2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: The Case for Cowboys Running Back Felix Jones

ESPN recently released their 2011 NFL Fantasy Football rankings, and fantasy nuts everywhere will spend frantic hours studying draft kits and cheat sheets as if they were anticipating a midterm in Organic Chemistry. Before the NFL kicks off on September 8th, expect an uptick in sales of coffee and energy drinks as fantasy owners finalize their draft boards. Any fantasy owner will tell you that it is not their first- or second-round picks that cause them to lose sleep at night. After all, selecting players like Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson or Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson involves neither risk nor analysis. However, starting in Round 3, selecting Fantasy Football players induces cold sweats and ulcers as fantasy owners attempt to select the player that will provide the edge over the competition.

In an attempt to save fantasy owners time, and money spent on antacids, I would like to make the case for Dallas Cowboys running back Felix Jones as a solid choice for a No. 2 running back.

ESPN ranked Jones as the 23rd best running back, and the 51st best player overall, behind the likes of New York Giants' running back Ahmad Bradshaw and Carolina’s DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, despite out-gaining all three in the 2010 season. Despite carrying for only one rushing touchdown last season, there is reason to believe Jones will see a surge in fantasy scoring.

Felix Jones’ involvement in the Dallas offense has steadily increased since his rookie season in 2008. His carries jumped from 116 to 185 last season, and he rounded up 48 receptions, compared to just 19 in 2009. Expect Felix Jones to carry even more of the offensive burden as a result of the Cowboys’ recent personnel moves.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and head coach Jason Garrett trimmed the fat from the roster in the shortened offseason. Part of the purge was running back Marion Barber, who now suits up for the Chicago Bears. Felix Jones will no longer split time with Barber, which should lead to more red-zone attempts and an improvement upon his two offensive touchdowns last season.

As important as the departure of Marion Barber was to Felix Jones, the re-signing of offensive tackle Doug Free and the return of quarterback Tony Romo will also pay dividends. The Free re-signing signifies the Cowboys’ commitment to the ground game and their ability to execute it, and a healthy Tony Romo will prevent opposing defenses from loading up to stop the running attack.

Felix Jones is a tremendous value pick in the fourth or fifth round of any 2011 Fantasy Football draft. Given the Cowboys’ organizational confidence in him and the roster moves he will benefit from, the stage is set for Jones to have a breakout season and eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark. His 2010 touchdown numbers will certainly back off many fantasy owners, but they have nowhere to go but up.  

Now that your running back qualms are settled, you can focus on another existential conundrum: Who to draft at tight end?