Ronald Jones II (RB, TB) - 2020 Fantasy Football Draft Sleeper

4 years ago by Craig Rondinone

BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~70 Overall

CURRENT ADP: ~83

ANALYSIS: Jones only suited up for nine games in his 2018 rookie-season due to various problems ranging from injury to just not being prepared to play in the NFL, and when he did get on the field he averaged an embarrassing 1.9 yards per carry. Last year he rebounded and rushed for 724 yards and six scores while adding 31 receptions for 309 yards. Even better, he did not miss a game.

Tom Brady has taken his talents to Tampa Bay. So has his favorite unretired tight end, Rob Gronkowski. Couple this with the fact that Tampa Bay already has arguably the top tandem at wide receiver in the NFL (Mike Evans and Chris Godwin) and another top-notch tight end in O.J. Howard and fantasy players have every right to wonder how many touches Jones will be able to garner in 2020.

Rookie RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn is a real threat to Jones in the backfield, but he is an inexperienced (at the NFL level) between-the-tackles runner who would mostly be there to give defenses a different look when the shifty Jones is not on the field. When it comes to touches, Jones should get 12-20 per game, especially now that he has elevated his receiving skills. Jones has a better shot at playing on all downs than Vaughn, who only caught 66 passes in four collegiate seasons.

Jones is in one of the most enviable positions for a running back entering the 2020 NFL season. He is surrounded by top-tier talent. He also has an unproven rookie as his top competition for his starting spot in the backfield. With all of Tampa Bay’s offensive firepower, Jones will be set up perfectly to pile up fantasy points. There is no reason he cannot be a super sleeper in fantasy football and rack up 1,000 rushing yards, 350 receiving yards and double-digit touchdowns in 2020.