Should we temper expectations for Mac Jones in fantasy football?
Mac Jones is generating a lot of buzz, both on the field and in the fantasy football world. As fantasy owners begin to formulate a draft strategy, many are wondering what his stock is for the upcoming season.
Jones was in the middle of the pack fantasy-wise as a rookie. He was behind Jimmy Garoppolo but ahead of names such as Matt Ryan and the recently retired Ben Roethlisberger, per FantasyPros.
Last season served as a good starting point for Jones, and now the Patriots have begun to put playmakers around him. DeVante Parker and Tyquan Thornton headline the new acquisitions on the offensive side of the football.
New England sits in the middle of the pack with the 16th-hardest schedule for the upcoming season. Games against the Ravens, Bills, Cardinals, Raiders, and Bengals could provide a challenge to New England’s passing game.
Many pundits are expecting Jones to improve in 2022, despite the tough schedule. ESPN’s Eric Karabell has a more even-keel outlook, at least from a fantasy perspective.
Venerable Patriots coach Bill Belichick could not care less about fantasy football and wasn’t looking for statistical upside when he selected Jones with the 15th pick out of Alabama in 2021. He desired a mature, mistake-free leader to win games right away, and he got that as Jones started a playoff game.
He finished second in NFL AP Offensive Rookie of the Year voting to Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase, but barely in the top 20 among quarterbacks for fantasy points, falling short of 4,000 passing yards and 25 touchdown passes and there is little expectation of Jones adding to his stats in future seasons. Still, he is safe, with a reasonable statistical floor. One can do worse.
Drafting Jones in fantasy could be a safe move for a team looking to grab a quarterback in the final rounds of the draft. Surrounding him with strong skill players throughout the roster may be ideal for a championship run if with Jones under center.
