The Minnesota Vikings are re-signing running back Aaron Jones, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Jones' new agreement is a two-year $20 million deal, including $13 million guaranteed. The UTEP product is fresh off his first season with the team, in which he set career-highs in touches (306), carries (255), and rushing yards (1,138) -- totaling seven touchdowns. It was just the third time he'd participated in a full slate of games in his career. The move makes sense for the Vikes, as the 30-year-old was still productive despite dealing with rib, hip, and quad injuries during the 2024 season. It will be interesting to see who the team's signal-caller will be, as J.J. McCarthy (knee) is slated to begin practicing in the spring, though to what extent is unknown. Still, Minnesota has their lead back locked up, and he'll likely be among the first 15-20 backs taken off the board in fantasy drafts this summer.
Aaron Jones Could Be Stuck In More Of A Committee If He Returns
The Minnesota Vikings want to re-sign impending free-agent running back Aaron Jones, but The Athletic's Alec Lewis writes that even if they do, they are looking for more of a by-committee backfield approach. Lewis expects the Vikings to take a running back in the upcoming NFL draft in April. After signing a one-year, $7 million deal with Minnesota last offseason, the 30-year-old former Packers RB posted his fourth 1,000-yard rushing campaign and added five rushing touchdowns on a career-high 255 rushing attempts in 17 regular-season starts. He also added 51 catches for 408 yards and another two touchdowns. But Jones is now 30 years old, and the Vikings surely want to lessen his load as he ages if they bring him back in 2025. If Jones returns to the Vikings next season, he could end up being more of a shaky RB2 target in fantasy.
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Denver Broncos are expected to "take a look" at a versatile back for Sean Payton's rushing scheme. Fowler noted that given Jones' eight years of NFL experience, he could be a strong fit for a team that is looking to take the next step. During the 2024 season, the Broncos struggled to generate much on the ground as they tallied the 17th-most rushing yards per game (112.2). Javonte Williams tallied the most yards out of the backfield (513), with Jaleel McLaughlin just behind with 496 yards. In his debut campaign in Minnesota, Aaron Jones ran for 1,138 yards with five scores on 255 attempts. He added 408 yards and two scores on 51 receptions. Even though he is entering his age-30 season, Jones should be in a good position to tally over 1,000 yards on the ground once again in 2025.
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones rushed 13 times for 48 yards and hauled in 3-of-6 targets for an additional 12 yards in their 27-9 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams. The 30-year-old again dominated backfield touches for the Vikings but didn't have much to show for it. Jones was actually decent when he toted the rock but was mainly phased out of the team's plan of attack after they quickly trailed 17-3 in the first half. That, and quarterback Sam Darnold's ineffectiveness, would be the cause of another average day for the veteran rusher, who failed to eclipse 50 yards on the ground in his last three outings. Unfortunately, Minnesota's season will end despite working to a 14-3 record in the regular season. Jones will now hit the market, headlining the list of free-agent RBs in 2025.
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (quad) carries no designation into his road tilt with the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football. The 30-year-old has been bothered by a quad injury for a few weeks now, but he's yet to be inactive. It's excellent news, too, as backfield mate Cam Akers (illness) popped up as a late-week DNP and is questionable for the contest with an illness. Jones' rushing totals have declined recently, but he's been involved in the passing game -- reeling in nine catches over his previous two outings. If Akers is unable to suit up, the veteran would likely be due for an elevated workload with Ty Chandler (illness) working in behind him. The Rams haven't let up a ton of fantasy points to RBs, but they did allow the 130 yards per game on the ground to opposing offenses. The former Green Bay Packer is RotoBaller's PPR RB10 for the Wild Card round.
For the second straight day this week, Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (quadriceps) was limited in practice on Friday. Jones was also on last week's injury report with the quad issue before suiting up and playing 62 percent of the offensive snaps in the Week 18 loss to the division-rival Detroit Lions in the regular-season finale. Jones had 15 touches for 75 scrimmage yards. The 30-year-old should be available on wild-card weekend for the Monday night matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, although he could carry a questionable tag into that one if he's limited again on Friday. As Minnesota's backfield leader in a high-scoring offense, Jones should at least be considered a low-end RB1 for fantasy managers in playoff leagues. The Rams defense was in the middle of the pack in terms of points allowed to RBs in 2024, while Jones had 19 carries for 58 yards in the loss to LA back on Oct. 24.
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (quadriceps) remains on the injury report and was limited in the first practice of the week on Thursday. The Vikings still have two more days of practice, so as long as Jones can return to a full session by Saturday, he should be cleared to face the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card playoff round on Monday night. The 30-year-old was also limited in practice with his quad injury last week but ended up playing in the Sunday night loss to the division-rival Detroit Lions in the Week 18 regular-season finale, seeing 15 touches for 75 scrimmage yards on a 62% snap share. For the volume alone as Minnesota's primary back in a high-scoring offense, Jones should be considered a low-end RB1 for wild-card weekend in fantasy. In the loss to the Rams back on Oct. 24, Jones had 19 carries for 58 yards and also caught two passes for 37 yards.
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones rushed 10 times for 45 yards in Sunday night's 31-9 loss to the Detroit Lions, adding 30 yards through the air on five of six receiving. The 30-year-old was effective when he touched the rock but did not receive his typical allotment of snaps in this one. Jones was utilized heavily on the Vikings' first drive but saw just one more touch in the quarter before taking off for a few possessions. He'd again be frequently featured on their last drive of the first half, but he saw only five more touches for the rest of the game. The broadcast noted that the eighth-year pro had been on the sideline for an extended period, though no injury designation had been made. He'd also take a shot later in the game and was slow to get up, so that and his previous quad ailment are possibly the culprits for his diminished snaps. Seeing the veteran limited at practice this week wouldn't be surprising. Jones will get an extra day of rest as his team now prepares for their road tilt with the Los Angeles Rams next Monday night to cap off wild-card weekend. Minnesota's first practice report will be out on Thursday.
Aaron Jones Good To Go, A Fringe RB1 Option In Week 18
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (quad) is without designation for Sunday night's divisional clash with the Detroit Lions. The eighth-year pro picked up a quad injury in last weekend's bout against his former team -; kicking the week off with back-to-back limited sessions. However, on Friday, he was a full participant and enters the road tilt all systems go. Jones is the RB14 on the season -; averaging 14.3 fantasy points per game. Although Detroit's D has been friendly through the air, they've been staunch against opposing rushing attacks. The Lions are letting up just 97 yards per game on the ground (third-fewest) and the fifth-least fantasy points per game to RBs (19.1). Still, in a game with the highest over/under of the week (57) -; there should be plenty of offense to go around. The 30-year-old ranks as RotoBaller's PPR RB13 in Week 18.
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (quadriceps) was listed as limited again in the team's second practice of the week on Thursday. Jones suffered an apparent quadriceps contusion in the second half of their Week 17 win over the division-rival Green Bay Packers and never returned to the contest. However, the 30-year-old veteran's injury isn't considered serious, and he has a shot to play in the Week 18 divisional showdown on Sunday against the Detroit Lions that will decide not only the NFC North champions, but the No. 1 overall seed in the conference for the postseason. Jones could get a questionable tag going into Sunday night's game if he's limited again on Friday, but we're expecting him to suit up and play his usual number of snaps as Minnesota's starter. At worst, Jones will be a low-end RB1 in fantasy. He had 14 carries for 93 yards and a TD in the first meeting against Detroit.
Aaron Jones
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Vikings
