3 NFL Storylines to Watch in Week 6

Julio Jones' Season-Long Touchdown Drought Will End

For the first time since his 2011 rookie season, Julio Jones has been held out of the end zone, failing to have scored a touchdown through his first four games. For that matter, in each of his previous five seasons, Jones scored no later than Week 2. Perhaps most troubling, despite offseason chatter of more red zone targets, Jones has only seen two such opportunities in 2017.

The time to get Julio back into the paint is right now against a Miami Dolphins pass defense that is ripe for the picking.

Prior to last week's bye, Jones made an early exit against the Buffalo Bills in Week 4 with a hip flexor injury. Julio has been practicing on a limited basis this week and is fully expected to play. However, Mohamed Sanu (hamstring) has remained sidelined with his ailment, leaving the availability of Atlanta's number two target very much in doubt. Taylor Gabriel and tight end Austin Hooper would likely see a boost in their opportunity should Sanu have to sit out, but Jones would command the bulk of the targets in all areas of the field.

Despite limiting the Matt Cassel-led Tennessee Titans last week, Miami's pass defense is the 11th-worst in the NFL, according to numberFire's metrics. In their three games prior, the opposing lead receiver of each team (Michael Thomas, Robby Anderson, and Keenan Allen) averaged nearly 95 receiving yards, while two of them scored a touchdown.

It should come as no surprise that Jones is 2nd in our wide receiver projections behind only DeAndre Hopkins. This has all the makings of a vintage Julio game.