Daniel Jones

Fantasy Upside

Daniel Jones had an uneven, but very promising rookie year. He took over as the starter early in the season and went on to make 12 starts, throw 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The Giants struggled to win with the league’s third-worst defense, but Jones averaged 16.4 fantasy points per game, good for 16th in the league. The Giants don’t look to be significantly better defensively heading into this season, which should allow Jones to continue slinging it and he should benefit from a full season with Golden Tate and – hopefully – Sterling Shepard, who both missed time last year due to suspension and injury, respectively. Jones also should benefit from an offensive line that has been steadily improving over the past few seasons from one of the worst in the league, to one of the upper-third.

Fantasy Downside

Jones’ numbers were a bit inflated by his production in three key games last season, with 13 of his 22 touchdowns against the Lions, Jets and Washington. All three of those games were shoot-outs as well, with negative game script helping him to at least 40 passing attempts. Jones had some nasty games throughout the season, including blowout losses to the Packers and Patriots, where he threw a combined six interceptions. The bet against Jones is basically the opposite of the bet for him. Do you believe in the good parts of his rookie season, or the bad?

2020 Bottom Line

Jones is likely somewhere in between the good and the bad, but if he can continue to show improvement after a promising rookie season, he should sniff QB1 numbers as a sophomore. We have him ranked higher than his 11th-round ADP in 12-team leagues as a fringe starter in 1QB leagues, making him a value-pick for fantasy owners looking to wait at the position. Because it’s likely the Giants will continue to throw the ball – ninth in passing attempts last year – Jones should have a fairly high floor to go with significant upside. He’s a great option at his current ADP.

Week 16 at Washington Redskins

Daniel Jones returns from injury this week in what looks like a good matchup on the surface, but Washington actually ranks 11th in aFPA to opposing quarterbacks. Jones has some potential and adds a little more pop and mobility to the team than Eli Manning at this stage in his career, but he's still a turnover machine and coming off an injury in a less-than-favorable matchup in what is likely a championship game? No thank you.

Week 13 vs. Green Bay Packers

Daniel Jones threw a pair of touchdowns against the Bears last night but it wasn’t enough to pull out a victory and the Giants fell to 2-9 on the season. He only threw for 150 yards, adding 27 on the ground. Jones hasn’t lit the world on fire this season, but he’s shown promise and he hasn’t thrown a pick for two consecutive weeks. The Giants defense certainly isn’t helping him. Only the Cardinals, Buccaneers and Dolphins allow more points per game this season.

This week, Jones faces a Packers defense that ranks 16th in aFPA to opposing quarterbacks, so there should be some room for him to operate. However, the struggles of the offense, in general, makes him risky as anything more than a QB2 option in most fantasy leagues.