With the 2020 NFL season coming up quickly despite all of the concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Atlanta Falcons are going to be an intriguing team to keep an eye on. Obviously, they are intriguing from a pure football perspective, but for Fantasy Football players, there are even more reasons for intrigue. Of course, the name that comes to mind the most when talking about the Falcons is superstar wide receiver Julio Jones.
Julio Jones has been one of the league's elite wideouts for years. He has become one of the most coveted Fantasy Football players in the entire NFL. However, there have been some issues with touchdown numbers for Jones over the last few years.
Standing in at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Julio Jones can create mismatches against almost any defensive back he faces. He is capable of making massive plays down the field or being a top-notch possession wide receiver. There is no other receiver in the NFL that has the skill-set that Jones possesses.
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Julio Jones is a player that you should have targeted very high on your draft board. In fact, it would be reasonable to target him with a top-five pick, depending on your draft strategy. There are very few players who are capable of powering a Fantasy Football team to a championship, but Jones is one of them.
All of that being said, let's dive in and take a look at the outlook for Julio Jones from a Fantasy Football standpoint for the 2020 season.
2019 Fantasy Stats
Let's start this off by taking a look at the season that Julio Jones put together last season with the Falcons. His stat line looked impressive, per usual. He ended up catching 99 passes for 1,394 yards and six touchdowns.
Obviously, the touchdown number was not very high compared to his overall production. That has been the problem for Jones. He puts up massive Fantasy Football numbers, but leaves points out there due to the team's offense not going through him in the red zone.
Julio Jones ended up scoring a total of 274.1 Fantasy Points last season. That number isn't shabby at all and still places him among the league's elite receivers entering the 2020 season. Just imagine if he had added another few touchdowns to his total.
His 2019 season left a little to be desired, but there are plenty of reasons to expect even more production from him in 2020. Atlanta's offense fits his game perfectly and assuming he stays healthy, his touchdown numbers should rise.
2020 Fantasy Projections
Now, it's time to take a look at what Fantasy Football players should be expecting from Jones this season.
Quite simply, the Falcons' offense should take a big step forward in 2020. They have Calvin Ridley as their No. 2 wideout, who many expect to come through with a massive breakout season. That could take some targets away from Jones, but the departure of tight end Austin Hooper in free agency bodes well for Jones to take some of those targets.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the Atlanta offense is the addition of star running back Todd Gurley. He was released by the Los Angeles Rams this offseason and wasted no time joining the Falcons. Having a legitimate running game will help open up the passing game even more.
Jones will still be quarterback Matt Ryan's favorite target. It would be reasonable to expect another 95 receptions for 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns. He could end up topping those numbers and having an even more successful season.
Rank at Position
The wide receiver position boasts a ton of high-profile superstars this season. New Orleans Saints star Michael Thomas is widely considered to be the league's best wideout. That is something we agree with.
However, behind Thomas, there are a few wide receivers battling for the No. 2 spot. Among them are Jones, Arizona Cardinals star DeAndre Hopkins, Green Bay Packers star Davante Adams, and other names like Mike Evans, Odell Beckham Jr., and others.
While there is a ton of names to consider, Julio Jones is still the second-best wideout in the league. He should absolutely be drafted as the second wideout in Fantasy Football drafts. Going with another wide receiver over him outside of Michael Thomas would be a massive mistake.
Jones is in a high-profile offense with a quarterback that he has a ton of chemistry with. He has other weapons around him that will keep opposing defenses honest. Expect another huge season from Jones and to see his touchdown numbers rise a bit which will make him even more valuable.
Follow Us
Subscribe