Zay Jones

Buffalo Bills rookie WR Zay Jones was second on the team in targets (and first among WRs) with six, but hauled in just two receptions in his team's Week 2 road loss to the Carolina Panthers. Jones finished with a mere 18 yards receiving on the day.

Fantasy Impact

There were some who thought heading into the season that the 2017 Bills would find themselves frequently playing from a deficit, which would translate into an increase in passing attempts, and that Jones could potentially see a high volume of targets, usage, and production as a result. While we only have a two-week sample size to go on, that theory seems to have been proven false thus far. The Bills passing offense has been anemic (just 125 yards through the air in Week 2) and Jones has simply not had the opportunity to make any kind of meaningful impact. The narrative may change as the season wears on, but at this point, Jones is only marginally viable to remain on your roster, and can be safely dropped in favor of a player offering more reliability and/or upside.

Buffalo Bills Rookie WR Zay Jones got his career off to a slow start in his first regular season game, a home victory over the New York Jets on Sunday. Jones was targeted four times, but was only able to haul in a single catch for 21 yards.

Fantasy Impact

The target share was slightly encouraging, as he led all Bills WRs in that category on the day. The bad news is that the unit as a whole was underutilized, as the team seemed to prefer to distribute the majority of targets to their RBs, FBs and TEs (12 receptions on 20 targets combined for those groups). Jones has potential, but his value is contingent upon volume of usage - until we know if Sunday was the anomaly or the norm, Jones is no better than a WR5 in fantasy.

Buffalo Bills WR Zay Jones was tops in targets on his team in their third pre-season game of 2017, a road loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Bills QBs looked his way eight times, of which he caught three for 28 yards.

Fantasy Impact

Also notable in this game was the early departure of QB Tyrod Taylor, who left the game after suffering a concussion. Jones target share remained high with backup QB Nathan Peterman, which was encouraging. His prospects for the coming season are somewhat variable, due to the uncertainty at the QB position after Taylor's injury, and how his usage will be impacted once he shares the field with presumed #1 WR Jordan Mathews, who missed another game with a lingering chest injury. Jones continues to be a borderline top 50 fantasy WR with the upside for more, contingent upon how his role in Buffalo evolves.

After missing the team's first pre-season game due to injury, Buffalo Bills rookie WR Zay Jones got his first taste of live snaps at the NFL level on Thursday night, making his debut in a road loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Jones tied for the team lead in targets (six), hauling in three receptions for 42 yards.

Fantasy Impact

In addition to it being Jones debut, it was the first look at the Bills' passing offense since the departure via trade of former top WR Sammy Watkins. As the Bills were also missing recent acquisition (and presumed new top WR) Jordan Matthews, who sat out with a chest injury, the rookie figured to get a substantive look. The sample size was small, and the play of starting QB Tyrod Taylor was poor, but Jones looked competent and capable catching passes from both Taylor and second string QB, and fellow rookie, Nathan Peterman - especially on a nice, over the shoulder 22 yard reception along the sideline from Peterman near the end of the first half, which helped set up a Bills FG. Jones' value going into the season hovers somewhere at or around WR50, but don't be surprised if his combination of talent and opportunity propel him higher as the season progresses.

Buffalo Bills beat writer Chris Brown is reporting wide receiver Zay Jones (knee) returned to practice Thursday.

Fantasy Impact

Jones, who suffered a knee injury at the early portion of OTAs in May, returned to practice Thursday. Barring a setback, the rookie receiver is expected to be a full-go for mandatory minicamp and training camp. He is in line to start opposite Sammy Watkins in 2017, but his role could be contested if the Bills move forward and sign free agent wideout Jeremy Maclin.