No quarterback in the NFL has a higher grade on passes to running backs this season than Aaron Rodgers, according to Pro Football Focus.
This fact appears important as the Green Bay Packers enter the final six games of the regular season.
Per PFF, Rodgers has been especially good attacking downfield to the running back position – completing 4-of-6 passes thrown at least 10 yards downfield to running backs in 2019, with the four completions gaining 80 yards and producing two touchdowns. And one of the incompletions was Aaron Jones’ drop of a sure-fire touchdown against the Detroit Lions.
Overall, Rodgers has completed 60 passes on 74 attempts for 520 yards and eight touchdowns when targeting Jones and backup running back Jamaal Williams this season.
His passer rating when targeting the pair? 131.9.
| Aaron Jones | Jamaal Williams | Danny Vitale | |
| Receptions | 35 | 25 | 6 |
| Targets | 46 | 29 | 8 |
| Yards | 354 | 166 | 94 |
| Yards/Catch | 10.1 | 6.6 | 15.7 |
| TDs | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| Passer rating | 119.3 | 130.1 | 113.5 |
Rodgers has also completed six passes for 94 yards to fullback Danny Vitale, who has at least one reception of 20 or more yards in two games this season.
The Packers coaching staff spent the bye week going through a self-scout exercise, and it seems possible that Matt LaFleur and Mike Pettine discovered what the numbers show: Throwing to the running back position might be the best thing going for the Packers offense.
Sunday night in San Francisco could be the perfect time to get Jones and Williams back involved in the passing game. Over the last two games, the pair has produced seven catches for only 38 yards – including just one catch for Jones.
The 49ers have a terrific pass rush and several good players in the secondary, which could make getting the ball to receivers and tight ends difficult on Sunday night. Finding ways to get Jones and Williams in space or matched one-on-one with a linebacker could be an effective strategy for negating the pass rush and finding easy yards in the passing game.
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