(Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithallison/43964183845 under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/))
As we gear up to the start of the NFL season, Football Absurdity is going to bring you a comprehensive breakdown of every notable player that will be available in fantasy football drafts. When you don’t see us talking about Christine Michael or Mike Davis, don’t get mad at us for neglecting your favorite sleeper. Get mad at yourself for having bad taste in football players. We are only focusing on the top-rated players in standard scoring and points per game leagues.
With my player profiles, I’ve only decided to go back to look at their fantasy scoring for three years. I could show you lists from earlier, but most of the guys at the top are no longer in the league anymore. I’ve also added a chart for their usage over that time span. We will try to determine, based on those two factors, where the best running back value lies.
Aaron Jones ADP and AAV
Standard: 16th among RBs, 32nd overall
PPR: 17th among TEs, 35th overall
Aaron Jones Average Auction Value (AAV) $200 Budget: $26
Stats:
FANTASY SCORING — STANDARD
| Rank | Total Points | PPG Rank | PPG | |
| 2018 | 23rd | 145.5 | 15th | 12.1 |
| 2017 | 50th | 71.0 | 42nd | 7.1 |
| 2016 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
FANTASY SCORING — PPR
| Rank | Total Points | PPG Rank | PPG | |
| 2018 | 24th | 171.5 | 17th | 14.3 |
| 2017 | 61st | 80.0 | 54th | 8.0 |
| 2016 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
FANTASY USAGE
| Carries | Carries Per Game | Targets | Targets Per Game | |
| 2018 | 113 | 11.1 | 35 | 2.9 |
| 2017 | 81 | 6.8 | 18 | 1.5 |
| 2016 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Overview: Jones showed flashes of RB1 capabilities last year, but was hampered by injuries and an RBBC situation. Unfortunately for Jones-owners, fellow back Jamaal Williams should return to steal touches.
Strategy: Our Aaron Jones Auction Value ($200 Budget): $28
When on the field last year, Aaron Jones was a great fantasy producer. If he had started in all 16 games, Jones end-of-year totals would have made him an RB1. As it was, he finished in the top 24 among backs with only 133 carries. With a whole offseason to recover from a sprained knee, there should be nothing standing in the way of a top 12 finish!
Narrator: But what the author wasn’t sharing was a checkered past, riddled with injury. In fact, Aaron Jones suffered three knee sprains between November 2017 and December 2018. Proponents of Jones would write off his injuries as bad luck, and point to a conspiracy by the fantasy media to besmirch Jones’ good knees. However, the actions of those who perhaps know him most would paint a much more sordid picture…
This. This is the picture. Check out all the sordidity
A conspiracy doesn’t explain why then-coach Mike McCarthy constantly limited Jones carries, even when he was allegedly “healthy” and supposedly “averaging over 9 yards-per-carry for the game.” At times, a double of Jones was sent out onto the field, identical in every way except appearance, running style, and name.
The dupe worked… until it didn’t. In week 15, time ran out on the gang. Aaron Jones went down with a right MCL sprain, a repeat offense he originally committed back in 2017. He was rounded up and placed in a maximum-security injured reserve. However, just months later, he was walking free. Despite his name being plastered over fantasy draft boards across the nation, he remains at large.
If anyone sees Aaron Jones, you are advised to use caution. He may be armed with a loosely-held football. Do not approach the suspect, bid more than $28 on him at auction, or come within even one round of his current third-round ADP.
Best Case Scenario: Jones blossoms under the new coaches and becomes a solid RB2
Worst Case Scenario: The RBBC continues to be full blown and Jones ends up a RB2/3 with few top 12 RB fantasy performances
