Someone will end up playing with the Atlanta Falcons on Aug. 23, as EA Sports unveils its latest football masterpiece—Madden NFL 17. The gaming site revealed its top five wide receivers heading into this upcoming season, with former Alabama standout Julio Jones listed at No. 2.
He’s been a force in the National Football League, since being selected in the first round of the 2011 draft. Jones is coming off a remarkable year in 2015, where he totaled 136 catches for 1,871 yards and eight touchdowns. His output for yards set a franchise record and led the NFL all of last season.
According to EA Sports, Jones’ size (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) and athleticism dominates opponents in the red zone. He was given a rating of 97 for his catch radius, making him one of the more complete vertical threats downfield. Jones comes second to Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown, but he’s ahead of A.J. Green (No. 3), Odell Beckham, Jr. (No. 4) and DeAndre Hopkins (No. 5), respectively.
Listed below are Jones’ ratings for Madden NFL 17, courtesy of EA Sports.
Speed: 93
Catch ability: 98
Jumping ability: 96
Catch-in-traffic ability: 95
Route running: 94
Overall: 96
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
