The Best Players to Stash in Fantasy Football From the NFC East
Matt Jones, RB, Washington Redskins
The Player
In Jones’ three years with the Florida Gators, he never once topped 900 yards in a single season, as injuries and inconsistent line and quarterback play stunted his potential. Still, there were often flashes of greatness both as a runner and as a receiver, flashes that clearly led to the Redskins’ taking a chance much earlier than most expected, flashes like a 192-yard explosion against the rival Georgia Bulldogs last season and a 176-yard performance against Kentucky in 2013.
As a freshman, he sealed the Gators’ victory against a talented Florida State defense with a 32-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to finish with 81 yards on only eight rushing attempts. He consistently showcased the power you would expect for a 6’2’’, 231-pound back and also outstanding agility and quickness for a player of his size.
And while he wasn’t utilized often as a receiver, he demonstrated soft hands and, even more impressive for a college player, an ability to pass protect that allows him to project as a three-down back.
This is also a player who has almost identical measurables to a pretty good NFL runner named Le’Veon Bell. If he can stay healthy for a full season, Jones could prove to be a steal in this talented class of backs. In fact, his combine comparisons reveal a bevy of talented players.
| Year | Name | Ht | Wt | 40 yd | Bnch | Vert | Broad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Jeremy Hill | 6' 1" | 233 | 4.66 | 20 | 29" | 113" |
| 2015 | Matt Jones | 6' 2" | 231 | 4.61 | 20 | 31½" | 112" |
| 2013 | Le’Veon Bell | 6' 1" | 230 | 4.6 | 24 | 31½" | 118" |
| 2009 | Rashad Jennings | 6' 1" | 231 | 4.59 | 29 | 34" | 120" |
| 2001 | Anthony Thomas | 6' 2" | 229 | 4.58 | 20 | 32½" | |
| 2011 | Anthony Allen | 6' 1" | 228 | 4.56 | 24 | 41½" | 120" |
| 2003 | Larry Johnson | 6' 1" | 228 | 4.55 | 19 | ||
| 2009 | Beanie Wells | 6' 1" | 235 | 4.52 | 25 | 33½" | 128" |
Powerful, big running backs who can run and explode through contact and move the chains are important commodities in the NFL. As defenses have gotten smaller to compensate for the pass-oriented and fast offenses in the league, the door has opened for powerful and versatile players such as Bell, Marshawn Lynch, and Arian Foster to dominate against undersized teams.
The Opportunity
Incumbent starter Alfred Morris and the Redskins struggled to run the ball efficiently in 2014. After an outstanding 1,600-yard rookie season in the Shanahan and Sons running back friendly system, Alf regressed each of the following two seasons as the offense collapsed around him. I’m looking at you, RGIII.
As an individual, Morris’ Rushing NEP per play was -0.04, which put him in the same ballpark as Frank Gore (-0.06) and Joique Bell (-0.03) for backs with more than 200 carries. Morris ranked 14th in per-play Rushing NEP among the 17 backs with at least 200 carries in 2014.
His yards per carry dropped from 4.8 as a rookie to 4.1 in his third season as he finished with a career low 1,074 rushing yards.
That being said, Jay Gruden has already tempered expectations and declared that Morris won’t be affected by Matt Jones in 2015. But with the former sixth-round pick set to hit free agency at the end of the 2015 season, one has to wonder if the Redskins really want to pay top-dollar a player who doesn’t contribute in the passing game (only 37 career receptions) and lacks special talent.
Morris is a good player who excels when running downhill and breaking tackles, but he is far from an ideal fit for the pass-oriented attack that head coach Gruden prefers to run.
With a lot of tread left on his tires after only 297 collegiate carries, Jones is a player who may have his best football in front of him. Regardless, for the small price you have to pay to obtain him, he is clearly worth the investment both as a talent and in a backfield where opportunity could present itself sooner than most might realize.
