James Jones misses practice again; hard to picture fantasy usefulness

Green Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones missed practice again Thursday, according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Tom Silverstein, putting his status for the team's game Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings in significant doubt.

Jones has 349 receiving yards and two touchdowns in five games this season, including a 178-yard outing against the Redskins in Week 2 and a 127-yard game in Week 5. Jones left the team's Week 6 game against the Baltimore Ravens with a knee injury. With Jones (and teammate Randall Cobb) out Sunday, the team incorporated wide receiver Jarrett Boykin into its game plan, and Boykin caught eight passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.

Fantasy impact: Unless there is a significant change in his status in Friday's practice reports, fantasy owners should consider Jones unusable this week; the Packers don't play until Sunday night, so if Jones is deemed a game-time decision and ends up scratched, the only alternatives to fantasy owners who wait on a Jones decision will be Packers, Vikings, Seahawks, and Rams. In short, fantasy owners should find an earlier alternative to Jones.

As for Boykin, he's probably a fine WR3/flex option regardless of Jones' status. Cobb is still out, and tight end Jermichael Finley will miss the game as well. With or without Jones, Boykin will be a part of the Packers' game plan, and should supply enough production to be of fantasy use.