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Julio Jones

Star wideout seeking raise

Story out that Julio Jones is looking for a raise, and could sit out OTAs. These stories come out every year around this time, sometimes the beginning of a lengthy holdout, sometimes not a big deal. Jones himself missed some of OTAs a year ago. But it's something to keep an eye on anyway.

Jones is scheduled to make $10.5 million in 2018. His average annual salary puts him 8th in the league among wideouts, making him seem a little underpaid, perhaps.

Jones has been about the league's most prolific receiver short of Antonio Brown in terms of yards over the last four years. He's put up over 1,400 yards in each of those seasons, something even Brown can't say.

But the scoring bugaboo we've talked about in the past remains. Of the 79 1,000-yard receiving seasons by wide receivers in that span, Jones has just one of the top 45 in terms of touchdowns; none in the top 20. He's scored more than 6 TDs in just one of those four seasons. Pretty remarkable.

1000-YARD WIDE RECEIVERS, 2014-2017
YearPlayerNoRecAvgTD
2014Dez Bryant, Dall.88132015.016
2014Antonio Brown, Pitt.129169813.214
2015Brandon Marshall, Chi.109150213.814
2015Allen Robinson, Jac.80140017.514
2016Jordy Nelson, G.B.97125713.014
2015Doug Baldwin, Sea.78106913.714
2014Jordy Nelson, G.B.98151915.513
2015Odell Beckham Jr., NYG96145015.113
2017DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.96137814.413
2016Mike Evans, T.B.96132113.812
2014Odell Beckham Jr., 91130514.312
2014Randall Cobb, G.B.91128714.112
2016Antonio Brown, Pitt.106128412.112
2014Mike Evans, 68105115.512
2015Eric Decker, NYJ80102712.812
2015Antonio Brown, Pitt.136183413.511
2014Demaryius Thomas, Den.111161914.611
2015DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.111152113.711
2016Odell Beckham Jr., NYG101136713.510
2014Jeremy Maclin, 85131815.510
2015A.J. Green, Cin.86129715.110
2014Alshon Jeffery, Chi.85113313.310
2015Allen Hurns, Jac.64103116.110
2015Julio Jones, Atl.136187113.89
2017Antonio Brown, Pitt.101153315.29
2014Emmanuel Sanders, Pitt.101140413.99
2015Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.109121511.29
2015Calvin Johnson, Det.88121413.89
2015Brandin Cooks, N.O.84113813.69
2016Michael Thomas, 92113712.49
2017Marvin Jones, Det.61110118.09
2015Sammy Watkins, Buff.60104717.59
2014Kelvin Benjamin, 73100813.89
2017Tyreek Hill, K.C.75118315.88
2016Brandin Cooks, N.O.78117315.08
2015Jeremy Maclin, Phil.87108812.58
2017A.J. Green, Cin.75107814.48
2014Calvin Johnson, Det.71107715.28
2016Michael Crabtree, Oak.89100311.38
2017Keenan Allen, S.D.102139313.77
2014T.Y. Hilton, Ind.82134516.47
2016Doug Baldwin, Sea.94112812.07
2017Brandin Cooks, N.O.65108216.67
2016Tyrell Williams, 69105915.37
2015John Brown, Ariz.65100315.47
2014Julio Jones, Atl.104159315.36
2016T.Y. Hilton, Ind.91144815.96
2016Julio Jones, Atl.83140917.06
2015Demaryius Thomas, Den.105130412.46
2014DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.76121015.96
2014DeSean Jackson, Phil.56116920.96
2015Jarvis Landry, Mia.110115710.56
2017Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.109115610.66
2015Emmanuel Sanders, Den.76113514.96
2015Amari Cooper, 72107014.96
2014Steve Smith Sr., Car.79106513.56
2014A.J. Green, Cin.69104115.16
2016Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.10710239.66
2017Michael Thomas, N.O.104124512.05
2016Amari Cooper, Oak.83115313.95
2015T.Y. Hilton, Ind.69112416.35
2016Demaryius Thomas, Den.90108312.05
2014Anquan Boldin, S.F.83106212.85
2016Emmanuel Sanders, Den.79103213.15
2016Terrelle Pryor, Cle.77100713.15
2017Golden Tate, Det.92100310.95
2016Kenny Britt, St.L.68100214.75
2017Mike Evans, T.B.71100114.15
2014Golden Tate, Sea.99133113.44
2017Adam Thielen, Minn.91127614.04
2016Jarvis Landry, Mia.94113612.14
2016Golden Tate, Det.91107711.84
2016Mike Wallace, Minn.72101714.14
2016DeSean Jackson, Wash.56100517.94
2017Julio Jones, Atl.88144416.43
2015Mike Evans, T.B.74120616.33
2016Julian Edelman, N.E.98110611.33
2016Pierre Garcon, Wash.79104113.23
2014Vincent Jackson, T.B.70100214.32

Table sorted by touchdowns in those 1,000-yard seasons. Touchdown scoring isn't all on the player. The quarterback, the offensive scheme, and the other players involvement in the red zone are all factors.

But the bottom line is that Jones has been a disappointment in touchdown heavy leagues. If you need another reason to be a little wary of making him a first-round pick in fantasy drafts, the threat of there being an issue with his contract is one to keep in mind.

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index