Chandler Jones Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

The Patriots on Friday listed 3 key fantasy defenders as questionable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins. DE Chandler Jones put in 3 limited practice days once again as he works back from a hip injury that cost him 6 games. The fact that he has yet to put in a full practice makes Jones a highly risky IDP option even if he finally returns to game action. There is upside against a struggling Dolphins O-line if you're willing to take the risk, though. LB Dont'a Hightower is questionable for the 2nd straight week because of a shoulder injury that kept him out in Week 14. We'd bet on Hightower playing after he took part in practice all 3 days. DE Rob Ninkovich also put in 3 limited practices while dealing with a heel injury. We've seen no indication that it's anything serious, but the Pats still might be the league's most secretive team with injuries. We'll update the statuses for all 3 on Sunday morning.

The Patriots on Friday listed LB Dont'a Hightower and DE Chandler Jones questionable for Sunday night's game at San Diego. Hightower put in limited practices each day with a shoulder injury, which would seem to suggest that he'll play. Jones also participated on a limited basis every day but still has yet to see a full practice since returning to action last week from his hip injury. He's certainly not an IDP option yet. We'll see if he gets onto the field Sunday night. If you're counting on Hightower in your fantasy football lineup, check our Week 14 LB rankings for potential insurance options among the Patriots, Chargers, Packers or Falcons.

Patriots DE Chandler Jones will miss today's game at Green Bay, not a surprise considering that he still has yet to put in a full practice since his mid-October hip injury. Jones did return to limited workouts this week, carried a "questionable" tag into the weekend and traveled with the team. That all suggests he should be ready to play Week 14. It'll be tough to use him right away in IDP leagues without knowing how big a role he'll play in the defense, but full workouts during the week would at least make him an upside option in deeper leagues.

Patriots DE Chandler Jones returned to limited practice this week for the 1st time since suffering a hip injury on Oct. 16. He's officially questionable for Sunday's game at Green Bay and traveled with the team. ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss writes, however, that "it would be a surprise" if Jones actually plays before putting in any full practices.

The Boston Herald reports that the Patriots believe DE Chandler Jones will miss at least 6 weeks with his hip injury and fear that he may need to sit out the rest of the regular season. IDP owners in deep leagues could hold out for a little while to make sure that's the case, but everyone should be making alternate plans at D-line for the rest of the year.

Patriots DE/OLB Chandler Jones will miss the next month because of a hip injury, according to the Boston Globe. Jones apparently suffered the injury in the 2nd quarter but played through it, missing just 3 snaps for the game. New England previous played rookie DL Dominique Easley in Jones' end spot when Jones was limited by a shoulder injury. The team also traded for Titans LB Akeem Ayers on Tuesday, a player who fits the 3-4 OLB role that Jones has also seen more of this year. Neither presents anything near the IDP scoring potential of Jones. Look for the Patriots to get more creative with their blitzing, which could mean a few more chances for LBs Dont'a Hightower and Jamie Collins. Jones' absence -- more than that of ILB Jerod Mayo -- can only hurt the team D for fantasy football purposes.

Patriots LB Dont'a Hightower is active for tonight's clash with the Jets after missing the past 2 games with a knee injury.  He put in more practice time this week and seemed to be building toward a return.  We'll be interested to see what Hightower's role looks like in the wake of MLB Jerod Mayo's season-ending injury.  It would be safer to wait a week before putting Hightower back into IDP lineups, though.  Patriots LB Jamie Collins and DE Chandler Jones are also active against the Jets despite carrying "questionable" tags into Thursday night.  Each had played through his injury previously, though, and was expected to go.  Jones and Collins each look like fine IDP options for your Week 7 lineup -- especially Jones, who put up big numbers in each meeting with the Jets last year.

The Patriots have once again listed DE Chandler Jones (shoulder), LB Jamie Collins (thigh) and LB Dont'a Hightower (knee) as questionable heading into Thursday night's meeting with the Jets.  Jones has yet to miss a game with his injury and is a virtual lock to play after increasing his playing time last week over Week 5.  Collins has played the past 4 games after sitting out Week 2.  Hightower missed the past 2 games but hopes to play Thursday night after putting in limited workouts this week.  He'll make for a risky fantasy option before proving he's all the way back.

The Patriots list DE Chandler Jones (shoulder), LB Dont'a Hightower (knee) and Jamie Collins (thigh) as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bengals.  All 3 put in only limited practices this week.  But all 3 also played in Week 4 and have showed no signs of their ailments being significant.  We expect all 3 to play, but the questionable tags mean you'll need to check their status Sunday morning as you set your lineup.

The Miami Herald reports that the Dolphins are expected to start LT Bryant McKinnie against the Patriots on Sunday.  LT Jonathan Martin will move over to the right side and push RT Tyson Clabo to the bench.  We'll have to see whether this actually provides an upgrade for Miami.  For IDP purposes, you should still start Patriots DEs Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich with confidence.

Patriots injury reports usually consist of about 82 players listed as questionable. But Danny Woodhead and Chandler Jones are among the 5 guys listed as probable for Sunday's AFC title matchup with Baltimore. And that's it. Nice of them to finally clear things up for any fantasy owners still playing. Jones' ankle has been enough of a question mark that he reportedly wouldn't even reveal his status to his brother Arthur, who plays for the Ravens. That's certainly no shock coming out of Foxboro.

According to CSN New England's Tom Curran, 1st-round DE Chandler Jones is showing impressive polish through the beginning of camp. Curran says that Jones has yet to appear overwhelmed by any aspect of the transition and is displaying an "array of moves" as a pass rusher. Jones was commonly expected to enter the league a bit raw after a junior season at Syracuse limited by injury. If he can adjust to the pro gram quicker than expected, IDP value could follow not too far behind.

Bill Belichick touted the versatility of both of his 1st-round picks Thursday night: Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower. The combo, plus the players already on roster, seems to suggest more 3-4 for the Patriots this season. The Pats already have Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes at LB. Mayo can play outside, and did for most of last season. Hightower and Spikes both project more as ILBs, though, and either could leave the team lacking some range at SLB. Jones, however, could play some 3-4 OLB, as well as 4-3 rush end. Hightower played multiple positions at Alabama, including rush DE. Most likely, Belichick will continue with his multiple fronts and get creative with all of these pieces. He said after the 1st-round that they'll figure out how best to use the new pieces. If Jones starts, he could be the comparatively better fantasy value right away. We'll have to see where Hightower settles before getting a read on his outlook.