Fantasy Football: One Deep Sleeper Candidate From Every NFL Team
Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers clearly made it an offseason priority to reshape the running back position for the 2017 season. Gone are Eddie Lacy and long-time backup James Starks. In are converted receiver Ty Montgomery, alongside a trio of rookie draft picks in Jamaal Williams (fourth round), Aaron Jones (fifth round), and Devante Mays (seventh round).
While Montgomery and Williams are currently at the top of the depth chart and popular breakout candidates, the guy I'm most interested in is Jones. The former Texas-El Paso star was unstoppable in 2016, totaling 1,773 rushing yards and scoring 17 times to go along with 28 receptions for 233 yards. His burst and explosive cutting ability allowed him to generate a run of at least 40 yards in eight games, and in a draft class full of excellent receiving backs, Jones is near the top in terms of his ability to catch the ball like a receiver.
While most view Williams as the "power" back in Green Bay, it’s worth noting that he is only 4 pounds heavier (212) than Jones despite being 3 inches taller. Jones runs not only with tremendous burst, but with great pad level and balance that allows him to bounce off of tacklers. He may not run with the same violence as Williams, but he can generate enough force to be a between-the-tackles runner. His athletic measurables ranked him in at least the 85th percentile in Agility Score and Burst Score on PlayerProfiler.com.
Rostering Jones, given his cheap price, is a great way to hedge against Montgomery developing into the all-purpose performer the Packers are hoping he can be. In terms of NEP, Montgomery’s 0.08 Rushing NEP per rush was extremely promising, although pass protection issues gave the team pause as the season continued.
For me, rostering Jones is placing a bet on a player I see as just as talented as the guys in front of him, perhaps more so. And given how prone the position is to injury, there are multiple scenarios in which Jones could get his shot.
