Jones a healthy scratch

Chiefs RB Ronald Jones is a healthy scratch for today's opener vs. the Cardinals. He's behind RBs Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jerick McKinnon and Isiah Pacheco on the depth chart.

The Cowboys signed RB Ronald Jones to a 1-year deal. In a best-case scenario, Jones would be Dallas' Ezekiel Elliott replacement -- an outcome that would give him plenty of fantasy value. The problem is that Jones' career has headed sharply south since his 192-978-7 rushing line back in 2020. He fell behind Leonard Fournette in 2021, carrying just 101 times for 428 yards and 4 TDs. And then Jones could barely get on the field for the Chiefs last year, finishing with just 17 carries for 70 yards and 1 TD. We're not completely throwing in the towel on Jones, who turns just 26 in August. But we're also not considering him a lock for Dallas' #2 RB job. We'll see what else the offseason brings. If Jones is the Cowboys' biggest addition, it'd be a big win for RB Tony Pollard.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid commented on the progress of RB Ronald Jones. The former Buc managed to make the 53-man roster following cutdowns on Tuesday. “I thought RoJo did a nice job down the stretch, and we know what he's capable of. It's a matter of him being comfortable in the offense,” Reid said. [We] throw a lot at the running backs, and it looked like he was starting to get it down the stretch there. Good football player.” Jones’ Week 1 role remains a mystery, but he’s at least trending in the right direction.

Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star reports that the Chiefs will not cut RB Ronald Jones, adding that Jones "played his way on the roster in the last preseason game." We'll watch for official confirmation, but it looks like Jones will hit the season as K.C.'s RB4.

Arrowhead Pride's Pete Sweeney did not include RB Ronald Jones in his latest 53-man roster projection for the Chiefs. Sweeney has RBs Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon making the team. He believes Edwards-Helaire and Pacheco are locks, with McKinnon and Jones battling for the 3rd and final spot. "My thought is the Chiefs preferred McKinnon — but in March, signed Jones just in case McKinnon decided go elsewhere," Sweeney writes, adding that Jones could be traded to a team that loses a RB to injury over the next few weeks. This isn't the 1st time we've heard that Jones is in danger of missing Kansas City's final roster: Charles Goldman of Chiefs Wire made the same prediction back in July.

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. "I'm left wondering about the things Jones does well enough to make this roster." He goes on to point out that Jones stinks in the passing game, and McKinnon has fared well in that area. We certainly agree with that. And Jones was guaranteed just $750K on his 1-year contract this offseason. Goldman's projection includes McKinnon and 7th-round rookie Isiah Pacheco making the team over Jones and Derrick Gore. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out in camp and preseason. For now, we're still betting on Jones making the team. McKinnon enjoyed a nice playoff run for last year's Chiefs, but he collected just 12 carries and 20 targets for the regular season. Kansas City then let him linger on the open market until well after it had signed Jones. You can consider us unexcited about either Jones or McKinnon for fantasy football drafting.