The Detroit Lions acted fast to replace retired superstar wide receiver Calvin Johnson, inking receiver Marvin Jones, formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals, to a deal on the first day of the new league year Wednesday. Jones joins Golden Tate as Detroit pass-catchers.
Fantasy impact of Marvin Jones free agent signing
Detroit gets its nominal Calvin Johnson replacement in the ex-Cincinnati receiver. We break down the fantasy implications.
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After missing the entire 2014 season with an injury, Jones had a few big moments in 2015. He didn't have any 100-yard games, but had 90-plus and a touchdown twice. He ended the season with 816 yards and four scores as the third target behind wide receiver A.J. Green and tight end Tyler Eifert. He and Tate -- who had 813 yards and six touchdowns in 2015 -- will look to replace the 1,214 yards and nine scores tallied by Johnson last year, as the wide receiver retired earlier in the week.
Fantasy impact: Obviously, neither Marvin Jones nor Golden Tate is ever going to be Calvin Johnson. Both will have fantasy relevance, though, as the best pass-catchers in the Detroit offense. Tate had several big moments when Johnson missed games to injury in 2014, and will slot in as the team’s No. 1 receiver in 2016. He’ll be a mid-to-low WR2. Jones, meanwhile, will be Tate’s No. 2, and is going to look like a high-end WR4 in the Detroit offense.
Meanwhile, in Cincinnati, the Bengals have to hope Green and Eifert can stay healthy in 2016, as Jones' departure, coupled with the departure of Mohamed Sanu to Atlanta, leaves the team painfully thin at wide receiver. Look for the team to make an acquisition, either in free agency or the draft.
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