Jones-Drew? Is he a legit fantasy starter or just another guy spliting carries?

Question

I'm seriously considering picking up Joens-Drew as my 2nd RB but I can afford another start where he does nothing for the 1st month of the season. Is this the year he breaks out or is Fred Taylor going keep holding him back?

Answer 1

I'd grab Jones-Drew as my RB2 in a heartbeat.  He produces every week, even if he's splitting carries.  And I'm thinking (hoping?) he takes a higher % of the load this year as Taylor's another year older.

Answer 2

He's worth being your second. If he were your first, I'd say you were screwed, but he catches a lot of balls, too, making him a legit #2.

Answer 3

Well, you aren't going to find a true feature back for your second back.

The NFL saw it's fewest number of 300 carry backs since 1999.  

Running-Back-by-Committee is in full fashion, and you must cope with it.

I agree with you in that MJD is a slow starter.  A lot of managers unwisely dropped him last season after a month of quietness.

Fred Taylor is still there, and they will still share carries.

However, MJD is much more the touchdown threat, and is a tremendous receiver out of the backfield.  He's arguably a better threat than most pass catching backs outside of LT and Westbrook.

Taylor isn't getting any younger, and I believe last year was the beginning of his sunset, despite the great numbers.

I would look for MJD to return closer ti his rookie year totals, all the more with Jerry Porter now out.

He's a good #2.

Answer 4

I wouldn't count on Jones-Drew going into the season because he will split carries with Taylor. That said, Taylor is 32-years old so the potential for injury is high. If that happens Jones-Drew's value and production will soar.

I'd stash him on your bench and find another option for your #2 RB.

Answer 5

i think they both will do alot better than most starters cause the team carries the ball about twice more than many teams n jones gets bout 60% of the carries so i think hes legit