Ronald Jones - Fantasy Points Outlook

What You Need to Know:

• Jones played behind Leonard Fournette in Tampa Bay last year, finishing with 428 yards and 4 TDs on 101 carries. He saw just 13 targets, catching 10 for 64 scoreless yards.
• Jones ranked 60th among RBs in PPR points and 56th in non-PPR.
• Jones finished RB25 and RB19 in PPR points the previous 2 seasons as the Bucs’ lead back. (RB27 and RB15 in non-PPR.)
• His ranks in Pro Football Focus’ rushing grades over the last 3 years:
  • 2019 - 25th among 45 qualifiers
  • 2020 - 6th among 48
  • 2021 - 37th among 50
• His ranks in Pro Football Focus’ receiving grades:
  • 2019 - 41st out of 59
  • 2020 - 63rd out of 63
  • 2021 - 69th out of 89
• Jones signed a 1-year deal with the Chiefs on the 2nd week of free agency. It’s a $1.5 million deal with only half of that guaranteed.
• The Chiefs did not re-sign RBs Darrel Williams or Jerick McKinnon, who combined for 156 carries and 77 targets last season.
• RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire returns for his 3rd season. The 2020 1st-rounder has missed 10 games and been mostly underwhelming over the past 2 years.
• Jones beat Edwards-Helaire in PFF rushing grade each of the last 2 seasons, but CEH fared better in Elusive Rating.
• Edwards-Helaire beat Jones in PFF receiving grade and yards per route run both years.
• Kansas City lost WR Tyreek Hill, who averaged 9.2 targets per game over the last 2 seasons.
• The Chiefs added WRs JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and rookie Skyy Moore. They return TE Travis Kelce and WR Mecole Hardman.
• The 2021 Chiefs ranked 3rd in Pro Football Focus’ run-blocking grades and 8th in Football Outsiders’ Adjusted Line Yards. They return all 5 starters for 2022.
• Charles Goldman of Chiefs Wire gave a projection this week for the 53-man roster and left RB Ronald Jones out. "Shocked to not see Ronald Jones' name here? [Jerick] McKinnon's return endangers him more than some are willing to admit," Goldman writes.

Draft Sharks Bottom Line:

Jones’ landing spot in Kansas City is intriguing. Even without WR Tyreek Hill, it’ll be a strong offense with a strong offensive line. Jones’ competition for snaps, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, has disappointed through 2 NFL seasons.

But Jones didn’t exactly light it up during his 4-year tenure with the Bucs. The fact that he got just a 1-year, $1.5 million deal from the Chiefs in free agency is confirmation that teams weren’t falling over themselves to add him.

Edwards-Helaire, who the Chiefs spent a 1st-round pick on just a couple years ago, should head to camp as the favorite for the lead job. We’ll see if Jones can push him.