Velus Jones Jr. DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Seattle Seahawks running back Velus Jones Jr. was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster on Saturday, according to Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune. Bell was elevated ahead of the season opener against the New England Patriots, but he didn't log a carry. Lead back Jadarian Price (chest) is cleared to play this weekend after dealing with a chest and shoulder injury. The elevation of Jones could mean a slight downtick in value for Price this weekend. The Seahawks also have Emanuel Wilson and George Holani healthy in the backfield, so it's unlikely that Jones even plays. This is probably just the Seahawks playing it safe in case Price suffers a setback during the game against the Washington Commanders this weekend.

Chicago Bears wide receiver/return man Velus Jones Jr. should only benefit from the new kickoff rules in the NFL that will start for the 2024 season. "How it pertains to our team, you can only think about a guy like Velus Jones. Great example," special teams coordinator Richard Hightower said. "A guy like that with his type of skill set, with the speed and the power that he has, and he's coming full speed ahead at you, it's like a damn freight train running at you." Jones' average of 27.4 yards per return trails only Keisean Nixon over the last two years. He hasn't worked out as a punt returner and also hasn't had much of a role in the offense since entering the league in 2022, but the 27-year-old's size/speed combo could come in handy for the Bears on kickoffs this year. The Bears could also use running back Khalil Herbert on kickoffs.