Thomas Jones-Where is this going? (1 Viewer)

[twistd]

I'm very concerned about Thomas Jones. I have some offers and I am looking at possibly trading him. On the one hand I love the Jets o-line. The Jets are a good team so they should get some leads and need to lean on teams in the fourth quarter. Currently Jones is the goal line back. On the other hand, he is definitely splitting carries with Leon Washington. Washington seems to be getting more touches this year. The way the touches have been distributed so far:

Jones

Week One-20 carries for 107 yards 2 TDs

Week Two-14 carries for 54 yards 1 catch for -1 yards

Week Three-14 carries for 20 yards 1 catch for 2 yards

Washington

Week One-15 carries for 60 yards 4 catches for 24 yards

Week Two-14 carries for 58 yards 2 catches for 18 yards

Week Three-12 carries for 46 yards 1 catch for 6 yards

So this is about a 50/50 split so far. I would guess that is how it is going to be going forward. I think Jones may be disappointing if he doesn't get TDs. The other concern is that Shonn Greene might be the goal line back. There was talk of that in the preseason. Greene was active for the week three game and didn't play that role. But I don't know if he wasn't healthy enough to, or they didn't have the situations to use him, or they are going to stick to Jones.

My biggest concern is that Jones is in a role where he is only going to get around 15 touches a game. That really drops his value. But if Greene takes those goal line carries then Jones becomes almost useless. I think this might be the time to get rid of him while he still has value, as his value might just drop off the table. Any thoughts?

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

50/50 total committee

 

[jah2707]

I am concerned as well. I thought this might happen but in round 5 he was the only RB left so I had to take him. Interested what everyone thinks as well.

 

[DoubleG]

JonesWeek One-20 carries for 107 yards 2 TDsWeek Two-14 carries for 54 yards 1 catch for -1 yardsWeek Three-14 carries for 20 yards 1 catch for 2 yardsWashingtonWeek One-15 carries for 60 yards 4 catches for 24 yardsWeek Two-14 carries for 58 yards 2 catches for 18 yardsWeek Three-12 carries for 46 yards 1 catch for 6 yardsMy biggest concern is that Jones is in a role where he is only going to get around 15 touches a game. That really drops his value. But if Greene takes those goal line carries then Jones becomes almost useless. I think this might be the time to get rid of him while he still has value, as his value might just drop off the table. Any thoughts?

I agree with your concerns. The other issue is not just # of touches, but productivity as a result. Weeks 2 & 3 Leon was as productive as Jones, if not moreso (granted, many of the times they were running with Washington were from shotgun /pass formations). The other obvious concern for TJ owners is that the Jets are winning with this formula. So I expect them to stay with it. If TJ's YPC drop, and Leon continues to show he is the more dynamic of the two, TJ's value will sink even more, as the touches #s will likely start to shift.Rotoworld this morning:Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer isn't designating a specific running play for a specific back."If a guy gets going, we're going to let him go," Schottenheimer said. "It's a little bit different than last year, where it was, 'He runs only these plays, he runs those plays.'" Schottenheimer said he's comfortable with Leon Washington running between the tackles.

 

[Garts]

He's the goalline guy isn't he, he should start scoring some more TDS soon...like this wknd.

 

[SuperJohn96]

The other problem is that Jones (IMO) is one of those backs who gains momentum with more carries...so fewer carries really hurts him.

 

[twistd]

JonesWeek One-20 carries for 107 yards 2 TDsWeek Two-14 carries for 54 yards 1 catch for -1 yardsWeek Three-14 carries for 20 yards 1 catch for 2 yardsWashingtonWeek One-15 carries for 60 yards 4 catches for 24 yardsWeek Two-14 carries for 58 yards 2 catches for 18 yardsWeek Three-12 carries for 46 yards 1 catch for 6 yardsMy biggest concern is that Jones is in a role where he is only going to get around 15 touches a game. That really drops his value. But if Greene takes those goal line carries then Jones becomes almost useless. I think this might be the time to get rid of him while he still has value, as his value might just drop off the table. Any thoughts?

I agree with your concerns. The other issue is not just # of touches, but productivity as a result. Weeks 2 & 3 Leon was as productive as Jones, if not moreso (granted, many of the times they were running with Washington were from shotgun /pass formations). The other obvious concern for TJ owners is that the Jets are winning with this formula. So I expect them to stay with it. If TJ's YPC drop, and Leon continues to show he is the more dynamic of the two, TJ's value will sink even more, as the touches #s will likely start to shift.Rotoworld this morning:Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer isn't designating a specific running play for a specific back."If a guy gets going, we're going to let him go," Schottenheimer said. "It's a little bit different than last year, where it was, 'He runs only these plays, he runs those plays.'" Schottenheimer said he's comfortable with Leon Washington running between the tackles.

That is more troubling. If they are comfortable with Leon Washington running between the tackles then it is possible that the split could be 60/40 at times with Washington getting more carries. I'm in a PPR league so Jones already takes a hit for his lack of catches. Washington has looked a lot more dynamic than Jones so far. I think it is time to let someone else deal with Mr. Jones and pull the trigger on a trade. I can probably get either Mason or Manningham for him.

 

[Banger]

If you watch him he's looked slow and doesn't look good at all. Jones is not a break away threat and when he had 290 carries last year he only had 4 20+ yard runs. This year he's looked very pedestrian and his numbers only look half way decent because he had 2 long runs vs. Houston. Now I'm not one to discount long runs usually but he's not that type of back and the Texans have maybe the worst run defense in the NFL (got torched by CJ and MJD the last 2 weeks). He did absolutely nothing vs. the Texans all day up until those runs and they had two breakdowns which led to the big runs (38 and 39 yards). If you take out those runs (which aren't a normal part of his game) he's run for 46-104 (2.26 ypc) and he's looked as bad as those stats would indicate.

Watching Washington and Jones run side by side it's like night and day. Washington is running for 4 ypc and has yet to break a big one (his longest is 19 yards) but you know it's coming...he clearly has the ability. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Jones doesn't start to look better if Washington starts to take a bigger bite of the pie as the season rolls on.

Looking at the play by play production between the two is kind of startling...

Jones - 48 carries

- (negative - 1 yard) - 20 carries (42%)

- (2 - 3 yards) - 15 carries (31%)

- (4 - 6 yards) - 8 carries (17%)

- (7+ yards) - 5 carries (10%)

Washington - 41 carries

- (negative - 1 yard) - 11 carries (27%)

- (2 - 3 yards) - 12 carries (29%)

- (4 - 6 yards) - 10 carries (21%)

- (7 + yards) - 8 carries (20%)

Washington is clearly much more consistent and given the nearly the same amount of carries. The numbers speak for themselves. Washington has yet to have that breakout game and I would certainly look to deal for him if given the chance.

 

[basher]

he is 33. It is going nowhere good.

 

[gpthatsme]

I dont think they are quitting anytime soon. They dominated the Jets the majority of last week. They lost because a young punt returner fumbled punts on the 19 and 23 to which the jets both scored tds. They are a much better squad then their record shows. I think they could very well finish 9-7.

When does Greene get his shot? Is Jones in NY in 2010?

 

[TLEF316]

try a search. several threads on this issue over the last week or so.

 

[Banger]

I dont think they are quitting anytime soon. They dominated the Jets the majority of last week. They lost because a young punt returner fumbled punts on the 19 and 23 to which the jets both scored tds. They are a much better squad then their record shows. I think they could very well finish 9-7.

When does Greene get his shot? Is Jones in NY in 2010?

probably next year. Jones is gone after this year.

 

[footballnerd]

Personally I thought there would be alot of work for the RBs with the rookie QB (20 Jones, 15 Leon carries/game), and particularly with Leon getting more catches than he has, but the Jets seem to let Sanchez cut loose.

 

[Banger]

Personally I thought there would be alot of work for the RBs with the rookie QB (20 Jones, 15 Leon carries/game), and particularly with Leon getting more catches than he has, but the Jets seem to let Sanchez cut loose.

I think teams are stacking the box to stop the run and daring the rook to beat them. Now that he has I think defenses will react accordingly.

 

[Resident A]

If you have offers for Thomas Jones, consider yourself lucky. I advise taking any decent offer. TJ is no better than a bye week filler at this point.

 

[THE UNDERCOVER BROTHA]

even more telling that TJ is losing more ground is this new article.

Jets going with the hot hand.

Rotoworld) Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer isn't designating a specific running play for a specific back.

Analysis: "If a guy gets going, we're going to let him go," Schottenheimer said. "It's a little bit different than last year, where it was, 'He runs only these plays, he runs those plays.'" Schottenheimer said he's comfortable with Leon Washington running between the tackles. This is going to be a fairly even timeshare going forward between Washington and Jones.

 

[DoubleG]

even more telling that TJ is losing more ground is this new article.

Jets going with the hot hand.

Rotoworld) Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer isn't designating a specific running play for a specific back.

Analysis: "If a guy gets going, we're going to let him go," Schottenheimer said. "It's a little bit different than last year, where it was, 'He runs only these plays, he runs those plays.'" Schottenheimer said he's comfortable with Leon Washington running between the tackles. This is going to be a fairly even timeshare going forward between Washington and Jones.

...which is also quoted in post 4 of this thread.

 

[jbz]

the only ray of hope for TJ owners is if Washington gets banged up. Not out of the question as he's dealt with injuries in the past and in college. But can't really predict an injury so for the time being TJ is a crap shoot and just a flex player.

 

[menobrown]

Personally I thought there would be alot of work for the RBs with the rookie QB (20 Jones, 15 Leon carries/game), and particularly with Leon getting more catches than he has, but the Jets seem to let Sanchez cut loose.

Yea I expected, and still do expect, that Leon's catch totals will rise drastically and his overall performance will rise with it. Right now he's averaging less fantasy points per game than last season on close to half the touches so it will come around. I kind of felt he could have a Tiki Barber type role and get 12-15 carries to go along with 3-5 catches per game. So far the carries are there and I would expect the receptions to come around.In a PPR league I actually drafted Leon while TJ was still on the board. After week 1 that decision looked dubious but I feel that in a split back scenario I prefer the guy who catches passes over the guy who gets most of the goal line work.

 

[Hedgehog]

TJ will get his - they have played some tough run defenses so far. Just heard a Leon interview andhe said that he loves running it down to the GL and having TJ punch it in - "that's TJ's job" - so I think TJ has more value then Leon now - trust me the Jets will not giveup on the run...I would actually buy low on TJ.

Greene is not a factor - he will be the man next year with Leon but this year is strictly emergency/red shirt for the kid

 

[Dragon1952]

To further muddy the waters....

From CBS Sports......

Source: Greene to see more work: A Jets team source tells Fantasy Football Today analyst Brian Jones that rookie RB Shonn Greene will begin to be more involved in the offense. Greene has yet to register an NFL carry or catch as Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have been working in almost a perfect 50-50 split in reps.

 

[Sabertooth]

To further muddy the waters....

From CBS Sports......

Source: Greene to see more work: A Jets team source tells Fantasy Football Today analyst Brian Jones that rookie RB Shonn Greene will begin to be more involved in the offense. Greene has yet to register an NFL carry or catch as Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have been working in almost a perfect 50-50 split in reps.

To be fair, more involved could mean he gets 1 carry or catch.

 

[Fireballer]

To further muddy the waters....

From CBS Sports......

Source: Greene to see more work: A Jets team source tells Fantasy Football Today analyst Brian Jones that rookie RB Shonn Greene will begin to be more involved in the offense. Greene has yet to register an NFL carry or catch as Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have been working in almost a perfect 50-50 split in reps.

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2009/09/n...y_responds.html"Ryan said he has no plans right now to use rookie Shonn Greene to bring some fresh legs into the mix."

Granted, this article is almost 48 hours old, but it's funny how much conflicting info is out there.

 

[Dragon1952]

To further muddy the waters....

From CBS Sports......

Source: Greene to see more work: A Jets team source tells Fantasy Football Today analyst Brian Jones that rookie RB Shonn Greene will begin to be more involved in the offense. Greene has yet to register an NFL carry or catch as Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have been working in almost a perfect 50-50 split in reps.

To be fair, more involved could mean he gets 1 carry or catch.

I guess it could also mean they will start letting him hold the play book on the sideline.

 

[twistd]

If you have offers for Thomas Jones, consider yourself lucky. I advise taking any decent offer. TJ is no better than a bye week filler at this point.

I've been offered Mason or Portis for T Jones. It is a PPR league, so I think I am going to pull the trigger. We haven't decided which to take. But I think this is the week to bail on T Jones.

 

[NCPanthersFan]

I am sure it is bias because of the amount of Jet games I watch but I think TJ makes a great rotation back for your #2 slot. He is money if he can get hot later in the game and nothing the staff is saying is scaring me away when it comes to losing "leverage" to Leon Washington. I believe TJ's value holds steady because the team is not dedicated to one RB. Everyone is correct about TJ's delcine but if you add the value of where he is drafted with your ability to understand which games the Jets are going to run heavy with, I think you need to have a pretty strong stable of RB's to consider unloading him (non-ppr) this early in the season.

$.02