Thomas Jones - I have him ranked #12RB (1 Viewer)

[cheesedoodle]

I have Holmes, LT2, Green, Portis, McCallister, Alexander, Lewis, Edge, Taylor, Dom Davis, and Barlow ranked in the top 11...then T Jones.....please convince me i am crazy but he has looked great, is healthy, in a great FF system, sole ball carrier, feature of the offense, fast, strong etc....Who should I put ahead of him? Dillon - NE spreads ball too muchFaulk - injury prone - if plays 10 games I am luckySDavis - Foster impact + injurysHenry ~ McGahee factorBennett - kneeRudi, westbrook, etc..????I might draft him early this year...whadda ya think????

 

[ScottNorwood]

I like him. The only reason I wouldn't rank him that high is because no one else will have him ranked that high. I'd be wary of taking him too early, because he's the kind of player that could slip and be GREAT value in the middle rounds as opposed to decent value in the early rounds.

 

[CalBear]

I have Holmes, LT2, Green, Portis, McCallister, Alexander, Lewis, Edge, Taylor, Dom Davis, and Barlow ranked in the top 11...then T Jones.....please convince me i am crazy but he has looked great, is healthy, in a great FF system, sole ball carrier, feature of the offense, fast, strong etc....

Who should I put ahead of him?

Dillon - NE spreads ball too much

Faulk - injury prone - if plays 10 games I am lucky

SDavis - Foster impact + injurys

Henry ~ McGahee factor

Bennett - knee

Rudi, westbrook, etc..????

I might draft him early this year...whadda ya think????

He is not the sole ball carrier, we have no idea what the system really is (no one on the coaching staff has coached an NFL game), and he's already failed to beat out Marcel Shipp and Michael Pittman for starting jobs. I rank him behind Henry, Westbrook, Rudi, Staley, Faulk, and Brown, at least.

 

[Macdaddy_2004]

I too am High on Thomas Jones but try to grab him 1 round ahead of his ADPIn my 8 team league he was the 16th RB off the board in the middle of the 5th round.Personally I have him around RB 15 but I think he has a legitimate shot to crack the top 10 if he gets 10TD this year

 

[LivingTheDream]

I like him, but you may be overrating the system he is in. Just because they are going to try and use him like Faulk and Holmes doesn't mean it will work out that way. Look at the players around him: 2nd year QB, huge question marks at WR, a first year offensive coordinator, etc.....I think he has a good year maybe 1500 combined yards and 7 TDs. He's closer to #20 than #10.

 

[Willowdoc]

I am thinking along the same lines, I am thinking about Jones, Dillon or Brown on pick 14 (#11 on the flip) I like these three better than the other choices (Henry may be in there too). Up til yesterday I was planning on taking Bennet. None of these guys would be available at pick 33 so I am just going to take the one I like best at the time. The good news for me is that I get to see how NE really uses Dillon since they open before my draft. You have to choose who you think is best, not listen to others cheatsheets.

 

[jwvdcw]

You're not crazy...I have him ranked 8th.

 

[Koya]

I have Holmes, LT2, Green, Portis, McCallister, Alexander, Lewis, Edge, Taylor, Dom Davis, and Barlow ranked in the top 11...then T Jones.....please convince me i am crazy but he has looked great, is healthy, in a great FF system, sole ball carrier, feature of the offense, fast, strong etc....

Who should I put ahead of him?

Dillon - NE spreads ball too much

Faulk - injury prone - if plays 10 games I am lucky

SDavis - Foster impact + injurys

Henry ~ McGahee factor

Bennett - knee

Rudi, westbrook, etc..????

I might draft him early this year...whadda ya think????

He is not the sole ball carrier, we have no idea what the system really is (no one on the coaching staff has coached an NFL game), and he's already failed to beat out Marcel Shipp and Michael Pittman for starting jobs. I rank him behind Henry, Westbrook, Rudi, Staley, Faulk, and Brown, at least.

How is he not the sole ball carrier? Perhaps not to the degree that a Deuce or Ahman is, but he is at least as much the sole ball carrier as the others you list, and in most cases, more (i.e. Dillon will have Faulk, Westbrook may have some situations where another back comes in, etc.).

 

[ffball-novice]

I would have Henry and Bennett ahead of him. Realistically, Rudi should be there too. I'm just not as high on that situation as others but he is the sole RB in Cincy.

 

[CalBear]

If we were to play tomorrow, it would be Thomas Jones-1 and Anthony Thomas-1A.'' --Terry Shea

 

[Routilla]

I have Holmes, LT2, Green, Portis, McCallister, Alexander, Lewis, Edge, Taylor, Dom Davis, and Barlow ranked in the top 11...then T Jones.....please convince me i am crazy but he has looked great, is healthy, in a great FF system, sole ball carrier, feature of the offense, fast, strong etc....Who should I put ahead of him?

It depends on your scoring system. Many folks here talk of a 1-pt per catch system which would elevate him. My league has a 5 pt bonus IF you catch 10 passes in a game, which does little to elevate him over the likes of Rudi, C. Brown etc.

 

[The Man Who Met Andy Griffith]

You're not crazy...I have him ranked 8th.

behind pinner, right?

 

[4thAndForever]

Every year since he's been drafted, people have been high on Thomas Jones. And every year, he disappoints. This season will be no different.I have him ranked 29th among RBs, behind the likes of Charlie Garner, Duce Staley, DeShaun Foster, and Moe Williams.

 

[KCC]

I posted this a few days ago on another thread.

TJ is going to be the centerpiece of a great offensive scheme. Whether or not that scheme can be run effectively in Lovie's first season as HC is debateable. If you think it can, jump on Jones without hesitation. If you don't, he probably won't be available late enough in your draft to worry about whether you should take him or not. Personally, I like TJ's chances for a number of reasons. First, his ypc have increased each year in the league (he averaged a very respectable 4.6 per carry last year over 137 carries). Second, the Chicago offensive line should be improved with the addition of John Tait who was in a similar offensive scheme in Kansas City last year. Third, I don't see Jones sharing many carries with A-Train - and not just because A-Train is injured, but because he doesn't fit this offense like Jones does. Finally, this is a proven offense for producing some monster numbers for RBs. Remember, lots of people scoffed at Vermeil for bringing in Holmes (at the time, an unspectacular back-up RB in Baltimore) to be the "next Faulk". We all know how that's turned out.

I think Jones will easily post top 10 RB numbers this year. This translates into huge value for a guy you can probably get 4 or 5 rounds into your draft.

 

[RoosterScott]

If you've seen the Bears play this preseason there's no way you wouldn't be drooling over his offensive line. STELLER! To all those who don't believe: I wouldn't want to tell you I told you so......BUT I TOLD YOU SO!I snagged Thomas Jones (the real deal) in the 4th round with the 51st pick. I felt kind of guilty about it but after watching every preseason Bears game, I am licking my chops! The line is for real and so is Jone's explosion through the holes! He's reading his blockers perfectly and his explosion is lightning quick. Did I mention this guy's got solid hands. The jury is out and T. Jones is looking like a great all purpose back! TOUGH and FAST! No train to take away carries might I add.

 

[Traders2001]

Every year since he's been drafted, people have been high on Thomas Jones. And every year, he disappoints. This season will be no different.I have him ranked 29th among RBs, behind the likes of Charlie Garner, Duce Staley, DeShaun Foster, and Moe Williams.

Id love t0 play in your league.Garner , Deshaun ( fumbling ) Foster,Moe ( 4th RB in Minny Williams ),ranked ahead of him.Nothing else to say.

 

[jwvdcw]

You're not crazy...I have him ranked 8th.

behind pinner, right?

No, I have Pinner ranked 13th. I think that Detroit will be playing from behind a lot, otherwise I'd have him higher.

 

[4thAndForever]

Every year since he's been drafted, people have been high on Thomas Jones. And every year, he disappoints. This season will be no different.I have him ranked 29th among RBs, behind the likes of Charlie Garner, Duce Staley, DeShaun Foster, and Moe Williams.

Id love t0 play in your league.Garner , Deshaun ( fumbling ) Foster,Moe ( 4th RB in Minny Williams ),ranked ahead of him.Nothing else to say.

Talk to me at the end of the season, after Thomas Jones has let you down one more time.I've ranked him behind those guys because I believe the chances of them making an impact are better than the chances of Thomas Jones even coming close to living up to his hype this season.Sorry, I have nothing against the guy, but Thomas Jones is a flunky, plain and simple. Always has been, always will be.

 

[Barry Jive and The Uptown Five]

If we were to play tomorrow, it would be Thomas Jones-1 and Anthony Thomas-1A.''  --Terry Shea

That quote was a lifetime ago, it seems. Some very fine pre-season games and an abdominal muscle injury have removed the 1A status from A-Train, IMHO.When he's healthy, he's traded. Peterson and Forsey have been more than effective enough this pre-season to fill the back-up roles.

 

[Koya]

If we were to play tomorrow, it would be Thomas Jones-1 and Anthony Thomas-1A.''  --Terry Shea

That quote was a lifetime ago, it seems. Some very fine pre-season games and an abdominal muscle injury have removed the 1A status from A-Train, IMHO.When he's healthy, he's traded. Peterson and Forsey have been more than effective enough this pre-season to fill the back-up roles.

Yes... that "tomorrow" was over a month ago. That tomorrow aint today, and aint going to be week one.

 

[KidSwede]

If we were to play tomorrow, it would be Thomas Jones-1 and Anthony Thomas-1A.''  --Terry Shea

That quote was a lifetime ago, it seems. Some very fine pre-season games and an abdominal muscle injury have removed the 1A status from A-Train, IMHO.When he's healthy, he's traded. Peterson and Forsey have been more than effective enough this pre-season to fill the back-up roles.

agree completely...that 1/1A quote has gotto be a month old. Jones has been excellentin preseason and Thomas (due to injury, I know)has done nothing. I can see Jones being atop 15 rb if the system plays out like advertised,and he can avoid injury.

 

[Monarch]

I have him 13th so you are not crazy. I would consider him in the third round. I have Chris Brown ahead of him and Curtis Martin. Part of fantasy football is picking players with high upside. Last year I was high on Santana Moss. Many on this board said preseason does not mean anything. Moss may not even start. Pennington is hurt. Draft productive players and you win. The results change from year to year. This year's RB sleepers: Chris Brown, Julius Jones, Thomas Jones. All can be had in third round or later. (C. Brown early third)

 

[Randal]

I personally think he has a shot to finish top 10 in a pt/per league, but would not rely on him as my #1. If you simply have to get him, I would really try not take him any higher than the 12th RB, but he's not a value pick there, and some people would contend that is a reach. However, after the top 12 RB's, it really seems to be a matter of personal preference this year.

 

[David Yudkin]

I have already said about as much as I ever wanted to on Thomas Jones in other posts and articles. I am starting to think that Jones' situation is closer to Trung Canidate's last year in Washington than Priest Holmes was in KC.Jones may very well excel this year, but I don't see the signs overall that he will put up the numbers that many are predicting.New scheme + new coach + new QB + new WR + medicore and often hurt OL + poor track record for Jones = too many variables that go against big RB numbers.I may be wrong (and I hope I am as a Jones owner), but I would temper my enthusiasm quite a bit. I don't see Jones coming close to RB1 numbers this year, and IMO he will put up bottom tier RB2 numbers if he can play the majority of the year and get a sizeable majority of the carries. He's probably worth taking a gamble on, but I'm not sure early 2nd is the spot to start taking big gambles.

 

[Monarch]

I would not suggest anyone pick him in the second. The value is getting a solid top tier WR in the second while others are taking backs that will perform at a similar level. I would rather have T. Jones and Marvin Harrison than D. Davis and S. Moss.

 

[ko-jack]

jones at 12? why not. 9-20 are interchangeable.

 

[MSULions]

Every year since he's been drafted, people have been high on Thomas Jones. And every year, he disappoints. This season will be no different.I have him ranked 29th among RBs, behind the likes of Charlie Garner, Duce Staley, DeShaun Foster, and Moe Williams.

Id love t0 play in your league.Garner , Deshaun ( fumbling ) Foster,Moe ( 4th RB in Minny Williams ),ranked ahead of him.Nothing else to say.

don't know about putting foster and williams ahead of him, but I basically agree with you. The hype he is getting is borderline insane. He has done nothing thusfar to warrant the kind of consideration he his getting. remember, this guy was, what, the #7 pick out of college? He's been a bust from the getgo.....I would put him in the bottom 5 starters right now....

 

[glumpy]

I just drafted TJ for my #2. Had him ranked in the #16-20 RB tier for that league and got him at #20.

 

[Koya]

Every year since he's been drafted, people have been high on Thomas Jones.  And every year, he disappoints.  This season will be no different.I have him ranked 29th among RBs, behind the likes of Charlie Garner, Duce Staley, DeShaun Foster, and Moe Williams.

Id love t0 play in your league.Garner , Deshaun ( fumbling ) Foster,Moe ( 4th RB in Minny Williams ),ranked ahead of him.Nothing else to say.

don't know about putting foster and williams ahead of him, but I basically agree with you. The hype he is getting is borderline insane. He has done nothing thusfar to warrant the kind of consideration he his getting. remember, this guy was, what, the #7 pick out of college? He's been a bust from the getgo.....I would put him in the bottom 5 starters right now....

Hey may have been a bust from the getgo - but second half of last year, check out his stats. I do know it was 4.6 ypc. Fact is, he has talent. Fact is, he was on AWFUL Cardinals teams, and was one of 3-4 backs in TB last year.RB's are the one position where you often see a back get traded into "the right system" for them, and they explode. Faulk was a solid performer in Indy, became all world in SL. Priest was ok in Baltimore (similar stats as the half season numbers Jones put up last year) and became all world in KC. Now, I am not saying the bears approach these teams - but they do have a good line from what I understand, and theirs is very similar to these other two systems.It would not surprise me at all - a former T Jones hater - to see him become a top 10 back this year. If he had more of a team around him, even more upside would be possible.

 

[MSULions]

There's a serious flaw in your Faulk/Holmes analogy: The Bears suck, the Rams and Chiefs don't(didn't). Besides, Faulk and Priest did quite well in their first homes, Jones was not the answer in AZ, he wasn't in TB, and he won't be in Chicago. remember as well that injuries limited him significantly in his first and third years....Not too mention how patently awful the passing game looks in Chi....8 in the box anyone? If anything, he's the next James Stewart. He may do well, but I don't really see a reason to expect him too. But that's just me....

 

[cracKer]

There's a serious flaw in your Faulk/Holmes analogy: The Bears suck, the Rams and Chiefs don't(didn't).

The Chiefs were 7-9 the year before Vermeil/Green/Holmes arrived...6-10 in their first year together.The Rams were 4-12 the year before Warner and Faulk teamed up in St.Louis...13-3 in their first year together.So, YES...the Rams and Chiefs did suck at this point in the progression.

 

[Huskylaw]

, Jones was not the answer in AZ, he wasn't in TB, and he won't be in Chicago. remember as well that injuries limited him significantly in his first and third years....

He's never been the answer, but he came on strong for TB toward the end. Still not sure why Gruden and company didn't make a move to keep him in TB, but maybe they know something us fantasy geeks on the T. Jones bandwagon don't know. Still, the guy ended last year strong if my memory serves, and has looked good for Chicago. Maybe having his little brother in the league playing for Dallas has light a fire under his ####. He has all the signs of a bust out season.

 

[David Yudkin]

There's a serious flaw in your Faulk/Holmes analogy: The Bears suck, the Rams and Chiefs don't(didn't).

The Chiefs were 7-9 the year before Vermeil/Green/Holmes arrived...6-10 in their first year together.The Rams were 4-12 the year before Warner and Faulk teamed up in St.Louis...13-3 in their first year together.So, YES...the Rams and Chiefs did suck at this point in the progression.

Sorry, I'm going to have to dispute this one.In the pre-Vermeil era, both teams had decent offensive players on-board before the transition to the new offense.The 1996 Rams (w/o Vermeil) had:Isaac Bruce: 84-1338-7 (who had 119-1781-13 the year before) andEddie Kennison: 54-924-9Although not great, Harold Green and Lawrence Philips split time and but up 1500/10.They were lacking some at QB with Tony Banks the predominant QB.The 1997 Rams (w/Vermiel) had:Tony Banks as bad as ever. Still no clear #1 RB (in fact they were worse that year). Bruce did well but got hurt. No other WR did much of anything. Overall, the offense WAS WORSE than the year before.The 2000 Chiefs (w/o Vermeil) had:Elvis Grbac 4264/28RBBCDerrick Alexander 1400/10Tony Gonzalez 1200/9The 2001 Chiefs (w/Vermeil):Added Green and HolmesHad no real WR threatHad Tony G's numbers dipComparing either of those teams to the Bears, Chicago has . . . . Who do the Bears have that has any proven experience?Their record might be the same as the Rams or Chiefs, but I think the similarities stop pretty close to there.

 

[Johnny Ice]

jones at 12? why not. 9-20 are interchangeable.

 

[cracKer]

There's a serious flaw in your Faulk/Holmes analogy:  The Bears suck, the Rams and Chiefs don't(didn't).

The Chiefs were 7-9 the year before Vermeil/Green/Holmes arrived...6-10 in their first year together.The Rams were 4-12 the year before Warner and Faulk teamed up in St.Louis...13-3 in their first year together.So, YES...the Rams and Chiefs did suck at this point in the progression.

Sorry, I'm going to have to dispute this one.In the pre-Vermeil era, both teams had decent offensive players on-board before the transition to the new offense.The 1996 Rams (w/o Vermeil) had:Isaac Bruce: 84-1338-7 (who had 119-1781-13 the year before) andEddie Kennison: 54-924-9Although not great, Harold Green and Lawrence Philips split time and but up 1500/10.They were lacking some at QB with Tony Banks the predominant QB.The 1997 Rams (w/Vermiel) had:Tony Banks as bad as ever. Still no clear #1 RB (in fact they were worse that year). Bruce did well but got hurt. No other WR did much of anything. Overall, the offense WAS WORSE than the year before.The 2000 Chiefs (w/o Vermeil) had:Elvis Grbac 4264/28RBBCDerrick Alexander 1400/10Tony Gonzalez 1200/9The 2001 Chiefs (w/Vermeil):Added Green and HolmesHad no real WR threatHad Tony G's numbers dipComparing either of those teams to the Bears, Chicago has . . . . Who do the Bears have that has any proven experience?Their record might be the same as the Rams or Chiefs, but I think the similarities stop pretty close to there.

Whether it's an objective or subjective view of the situation, the bottom line is that both teams stunk (evident in their records). They certainly didn't suck as bad when the season ended (especially the Rams), and that's what we'll see here with the Bears.

 

[cobalt_27]

You're not crazy...I have him ranked 8th.

behind pinner, right?

No, I have Pinner ranked 13th. I think that Detroit will be playing from behind a lot, otherwise I'd have him higher.

Alright, I'll say it: You're crazy.

 

[packersrule]

I think he has a good year maybe 1500 combined yards and 7 TDs. He's closer to #20 than #10.

moe had 1389 yds and 8 tds last yr, that was good for 13th rb. 1500/7 is worth even more pts...like someone said earlier, why does it matter if he's ranked 12th, or 20th. they're all the same at that point. just don't draft him in the 2nd round and you'll get great value (especially if you can get a stud wr instead)

 

[rranly]

You're not crazy...I have him ranked 8th.

Now that is crazy!!Thomas Jones has done nothing in this league but disappoint. So I'm sure he will disappoint you guys 1 more time! I'm not expecting too much.The last time I checked the Bears offensive line was still one of the worst in the league, no legitimate #1 WR, and a rookie QB.Long year for Bears Owners, and Jones owners.

 

[FairWarning]

You're not crazy...I have him ranked 8th.

Now that is crazy!!Thomas Jones has done nothing in this league but disappoint. So I'm sure he will disappoint you guys 1 more time! I'm not expecting too much.The last time I checked the Bears offensive line was still one of the worst in the league, no legitimate #1 WR, and a rookie QB.Long year for Bears Owners, and Jones owners.

John Tait and Ruben Brown are pretty big additions to that line. OL will be the strength of the Bears this year.

 

[Macdaddy_2004]

When opportunity meets potential than we will finally be able to evaluate Thomas Jones.This is the year we find out.I think this guy is a top 10 RB this year or bust

 

[lex_dawg]

I have T. Jones ranked #15. I really like him this year a lot and looked good Friday night against New Orleans...10 carries for 65 yards.

I was forced to take him with the 3.04 pick in my 10 team redraft league which also gives 1 pt per reception. I picked 7th and decided that there was only 6 true stud RBs this year so I did the opposite and take 2 WRs with first 2 picks. Her eis how my draft is going thru 3 rounds (my picks in red):

1.01 (RB) P. Holmes

1.02 (RB) L. Tomlinson

1.03 (RB) A. Green

1.04 (RB) D. McAllister

1.05 (RB) S. Alexander

1.06 (RB) C. Portis

1.07 (WR) R. Moss

1.08 (RB) E. James

1.09 (RB) K. Barlow

1.10 (RB) J. Lewis

2.01 (RB) F. Taylor

2.02 (QB) D. Culpepper

2.03 (WR T. Holt

2.04 (WR) M. Harrison

2.05 (WR) T. Owens

2.06 (RB) M. Faulk

2.07 (QB) P. Manning

2.08 (RB) D. Davis

2.09 (RB) C. Dillon

2.10 (RB) R. Johnson

3.01 (WR) H. Ward

3.02 (WR) C. Johnson

3.03 (WR) S. Moss

3.04 (WR) D. Mason

3.05 (QB) M. Hasselbeck

3.06 (QB) M. Vick

3.07 (RB) T. Jones

3.08 (RB) M. Westbrook

3.09 (TE) T. Gonzalez

3.10 (WR. S. Smith

Start 1QB, 1RB, 2WR, and 1FLEX, 1TE, 1PK, 1DEF

 

[Koya]

I have T. Jones ranked #15. I really like him this year a lot and looked good Friday night against New Orleans...10 carries for 65 yards.

I was forced to take him with the 3.04 pick in my 10 team redraft league which also gives 1 pt per reception. I picked 7th and decided that there was only 6 true stud RBs this year so I did the opposite and take 2 WRs with first 2 picks. Her eis how my draft is going thru 3 rounds (my picks in red):

1.01 (RB) P. Holmes

1.02 (RB) L. Tomlinson

1.03 (RB) A. Green

1.04 (RB) D. McAllister

1.05 (RB) S. Alexander

1.06 (RB) C. Portis

1.07 (WR) R. Moss

1.08 (RB) E. James

1.09 (RB) K. Barlow

1.10 (RB) J. Lewis

2.01 (RB) F. Taylor

2.02 (QB) D. Culpepper

2.03 (WR T. Holt

2.04 (WR) M. Harrison

2.05 (WR) T. Owens

2.06 (RB) M. Faulk

2.07 (QB) P. Manning

2.08 (RB) D. Davis

2.09 (RB) C. Dillon

2.10 (RB) R. Johnson

3.01 (WR) H. Ward

3.02 (WR) C. Johnson

3.03 (WR) S. Moss

3.04 (WR) D. Mason

3.05 (QB) M. Hasselbeck

3.06 (QB) M. Vick

3.07 (RB) T. Jones

3.08 (RB) M. Westbrook

3.09 (TE) T. Gonzalez

3.10 (WR. S. Smith

Start 1QB, 1RB, 2WR, and 1FLEX, 1TE, 1PK, 1DEF

I personally would have taken edge over Moss, unless its a point per reception (and even then I might have taken edge) but that said, you did very well to get T Jones in the 3rd. I think Jones is a GREAT #2 RB, but there are too many questions for a #1. My suggestion is hope for C Brown or Curtis Martin as your next pick, and then look Dunn, Wheatley later so you at least have someone to start.Good luck - great WR;s but you are going to have to dig out of a whole RB wise, so I would stock up.

Oh... maybe Bennett will drop to the 5th with the injury. If you end up with Jones, C Brown or Curtis Martin (I would go martin because he is more the sure thing) and THEN Bennett and get Moe and Onterrio, it would make your first two picks much much more justifiable and make your team very very good.

 

[kapp]

When opportunity meets potential than we will finally be able to evaluate Thomas Jones.This is the year we find out.I think this guy is a top 10 RB this year or bust

This hits the nail right on the head.It's time for all of the haters stop talking about Jones being a bust his whole career. The guy played in Arizona for how many years? Should we start a list of players who didn't do much in AZ, then moved onto other teams and began to produce to their full potential? It's not necessary because no one can argue that AZ is, and has consistenly been, one of the worst teams to play for in football. The Bears aren't the greatest team right now, but they certainly aren't in the same catergory as the Cardinals organization.The comparisons to Trung Canidate are just silly...20 lbs of muscle silly. So the Viking fan can stop posting that in every thread.For the first time in his career Jones has an opportunity to demonstrate his ability in a scheme that fits his skills...without having to share any carries...or worrying about loosing his job if he stubs a toe and has to sit out for a half. And the Bears paid a lot of money to get him from Tampa...Tampa didn't just let him go.I was five rows from the field on Friday night and he looked very, very impressive. He was getting runs of about 5,7,8,etc. every time he touched the ball. 65 yards in basically one quarter of play. The offensive line looks much improved with the additions of Tait and Brown. Put it this way, the passing game for the Bears is terrible so Jones will BE the offense.I wish I would've taken him in my draft because he looks like he'll have a very good year. He probably won't be the next P.Holmes, but he's going to have an impact. You can comfortably draft him as your #2 RB somewhere in late rd2 or rd3...and he may turn out to be your best player. No hype...reality.

 

[caglassc]

I drafted Thomas Jones at 3:12 as my No. 3 RB. I am not sure how I feel about him; but I think the FBG projections are dead on. However, I am not sure how the loss of Booker will affect him and the Bears D.

 

[KCC]

Something for the "T. Jones-is-a-bust" crowd to consider.As I mentioned earlier, Jones carried 137 times last year for 627 yards and 4.6 ypc. Compare that average to some other well known RBs with 100+ carries last year:Stephen Davis - 4.5 ypcRudi Johnson - 4.5 ypcPriest Holmes - 4.4 ypcDomanick Davis - 4.3 ypcTravis Henry - 4.1 ypcEdgerin James - 4.1 ypc

 

[David Yudkin]

Something for the "T. Jones-is-a-bust" crowd to consider.As I mentioned earlier, Jones carried 137 times last year for 627 yards and 4.6 ypc. Compare that average to some other well known RBs with 100+ carries last year:Stephen Davis - 4.5 ypcRudi Johnson - 4.5 ypcPriest Holmes - 4.4 ypcDomanick Davis - 4.3 ypcTravis Henry - 4.1 ypcEdgerin James - 4.1 ypc

If Jones gets 300+ carries like those other RB with the same 4.6 ypc, then you will have convinced me.YPC is NOT a fantasy category, so that part is pretty much irrelevant. I'm sure people would be happy if he had a 3.8 ypc if he had 350 carries.

 

[joffer]

Something for the "T. Jones-is-a-bust" crowd to consider.As I mentioned earlier, Jones carried 137 times last year for 627 yards and 4.6 ypc. Compare that average to some other well known RBs with 100+ carries last year:Stephen Davis - 4.5 ypcRudi Johnson - 4.5 ypcPriest Holmes - 4.4 ypcDomanick Davis - 4.3 ypcTravis Henry - 4.1 ypcEdgerin James - 4.1 ypc

I'll give you 3 more numbers: 3.7, 3.4, and 3.3

 

[EastBayFunk]

He's one of those scary boom or bust picks. I remember him catching my eye last year in the preseason when he was with the Bucs. He ripped off a few nice runs and made a few moves that demonstrated rare physical skills. I certainly feel like he has the potential to be a productive back, but I would feel uncomfortable with him as my RB2 unless I had a quality third option. He's showing a lot of signs of progress and people who automatically dismiss him based on his past are being foolish, but he's still a risk. If you want to talk about an underrated Jones then I'd look at Kevin. I'm probably a bit biased because I've been drafting the guy in every league known to man, but I think he's clearly a better pick than Rudi Johnson, Brian Westbrook, Tiki Barber, Curtis Martin, Quentin Griffin, and Marshall Faulk.

 

[KCC]

Something for the "T. Jones-is-a-bust" crowd to consider.As I mentioned earlier, Jones carried 137 times last year for 627 yards and 4.6 ypc. Compare that average to some other well known RBs with 100+ carries last year:Stephen Davis - 4.5 ypcRudi Johnson - 4.5 ypcPriest Holmes - 4.4 ypcDomanick Davis - 4.3 ypcTravis Henry - 4.1 ypcEdgerin James - 4.1 ypc

If Jones gets 300+ carries like those other RB with the same 4.6 ypc, then you will have convinced me.YPC is NOT a fantasy category, so that part is pretty much irrelevant. I'm sure people would be happy if he had a 3.8 ypc if he had 350 carries.

Although not a fantasy stat, it's not exactly "irrelevant". It gives you a measuring stick for comparing different RBs with a different numbers of carries. Obviously the larger your sample, the more accurate it will be - no arguement there - which is why I added the criteria of 100+ carries. Would I be happier if it were based on your figure of 350 carries? Maybe, but I think 137 carries gives you a pretty decent basis for comparison.

 

[oafusp]

Jones a bust? Sure, could be. But he has a TON of upside.Previous posts mention "Rookie QB", "no good WRs"... to me that sounds like....Jamal Lewis last year (Boller, Travis Taylor, etc.).Not that I am comparing Jones to Jamal, but I am compairing the situation.Nobody expected Jamal to do what he did last year because of Boller and lack of WR's...and guess what 2066 yards, 14 TDs.I think Jones can put up 1200-1400 rush, 250-400 rec, 10 TDs if the injury bug does not bite Jones, Grossman, or any of the existing starting O-Line.Another note, Jones last few games last season was the real thing...wasn't pre-season. The guy got over his issues from the horrible Cardinals. If you played for the Cardinals you'd probably be a lil better if you went to a new team too.The fact that his little brother just entered the league may prove to be a little extra motivation as well.