight passes for 73 yards in the two meetings. QB A.J. McCarron has not been as productive as Andy Dalton and A.J. Green has had his way with the Steelers, so Jones is relegated picking up the scraps. The great matchup against Pittsburgh, who is last in the NFL in aFPA to wide receivers, gives him a chance to put up some decent numbers. That gets him ranked as a high-end WR2 for Week 18.
Week 17 vs Baltimore
Marvin Jones was quiet on Monday with three catches for 33 yards. The Bengals were locked in a defensive struggle with Denver so it's not surprising the offense was limited for both teams. Jones is questionable for the Ravens game with a bad hamstring so check the injury list.
Jones will face Baltimore this Sunday. He had one of his better game earlier this season against the Ravens with five catches for 94 yards and a touchdown. But that was with Andy Dalton at QB. We expect the defensive games to be the norm until he returns so keep Jones on the bench for Week17.
Week 16 vs Denver
With A.J. Green banged up and Tyler Eifert out, Marvin Jones had a great opportunity to move up a fantasy level. He didn't really do anything different than he has done all season, seeing six targets and catching four passes for 89 yards.
It won't be easy in Week 16 as Denver is ranked 1st in aFPA to wide receivers. Green should be in better shape which will take away some opportunities from Jones. Keep him on the bench this Sunday as there are too many things against him to expect better than his average numbers.
