Between age, injuries and ineffectiveness, MJD has gone from stud to outcast. According to ESPN.com, he's getting drafted around the 92nd overall pick, which makes him on average the 31st running back selected. Most owners are generally skeptical about Oakland Raiders running backs, with Darren McFadden listed as the 40th running back in average draft position.
With McFadden, you can understand the distrust. How many owners have been burned by reading or hearing that this was the year that the former Arkansas Razorback would break out?
Jones-Drew, on the other hand, has at least been a strong fantasy player in the past.
In addition, as Bleacher Report's Cian Fahey pointed out, there seems to be a disconnect about how well MJD actually did last year and how much he's worth in 2014:
Inevitably, Jones-Drew's fantasy value will be hindered by the presence of McFadden and Latavius Murray in the backfield. ESPN.com's Christopher Harris doesn't envision much success for MJD unless McFadden is moved out:
The best case for Jones-Drew is he looks great in camp and the Raiders decide to release McFadden, who is owed almost no guaranteed money. If that happens, MJD would be the starter and Murray would be his handcuff, and then maybe Jones-Drew would belong somewhere in the top-25 discussion. But we're a long way from there, not least because I'm wholly unconvinced MJD can ever be the same player he was before his foot fracture. For now, he's listed No. 36 in my RB ranks, with McFadden at No. 41 and Murray at No. 50.
NFL.com's Michael Fabiano also cast a lot of doubt on whether either MJD or McFadden is worth any sort of consideration this year:
Jones-Drew will never be a top-10 fantasy back again, but why can't he be a solid RB3 in stand...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
