Thomas Jones

Jones rushed for 1,402 yards (third most in NFL) and scored 14 touchdowns last season. He had the benefit of volume (his 331 carries were the second-most in the league) and running behind possibly the best offensive line in football, but his performance was highly impressive nevertheless. As a reward, the Jets opted against re-signing him, choosing a clearly fading LaDainian Tomlinson instead. Jones ended up in Kansas City, and while Jamaal Charles is the clear starter, he's unproven and has never carried a full workload. Jones has averaged 1,357 rushing yards and 13.5 touchdowns the last two years, but there are some red flags. He will be 32 entering this season, has averaged 308 carries the last five seasons and his career-carry total of 2,280 is the third-highest among all active running backs (the other two are Fred Taylor and Tomlinson). Moreover, Jones' production fell precipitously in the passing game last season, which is often a harbinger before aging backs fall off a cliff. Don't draft off last year's stats - Jones is old, has a ton of mileage, is now a backup in a far worse situation in Kansas City. Buyer beware.

After scoring just one rushing touchdown in 2007, Jones reached the end zone 15 times last season while also leading the AFC with 1,312 rushing yards. He also upped his YPC to 4.5, the second-highest mark of his career. However, he’ll be 31 when the season starts and has averaged a whopping 302.5 carries over the past four seasons. He’s approaching 2,000 career rushing attempts and averaged just 3.6 YPC over the final three games last year, so he’s at risk of wearing down. The Jets have a fantastic run-blocking unit, but the team traded a good portion of its draft to select Shonn Greene, whom the coaching staff seems to love. Jones skipped pre-draft camps while wanting a new contract, but reported to the Jets OTAs in late May. It’s doubtful Jones will get a new deal given his age and the team’s selection of Greene. There’s also a new coaching regime in New York with no ties to Jones, and Greene already appears to be Rex Ryan’s “guy.” Jones has converted just 18 percent (6-of-33) of his goal-line opportunities over the past two seasons, so he’s almost certain to lose short-yardage work to the bruising rookie. Don’t draft Jones based off last year’s stats, as there’s nowhere to go but down.

Jones stayed healthy in 2007 and the 1,119 rushing yards look solid enough on the surface, but there's plenty to be pessimistic about in reality. It took the fifth-most carries in football (310) for Jones to gain those yards, and his 3.6 YPC mark was the worst among the NFL's top-20 rushers. Moreover, Jones doesn't catch many balls and scored just two touchdowns, thanks in large part to going 1-of-17 at the goal line, which is about as inefficient as it gets. Jones was 11-of-25 at the goal line the previous two years, so maybe it was an aberration or a reflection of the Jets' poor run blocking. Although New York made big acquisitions on both the offensive and defensive lines during the offseason, Jones will be 30 this year and is coming off a heavy workload for the past three years, so it would be unwise to expect much of a bounce back.

Jones held off Cedric Benson the last two seasons in Chicago, turning in solid performances as the Bears’ feature back. A trade to the Jets should lead to similar fantasy value, as he’s looking at a comparable workload in New York, with Leon Washington helping on third downs. Jones doesn’t produce big receiving stats, but he’s a consistent runner who can be used near the goal line – though he converted only four of 13 goal-line carries last season. The Jets called 491 run plays last year, sixth most in the league, despite an offense that wasn’t on the field an inordinate amount of time. So, Jones should be given ample opportunity in his new uniform. D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold are part of a young, emerging offensive line. Kevan Barlow averaged 2.8 YPC on 131 carries for them last year, so the team will welcome the sight of a back actually being able to break a tackle every once in a while.

Jones easily held off the challenge from first round draft pick Cedric Benson in 2005, putting together not just the best season of his career but one of the better seasons in the whole league. A nimble runner with speed and acceleration, Jones has proven to be a very good fit for the Bears’ offense. In fact, his 1,335 rushing yards last year were the most by a Chicago rusher since Walter Payton in the teams’ memorable ’85 season. Despite his success, Jones might not be able to hang onto his spot with the Bears. The organization wants to prove that it didn’t waste a top pick on Benson, who should be fully recovered from the knee injury that cut short his rookie season. A trade to another team (it’s unfortunate that the team most in need of a top RB might be division rival Green Bay) could impact Jones’ numbers either positively or negatively, but a deal seems all but inevitable with Jones skipping optional offseason workouts and hiring trouble-making Drew Rosenhaus to represent him. The best-case scenario, at least for Jones owners, might just be another injury to Benson before all the bridges are completely burned.

In his first season as a full-time starter, Jones performed passably under the circumstances, averaging 4.0 yards per carry despite playing for the league’s lowest-ranked offense. Jones also chipped in as a receiver, catching 56 passes, third most in the league among running backs. At 5-10, 220 pounds, Jones has a good burst, excellent speed and all the physical tools necessary for a top back, but for some reason hasn’t put it all together thus far in his career. And it’s unlikely he’ll get that chance any time soon, as the Bears took Cedric Benson with the fourth overall pick in this year’s draft. Coach Lovie Smith still considers Jones his starter at press time, but given Benson’s considerable talents and where the Bears drafted him, Jones likely will split carries at best and lose out on some goal-line opportunities (though Jones was a solid 7-of-12 from inside the five last year).

The Bears are trying to run the Rams’ offense, which means they need a Marshall Faulk. Jones was the closest thing they could find for ’04, and coach Lovie Smith believes that Jones’ quickness and pass-catching ability fit the offense. Jones ran well down the stretch for Tampa Bay last year, but it’s worth noting that coach Jon Gruden didn’t make a big effort to keep him. Moreover, Anthony Thomas is still around to at least steal some goal-line carries.

Jones gained 511 yards in 138 attempts (3.7 ypa, two TDs) for Phoenix in 2002 in just nine games. In comparison to the 2002 Bucs, that's just about what Mike Alstott did in 16 games, and only about 200 yards less that what Micheal Pittman accomplished in the regular season last year. If the Bucs cut Pittman loose due to his legal troubles (or if the courts in Phoenix do it for them), Jones will likely be the Bucs' feature back if he's healthy.