Is Felix Jones Worth Starting? | 2010 NFL Fantasy Football Rankings

It’s no secret in the Dallas Cowboys organization that owner Jerry Jones is a big fan of running back Felix Jones. Come to think of it, why shouldn’t Jerry be a fan of Felix, I mean the kid has tremendous skills and comes from Jerry’s old stomping grounds of Arkansas.

For all the talent that Jones possesses, he has had two problems to get over before fantasy football owners can count on him to be a reliable fantasy option. First, Jones is the backup to Marion Barber and has to fight for playing time with fellow backup Tashard Choice.

The second problem is that Jones has had a problem with health issues and has had a problem staying on the field. Jones fell to injury after the first six weeks of his rookie campaign in 2008 and missed the rest of the season. Last year he missed two games and was slowed through many others because of a lingering knee injury.

Even though Jones has had his share of injuries, he has clearly been the top performing running back in Dallas when he is healthy. This was made very clear to fantasy owners when at the end of the season Jones ripped through the Philadelphia Eagles defense two weeks in a row.

Not only did Jones total 239 yards on only 31 carries (7.7 yards per carry average) but he also had two touchdown runs from long distances.

With these performances and the fact that Barber failed to stay healthy in his own right, have left the door open for Jones to be the 2010 opening day starter in the Cowboys’ backfield.

How Productive Can Jones Be For Fantasy Owners?

While Jones will probably be the starter come opening day, fantasy owner have to question how productive this tailback can be for their respective fantasy teams.

Barber is still projected to be in the team this coming year but fellow tailback Choice may end up being traded away this offseason. One trade rumor (false rumor but still interesting) was that Choice was going to be traded the  Chargers for cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

This trade may not be legit, but it does show that the Cowboys may be willing to part ways with their third runner if they can get a decent talent in return. If Choice does, in fact, get traded it would boost both Jones and Barber’s fantasy values as there would be only two tailbacks worth mentioning in Dallas.

Even if Choice is gone from the team in 2010, Jones will have to deal with Barber looming over him as a threat to take away touches and more importantly, steal touchdowns away at the goal line.

Beyond that I still believe (as I wrote last offseason ) that Barber is a more productive NFL and fantasy running back when he is coming off the bench in contrast to starting games. With fresh legs at the end of football games, Barber has proven to be highly productive in the past, and I still believe he can be solid if used that way again.

Early Fantasy Football Ranking For Felix Jones

Some fantasy football owners will be geeked over Jones’s game breaking ability and draft him a bit too high come draft day. That being said I believe this running back makes for a great early flex play option on your team, even if he’s not the starter on opening day.

While Jones has a ton of ability he will have to share time with at least Barber, and he does have a poor history when it comes to health. To count on a player like that as your No. 2 running back and every week starter is a bit too high in my book.

Still, this kid is definitely worth an early flex play draft pick, and he should put a few stretches together of dominance throughout the fantasy season. That is of course assuming he stays healthy.

NFL fantasy football player rankings writer Sean E. Douglas: fantasy-info.com