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Jones’ 2025 season gave us warning signs: career-low rushing efficiency, limited spike weeks, and more missed time. The Vikings’ offensive environment should improve with Kyler Murray, but that doesn’t erase Jordan Mason’s role or Jones’ durability risk. He’s fine at the bottom of RB3 range, but Jones is more fallback depth than a target to chase.
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Jones spread 132 carries, 548 rushing yards, and 2 TDs across 12 games. He added 28 catches, 199 yards, and one receiving score.
The missed games left Jones 41st in total PPR points and RB32 in points per game, and the weekly ceiling barely showed up. He posted only two top-12 finishes, both at RB12, with just three other weeks inside the top 24.
Jones shared the backfield with Jordan Mason for most of the season. In 10 games together, Jones recorded some underwhelming marks:
A healthy Mason limited Jones to only two games with 15+ touches.
Jones’ largest workloads came with Mason out: 23 touches after he left in the first quarter of Week 16 and 21 touches when Mason sat out Week 17.
Jones showed the declining efficiency you’d expect from a 31-year-old RB.
Among 51 RBs with 90+ carries, he ranked:
Each mark set a career low.
Jones wasn’t a standout receiver, either, finishing 22nd out of 40 qualifiers in yards per route run.
Jones doesn’t deserve all the blame.
A lousy QB trio of J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer combined for 164.8 yards per game, fourth-fewest leaguewide. The Vikings failed to sustain drives, ranking last with a 31.8% third-down conversion rate.
Add in Minnesota’s No. 3 ranking in red-zone pass rate, and it’s easy to see why Jones posted the lowest rushing-TD rate of his career (1.5%).
The Vikings did finish third in ESPN’s run-block win rate and fifth in adjusted line yards, but the O-line couldn’t overcome the QB mess or Jones’ mounting injuries.
We’ve charted 19 injuries across Jones’ nine-year NFL career. That includes hamstring and hip injuries that cost him five games in 2025.
Jones played all 17 games in 2024 but missed a career-high six games in 2023 with knee and hamstring trouble.
The Vikings planned to move on from Jones after last season. Instead, the veteran agreed to a revised contract that’ll keep him in Minnesota for another season.
Mason enters his second Vikings season after beating Jones in rush yards over expected per attempt, yards after contact per attempt, and missed tackles forced per attempt. But he doesn’t pose much of a threat as a pass catcher, with Jones beating him 137-37 in routes and 28-5 in targets during their shared games.
The Vikings added Round 6 RB Demond Claiborne in April. His 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine gives this backfield a needed speed element, but he’s unlikely to push for much of a role at only 5'10 and 188 pounds.
Still, Mason’s return should bring another limited workload for Jones. Our projections have him for 10.5 touches per game, aligning with his 2025 numbers with Mason.
The Vikings signed veteran Kyler Murray, who's set to start over J.J. McCarthy.
Murray lasted only five games last year before a foot injury sent him to IR. His 161-attempt sample turned up a conservative style with a low 6.3-yard average depth of target, but he converted that into the fifth-best adjusted completion rate among 42 QBs with 150+ attempts. He ranked 13th in the same sample in catchable throw rate -- 76.4% -- just ahead of Matthew Stafford.
Ultimately, Murray projects as a clear upgrade on McCarthy.
Minnesota’s O-line should remain in good shape with four starters returning from a productive group. The lone concern sits at center after Ryan Kelly retired. He made it through only eight games last season but ranked fifth among 60 qualifiers in Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade. Blake Brandel, the expected replacement, finished 37th among that same sample.
Jones enters Year 3 with HC Kevin O’Connell, whose Vikings offenses haven’t created much rushing volume:
Rush Attempts | Run Rate | Situation-Neutral Run Rate | Run Rate Inside 10 Yard-line | |
2022 | 28th | 20th | 28th | 25th |
2023 | 28th | 31st | 30th | 31st |
2024 | 14th | 13th | 25th | 28th |
2025 | 27th | 20th | 14th | 32nd |
We project a more balanced Vikings offense this year, with a 44.6% run rate that would have ranked 14th last season. But Murray’s projection of 5.6 carries per game soaks up part of that rushing volume.
That leaves Jones and Mason in a split backfield likely to produce uneven weekly results.
Jones has missed multiple games in four of the past six seasons, including 11 total across 2023 and 2025. Mason’s return keeps in place another obstacle to Jones becoming a trustworthy RB2.
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Aaron Jones Just Made His 'Sell' Case
Aaron Jones Just Made His 'Sell' Case
Vikings RB Aaron Jones dominated backfield work in Sunday's win over the Buccaneers, but he didn't do anything dominant with those opportunities. Jones carried 17 times for 58 yards (3.4 per rush) and caught five balls for 34 yards (6.8 per catch). Jones handled 81% of Minnesota's RB carries and all of their RB targets. His 6 ranked second on the team.
Aaron Jones Will Play Week 3
Aaron Jones Will Play Week 3
Vikings RB Aaron Jones (knee) is not listed on the final injury report. There was some concern about his availability for this one early in the week, but he progressed to a full practice on Friday. Jones should control backfield work again vs. the Buccaneers after carrying 23 times last week, although the knee issues adds some risk.
Aaron Jones Back To Limited Practice Thursday
Aaron Jones Back To Limited Practice Thursday
Vikings RB Aaron Jones (knee) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. It looks like he'll try to gut through his knee injury this weekend for a Minnesota backfield that could really use him. Jones got workhorse usage last week, but it's tough to envision the same workload vs. the Buccaneers this Sunday. We'll update Jones' status again tomorrow and keep an eye on him through the weekend.
Knee Injury Has Aaron Jones Uncertain For Week 3
Knee Injury Has Aaron Jones Uncertain For Week 3
Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell said Wednesday that RB Aaron Jones won't practice on Wednesday and is uncertain for this weekend's game vs. the Buccaneers. Jones told the media that he injured his knee in the Week 2 win over the Bears and finished the game with a brace on that knee. We'll keep a close eye on his status over the next few days. With RB Jordan Mason on IR, Jones' absence would leave Minnesota's backfield to DeeJay Dallas and Demond Claiborne. Dallas out-snapped Claiborne 8 to 2 against Chicago. Six of Dallas' snaps came on passing plays, while both of Claiborn's snaps were pass routes. Dallas finished with 2 carries and 1 catch; Claiborne 0 carries and 1 catch. Neither guy is an exciting waiver add.
Aaron Jones Delivers His Best Rushing Game Since 2024
Aaron Jones Delivers His Best Rushing Game Since 2024
Vikings RB Aaron Jones handled a workhorse rushing role with Jordan Mason sidelined, turning 23 carries into 105 yards. Jones also led the backfield with a 46% route rate, although he failed to draw a target on Carson Wentz’s 20 pass attempts.
See whether Aaron Jones is available in your leagues.
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