Week 2 at New Orleans Saints
Julio Jones had a solid role for the Bucs in Week 1. He finished 3-69 on five targets, and added 17 yards on two carries. The veteran played a strong 52% of the offensive snaps as well. Jones' usage could have been upped following the injury to Chris Godwin. With Godwin likely out for Week 2, we'd expect a similar formula heading into the matchup vs. the Saints. Mike Evans typically struggles against the Saints, which bodes well for other receivers. Last season in the first matchup vs. New Orleans, Chris Godwin finished 8-140-1. With Godwin out, Jones will likely pick some of that up. Jones should be viewed as a lower-end WR2 or strong WR3 play vs. the Saints. Jones' health should be monitored as well as he's been held out of practice with a knee injury.
Week 1 at Dallas Cowboys
Julio Jones is in a unique situation in Tampa Bay. His name carries a lot of weight based on his past production, but he's also coming off a disappointing season with the Titans. To add on, he's in a crowded WR room that features Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Russell Gage. But he could end up being a solid start in Week 1 if Godwin (knee) is unable to go. It'll be in a favorable matchup vs. the Cowboys, a team Tom Brady had nearly 400 yards against a year ago. Jones carries some risk since his role isn't clearly defined, but he should still be viewed as a lower-end WR3 play this week.
Week 15 at Pittsburgh Steelers
Julio Jones returned from IR to a disappointing 4-33-0 line on six targets in a soft matchup against the Jaguars. Jones simply has not been able to get on the same page with Ryan Tannehill this season given the constant injury issues he's dealt with since training camp. Jones's fantasy value hinges on his position as the unquestioned top option in the Tennessee passing game with A.J. Brown sidelined, but whether it has been Brown or Jones in that role, it has produced inconsistently throughout the year. The Steelers do not present an overly concerning matchup for Jones this week, but his play of late is not inspiring for fantasy managers. Jones is a WR3/4 and borderline flex play until he shows some signs of life and chemistry with Tannehill.
Week 14 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Julio Jones looks poised for a possible return in Week 14 after going on IR following a hamstring injury suffered in Week 9. Should Jones return, he would immediately assume a dominant target share in an offense devoid of playmakers with A.J. Brown on IR with his own injury issue. Monitor the practice reports out of Tennessee this week to assure Jones is good to go, but if he's active, he's worth serious consideration as a fantasy starter given his projected role despite the disappointing season and persistent injury problems.
Week 10 vs. New Orleans Saints
Julio Jones returned last week to a quiet line (4-35-0), but was added to the injury report on Thursday with yet another hamstring issue. Jones's constant health struggles make him difficult to trust for fantasy purposes despite still showing flashes of the talent that turned him into an elite receiver in the past. Jones is simply not guaranteed to finish any game he starts and it appears that his days of massive usage are behind him. He's already missed three games this year and is at constant risk of an in-game aggravation. A late addition to the injury report is an ominous sign. Monitor the Titans' practice report on Friday, but at this point, Jones looks like an extremely risky play against the Saints in Week 10.
Week 8 at Indianapolis Colts
Julio Jones has yet to score a touchdown this season and hasn't cleared five catches or 59 receiving yards since Week 2, a stretch including two games missed due to injury. Simply put, Jones's health is a constant issue with his fantasy projection as he is at risk of aggravating lingering soft tissue injuries every time he takes the field. Jones's unavailability has meant he has yet to fully mesh into the Tennessee offense, which is a massive problem in fantasy when the Titans lean so heavily on the running game with Derrick Henry. Jones is seeing limited target volume and his red-zone issues continue to haunt him, leaving little to be optimistic about in fantasy other than betting on Jones's talent and track record. Unfortunately, track record alone rarely gets you success in the forward-thinking game of fantasy football. Jones is nothing more than a WR3 at the moment, even in a matchup with the middling Colts defense.
Week 6 vs. Buffalo Bills
Julio Jones looks poised to return this week, but will carry more risk than usual as hamstring injuries are always at risk for aggravation during the game. The Tennessee passing game has been underwhelming to this point, so Jones would represent a nice boost alongside A.J. Brown out wide. Monitor Jones's status up until kickoff on Sunday, but he can be started if he is active as the Titans will likely be forced to throw more than last week against an explosive Buffalo offense.
Week 4 at NY Jets
The biggest question surrounding Julio Jones this week will be his health, as Jones sat out of practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. If Jones plays, he is an interesting contrarian option as it looks like A.J. Brown will definitely miss this week's game with his own injury, meaning Jones would be a target hog if he were on the field. Jones has a troubling history of soft tissue injuries, including some to his hamstrings, so it would not be a surprise to see him held out of this week's game. This is especially true with the Titans playing a terrible Jets team they likely can handle without all of their starters. Jones is an interesting starting option if he is active, but his health will have to be monitored all the way up until Sunday morning to get a read on the situation.
Week 3 vs. Indianapolis Colts
Julio Jones's 6-128 line on eight targets in Week 2 should have been even better but he was robbed of a red zone touchdown by a dubious replay review where the officials ruled his heel was on the line in the back of the end zone when he caught the pass. Nevertheless, Jones had a strong bounce back performance in Seattle following a disappointing Week 1 debut. Jones (8) trailed only A.J. Brown (9) in targets, and Jones was much more efficient with his opportunities than Brown's 3-43 line. In Week 3, Jones and the Titans will host the Colts, whose secondary has been burnt by the likes of Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf, and Cooper Kupp to open the season. Jones's production in Week 2 should be closer to what we should expect going forward with a disastrous Week 1 looking like an anomaly rather than a sign of persistent issues. Fire Jones up as an upside WR2 in Week 3 vs. Indy.
Week 2 @ Seattle Seahawks
Julio Jones had a forgettable debut in Tennessee, catching three of his six targets for a meager 29 receiving yards and getting called out by his head coach for committing a personal foul on a big third down. Jones's day is symbolic of Tennessee's offensive performance as a whole, which was wrecked by Chandler Jones and the Arizona pass rush. The Titans definitely have some issues to work out, but there should be better days ahead and Jones could reap the benefits as soon as Week 2 when he will take on a shaky Seattle secondary on the road. The Titans will have to keep pace with a revamped Seahawks offense and could be forced into more passing situations than normal. Jones is still worthy of starting in fantasy until we see Tennessee's offensive struggles persist beyond one week.
