Aaron Jones is a major storyline in the NFC North, as after being cut by the Green Bay Packers, reportedly for not restructuring his deal, he joined fierce division rivals, the Minnesota Vikings. Jones profiles to be the RB1 in a new-look Minnesota, and given his one-year, $7 million deal, he is expected to be a workhorse for the Vikings.
Ty Chandler showed he could be depended upon when needed in 2023 and he will back Jones up nicely in the upcoming season. Jones is one of those multifaceted running backs who can do everything, and he is a threat both on the ground and through the air. While he may have lost a step at 29 years old and injuries are always a concern in his position, Aaron Jones projects to be a third or fourth-round pick in most fantasy drafts.
While some might be tempted to take him in the tail end of the second round, the Vikings have a lot of questions surrounding them at the present and Jones has a history of missing a few games a season. Try and land him in the late third or fourth. The Vikings’ offense being run by either Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy is a worry, even for running backs, but you’d imagine Jones will get the workload to have a decent floor every week.
Aaron Jones’ 2024 NFL fantasy outlook: What numbers to expect from the Vikings RB?
Aaron Jones will be hoping to avoid the injuries he suffered in 2023, as hamstring and knee issues limited him to 11 games last season. That said, he totaled 656 yards and 2 TDs on the ground, as well as 233 yards and 1 TD through the air.
Given that 2023 was Jones’ fourth career season below 800 rushing yards (out of 7 years in the NFL), there is reason for caution before drafting him. However, he missed games in all of those seasons, so presuming he stays healthy and plays 17, 1,100 yards rushing, 400 receiving yards and 8 total TDs feels about right.
That said, be prepared to see Qs next to his name on a weekly basis (as the Vikings will likely be cautious with him in practice given his injury history), and do not be surprised if he misses a few weeks.
Other fantasy outlooks for running backs: Bijan Robinson, Najee Harris & Josh Jacobs.