Week 7: Jones vs. Ravens
Julio Jones caught only 4-of-12 targets last week for 68 yards in the Falcons' loss to the Bears. Atlanta's offensive line put Matt Ryan under duress throughout the course of the game and that grounded the team's passing attack. Even though pass protection remains a big issue, Jones is seeing a healthy amount of targets on a weekly basis and remains a legit WR1. In fact, he's our No. 3 overall WR in Week 7 and has a nice matchup against the Ravens, albeit on the road where the Falcons have struggled. Keep him in your lineup.
Week 6: Jones vs. Bears
Julio Jones was held out of the end zone in the Falcons' Week 5 loss to the Giants but did catch 11 passes for 105 yards after he was targeted a whopping 16 times. Not that you need convincing that he should be in your lineup, but Jones has an outstanding matchup versus the Bears on Sunday. Even if Atlanta's vertical passing game is once again limited due to a banged up offensive line (OC Dirk Koetter implemented a lot of short passes last Sunday versus New York), Jones will remain the focal point of a pass-happy offense. He's our No. 1 fantasy receiver for Week 6.
Week 5: Jones vs. Giants
Julio Jones caught six of his eight targets for 82 yards in the Falcons' Week 4 loss to the Vikings. Roddy White nearly doubled Jones' targets but there's always plenty of looks to go around in Atlanta's pass-happy offense. The six catches and 82 yards were Jones' lowest numbers of the season but if that's his floor, fantasy owners don't have much to complain about. He remains a legit WR1 and is our No. 2 overall WR for Week 5 beyond Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown.
Week 4: Jones vs. Vikings
Julio Jones caught 9-of-11 targets for 161 yards and two touchdowns in the Falcons' 56-14 win over the Bucs in Week 3. His second touchdown was an acrobatic catch in which he caught the pass over his back shoulder while tumbling into the end zone. Through three weeks he's fantasy's No. 1 receiver and continues to be a must-start in all formats. Thanks to a pass-happy offense that features him as the go-to receiver, Jones should continue to post huge fantasy numbers week in and week out. He's our No. 2 WR for Week 4 behind Calvin Johnson.
Jones vs. Bucs
Julio Jones caught 7-of-13 targets for 88 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons' Week 2 loss to the Bengals. He also had a scare late in the game when he came off the field limping on the same foot that he's broken twice since college, but he was able to return moments later. He was limited in practice on Monday but returned on Tuesday and should be ready to go for Thursday night against the Bucs. He remains a WR1 in all formats and ranks as our No. 3 overall WR for Week 3. Keep him in your lineup.
Week 2: Jones vs. Bengals
Julio Jones caught seven of his team-high nine targets for 116 yards in the Falcons' Week 1 victory over the Saints. Unfortunately he also lost a fumble on his way to the end zone in the first quarter, but it was an otherwise brilliant performance in his return from foot surgery. With his injury in the rearview mirror, Jones is once again a legit WR1 and should be in your starting lineup every week. He's our No. 4 WR for Week 2 against the Bengals.
Week 3: Jones vs. Saints
Julio Jones told the media on Thursday that there are "no restrictions" when it comes to his surgically repaired foot. He looked great in preseason, flashing the same playmaking ability that fantasy owners have come to expect from Jones. When healthy he's a legit WR1 in a pass-happy offense that will likely be forced into shootouts this season due to a shaky defense. Jones is our No. 3 wideout for Week 1 and should be in your lineup every week.
Fantasy Upside
Any doubts about Julio Jones' health were erased in the third week of the preseason when he caught two passes for 63 yards and a touchdown. His score in that game came when he caught a slant pass, shook off a tackle and outraced defenders 52 yards to the end zone. The Falcons figure to put the ball in the air plenty this season, and now that Tony Gonzalez has officially retired, Jones is going to be a lighting rod for targets this season. He has the potential to be fantasy's No. 1 receiver in 2014.
Fantasy Downside
The injury that Jones suffered in 2013 was to the same foot that he hurt back at Alabama. Thus, there's some concern that the injury will resurface at some point and if that happens, owners could once again have their season ruined if they take Jones in the second round. With Gonzalez no longer around to distract safeties, Jones also figures to see plenty of bracket coverage this year, which could put a damper on his fantasy production.
Bottom Line
Jones will cost owners an early second-round pick, but with the foot injury suffered in 2013 confidently behind him, he should be worth the investment. The Falcons' running game remains a work in progress and the defense projects to be a below-average unit. That means plenty of passing attempts for Matt Ryan, which means plenty of targets, yards and touchdowns for Jones. Even if he does wind up seeing double coverage on a weekly basis, Jones has the talent to win the majority of contested passes. He's a bona fide top 5 WR and as long as he stays healthy, he'll have an opportunity to be fantasy's No. 1 wideout in 2014.
