When 12-year vet Julio Jones signed with the Buccaneers this offseason, many fantasy football owners were excited about a future Hall-of-Fame wide receiver pairing up with a future Hall-of-Fame quarterback. After posting a solid stat line in his first game of the season, Jones has been hampered by a knee injury and played sparingly since. However, ahead of Tampa Bay’s Week 8’s Thursday Night Football showdown against the Ravens, he’s officially listed as “questionable” and, if active, has a chance to factor into start ’em, sit ’em decisions again.
We’ll continue to update this article with news on Jones until the official active/inactive report comes out on Thursday around 6:50 p.m. ET.
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Is Julio Jones playing Thursday night Week 8?
After missing Monday’s practice, Jones was a limited participant on Tuesday and Wednesday. He’s officially “questionable” ahead of Thursday night’s game against Baltimore, and it’s looking like he has a good shot at making his third appearance of the season.
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Given Jones has missed five of the past six weeks, it’s likely that he’s eased back into action and plays a limited number of snaps. From a fantasy perspective, that makes him a fairly low-upside, boom-or-bust flex option in deeper leagues. With fellow WR Russell Gage already ruled out because of a hamstring injury, there’s a chance Jones plays most of his snaps in the slot against a susceptible Ravens’ secondary.
WEEK 8 STANDARD RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Fantasy owners contemplating starting Jones likely have other WRs on a bye week, and while Tampa Bay’s offense has been one of the more underwhelming units in the league so far this season, Jones can reach paydirt and draw a respectable target share in his first game since Week 4. Jones did haul in three passes for 69 yards back in Week 1, and at the time looked like a younger version of himself.
WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
We won’t fault you for starting Jones if you don’t have better options, but this week it’s likely best to leave him on your bench for one more week. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are always going to be the top dogs in this offense, and rookie TE Cade Otton is coming on strong, too.
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