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Game status: Julio Jones is INACTIVE for Week 5.
Game day update: Jones “is considered a pre-game decision” and the Falcons won’t make a final decision until he goes through his pre-game warmups, per Adam Schefter. In spite of this news, he seems unlikely to play.
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones is officially listed as questionable ahead of this week’s NFC South showdown with the Carolina Panthers. Jones is dealing with a hamstring injury.
It’s the same issue that forced him to leave Monday’s game against the Packers early, and he hasn’t been able to practice all week. Despite head coach Dan Quinn holding out hope, it’s unlikely that Jones will play, and even if he does, he could be severely limited.
Fantasy impact: Julio Jones injury
It’s probably best to leave Jones out of fantasy lineups this week. That thrusts Calvin Ridley into the top spot among Falcons’ receivers. Still held back by his own hamstring injury and a stifling defense, Ridley did not catch any of the five targets that came his way against Green Bay.
Two weeks ago, in another game without Jones, Ridley was targeted 13 times, finishing with five catches and 110 yards. That was his third consecutive game with triple-digit yardage. He’s been cleared to play this week.
Another name to know is Olamide Zaccheaus. He’ll get the start across from Ridley if Jones doesn’t play. Last week with Jones out most of the game, Zaccheaus caught eight passes for 86 yards, putting him on fantasy radars this week. Slot receiver Russell Gage has seen his production fall off since a big Week 1 outing, and should be considered the third option among this trio of Falcons receivers.