Julio Jones is questionable, but should you start him vs. Saints?

Julio Jones needs to play well for the Atlanta Falcons to upset the New Orleans Saints.

Julio Jones has missed three games this season with the Atlanta Falcons due to injury. It has been a nagging hamstring issue that has kept Jones out for nearly a third of his team’s game. With him being sidelined last week for Atlanta’s shocking blowout home win over the Las Vegas Raiders, can we trust Jones to play in Week 13 vs. the arch rival New Orleans Saints at home?

The Fantasy Footballers are looking at the Falcons’ offense with a great bit of intrigue for this week. Jones, wide receiver Calvin Ridley, running back Todd Gurley and tight end Hayden Hurst listed on the team’s injury report ahead of the Saints game. Gurley and Jones are listed as questionable after not playing vs. the Raiders last week. What should you do with your lineup?

Check out The Fantasy Footballers for all their advice.

Obviously, if Jones and Gurley are healthy enough to play, you start them for their high-upside fantasy potential. Jones may not be anywhere near the touchdown threat of Gurley, but volume in PPR leagues make Jones a no-brainer start in most leagues as your WR1. However, he only has three 100-yard games this year and has just three touchdown receptions on the season.

Julio Jones has only had three 100-yard receiving games this season

The good news for Jones fantasy owners is when he feels like he is good to, he puts up numbers for you. In Week 6 after missing time with the hamstring initially, Jones had a monster game vs. the Minnesota Vikings. He had eight catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Dirty Birds get their first victory of the season under interim head coach Raheem Morris.

Jones then rattled off three more excellent fantasy performances vs. the Detroit Lions, the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos before re-aggravating his hamstring early in the first Saints game of the season two weeks ago. He only had two catches for 39 yards before being pulled. Jones has not had a 100-yard performance since Week 8’s road win over Carolina.

So if Jones is good to go, you should feel confident about starting him. It may take until Week 15 for him to have a phenomenal fantasy game, but he should get you somewhere around seven receptions and approach 100 yards. If the gets a rare touchdown, Jones could be the reason you win in Week 13 and clinch your playoff spot in your fantasy league. The upside is there for sure.