The Chargers Defense / Special Teams unit is one we have some interest in this season. Particularly in TD-only leagues, since they've added Jacoby Jones to handle kick returns.
The Ravens released Jones in February, unwilling to pay him the salary he was due to be an excellent return man but mediocre receiver. Jones is 31 years old, and maybe his days of being a difference-making returner are behind him. But maybe not.
Jones was statistically ordinary with Houston, but elite with Baltimore, especially on kickoffs. Baltimore ranked 1st, 2nd, and 1st in the NFL on kickoff returns during the three years he played for them. On punts, Baltimore ranked 14th, 2nd, and 16th in his three years. Nothing special in two of those seasons, but better than they'd ranked in any of the previous three seasons before signing Jones.
With Houston, Jones didn't rank higher than 16th in kickoff returns in any of his last three seasons with the team. They actually took him off returns in 2011. However, they did rank in the top-1o in punt returns in two of his final three seasons with the Texans.
For his eight-year career, Jones has 9 kick return touchdowns -- 5 on kickoffs, 4 on punts. Five of those TDs came the last three seasons with the Ravens.
Punt and kickoff return rankings of Jones' teams are presented below. (Jones did not return kickoffs in 2011; just 4 as a rookie in 2007.)
| RETURN RANKINGS OF JACOBY JONES' TEAMS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Punts | KOs | Jones' TDs |
| 2014 | 14th | 1st | 1 |
| 2013 | 2nd | 2nd | 1 |
| 2012 | 16th | 1st | 3 |
| 2011 | 14th | - | 1 |
| 2010 | 29th | 27th | 0 |
| 2009 | 9th | 16th | 1 |
| 2008 | 3rd | 26th | 2 |
| 2007 | 17th | - | 0 |
--Andy Richardson