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Jones’ 2025 season gave us warning signs: career-low rushing efficiency, limited spike weeks, and more missed time. The Vikings’ offensive environment should improve with Kyler Murray, but that doesn’t erase Jordan Mason’s role or Jones’ durability risk. He’s fine at the bottom of RB3 range, but Jones is more fallback depth than a target to chase.
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Jones spread 132 carries, 548 rushing yards, and 2 TDs across 12 games. He added 28 catches, 199 yards, and one receiving score.
The missed games left Jones 41st in total PPR points and RB32 in points per game, and the weekly ceiling barely showed up. He posted only two top-12 finishes, both at RB12, with just three other weeks inside the top 24.
Jones shared the backfield with Jordan Mason for most of the season. In 10 games together, Jones recorded some underwhelming marks:
A healthy Mason limited Jones to only two games with 15+ touches.
Jones’ largest workloads came with Mason out: 23 touches after he left in the first quarter of Week 16 and 21 touches when Mason sat out Week 17.
Jones showed the declining efficiency you’d expect from a 31-year-old RB.
Among 51 RBs with 90+ carries, he ranked:
Each mark set a career low.
Jones wasn’t a standout receiver, either, finishing 22nd out of 40 qualifiers in yards per route run.
Jones doesn’t deserve all the blame.
A lousy QB trio of J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer combined for 164.8 yards per game, fourth-fewest leaguewide. The Vikings failed to sustain drives, ranking last with a 31.8% third-down conversion rate.
Add in Minnesota’s No. 3 ranking in red-zone pass rate, and it’s easy to see why Jones posted the lowest rushing-TD rate of his career (1.5%).
The Vikings did finish third in ESPN’s run-block win rate and fifth in adjusted line yards, but the O-line couldn’t overcome the QB mess or Jones’ mounting injuries.
We’ve charted 19 injuries across Jones’ nine-year NFL career. That includes hamstring and hip injuries that cost him five games in 2025.
Jones played all 17 games in 2024 but missed a career-high six games in 2023 with knee and hamstring trouble.
The Vikings planned to move on from Jones after last season. Instead, the veteran agreed to a revised contract that’ll keep him in Minnesota for another season.
Mason enters his second Vikings season after beating Jones in rush yards over expected per attempt, yards after contact per attempt, and missed tackles forced per attempt. But he doesn’t pose much of a threat as a pass catcher, with Jones beating him 137-37 in routes and 28-5 in targets during their shared games.
The Vikings added Round 6 RB Demond Claiborne in April. His 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine gives this backfield a needed speed element, but he’s unlikely to push for much of a role at only 5'10 and 188 pounds.
Still, Mason’s return should bring another limited workload for Jones. Our projections have him for 10.5 touches per game, aligning with his 2025 numbers with Mason.
The Vikings signed veteran Kyler Murray, who's likely to start over J.J. McCarthy.
Murray lasted only five games last year before a foot injury sent him to IR. His 161-attempt sample turned up a conservative style with a low 6.3-yard average depth of target, but he converted that into the fifth-best adjusted completion rate among 42 QBs with 150+ attempts. He ranked 13th in the same sample in catchable throw rate -- 76.4% -- just ahead of Matthew Stafford.
Ultimately, Murray projects as a clear upgrade on McCarthy.
Minnesota’s O-line should remain in good shape with four starters returning from a productive group. The lone concern sits at center after Ryan Kelly retired. He made it through only eight games last season but ranked fifth among 60 qualifiers in Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade. Blake Brandel, the expected replacement, finished 37th among that same sample.
Jones enters Year 3 with HC Kevin O’Connell, whose Vikings offenses haven’t created much rushing volume:
Rush Attempts | Run Rate | Situation-Neutral Run Rate | Run Rate Inside 10 Yard-line | |
2022 | 28th | 20th | 28th | 25th |
2023 | 28th | 31st | 30th | 31st |
2024 | 14th | 13th | 25th | 28th |
2025 | 27th | 20th | 14th | 32nd |
We project a more balanced Vikings offense this year, with a 44.6% run rate that would have ranked 14th last season. But Murray’s projection of 5.6 carries per game soaks up part of that rushing volume.
That leaves Jones and Mason in a split backfield likely to produce uneven weekly results.
Jones has missed multiple games in four of the past six seasons, including 11 total across 2023 and 2025. Mason’s return keeps in place another obstacle to Jones becoming a trustworthy RB2.
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Jordan Mason To Lead Vikings Backfield?
Jordan Mason To Lead Vikings Backfield?
Purple Insider's Matthew Coller believes RB Jordan Mason will be the Vikings' "bell cow" this season and run for 1,010 yards. It's just a prediction, but Coller is a respected reporter who's been covering the Vikings since 2016. It's not tough to imagine Mason surpassing RB Aaron Jones on the depth chart considering where both guys are in their careers.
Vikings Finally Draft a RB in Round 6
Vikings Finally Draft a RB in Round 6
The Minnesota Vikings selected Wake Forest RB Demond Claiborne in Round 6 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Claiborne spent three years leading the Wake Forest backfield, stacking good production despite a middling offense. That included 1,956 rushing yards, 21 TDs, and 51 receptions over his final two years. He even squeezed out a career-best 5.1 yards per carry in 2025 after suffering a rib injury in the opener. Claiborne brings legit juice. His 42.5% breakaway rate, per Pro Football Focus, underscores how often he delivered runs of 15+ yards. Among the 20 RBs invited to the NFL Combine, Claiborne ranked sixth in 2025 rushing market share (48.1%), and 14th in yards after contact per attempt (3.04). He ranked 10th in 2025 missed tackles forced per attempt (0.21) and 17th in receiving yards per route run (0.66). He is currently 22 years old.
Aaron Jones Takes Pay Cut To Stay In Minnesota
Aaron Jones Takes Pay Cut To Stay In Minnesota
The Vikings and RB Aaron Jones have agreed to a restructured contract, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Jones will make $5.6 million this season, including $5 million guaranteed. Schefter reported on March 1 that Minnesota was planning to release Jones, but he'll now be back for his third season with the team.
Aaron Jones Out In Minnesota, Jordan Mason To Lead '26 Backfield?
Aaron Jones Out In Minnesota, Jordan Mason To Lead '26 Backfield?
The Vikings will release RB Aaron Jones prior to the start of the new league year, barring a trade, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. The move will save Minnesota $7.75 million against the cap.
Aaron Jones Out, Jordan Mason In For Week 18
Aaron Jones Out, Jordan Mason In For Week 18
Vikings RB Aaron Jones (hip) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Packers. RB Jordan Mason (ankle) is off the final injury report after practicing all week. He should control backfield work against a Green Bay defense that’s expected to rest starters. The Vikings are 8.5-point favorites in this one.
See whether Aaron Jones is available in your leagues.
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