Matt Jones

[IGotWorms 3,302]

Kinda sucked last year, as a runner at least. Low YPC and a lot of fumbles.

 

But the Redskins seem determined to make him the guy. And he's a great pass catcher which is especially helpful in PPR.

 

What say you? Solid RB2? Realistic potential for more? Or a dud in the making?

[Frozenbeernuts 1,652]

I just don't think he's that good. I laughed last year when people said they would take him over Djohns in dynasty.

[IGotWorms 3,302]

I just don't think he's that good.

This is my suspicion as well. But why didn't the Redskins bring in someone else? Could've gotten someone pretty cheap

[Ray_T 587]

I just dont like players with fumbling problems. They can drop from #1 on the depth chart real fast after a couple of bad fumbles.

 

They say hes resolved that issue, but we wont really know until 6 or 7 games into the season.

 

I'll let someone else spend a high pick on him. If he slides down the draft board, I may pick him up, but I'm not drafting him as a RB1. Thats for sure.

[IGotWorms 3,302]

I just dont like players with fumbling problems. They can drop from #1 on the depth chart real fast after a couple of bad fumbles.

 

They say hes resolved that issue, but we wont really know until 6 or 7 games into the season.

 

I'll let someone else spend a high pick on him. If he slides down the draft board, I may pick him up, but I'm not drafting him as a RB1. Thats for sure.

He's got about a 5th round ADP currently, from what I've seen. Seems like a bargain for an expected bell cow. And yet I'm not entirely sold

[Frozenbeernuts 1,652]

He may end up solid value in the 5th. It was a bit perplexing that he could shred the Rams D and then be pretty pedestrian the rest of the year. I could be wrong on him. I just think we would have seen a little more from him if he really had IT. He may end up being a Marion Barber clone. A perpetual disappointment who looks like a monster every once in a while.

[IGotWorms 3,302]

He may end up solid value in the 5th. It was a bit perplexing that he could shred the Rams D and then be pretty pedestrian the rest of the year. I could be wrong on him. I just think we would have seen a little more from him if he really had IT. He may end up being a Marion Barber clone. A perpetual disappointment who looks like a monster every once in a while.

Laurence Maroney too. And they played together at Minnesota

[Ray_T 587]

He may end up solid value in the 5th. It was a bit perplexing that he could shred the Rams D and then be pretty pedestrian the rest of the year. I could be wrong on him. I just think we would have seen a little more from him if he really had IT. He may end up being a Marion Barber clone. A perpetual disappointment who looks like a monster every once in a while.

Yeah, but when Barber looked good, he looked unstoppable.

 

I loved watching him play when he was on his game.

[Kopy 489]

Stay away.

[weepaws 2,452]

I have him ranked in ppr as a Rb 2 at number 17 .

 

So a middle Rb 2.

 

He's going to get the ball early and often and he can catch .

[R8RMick 242]

Their GM likes him, so he'll get a chance.

[Kent 228]

He's got the size and speed that make him exciting on paper.

 

Last year it was a cluster fock committee. Who knows what he will do if he gets 15 or so carries a game. If he keeps fumbling he's cooked. If he fixes that he's got a shot to be a great value RB2 for the sole reason he gets to run against the NFC East.

[IGotWorms 3,302]

He's got the size and speed that make him exciting on paper.

 

Last year it was a cluster fock committee. Who knows what he will do if he gets 15 or so carries a game. If he keeps fumbling he's cooked. If he fixes that he's got a shot to be a great value RB2 for the sole reason he gets to run against the NFC East.

 

Let's say he fixes the fumbling issue for sake of argument. Is he good enough? That YPC from last year really scares me... below three yards per carry if you take away his one big game against the Rams!

 

Now his receiving skills are attractive and can maybe make up some of the difference. But at some point you just suck as a runner.

[Kent 228]

 

Let's say he fixes the fumbling issue for sake of argument. Is he good enough? That YPC from last year really scares me... below three yards per carry if you take away his one big game against the Rams!

 

Now his receiving skills are attractive and can maybe make up some of the difference. But at some point you just suck as a runner.

Nobody knows what he will do as the lead back. He's gonna get the ball on first and second down. He's getting a shot. The rookie seventh rounder and the scat back Chris Thomas are going to pick up the scraps to start the year. If the seventh rounder makes the team. Or Pierre Thomas. I like Pierre still. Don't know what is going on with PT though.

[TimmySmith 2,782]

IMO he is penciled as the starter. He should get most of the carries. The Skins offense is pretty much patterned after the Pats. 200-800-6 is about what I see. I think Chris Thomas has a good chance to outpoint Jones.

[Matt Mueller 146]

He's got about a 5th round ADP currently, from what I've seen. Seems like a bargain for an expected bell cow. And yet I'm not entirely sold

I'm not saying that's my take on Matt Jones but it reminds me a little bit of TJ Yeldon last year.

 

He was a strong DND for me.

[polecatt 399]

He'll get the chance to impress it looks like. He had 2 big games last season, one due to rushing numbers the other receiving, but he didn't do much at all in the other 14 games. Doesn't look consistent but should have some big games here and there. An increase in touches, and especially in PPR, should up his numbers just enough though to make him a low end RB2 or flex play most of the time. He would be a solid back up for his single game upside.

 

Being a starter though in an offense that could be pretty good if Cousins picks up where he left off last season he could have good upside. If so Jones could see double digit TDs. I think he has a punchers chance at being a poor man's Devonta Freeman from last season.

[Frozenbeernuts 1,652]

He'll get the chance to impress it looks like. He had 2 big games last season, one due to rushing numbers the other receiving, but he didn't do much at all in the other 14 games. Doesn't look consistent but should have some big games here and there. An increase in touches, and especially in PPR, should up his numbers just enough though to make him a low end RB2 or flex play most of the time. He would be a solid back up for his single game upside.

 

Being a starter though in an offense that could be pretty good if Cousins picks up where he left off last season he could have good upside. If so Jones could see double digit TDs. I think he has a punchers chance at being a poor man's Devonta Freeman from last season.

His current adp helps to minimize some of the risk. That said if I think he will just have a few good games here and there, I want no part of him. Inconsistent guys like that are a nightmare to own. It's impossible to predict when they will be useful and they usually crack an owners starting lineup based off of reactionary response, ie H has a good game on the bench, he gets the start the next week and puts up a dud.

[R8RMick 242]

Nobody knows what he will do as the lead back. He's gonna get the ball on first and second down. He's getting a shot. The rookie seventh rounder and the scat back Chris Thomas are going to pick up the scraps to start the year. If the seventh rounder makes the team. Or Pierre Thomas. I like Pierre still. Don't know what is going on with PT though.

From what I've seen Jones is fairly dangerous as a receiver out of the backfield. You think he'll see solid 3rd down work? I've got him in a keeper league.

[Frozenbeernuts 1,652]

From what I've seen Jones is fairly dangerous as a receiver out of the backfield. You think he'll see solid 3rd down work? I've got him in a keeper league.

Receiving may be his saving grace. Thompson did ok last year, but there were a lot of games where he wasn't really used much.

[giraldi02 470]

Receiving may be his saving grace. Thompson did ok last year, but there were a lot of games where he wasn't really used much.

 

The snap counts for Washington RBs was all over the place. Thompson led the backfield in snaps in three of the first six games. After Week 8, he never saw more than 27 snaps in a game, and only surpassed 20 snaps in two games. Hell, Matt Jones only had three games where he was on the field for 40+ snaps.

 

It seems...albeit a small sample size, that Gruden commits to a RBBC. I don't see a bell-cow situation emerging here.

 

Snap count percentages for 2015 season:

Alf: 36.01%

Jones: 31.9% (offense) 10.99% (ST)

Thompson: 25.5% (offense) 21.98% (ST)

 

 

FWIW, here's the snap count percentage for 2014:

Alf: 56.26%

Helu: 34.6%

Silas Redd & Thompson: 8.07%

[SpenceToons 70]

 

Being a starter though in an offense that could be pretty good if Cousins picks up where he left off last season he could have good upside.

 

I'd also been thinking that if Cousins built on his success from last year that it could open things up for Jones. But when I took a look at last year, it didn't seem that Cousins had a tendency to bring RBs along for the ride. Of course, there was week 10 against NO in which Cousins finished as the QB1 and Jones as the RB4. But in the other weeks that Cousins sparkled, the top WAS RBs were quiet:

 

Week 4 vs PHI

Cousins QB5

Chris Thompson was the highest WAS finisher at RB32

 

Week 7 vs TB

Cousins QB1

Jones RB35

 

Week 14 vs CHI

Cousins QB5

Jones RB24

 

Week 15 vs BUF

Cousins QB2

Alfred Morris RB27

 

Week 16 vs PHI

Cousins QB2

Pierre Thomas RB28

[GreatGray 2]

I like Jones a lot this year, seemingly more than most of you. Looking at ADP 5th - 6th round, this is the kind of upside value that often wins leagues.

 

He's got minimal competition and pass catching skills and he's sitting there because of last years suck factor, which means now is the time to strike (i.e., that was last year, this is this year).

 

I'm drafting him everywhere I can get him in the 5th+, especially PPR. Sure he may bust but there's a legit chance he ends the season as a solid RB2 if not an RB1. His ADP is going to climb fast if he starts flashing anything in the preseason...grab him now while you can.

[giraldi02 470]

 

I'd also been thinking that if Cousins built on his success from last year that it could open things up for Jones. But when I took a look at last year, it didn't seem that Cousins had a tendency to bring RBs along for the ride. Of course, there was week 10 against NO in which Cousins finished as the QB1 and Jones as the RB4. But in the other weeks that Cousins sparkled, the top WAS RBs were quiet:

 

Week 4 vs PHI

Cousins QB5

Chris Thompson was the highest WAS finisher at RB32

 

Week 7 vs TB

Cousins QB1

Jones RB35

 

Week 14 vs CHI

Cousins QB5

Jones RB24

 

Week 15 vs BUF

Cousins QB2

Alfred Morris RB27

 

Week 16 vs PHI

Cousins QB2

Pierre Thomas RB28

 

Some interesting aspects of those games as well.

 

Against Tampa, the Skins were down by 24 at the 8:19 mark of the 2nd quarter, effectively ending the run game.

 

Against the Bills, the Skins were up 28-3, at the 8:39 mark of the 3rd quarter, yet their collective backfield had a total of 24 rushing attempts.

 

In the first Eagles game and Bears game, Cousins had a TD run from the one yard line and the three, respectively. If Morris or Jones gets the score there, the script flips.

 

And that goes into the red zone efficiency of those two backs. Morris and Jones combined for 48 red zone carries inside the 20. Only 8 of those were inside the 5 yard line...

[polecatt 399]

 

I'd also been thinking that if Cousins built on his success from last year that it could open things up for Jones. But when I took a look at last year, it didn't seem that Cousins had a tendency to bring RBs along for the ride. Of course, there was week 10 against NO in which Cousins finished as the QB1 and Jones as the RB4. But in the other weeks that Cousins sparkled, the top WAS RBs were quiet:

 

Week 4 vs PHI

Cousins QB5

Chris Thompson was the highest WAS finisher at RB32

 

Week 7 vs TB

Cousins QB1

Jones RB35

 

Week 14 vs CHI

Cousins QB5

Jones RB24

 

Week 15 vs BUF

Cousins QB2

Alfred Morris RB27

 

Week 16 vs PHI

Cousins QB2

Pierre Thomas RB28

An interesting thing about that is Jones was only the top RB 2 out of 5 games. When the QB played well the RBs usually didn't. That all is evident of an inconsistent and inexperienced offense. That's usually going to be the case with a QB starting his first full season. If they settle down and find more fluency as an offense I believe they will be more consistent as well.

You also never know. Jones could end up riding the bench by week 6.

[tanatastic 2,061]

Great pick in rnd 5, this years Doug Martin.

[Kopy 489]

For redraft, a gamble at #2. Worth it as a #3. If he's your #1, I think you'll be in big trouble. And if your banking on him in a dynasty, I think you could be in big trouble next year.

I'd be willing to bet Washington's future QB and RB are in next year's draft class. Especially at RB. This could very well be the best RB class we've ever seen, and I think Washington will add there hat to that mix.

Jut my .02

[Ray_T 587]

Nobody knows what he will do as the lead back. He's gonna get the ball on first and second down. He's getting a shot. The rookie seventh rounder and the scat back Chris Thomas are going to pick up the scraps to start the year. If the seventh rounder makes the team. Or Pierre Thomas. I like Pierre still. Don't know what is going on with PT though.

 

This.

 

problem is... some backs just dont thrive in a backup role.

 

some backups put up great stats as a backup and when they become the starter.... poof. YPC stats go down the toilet and performance drops.

 

I think he has shown flashes of the talent that it takes to get the job done. Maybe with more carries, those flashes become more consistent and he becomes a player. But maybe it doesnt get any better.

 

I wouldnt over price him though. some out there think hes a RB1 in the making. and maybe he is. but given the risks, you should draft him as a low end RB2. (or high end RB3 with upside)

 

given his fumbling problems, I think this is a place where you can get a lot of value if he turns out, and the risk isnt exceptionally high because all players taken at this point in the draft have something that makes them risky picks. otherwise they would be drafted higher. If the fumbling problems persist, its generally not the end of the world if your RB3 is benched for a couple of games.

[IGotWorms 3,302]

For redraft, a gamble at #2. Worth it as a #3. If he's your #1, I think you'll be in big trouble. And if your banking on him in a dynasty, I think you could be in big trouble next year.

I'd be willing to bet Washington's future QB and RB are in next year's draft class. Especially at RB. This could very well be the best RB class we've ever seen, and I think Washington will add there hat to that mix.

Jut my .02

So you think he's an RB3? I mean that basically means he is the 25th best RB or worst. Don't think he'll get drafted that low at all

[weepaws 2,452]

No way should he be ranked that low , he is a middle Rb 2.

[Kopy 489]

So you think he's an RB3? I mean that basically means he is the 25th best RB or worst. Don't think he'll get drafted that low at all

Yes, I believe he should be that low. I play in PPR's and even have backups like Danny Woodhead,Theo Reddick, Gio Bernard type guys above him.

Your right though, he'll never get drafted that low, their is alot of love out there for the guy. For me, it would be one of those let someone else draft him, where ever that may be.

[Frozenbeernuts 1,652]

Yes, I believe he should be that low. I play in PPR's and even have backups like Danny Woodhead,Theo Reddick, Gio Bernard type guys above him.

Your right though, he'll never get drafted that low, their is alot of love out there for the guy. For me, it would be one of those let someone else draft him, where ever that may be.

Gio is nice because he has ppr value with Hill, and he could be the main back if Hill gets hurt. Riddick on the other hand, he just isn't going to get the carries inside. I think Riddick is a bit safer if you are looking for a high floor, but as far as ceiling, Jones has to have a much higher ceiling.

[dcgangstas 41]

I'm not sold on Jones. I think that the comparison to T.J. Yeldon is a good one. I don't see the sort of burst and power combination that you'd want in a lead back. Scott McCloughan was really embellishing when comparing Jones to Marshawn Lynch. Not even close.

 

I'd be okay with him in the 6th round as a #3 FF RB, and not my every week starter.

[Kent 228]

I'm not sold on Jones. I think that the comparison to T.J. Yeldon is a good one. I don't see the sort of burst and power combination that you'd want in a lead back. Scott McCloughan was really embellishing when comparing Jones to Marshawn Lynch. Not even close.

 

I'd be okay with him in the 6th round as a #3 FF RB, and not my every week starter.

He displayed burst and power last year.

 

The problem is Gruden always shows a RBBC love.

[Flgatorguy87 160]

Can't decide on this guy. I'm keeping him but shopping him for offers. Nobody else seems to know either. I'd like to move him for an upside WR but no takers so far.

[IGotWorms 3,302]

He displayed burst and power last year.

3.4 ypc - where's the burst and power?

[weepaws 2,452]

I have him ranked as a middle Rb 2.

[R8RMick 242]

He displayed burst and power last year.

 

The problem is Gruden always shows a RBBC love.

 

Gruden is a focking ass-hat.

[Flgatorguy87 160]

Can't decide on this guy. I'm keeping him but shopping him for offers. Nobody else seems to know either. I'd like to move him for an upside WR but no takers so far.

...and I just moved him for Doug Baldwin who I don't love either. I think the 14tds were prob a career high for Doug, but I think he can improve in his yardage totals and receptions this year. He should benefit from Lockett taking the top off, and remain the top target. I think Doug is safer than Jones and it gives me diversity since I'm already starting with D Johnson and D. Freeman.

[Kent 228]

3.4 ypc - where's the burst and power?

What does YPC have to do with his burst and power? I didn't say patience and vision and shiftiness. But he has burst and power. The Skins running game wasn't there and it was a RBBC. The kid has talent. He fumbled his way out of the mix. What can you do.

 

Edit: highlights. Make of it what you will. He's got upside in a big way if he can stop fumbling.

. He's a really big back and takes one 80 to the house in a flash.