If you predicted the Indianapolis Colts going off while Daniel Jones was a high-end fantasy QB1 against the Dolphins, I have some questions. What are this week’s winning lottery numbers? And is Daniel Jones going to keep balling all season long?
Jones threw for 272 yards and a touchdown, which is solid enough — but he added 26 rushing yards and two rushing scores. So let’s break down his Week 1 performance and figure out if Jones can be a QB1 in fantasy leagues, thanks to his considerable rushing upside.
Is Jones A QB1 Now?
Daniel Jones posted the third-highest fantasy QB score in Week 1, bursting onto the QB1 radar. But let’s be real — it came against a Miami Dolphins defense that relies almost entirely on pass rush. With Indy’s elite offensive line neutralizing that threat, Jones had all day to carve up a suspect secondary and weak run defense.
Week 2? Different story. The Denver Broncos defense is a much tougher matchup.
For starters, he’ll face Patrick Surtain II, arguably the best cornerback in the league. PS2 shadowing Jones’ top targets will cap his upside in the passing game. Add in a strong linebacking corps and a ferocious pass rush, and this could be a rough one for the Colts.
But here’s the key: if you roster Jones, you should have alternatives. And that’s really the story with Daniel Jones for fantasy managers this year.
The Verdict
Jones hasn’t done enough to lock in every-week QB1 status. But what he did show in Week 1 is that he can rack up points with his legs and deliver serious upside in the right matchups.
Even if he’s not startable against Denver, there are definitely spots on the schedule where he can eat. Unless you already have a rock-solid QB1, Jones is worth the add. Just make sure to check upcoming matchups and look for opportunities to platoon him with another QB who may be matchup-dependent.
