Sometimes in fantasy football, the most obvious tips are often not taken. Instead of going for a high-floor player, players chase options with high-upside that could potentially wreck their week. The most consistent players in fantasy football are often overlooked and don’t get appreciated as much as they should. Marvin Jones is the perfect example of this. Jones is currently going 87th overall as the WR36 which is one of the best bargains this year.
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Since coming to Detroit in 2016, Jones has quietly been one of the most consistent receivers in the league. Jones has finished as the WR43, WR12, WR63, and WR28. In 2018 when he finished as the WR63, Jones only played in nine games. Last year as the WR28 he only played 13.
In eight games with Matthew Stafford last year (weeks 1-9), Jones was the WR14. Jones had either four catches and/or over 50 yards in all but one game during that span. He had games of over 100 yards against Philadelphia and Oakland and a 93-yard, four-touchdown game against Minnesota. Jones owned 21% of the target share during these weeks which was almost comparable to what Kenny Golladay was receiving, who was the WR10 during that span. In those eight games, Stafford was the QB6.
If we put his average from those games on a full-season slate, Jones would’ve finished with 263.8 points, which would’ve ranked sixth in the league. Of course, we know that Stafford got hurt and it hurt every other fantasy-relevant player on the Detroit offense. The most impressive part of that run early last season was that Detroit was running a new system under Darrell Bevell. The fact that the offense was running that well that early in the season without any hiccups is a great sign for this year.
His current draft slot at WR36 is putting him behind the likes of Deebo Samuel, Will Fuller, Julian Edelman, A.J. Green, and DeVante Parker, all players who are either injury prone or could find themselves in roles where they will be losing production.
Barring another injury to Stafford, both Jones and Golladay are steals at their current positions. Jones is currently being drafted around his floor and even in 13 games last year exceeded his current draft slot. With another year in Bevell’s system and Stafford’s return, the Lions aerial attack could be one of the best in the league. Jones needs to prove to the front office that he is worthy of another contract. He is currently in a contract year. He has that opportunity to break the bank once again and will be helped by the defense not being that good. As a result, the offense will have to be firing on all cylinders, which offers more opportunities for Jones.
The early-season schedule is pretty sweet after a week one duel against Chicago, then a game against Green Bay before going off to Arizona which could be a goldmine in week three. After a battle against New Orleans in week four, Jones has two plus-match-ups against Jacksonville and Atlanta.
As long as Stafford is healthy, Jones will outproduce this draft slot. He is one of the most consistent receivers in the league and will have a large majority of the target share in Detroit. The fact Golladay is the number one doesn’t have much of an impact on Jones as both produced with Stafford under center and had almost the same target share with Stafford from weeks 1-9 last year. If you’re a fantasy player that likes to find value at the receiver spot in the middle rounds, target Jones.
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