Aaron Jones Sr. DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Minnesota Vikings appear unlikely to have starting running back Aaron Jones against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium. He was held out of practice on Thursday for an undisclosed reason, watching from the sideline. It remains unclear what's keeping Jones out of action for the Vikings, but fantasy managers shouldn't be concerned for the time being. Jones is entering his age-30 season during his first year in Minnesota, lining up as the team's lead back and a midrange RB2 option in fantasy to begin 2024 after producing the second-most yards per route run (1.85) at his position among qualifiers in 2023 with the division-rival Green Bay Packers. Additionally, the former Pro Bowler surpassed 115 scrimmage yards in each of his final five appearances of the campaign, including the postseason.

Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones has earned significant praise from offensive coordinator Wes Phillips for his versatility in the passing game, effectiveness in goal-line situations, and strong football IQ. The Vikings plan to leverage Jones in multiple roles across their offense, making him a valuable and versatile asset in today's NFL. Jones showcased his elite talents during last year's Wild Card game against the Cowboys, where he shined on national TV with 118 rushing yards and three touchdowns, leading Green Bay to a 48-32 victory. Despite his on-field success, Jones's health has been a concern; he missed six games last season and had to leave others early due to injuries. As Jones nears his 30th birthdaya significant age for NFL running backshis recent injury history adds some risk. Although the fifth round might be too early for an injury-prone player like Jones, he could be a solid RB2 if available in the sixth or seventh round in upcoming fantasy drafts. Fantasy managers should look to add a reliable RB3 on their roster to cover for the inevitable missed games from Jones.

Former Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones is staying in the NFC North, as he is set to sign a one-year, $7 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings. Jones was released by the Packers after they landed former Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs. The 29-year-old dealt with injuries last year and was limited to 656 rushing yards and 233 receiving yards to go along with three total touchdowns. However, he dominated in the playoffs, posting 39 carries for 226 yards (5.6 YPC) and three touchdowns in two games. He still has plenty of juice, and he should be set up to be the featured back with the Vikings. However, the offense could be headed for steep regression after losing franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons.

The Minnesota Vikings are now interested in running back Aaron Jones after the Green Bay Packers released him on Monday. According to a source with knowledge of the situation, the Packers wanted Jones to take a 50 percent pay cut, if not more, entering the final year of his deal in 2024. Jones signed a four-year, $48 million extension in March of 2021, and the 29-year-old took a $5 million pay cut last year. He missed some time with injuries in 2023, but when he was on the field, he ran for 584 yards (5.7 yards per carry) over the final five games of the team's season in the regular season and playoffs. The stretch included a three-touchdown game against the Cowboys in the wild-card round. The Vikings need both RB help and a new quarterback after releasing Alexander Mattison and watching Kirk Cousins sign with the Falcons on Monday, so Jones could be a nice fit in their backfield and would two revenge games against the Packers.

The Green Bay Packers are releasing running back Aaron Jones after signing free agent running back Josh Jacobs to a contract on Monday. Jones had $12 million in non-guaranteed compensation for 2024, but with the Packers adding Jacobs to the roster, Green Bay decided to move on from the veteran back. Jones rushed for 656 yards and two touchdowns while catching 30 passes for 233 yards and a score over 11 games in 2023. The 29-year-old finished the season and playoffs strong, logging five consecutive 100-yard games and three touchdowns during that five-game span. After seven seasons with the Packers, Jones will be a free agent and look to latch onto a team in search of a starting back. Jones should be a free agent for only a short time, and after a strong finish last season, the former Packer should be a solid fantasy option in 2024, regardless of where he lands.