Open Nav
Show Navigation
Show Menu
FANTASY FOOTBALL NEWS

Jones returns; does he start?

By Jared Smola | Updated on Sat, Aug 27 2022 11:14 AM UTC
Deion Jones Headshot

Falcons LB Deion Jones returned to the practice field this week for the 1st time following offseason shoulder surgery. He worked with 3rd- and 4th-stringers, though, according to the team website. The highly paid also saw time on the punt team. "I'll give Deion credit, because he's going to come out here and he's going to compete," HC Arthur Smith said afterward. "He's going to work his way back in. It's going to be hard to get on the field in that room. And that's what you want with that competition. Rashaan [Evans] and Mykal Walker are doing a great job. We gotta see what Troy [Andersen] can do. [Nathan] Landman, Dorian [Etheridge]? They've had good preseasons. It's going to play itself out." Jones was the subject of trade/cut rumors before the shoulder surgery sidelined him. Atlanta would probably love to trade him for pretty much anything, which would offer salary-cap relief. Cutting Jones, on the other hand, would cost nearly $25 million in dead cap. The final year on his contract (2023) has much more cuttable terms. All of that is complicated by Jones coming off -- by far -- the poorest-graded season of his career. It seems likely that Rahsaan Evans and Mykal Walker start ahead of him, at least to open the season. Don't be afraid to just avoid the whole Falcons LB situation in your IDP drafts.

Jared Smola Author Image
Jared Smola, Lead Analyst
Jared has been with Draft Sharks since 2007. He’s now Lead Analyst, heading up the preseason and weekly projections that fuel your Draft War Room and My Team tools. He currently ranks sixth among 158 analysts in draft rankings accuracy.
Premium Content Premium ContentHouston Texans Fantasy Forecast: Can C.J. Stroud and Co. Bounce Back?

Houston Texans Fantasy Forecast: Can C.J. Stroud and Co. Bounce Back?

15 hours ago

A sophomore slump from C.J. Stroud and bad offensive line play made the Texans generally disappointing for fantasy managers last year. Should you bet on a rebound in 2025? Here's your Texans season preview.

Read More »
Draft Smarter in Best Ball: Who to Target, Who to Fade, and How to Find Top Values

Draft Smarter in Best Ball: Who to Target, Who to Fade, and How to Find Top Values

4:28pm UTC 5/19/25

Can Jalen Hurts and Keon Coleman become key factors in your best ball portfolio? And is now a good time to ... (gulp) ... PASS on Jahmyr Gibbs?

Read More »
Video: Dynasty Startup Draft Strategy

Video: Dynasty Startup Draft Strategy

1:53pm UTC 5/17/25

Shane, Jared, and Matt have tons of collective dynasty fantasy football experience. They're pulling from that to talk key startup draft tips and mistakes in this show.

Read More »
Compare Plans » Compare Plans »