Tag: Aaron Jones fantasy football

Fantasy football: Where to draft Minnesota Vikings RB Aaron Jones

Analyzing Minnesota Vikings RB Aaron Jones’ 2024 fantasy football ADP and where to target him in fantasy drafts.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

Minnesota Vikings RB Aaron Jones, who is now 29 years old, joined the team this offseason after spending the last 7 seasons with the rival Green Bay Packers. Jones earned his only Pro Bowl appearance in 2020 and led the league with 16 rushing touchdowns the season prior. A versatile, multi-use threat, Jones is expected to be used often in the Vikings offense. Below, we look at Aaron Jones’ 2024 fantasy football average draft position (ADP) and where you should draft him.

Jones is expected to take a jump in his usage as the main weapon for the Minnesota backfield, ideally becoming a top-10 or even top-5 fantasy back. The former Green Bay star is intriguing in terms of fantasy value.

WIN YOUR FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE!
The Huddle has been turning players like you into winners for over 25 years. This season, it’s your turn. Custom fantasy football rankings, sleepers and tools are just a click away. Save 25% off the Internet’s best-kept secret. Subscribe now!

Aaron Jones’ ADP: 62.39

(ADP data courtesy of MyFantasyLeague.com; last updated at time of this publishing – ADPs continually change as more drafts occur)

Jones’ 62.39 ADP puts him in the range of the 6th to 8th round depending on the size of the league. His ADP is lower than just one teammate, WR Justin Jefferson (8.38), whose ADP ranks 8th overall.

Among running backs, Jones’ ADP puts him 22nd at the position behind Chicago’s D’Andre Swift (61.79), New England’s Rhamondre Stevenson (56.25) and Detroit’s David Montgomery (52.56), and ahead of Las Vegas’ Zamir White (63.30), Miami’s Raheem Mostert (63.55) and Pittsburgh’s Najee Harris (65.97).

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]

Aaron Jones’ 2023-24 stats

Games: 11

Carries | rushing yards: 142 | 656

Rushing touchdowns: 2

Receptions | receiving yards: 30 | 233

Receiving touchdowns: 1

FOOTBALL NEVER STOPS
Live games, analysis and more 7 days a week: Get ESPN+

Where should you draft Jones?

Jones’ fantasy value could get a boost due to him playing as the lead back and splitting fewer snaps. Jones should be a workhorse back for the Vikings, a team that will be desperate to get the run game going given the season-ending injury to 1st-round pick and projected starting QB J.J. McCarthy, forcing the Vikes to count on QB Sam Darnold.

Jones has been productive throughout his career and has a 5.0 yards per carry average, However, he has played on far better offenses than this one. When Jones had the best rushing season (1,121 yards in 2022-23), the Packers were just 8-9, but they were still led by one of the most lethal quarterbacks in the NFL in Aaron Rodgers.

The loss of rookie McCarthy (out of Michigan) will sting, but it isn’t going to be the end-all for Jones’ fantasy value. Fantasy owners are still taking Jefferson like he’s one of the best receivers. They should be doing the same with Jones, who is set to be one of the two main focal points of the offense. When he’s had at least 200 carries, he’s turned it into 1,000-plus yards. Plus, with 47 or more receptions in 4 of the last 5 seasons, he’s even more valuable in PPR formats.

Draft Jones in the late 5th round and feel free to reach into the middle of the 5th in PPR formats. In standard leagues, managers can let him fall into the early parts of the 6th, but he’s still capable of producing, so don’t let him fall much later.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow @nathanbeighle_ on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

Access more NFL coverage:
BetFTW | TheHuddle Fantasy Football | BearsWire | BengalsWire | BillsWire | BroncosWire | BrownsWire | BucsWire | CardsWire | ChargersWire | ChiefsWire | ColtsWire | CommandersWire | CowboysWire | DolphinsWire | EaglesWire | FalconsWire | GiantsWire | JaguarsWire | JetsWire | LionsWire | NinersWire | PackersWire | PanthersWire | PatriotsWire | RaidersWire | RamsWire | RavensWire | SaintsWire | SeahawksWire | SteelersWire | TexansWire | TitansWire | VikingsWire | DraftWire | TouchdownWire | ListWire

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=3472]

Aaron Jones quickly agrees to join Minnesota Vikings

The former Packer sticks within the NFC North for a shot at revenge.

A day after the Green Bay Packers opted to get younger at running back by signing Josh Jacobs and releasing Aaron Jones, the latter chose to stay in the NFC North on a one-year, $7 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings.

Jones appears to have favored the revenge factor and healthy paycheck over a chance at winning a Super Bowl, since the quarterback-less Vikings face a potentially dire situation at the most important position in the game. Unless a rookie steps in and “C.J. Strouds” his way out of the gates, Minnesota appears to be playing for pride in 2024. Nevertheless, Jones will be heavily utilized as the primary back in a system that has proven to generate results from the position, on the turf and through the air.

Fantasy football outlook

Jones’ versatility will help offset a likely lack of touchdowns. While age (turns 30 in December) may be working against him, and the injury bug reared its ugly head last season (11 games played), he looked rather spry down the stretch. Expect a rookie to give him the occasional breather, though it’s likely to come from a midround selection than an early investment.

Unless there’s a significant injury issue or the quarterback play is even worse than anyone can imagine, the Vikings will lean on the veteran enough to present low-end No. 2 worth in fantasy leagues. Jones may get overvalued a tad based on name recognition, but most competitive formats probably will draft him on the border of being an RB2 and third back.

Fantasy football: Green Bay agrees to terms with Josh Jacobs

One of the top backs in free agency finds a new home.

The Green Bay Packers opted to let running back AJ Dillon walk into free agency without an extension, and the team held contract negotiations with veteran Aaron Jones. In what is a mildly surprising move, former Las Vegas Raiders back Josh Jacobs has agreed to join the Packers during the early stages of the “open tampering” period.

Update: Jones was entering the final year of his contract, set to count more than $17 million against the cap, which opened the door for his release.

Fantasy football outlook

Now that Jones is out of the way, Jacobs will be a workhorse in Green Bay, and his overall fantasy value won’t deviate from RB1 draft status. Don’t be alarmed when the Packers draft or sign another back to spell him. As long as the former Raider is upright, he’s poised for a strong fantasy season, especially in PPR.

Fantasy football: Life after Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay

A fantasy football preview into life at Lambeau without No. 12 under center.

Although the trade has yet to be consummated, the New York Jets’ acquisition of quarterback Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers appears to be a matter of when, not if. The move will usher in a new era for the Packers, which have had Rodgers at the helm since 2008. Now, the mantle of QB1 passes to Jordan Love, who was selected 26th overall during the 2020 draft.

While the team is likely to add key personnel in the draft and free agency, it’s still a good time for a first look at what the Packers offense could look like post-Rodgers.

Fantasy football: 5 running back duos worth drafting in 2022

These 10 running backs are part of backfield committees, but they still offer standalone value in fantasy football.

Typically in fantasy football, drafting a workhorse is the best strategy at running back. But fewer and fewer teams are relying on one running back going into the 2022 NFL season.

Beyond the top options of backs, like Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry and Najee Harris, most RBs are part of some kind of backfield rotation. Fortunately, there are many backfield duos with each RB offering some standalone value in fantasy, even if both players stay healthy.

Here’s a look at five running back committees that feature a pair of RBs who are both worth drafting in your fantasy football league.

Fantasy football: 5 running back bust candidates for 2022

Fantasy football managers might want to reconsider drafting these running backs this summer.

A breakout player can give your roster a boost, and sleeper prospects off the waiver wire can save your fantasy football season, but drafting a bust can sink your season before it even begins.

Here’s a look at five bust candidates at running back this year that fantasy managers should consider avoiding at their current average draft positions.

We have more than a quarter-century track record of creating fantasy football champs. Sign up for The Huddle today to gain an award-winning edge on the competition!

7 handcuff running backs to target in fantasy football drafts

Seven of the top running back tandems to handcuff in fantasy football drafts.

It’s common for fantasy football players to “double down” on running backs in whom they’ve made a significant investment by adding the backup late in drafts or auctions. The term for this practice is called “handcuffing” – having two running backs from the same team on your roster.

The key to executing a proper handcuff is in direct relation to the investment made in the first of the two running backs. The player almost certainly needs to be an RB1. There are exceptions to the rule – the first back can be an RB2 in the event there is a belief that two backs will share playing time.

The rationale is pretty simple – if the top guy gets injured, the “handcuff guy” can step in and closely replicate the production.

These are the top seven handcuff players you should consider.

Fantasy football team previews: NFC North

It’s time to catch up on all of the NFC North’s fantasy-based changes.

The 2022 fantasy football draft season is starting to heat up now that we’ve gone through the height of free agency and all of the chosen rookies have been assigned to their professional home cities.

The landscape has changed a great deal for many franchises after a whirlwind offseason, and our divisional preview series will help you stay on top of all of the changes to date.

AFC divisional previews

East | North | South | West

NFC divisional previews

East | North | South | West