Remembering the legendary fantasy performances from Jacoby Jones

On July 14, the NFL world received the shocking and saddening news that legendary kick returner Jacoby Jones had passed earlier that morning. He was 40 years old and nearly nine years removed from his final game in the NFL.

By virtue of league rules, Jones was officially listed as a receiver, and not one who anyone would own in season-long fantasy leagues. Through nine years in the NFL, Jones never recorded more than 512 receiving yards in a single season with just a total of 14 career receiving touchdowns.

But the way he will be remembered by fans and savvy DFS players is for his time as one of the most dynamic kick returners in league history. With some of the best speed and vision the sport has ever seen, Jones was named an All-Pro in 2012 in his first year with Baltimore.

Jones joined the Ravens after spending the first five years of his career in Houston. While he played just five seasons for Baltimore, he is best known as a Raven and his key contributions to the team's 2013 Super Bowl victory. As he demonstrated time and again, something about the bright lights routinely brought the best out of Jones.

The two biggest games of Jones' career both happened in the playoffs which made them irrelevant in traditional fantasy leagues. But the few who played Jones in DFS contests on the two biggest nights of his life in early 2013 cashed out big from his heroic efforts.

The Mile High Miracle

Only a few plays in NFL history reached the level of fame to earning a title and Jacoby Jones is responsible for one of them. It is not an exaggeration to say that without Jones, the Ravens would not have won their second Super Bowl in franchise history.

In the second round of the playoffs, Baltimore traveled to Denver to take on the Peyton Manning-led Broncos. The game was tight from start to finish, featuring five lead changes.

At the end of the fourth quarter, Baltimore needed a touchdown to tie the game with less than one minute remaining down 35-28. It was third and three with 43 seconds remaining and in need of a big play, head coach John Harbaugh subbed Jones into the game with Denver dropping eight into coverage.

Somehow, even with a safety shadowing him along the right sideline, Jones got past the secondary and caught a 70-yard bomb from Joe Flacco to score with 31 seconds remaining and tie the game. The Ravens would go on to win 38-35 in double overtime to advance to the AFC Championship Game the following week.

In the end, Jones caught just two passes in the game while returning four kickoffs for 64 return yards. With his 77 receiving yards and a touchdown, Jones put up 15.7 fantasy points in PPR leagues which, despite the modest total, provided tremendous DFS value given his price tag. Regardless, his catch at the end of regulation will forever remain one of the biggest plays in Ravens franchise history.

Super Bowl XLVII

In 2024, 11 years after its conclusion, Super Bowl XLVII is remembered for two things: the power going out in the third quarter and Jacoby Jones' record-setting 108-yard kick return touchdown.

Two weeks after saving the season with the Mile High Miracle, Jones would top his effort with the biggest night of his life on the biggest stage. Nobody had him circled as a potential impact player of the game yet by the time Joe Flacco was named Super Bowl MVP, many argued that Jones should have been the one receiving the trophy.

Due to the recognition he received from the Mile High Miracle, Jones had a slightly increased DFS price tag in Super Bowl XLVII. But for those who laid the cost, it still proved to be too low.

Jones would leave his initial mark on the game in the second quarter as a receiver, catching a 56-yard touchdown on another deep route from Flacco. Though he hit the turf to make the catch, Chris Culliver instinctively jumped over him, allowing the receiver to return to his feet and make his way into the end zone.

The catch would end up being his only one of the night, but his 56 yards would be enough to finish second on the team behind Anquan Boldin's leading 104-yard total. Jones' receiving touchdown would end up being overshadowed just minutes later.

To open the second half, Jones commit the cardinal sin for a returner, choosing to run back a kickoff two yards shy of the back line of his own end zone. The stunt drove John Harbaugh crazy in the moment but just 11 seconds later, Jones found his way practically unscathed for a score.

By the end of the game, Jones had put together 18.6 fantasy points in PPR leagues and 17.6 points in standard leagues. Not bad for a return specialist.