Kevin Jones -- what to expect this year?

[PurpleHaze]

Even if KJ comes back 100% the situation has changed.... They have added two more VERY good WR's (C.Johnson and S.McDonald)
And regardless of how anyone feels about Tatum Bell, he will still get some touches every game, as will Brian Calhoun, and TJ Duckett when he returns... But there is only 1 football..

SO in my opinion, even if KJ is 100% (Which I think he will struggle with injury off and on all year, but thats another issue)
KJ will not have same opportunities he had last season, becasue of all the other options!

I like the D.Foster side... Good Luck with your season!

[FatFoot]

I disagree. I think he's very much a piece that the offense can and will make use of. Reliable hands, and goal line size, with big speed for explosive plays. Once fully healthy, if he gets there, I think he'll be an easy #2 this year. Remember... the Lions D is suffering. Their offense is not. As he CAN and DOES catch well (61 in 12 games last year? Not half bad!)

Much better RB than Tatum, and will almost certainly take the job back as a featured back, not a RBBC. I expect Tatum in single digit carries, and KJ to have touches in the teens, with plenty of looks in the passing game. I expect a good second half.

[Azrael]

I think they may end up being sort of a push both having some good and not so good games. Foster is a fast powerful back but DeAngelo will limit his rushes to 15-20 per game and Smith will steal TDs from him. I think you are sort of looking at a poor man's Deuce McAllister from last year. Don't count on him for monster games but he should put together respectable #'s in the 8-15ish range. Once in awhile you may get lucky and get a 20+ point game out of him like last week.

[moochman]

Would you rather have Foster or Jones.

I ask this b/c I currently have a trade in offering Foster for KJ straight up. With all the positive signs I've heard (cleared by medical, little pain, looks good in practice), I think he could be a great sleeper for the second half. Foster looked great this week, but there is nothing in his past that tells me he can be consistent. Also 4 of Fosters 8 100 yard games have come against ATL who he tore up last week.

With KJs pass catching ability there is no reason he can't be a solid RB2 by week 7 or 8.

I don't see much difference as far as injury concerns go for either back. But I do like Foster's O scheme better. It's too easy to see scenarios whereby KJ or whichever RB only gets 10 touches a game while the Lions try to pass their way into competitiveness. KJ will have the feature role, it's just not that lucrative in a Mad Martz O.

KJ was putting up some pretty solid numbers last year when he was playing in Martz system. Martz system makes your RB number dependent on catching the ball, but KJ has proven he can do that. He had 61 receptions last year and missed like 5 games or so. Marshall Faulk was pretty solid in Martz system. Also I have ADP as my RB2 right now, but I don't like counting on him to produce towards the end of the season especially with the amount of touches he is getting right now. History says there is no reason to think that Foster will be there to produce when I get to the end of the season. Plus, D Williams is not going anywhere and T Bell sucks.

True KJ scored well last season before getting hurt. But things have changed. As someone mentioned there is better WRs to throw to and whether Bell sux or not, he is there and cannot be ignored entirely. Also the O-line has yet to prove itself capable of run blocking. I'm a Lions' fan so I would take KJ, but that doesn't mean that Foster won't be the better scoring of the two.

[jcgage0]

Wow, great feedback guys. I hadn't looked in a couple days and logged on to find a good debate. Leftovers is quickly becoming my favorite forum. The other forums are to restrictive.

Anyways, I pulled back the Foster offer. Not necissarily b/c I feel Foster will be better, but b/c I realized my bye week sintuation works much better with Foster as my primary backup than KJ. I have RB1 and RB2 byes in weeks 5 and 6 when Foster is playing the very average run Ds of the Saints and Cardinals. On the contrary, KJ is going against the tough run D of WAS and the toughest D of all BYE.

Hopefully Foster goes on a run and KJ doesn't do much while trying to get back into the swing of things against the Bears and WAS.

[Flyn high again]

My gut feeling is that KJ will have a good year and Foster will get hurt... again. I don't have any concrete evidence to back that up, it's just a feeling.

[Richie Rich]

I see Jones as a solid #4 RB

He is a great #3RB and a solid flex option, and a good #2RB...i think 4thRB is stretching it...and i am not just saying that b/c i have him...i was offered Larry Johnson for KJ and TJ and I have left the offer sitting on the table for a few days now b/c I really like the possibilities KJ brings to the table...

[Flyn high again]

One thing to keep in mind with KJ is that with the Bears having problems, there may be an end of the season scramble for 1st place in the NFC North division. It usually makes sense to stack your line up with guys who are playing for something during the FF playoff weeks rather than guys on teams who are out of it or who are coasting into the playoffs. I want a starter who will work weeks 13-16 not someone who will be sitting on the bench waiting for the playoffs to begin.

[fantasizing]

Asssuming he's healthy, I think KJ is a good play the rest of the season for the very fact that the Lions passing game is excellent. This means:
- alot of "cheap" 1st and goal touchdowns
- gapping holes at the line of scrimmage because of flooded secondaries trying to deal with all those receivers
- lots of screen passes and KJ is a very good reciever
- and KJ is explosive meaning Gore like long runs may be possible