Fantasy Football: Maurice Jones-Drew Skips OTAs—Should You Be Concerned?

Ryan LesterJun 7, 2018

The Jacksonville Jaguars can’t be pleased with star running back Maurice Jones-Drew missing the OTAs, but of course their preference is for the team to be united. For the fantasy owner, whose team is constructed of players from a multitude of teams, is this cause for concern?

My gut says no.

For starters, the workouts are voluntary. Mojo is entering his seventh year in the league and has been a dynamic performer each and every year. He knows what it takes to get ready for the rigors of the season. It’s not like he’s sitting on his couch playing some advanced copy of Madden 13. He is preparing for another season.

For the record, the past two years he has not attended OTAs. The past two years (one by choice, one by lockout) he has worked out on his own. Despite knee concerns he combined for 3,621 total yards and 18 total touchdowns.

Oh, and he managed to run away with the NFL rushing title last year.

There aren’t many players with his consistency. Since taking the lead back role, MJD has run for at least 1,324 yards with at least 317 receiving yards. For those of you in PPR leagues, he has had at least 34 catches in those three years as well.

Mojo’s touchdown production has gone down from 13.5 TDs per year over his first four seasons to 9.0 per year over the past two, but that has been more of a function of Jacksonville’s offense rather than an indictment on Jones-Drew. Besides, who’s complaining about a two-year average of 1,800-plus total yards and nine scores?

Mojo is a gamer and is still at the top of his game. If he starts to miss mandatory workouts, then you can start to go in panic mode. For right now, just take a deep breath and trust him.

That said, if you are in a keeper league and his owner is the panicking type, it wouldn’t hurt to inquire about him.