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Matt Jones / Third-round running backs

Rookie should win backup job in Washington

Alfred Morris is the man in Washington's backfield, but he comes off a down season, and we know he won't be on the field in passing situations and on third downs. That makes third-rounder Matt Jones a player to keep in mind in the late-round, handcuff running back stages of fantasy drafts.

Jones is a bigger (6-1, 235) back out of Florida, and he didn't post big numbers in college. He's kind of a straight-ahead back. But unlike Morris, he has good hands and could be a factor in the passing game. After losing Roy Helu in free agency, Washington has an opening there.

“The thing about Matt is you think of him as a big power-type back, but really Matt has done some things out in space that have been very, very impressive – making moves on the second level, getting to the second level,” says Jay Gruden. “In the passing game, running some option routes on linebackers. He has done some good things. He has got natural hands, so we’ve been very impressed him.”

Jones is one of a number of running backs selected in the third round who could be factors in 2015. The Cardinals selected David Johnson, the Browns took Duke Johnson, and the Falcons drafted Tevin Coleman. Of the four, Coleman has the clearest path to a starting job, but you never know.

Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon and T.J. Yeldon will (and should be) the first running backs selected in drafts; Ameer Abdullah will likely also go before those above-mentioned backs (maybe not Coleman). But one or two of the third-rounders will come into some value during the season.

The 40 other third-round running backs drafted since 2000, sorted by rushing yards their rookie seasons, are presented below.

THIRD-ROUND RUNNING BACKS, 2000-2014
YearPickPlayerTeamAttYardsTDs
200889Steve SlatonTexans268128210
200864Kevin SmithLions2389768
201171DeMarco MurrayCowboys1648972
201475Tre MasonRams1797655
201494Terrance WestBrowns1716735
200679Jerious NorwoodFalcons996332
200565Frank Gore49ers1276083
200165James JacksonBrowns1955542
200965Shonn Greene Jets1085402
201496Jerick McKinnonVikings1135380
201284Bernard PierceRavens1085321
200180Kevan Barlow49ers1255125
200063Travis PrenticeBrowns1735128
201173Stevan RidleyPatriots874411
200076J.R. RedmondPatriots1254063
200873Jamaal CharlesKansas City673571
201267Ronnie HillmanBroncos853301
200185Travis MinorDolphins592814
200577Ryan MoatsEagles552783
201396Knile DavisKansas City702425
200284Lamar GordonRams652283
200974Glen Coffee 49ers832261
200393Chris Brown Titans562210
200396Justin Fargas Raiders402030
200291Brian WestbrookEagles461930
201469Charles SimsBuccaneers661851
200573Vernand MorencyTexans461842
200771Lorenzo BookerDolphins281250
200869Jacob HesterChargers19952
200793Garrett WolfeBears31850
201497Dri ArcherSteelers10400
200377Musa Smith Ravens9312
200674Brian CalhounLions7190
200790Tony HuntEagles10161
201196Alex GreenPackers3110
200182Heath EvansSeahawks2110
200385B.J. Askew Jets290
2005101Maurice ClarettBroncos000
200081Rueben DroughnsLions000
200088Doug ChapmanVikings000

--Andy Richardson

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