The consensus #2 WR in this years NFL draft dazzled at the NFL combine by running a 4.39 ‘40 and showed monstrous explosion with a 11’3 inch broad jump.
A.J Green is still likely to be the 1st WR off the board but you can bet that Jones will create some debate in the war rooms of the teams that will have a chance at both.
Here are our thoughts on Jones from our NFL draft preview we did way back in December:
“Julio Jones is an incredible talent at wide receiver the only knock on him being his sometimes inconsistent hands. He will be something special in the NFL and should be, no questions asked be the second rookie receiver taken in fantasy drafts. Jones was once hailed as the 2nd best receiving prospect since Randy Moss i.e. better than Dez Bryant or Michael Crabtree. Jones is projected to run a 4.3 40-time. Jones’ speed, strength and elusiveness make him arguably the top receiving prospect in this draft class. If Jones did not play on a run-first offense led by 2009 Heisman winner Mark Ingram he may be the top prospect in this draft class. In a recent mock draft Jones fell to the Redskins to play with Santana Moss and Donovan McNabb. This would represent a homerun pick for the ‘Skins and also for Jones who gets a big armed quarterback and a competent fellow starter to deflect defensive attention.”
The latest mock drafts have Jones falling all the way to the Rams, which is not very likely but represents a homerun scenario for both receiver and team. Jones would become Sam Bradford’s #1 receiver for the next 5-10 years and would become an instant fantasy stud.
The fact that the Rams have one of the most talented running backs in the NFL would also greatly help the 1st year wideouts numbers in this scenario.
While no one an ascertain exactly where Julio Jones will land, one thing is for certain we are looking at an elite level talent whose combine would have solidified him as the number one pick 8 out of 10 times.
Dynasty league G.M’s and Keeper league G.M’s will want to pay special attention to Julio Jones as he is someone you want on your team for the next ten years.
