Julio Jones: Bounce Back Game Vs. Washington?

Julio Jones has been the best wideout in the NFL in 2015. However, the Houston Texans kept him in check in Week 4. Does Julio rebound against Washington in Week 5?

Julio Jones is having an All-Pro caliber year for the Atlanta Falcons. In the first four games, Jones leads the NFL with 38 receptions and 478 receiving yards, for an impressive 119.5 yards per game. Most of these incredible numbers came in the first three weeks, as the Houston Texans held Julio Jones to only 4 catches for 38 yards.

Since Week 2, Jones has dealt with a lingering hamstring injury that has kept him out of several practices during the week. He missed a handful in the week leading up to Week 4 and was a limited participant in practice as late as yesterday.

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Julio Jones can do it all, even when he’s not at full strength. Then again, was it Houston’s defensive game plan or Jones’ hamstring that slowed him down in Week 4? I think it was actually the running game of the Atlanta Falcons that limited Julio Jones to 6 targets by QB Matt Ryan on Sunday.

Knowing that Jones wasn’t his healthiest, Atlanta Falcons Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan developed a game plan that would accentuate the other facets of the Atlanta offense. The ground game of Devonta Freeman and Terron Ward had over 130 combined rushing yards and 4 touchdowns.

Matt Ryan only had one touchdown pass in Week 4, a 3 yard goal line toss to Leonard Hankerson. Hank had the best day of any Falcons wideouts, with 6 receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown. He quietly has 241 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns in 2015. Hank is becoming a dangerous commodity in Shanahan’s offense.

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So does Julio Jones have a big game against the Washington Redskins on Sunday? Does he have to? I think Jones will have to do better than 4 catches for 38 yards for the Atlanta Falcons to walk away from Week 5 with a comfortable victory. Jones will have a strong day on paper in Week 5, but the offense will likely target healthier options on Sunday.

I like Julio Jones to still have over 100 receiving yards and a touchdown on Sunday, albeit most of those totals will come on one converted deep ball from Matt Ryan. With CB DeAngelo Hall out for the Redskins, look for Ryan to exploit Washington’s secondary on deep post patterns or wheel routes at least a few times.

My guess is that Jones will be the target that Ryan connects on for a 40+ yard pass in Week 5. I like Julio Jones to have 6 catches for 105 yards and 1 touchdown against the Redskins. However, look for either Leonard Hankerson or Roddy White to do the heavy lifting in the receiving corps.

Either one will be the leading receiver. That is assuming the Washington front seven can slow down RB Devonta Freeman. He could have his third consecutive three rushing touchdown performance in Week 5 for all I know.

Next: Atlanta Falcons: How to Beat Washington and Move to 5-0

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