Zay Jones Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

The Bills have declined the 5th-year option on WR Sammy Watkins' contract. That year -- along with the $13 or so million it would have paid him -- is guaranteed for injury only prior to the start of the 2018 league year. So Buffalo is (perhaps rightfully) worried that Watkins will suffer another serious injury. He's now set to become a free agent next offseason. Getting out of run-heavy Buffalo might help Watkins' fantasy stock. Rookie Zay Jones, meanwhile, could find himself as the Bills' #1 WR as soon as next year.

The Bills traded up to the 37th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft to select East Carolina WR Zay Jones. He certainly checks the production and measurables boxes. Jones set Division I records for single-season catches (158 last year) and career catches (399). Then he went to the Combine and earned a 94th percentile SPARQ score, running a 4.45-second 40 and faring well in the agility drills for a 6’2, 201-pounder. Jones is decidedly less impressive on tape, though. Much of his production at East Carolina was manufactured. And he doesn’t appear to play as athletically as he tested. On the plus side, he understands how to create separation — especially against zone coverage — and possesses a strong pair of mitts. In Buffalo, he has a pretty clear path to the #2 WR job, with only guys like Philly Brown and Andre Holmes to beat out. But, at least in the short term, Jones will be clearly behind Sammy Watkins for targets in a run-heavy offense. He'd do well to return WR3 value in 2017.