Tag: A.J. Dillon

PFF sees Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon as NFL’s best RB duo

The NFL’s best running back duo? According to PFF, it’s Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon.

[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8036″]

Pro Football Focus bestowed the title of best running back duo entering the 2023 season on Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon of the Green Bay Packers.

From PFF: “This was an easy choice as both Jones and Dillon received top-five rushing grades at 90.7 and 88.1, respectively. On top of that, Jones was tenth in the NFL with 1121 rushing yards with 2 rushing scores and added another 395 receiving yards through the air and 5 scores. Dillon put up 770 yards on the ground with 7 touchdowns of his own.”

In terms of overall offense grade, the Packers and Atlanta Falcons (Tyler Allegier, Caleb Huntley) were the only two teams with two running backs ranked in the top 12 at PFF last season. As noted by PFF, Jones finished second in rushing grade, while Dillon was fifth.

The grades match the production.

Over the last two seasons, Jones and Dillon combined for 4,798 total yards and 31 total touchdowns. During both 2021 and 2022, the pair created over 2,000 yards and scored at least 14 total touchdowns.

The question becomes: Can Jones and Dillon keep the title for more than one year? Jones’ cap hit rises to over $17 million in 2024, creating a big decision come next offseason, and Dillon is entering a contract year after his efficiency slipped a bit in 2022. It’s possible the pair could split if the 2023 season doesn’t go to plan.

For now, Jones and Dillon should provide a valuable pair of playmakers for first-year starting quarterback Jordan Love. With Aaron Rodgers now in New York, the Packers will likely run their new-look offense through the two running backs in hopes of easing the pressure on a young quarterback and inexerienced group of receivers and tight ends.

A.J. Dillon on playing for Packers: ‘I’d play here until I can’t run anymore’

A.J. Dillon has made Green Bay home. And he wants to be with the Packers long-term. “I want to be in the green and gold.”

[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8036″]

Green Bay Packers running back A.J. Dillon, who is entering a contract year in 2023, wants to stay in Green Bay for as long as the Packers want him there.

“I love Green Bay. Green Bay knows that. I love the Packers. The Packers know that. I’d play here until I can’t run anymore,” Dillon told Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal. “I’ll pick up long snapper or whatever it is when I start slowing down. But there’s only so much I can control.”

Dillon’s rookie contract with the Packers expires after the 2023 season. How he performs this year will likely determine if he’s back in Green Bay — potentially as the long-term No. 1 running back — or looking for a new home for 2024.

Dillon told Wilde that he was thinking too much during what he described as a disappointing 2022 season. The third-year back gained 976 total yards on 214 touches after producing 1,116 yards on 221 touches during a breakout 2021 season. Running backs coach Ben Sirmans believed he wasn’t aggressive enough as a runner.

The goal for Dillon in 2023 is to play free and have fun while thinking less. And if he takes care of business on the field, he’ll greatly increase his chances of returning to the Packers on a second contract.

“I’m going to have fun and enjoy all the time I have here. And hopefully, we’re back here next year,” Dillon said.

Although the Packers retained starting running back Aaron Jones, Dillon should have plenty of opportunities to touch the ball, both as a runner and receiver. In fact, there’s a good chance the Jordan Love offense in 2023 will run through Jones and Dillon, ensuring 200 or more touches is well within reach if Dillon is healthy. Breaking more tackles and catching the ball at a higher rate are both ways Dillon can regain the incredible efficiency and productivity of his 2021 season.

 

Dillon said he and his wife plan to make Green Bay their long-term home regardless of where he’s playing football in 2024.

“Like I always say, Green Bay is home for us whether football is here or somewhere else. We’ll be back here eventually. (But) obviously, I want to be in the green and gold.”

Packers RB A.J. Dillon needs a big year in contract season

A.J. Dillon took a small step back in 2022. Can the Packers RB rebound during a contract year in 2023?

[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8036″]

The Green Bay Packers need running back A.J. Dillon to rebound from a somewhat disappointing third season in 2022 and regain the all-around efficiency that made him one of the NFL’s most valuable No. 2 backs and could secure his future in Green Bay long-term.

During his first two seasons, Dillon averaged 4.5 yards per carry and caught 92.3 percent of his targets. Last season, Dillon’s average per carry dropped to 4.1 and he caught only 65.3 percent of his targets, resulting in him gaining almost 150 fewer yards in 2022 despite receiving nearly the same amount of touches in 2023.

Dillon, a second-round pick in 2020, is entering a contract year. He’ll need to prove to the Packers he’s worth a second contract, which likely means proving he can eventually take over as a lead running back and not just a sidekick to Aaron Jones.

In 2022, Dillon was a far less effective runner on first down (4.8-yard average in 2021, 4.0-yard average in 2022) and when the Packers were under center (4.6-yard average in 2021, 3.7-yard average in 2022). According to PFF, he broke eight fewer tackles in the run game in 2022 and averaged fewer yards after contact, although he was still around the 3.0-yard average after contact. Amazingly, Dillon averaged over 4.0 yards per game in just eight of the 17 games he played in 2022.

His value in the passing game plummetted. In 2021, Dillon caught 34 of 37 targets while averaging 8.6 yards per target, all incredible numbers for a running back. Last season, he caught 28 of 43 targets and averaged 4.8 yards per target, both among the worst marks for a running back. Drops were an issue; Dillon dropped five targets, per PFF. He finished the season with only four games of producing 20 or more receiving yards despite going out into routes on over 250 snaps.

It all amounts to a player taking a small step back after a true breakout second season. This is a relatively common phenomenon. A young player takes a big developmental step in Year 2 but at the same gains respect from opponents and forces an opponent to change the way he’s defended, and Year 3 ends up not being as productive.

Maybe Dillon can follow in the footsteps of Dorsey Levens, another big back who had some up and downs moments as a complementary player alongside Edgar Bennett before breaking out as a legitimate No. 1 during his fourth NFL season. Dillon probably won’t get he same opportunity in 2023 as Levens got in 1997 barring an injury to Aaron Jones, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Dillon came close to 250 total touches as the Packers transition away from Aaron Rodgers and lean more on Jones and Dillon in 2023.

There was still plenty to like about Dillon’s 2022 season: He produced more runs of 10 or more yards than in 2021 and finished fifth among all running backs in Football Outsiders’ Success Rate, suggesting he was better at creating big plays and still a consistently successful runner based on situation. He was also fifth in PFF’s Rushing Grade and 11th in Football Outsiders’ DVOA.

Now, Dillon has a chance to build on what he’s done during his first three seasons and show the Packers he’s ready for more, including a second deal. Jones’ future beyond 2023 is a little murky, although his new deal is structured to keep him in Green Bay through 2024. If Dillon emerges this year, however, the Packers may see him as the top option for 2024.

The 2020 draft was one of building the future. Entering 2023, Jordan Love is taking over at quarterback, Josiah Deguara will play more snaps at tight end/fullback and Dillon has a chance to be a difference-maker at running back. All three are under pressure to prove they are part of the long-term plan in Green Bay.

Packers touchdown celebration inspires unique piece of fan mail for A.J. Dillon

Packers RB A.J. Dillon led an orchestra in the end zone after scoring a touchdown against the Vikings. Now, he has something official to use, thanks to a unique piece of fan mail.

Green Bay Packers running back A.J. Dillon led an orchestra in the end zone following his second-half touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday at Lambeau Field, and the celebration inspired a unique piece of fan mail to arrive in Green Bay this week.

Glenn C. Hayes, the Director of Bands at the Unversity of Wisconsin-Whitewater, sent a letter to Dillon attached with a relevant gift: a baton once used at Carnegie Hall.

“After watching you conduct after your recent touchdown, I thought you might need a baton as conducting with a football must be awkward,” Hayes wrote.

Teammates huddled around Dillon as he simulated an orchestration in the end zone last week.

Hayes hopes the special baton will help Dillon achieve something similarly special in his own career.

“This baton has allowed me to conduct in the most famous music performance site in the world,” Hayes wrote. “I pray it leads you to the most famous football game in the world.”

Dillon and the Packers face the Detroit Lions on Sunday night, and a win clinches a playoff spot and opens up the possibility of the team’s new baton making a Super Bowl run over the next few weeks.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbxb1xg7g19wqdc player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Packers RB A.J. Dillon clears concussion protocol after exiting win vs. Rams

Packers running back A.J. Dillon cleared the league’s protocol after being evaluated for a concussion during Monday night’s win over the Rams.

Green Bay Packers running back A.J. Dillon won’t miss any time after exiting Monday night’s win over the Los Angeles Rams to be evaluated for a concussion.

Coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Tuesday that Dillon cleared the league’s protocol on Monday night and again Tuesday.

“He cleared it last night, and he cleared it today,” LaFleur said.

LaFleur believed Dillon would be full-go for practice this week as the Packers prepare for the Miami Dolphins.

Dillon rushed 11 times for 36 yards and scored two touchdowns against the Rams, giving him five rushing scores for the season. He also caught three passes for 35 yards, his most receiving yards in a game since Week 1.

Dillon left the game in the second half to be evaluated in the blue medical tent on the sideline. He eventually walked back to the locker room with the league’s independent neurologist for a further concussion evaluation.

Dillon’s impact continues to grow for the Packers.

Over the last three games, Dillon has carried 37 times for 193 yards and four touchdowns while also catching nine passes for 85 yards. He scored at least one touchdown in each game.

The Packers will practice three times this week before flying to Miami to play the Dolphins on Sunday. The first injury report will arrive Wednesday.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbxb1xg7g19wqdc player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

[listicle id=88390]

Packers RB A.J. Dillon rumbles into end zone for touchdown vs. Rams

A.J. Dillon’s 8-yard touchdown run gave the Packers a 10-3 lead over the Rams on MNF.

Green Bay Packers running back A.J. Dillon gave his team a 10-3 lead with an 8-yard touchdown run in the second quarter of Monday night’s showdown with the Los Angeles Rams.

Dillon accounted for 40 total yards on the drive, including 22 on the ground and a 17-yard reception. The touchdown run – in which Dillon ran through several defenders near the goal line – finished off a 74-yard drive for the Packers.

On the final three plays of the march, Dillon rushed three times for 17 yards. He was the hammer to the Rams’ nail.

Now in his third season, Dillon has a touchdown run in three straight games. He has four total through the first 14 games of the 2022 season.

The Rams tied the game with a field goal after intercepting Aaron Rodgers, but the Packers came right back with a scoring drive that featured four completions from the 2021 NFL MVP.

Here’s the touchdown run from Dillon:

Here’s a crazy stat about Christian Watson, Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon

One player has scored 9 touchdowns on 30 touches. The other two have scored 9 touchdowns on 378 touches.

The 2022 Green Bay Packers are an odd football team, and odd football teams usually create fascinating statistical discoveries.

Here’s a wild stat: rookie receiver Christian Watson has as many total touchdowns this season as running backs Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon combined.

Last year, Jones and Dillon scored 17 total touchdowns. Through 13 games, the running back pair has just nine – the same amount as Watson has scored in just seven games.

Another stat to highlight the point: Watson, who ran in a 46-yard touchdown on Sunday in Chicago, has as many rushing touchdowns (two) as Jones in 2022.

Of course, Watson has gone on a touchdown-scoring binge over the last four games, finding the end zone eight times in the last month. He has nine touchdowns on 30 touches, a ridiculous scoring percentage of 30.0%. Jones and Dillon have nine touchdowns on 378 touches, creating a scoring percentage of 2.4%.

Watson has been on the field for all of 330 snaps; Jones and Dillon have combined for 920.

Jones scored rushing touchdowns in Week 2 vs. Chicago and Week 10 vs. Dallas. That’s it. He does have four receiving touchdowns, but Jones will be hard-pressed to extend his three-year streak of scoring at least 10 total touchdowns.

Dillon scored his third rushing touchdown of the season on Sunday at Soldier Field, but he’ll probably be hard-pressed to match last season’s seven total touchdowns.

It doesn’t help that Jones and Dillon have only received 33 carries in the red zone this season. Jones, with 21 red-zone rushes, has the same amount of carries inside the 20 as Bears quarterback Justin Fields.

And here’s another crazy stat: Dillon and Jones have just five total carries inside the 5-yard line, including just one for Jones. The pair has just one touchdown from inside the five.

Since Week 10, the Packers have scored 13 total touchdowns. Watson has eight of them. Watson also has the team’s four longest offensive touchdowns of the season.

For this Packers team, the dynamic rookie receiver is the big-play threat and the new touchdown machine.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbxb1xg7g19wqdc player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Packers RB A.J. Dillon scores 21-yard rushing TD vs. Bears

A.J. Dillon’s second touchdown run in as many weeks cut the Bears’ lead to 19-17 over the Packers.

The Green Bay Packers cut the Chicago Bears’ lead to 19-17 on a 21-yard touchdown run by running back A.J. Dillon early in the fourth quarter on Sunday at Soldier Field.

Dillon took a handoff from Aaron Rodgers off the left side of the line and ran through a tackle attempt on his way to the end zone.

Dillon now has a touchdown run of at least 20 yards in each of the last two games.

Excellent blocks from rookie Zach Tom and veteran receiver Sammy Watkins opened the hole. So did the motion from rookie Christian Watson, who moved from left to right pre-snap.

Watson drew a pair of penalties, including a 38-yard defensive pass interference penalty, on the drive. He also caught a 15-yard pass.

The Packers went 82 yards in just four plays to score.

Here’s the Dillon touchdown:

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbxb1xg7g19wqdc player_id=none image=https://packerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em: Week 13

Check out these start/sit decisions for fantasy football in Week 13.

Following the Thursday night game between the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots, it’s time for fantasy football managers to stare at their lineups contemplating start/sit decisions.

As the weekend approaches, there are only two teams on a bye in Week 13: the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers.

Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.

Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.

You also can check out our start and sit bench list for Week 13:

Eagles’ PFF grades: Best and worst performers from win over Packers

Here are the Best and worst PFF grades from the Philadelphia Eagles’ 40-33 win over the Packers on Sunday night

Philadelphia took some early body blows from the Packers and then proceeded to physically pound on the Packers’ defensive line Sunday night.

The Eagles gained 363 rushing yards and 500 total yards of offense to beat Green Bay 40-33, improving to a league-best 10-1 this season.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts set a franchise record for most rushing yards by a quarterback with 157 and running back Miles Sanders set a career-high with 143 rushing yards as the Birds relied on what they do best.

The PFF Grades are out for Week 12 and Jason Kelce led the charge.