Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ronald Jones ranks third as rookie fantasy option
Not many Tampa Bay Buccaneers supporters had Ronald Jones II listed as their preferred running back as their team entered the 2018 NFL Draft with a clear need at the position.
While he may not have topped fans’ lists the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie is near the top of Michael Fabiano’s list of top fantasy rookies for 2018.
The only players coming before him are New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley and surprise first-rounder Rashaad Penny.
The pair of Georgia running backs selected ahead of Jones both finished behind him on Fabiano’s list. Sony Michel came in sixth and Nick Chubb eighth.
Fabiano is just one person to compare the Bucs’ new running back to former Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles.
Obviously as a talent comparison this should easily get fans excited. Although, they’ll be hoping the injury struggles Charles went through don’t happen to Jones similarly.
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers running game was incredibly bad for the majority of the 2017 NFL Season and 45 running backs in the league outrushed the team’s top back, Peyton Barber.
Barber finished last year with 108 carries compared to Doug Martin’s 138 and is likely the front-runner to challenge Jones to be the starting running back in 2018.
With Jacquizz Rodgers on the roster as well, it’s more likely we’ll see a rotational system in the backfield until one of the three can establish and separate himself as the clear starter.
If Fabiano’s projection is correct, then Jones projects to be the back who will emerge as the main guy when it all gets settled.
What are your thoughts about Ronald Jones’ potential impact on fantasy football in 2018? Where would you draft him if your draft happened today?
There’s plenty more to come about the running back battles as we get through rookie camp and come up to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ training camp.
"Part Two of the Locked on Bucs Post-Draft Wrap-Up is Here!"
Let me know your thoughts in the comments or on social media.