Should I Start Zay Jones in Week 2? WR Fantasy Football Rankings Analysis

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Zay Jones picked up in Week 1 right where he left off at the end of the 2022 NFL season.

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After setting career-highs with 82 receptions for 823 receiving yards during his first year in Jacksonville, Jones got off to a solid start in his second season with the team by catching five passes for 55 yards and a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts. Jones is a hit-or-miss fantasy player, however, and things are more complicated for him because the Jaguars brought in star wideout Calvin Ridley in the offseason.

So should you start Jones in Week 2 in Jacksonville’s home game against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs? Here is my take:

Should I Start Zay Jones in Week 2?

I have my doubts about Jones this weekend. Let’s start with the fact that he is arguably No. 3 on the WR target totem pole in Jacksonville. Ridley wasted no time establishing himself as the top target on the team last Sunday by posting a scintillating 8-101-1 line thanks to a team-high 11 targets. He is obviously not rusty despite missing all of last season due to his gambling suspension.

Christian Kirk, last season’s No. 1 WR and now possibly 1-A thanks to Ridley, only caught one paltry pass for nine yards on three targets. He also was not on the field for as many snaps as Jones was. You know Kirk is not going to have two terrible games in a row, though. QB Trevor Lawrence and Kirk have great chemistry together, and the latter is not being paid millions of dollars per year to be the third banana in this passing attack. My educated guess is that Kirk will be heavily involved in the game plan on Sunday. That means fewer targets for Jones.

As for Kansas City’s defense, it will be bolstered now that its best player is back on the field. Superstar defensive tackle Chris Jones signed a one-year deal and will be in the middle of the front seven, so even if he is a tad rusty he will elevate the Chiefs’ pass rush and cause problems for Lawrence, Zay and the Jaguars passing offense. Zay Jones has not had the best of luck against the Chiefs secondary in the past, either. In his last six games against them he has had 21 receptions for 218 yards and no touchdowns.

I would keep Jones on the bench this week. I think he has a few things trending against him. I have him penciled in for four catches for 50 yards. If I am right, those numbers will not do you any fantasy favors if you use him.

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