NFL Insider Boldly Predicts a Vikings RB1 Change

Last season the Minnesota Vikings used their yearly Green Bay Packers exception on running back Aaron Jones. He showed up in purple and put up a career-year while also remaining healthy.

This offseason the Vikings decided to run it back with Jones. That may be a risky move given his age and injury history. They hedged their bet by acquiring Jordan Mason from the San Francisco 49ers.

The two will form a one-two punch, and Mason could conceivably be the front end of it.

Jordan Mason to lead the Minnesota Vikings backfield

Last season Aaron Jones was healthy and played all 17 games for the Minnesota Vikings. He’ll be 31 years old this season and banking on that reality to replicate itself is not a good bet. ESPN’s Dan Graziano doesn’t believe he’ll be the bell cow though.

The Vikings love Aaron Jones Sr. If you’ve ever talked to Jones, you know why. He is a great player and a great guy to have in your locker room. But he’s also 30 years old and coming off a 322-touch season.

The Vikings traded for Mason, the former 49ers back who they believe adds an explosive element to their run game. So far, they’ve been thrilled with Mason’s play, and they envision a pretty even split in running back duties this season between him and Jones. But during some Christian McCaffrey absences in San Francisco, Mason did show the ability to function as more than just part of a tandem. He ran for 789 yards on 153 carries last season. So it’s not hard to picture a scenario in which the Vikings decide to lean more on him as the season goes along. Again, nothing against Jones — this could just be the natural evolution of things in Minnesota.

ESPN

Last season Jones turned his 17 games of action into a career-best 1,138 rushing yards. He found pay dirt five times on the ground, and score twice on passes. He will again be an integral part of the offense.

If the Minnesota Vikings want to maximize Jones though, the goal should be to keep him fresh. Although he was active for every game last year, there were more than a few maladies he had to overcome. That’s part of the game but it doesn’t necessarily foster future success.

New Vikings RB Jordan Mason against the Vikes last season: 20 carries, 100 yards, 1 TD pic.twitter.com/BOhi1M26Y8

— SleeperVikings (@SleeperVikings) March 16, 2025

Mason has played plenty on his own filling in for the oft-injured Christian McCaffrey. Last season in just 12 games (six starts), Mason turned 153 carries into 789 yards and three touchdowns. He should see that sort of opportunity, or more in Minnesota this season.

Related: MN Vikings Were Sniffing Around Another WR

Both Jones and Mason are talented. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy will rely on each of them to contribute. Regardless of how paces the backfield, it’s hard not to feel good about the position as whole.

Although Adam Thielen is back for the Minnesota Vikings, the passing game will be without Jordan Addison (and potentially Jalen Nailor) for a bit. That could force Kevin O’Connell to lean into his running game. If he does, they’ll be ready.