Fantasy Football Profile: Beanie Wells and Thomas Jones

Beanie Wells

Hopefully, Beanie Wells’ ankle injury isn’t a sign of things to come for this talented back.

Not that I’m comparing him to Adrian Peterson, but they were both talented backs with injury history in college. While Wells will never reach the ceiling that "All Day" is setting, he could be a very solid back, especially with the pressure that their passing game puts on defenses.

The Arizona Cardinals were miserable in that department last year, with Edgerrin James losing a step and Tim Hightower lacking explosiveness. The addition of Wells should change that, if he can stay healthy.

Before you start moving him too far up your draft board, remember that Tim Hightower was fairly effective in short yardage situations, and that the Cardinals will likely utilize him in that role to minimize the beating that Wells takes.

The Cardinals have a fairly difficult regular season schedule with St. Louis (Week 11) looking like the only cream puff. Where the Cardinals' players are most valuable is the fantasy playoffs, as they square off with San Francisco, Detroit, and St. Louis. 

If Wells can stay healthy, I’m putting him down for 1,150 total yards, with seven TDs this season.

Thomas Jones

Thomas Jones is coming off of an unbelievable year, in which he ran for 1,312 yards with 13 TDs, and added 36 receptions for 207 yards and two TDs. 

Though he’s in great shape, he will turn 31 this year, which has typically been the beginning of the end for running backs. He has carried a pretty heavy workload in the past four seasons, which didn’t go unnoticed by the New York Jets, as they drafted Shonn Greene from Iowa. Also in the mix will be Leon Washington, who was electric (5.9 yards per carry) when he had the football last year. Washington had nine TDs (six rushing, two receiving, and one kick return). 

I suspect Jones will have one more year to be the lead dog, before being pushed out next year. If the Jets struggle, they could start planning for the future with more Greene for the green and white.

The Jets have a pretty tough schedule playing in the AFC East, along with bouts against Houston, Tennessee, Jacksonville, and Carolina. Their fantasy playoff schedule consists of games against Tampa Bay, Atlanta, and Indianapolis, which shouldn’t prove too difficult.  It’s just a matter of Jones still getting the bulk of the carries when those games roll around. 

My expectations have lowered of Jones, but he always seems to prove people wrong. I’ll take my chances and figure him for 900 total yards and six TDs.

Article originally published at LestersLegends.com