When we think of dynasty targets, 30-year-old wide receivers don’t often come to mind. But, Marvin Jones is too good of a value to not buy, even in dynasty leagues. Jones is entering the final season of a five-year, $40 million contract he signed with the Lions back in 2016. Over the course of that deal, Jones has accumulated 3,318 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns in 53 games. That includes his 2019 campaign when he went for 779 yards and nine touchdowns on 62 receptions (92 targets) and a 12.6 yards per reception average.
He missed the final three games with an ankle sprain. His nine touchdowns were tied for the second-most in the NFL at the time of the injury. Jones managed to score the second-most fantasy points of his career and finish among the top-20 wide receivers in points per game despite dealing with backup quarterbacks Jeff Driskel and David Blough over the second half.
See Where Marvin Jones Ranks In Our 2020 WR Rankings!
Jones’ 94.1-percent snap share was among the highest in the NFL and he was efficient with his opportunities. He turned his 92 targets (20.2-percent Target Rate) into a 67.4-percent Catch Rate while averaging 2.11 fantasy points per opportunity which was the 15th highest rate among wideouts. He also found himself in the top-15 in Production Premium and Target Premium. Equally impressive, is that he was efficient while seeing an average target distance of over 14 yards, including 19 deep targets and 684 Completed Air Yards. Jones can attribute his efficiency to little competition at the line of scrimmage from opposing cornerbacks. He played 20-percent of his snaps from the slot which led to a 4.84 yards of cushion average, the eighth most in the league.
The Lions have one of the most consolidated offenses for fantasy and Jones presents a safe floor of production as the second option in the passing attack behind Kenny Golladay. Second-year tight end T.J. Hockenson will likely see a bump in targets but that will impact Danny Amendola’s looks more than it will Jones’. Matthew Stafford will be back healthy which only makes Jones that much more appealing. The 12-year quarterback was having his best season in 2019, displaying incredible efficiency before missing the final eight games. With Stafford back in the fold, Jones will again be one of the more reliable WR3s in 2020, and with a dynasty startup ADP outside the top-130 (per DLF), he is an incredible value for any win-now team.
