The fantasy football playoffs are fast approaching and every matchup just means more. With just three weeks to go before the postseason begins in season-long leagues, finding steady talent is key. The Minnesota Vikings’ backfield was in flux for much of the season, but ever since Aaron Jones returned from injury, the veteran seems to have taken over again. Is he a player to depend on in fantasy, or is Jordan Mason still worth rostering as well?
Evaluating the Vikings backfield
The Vikings added Jordan Mason via trade this offseason, setting up what many folks thought was a new starter in town. The campaign began with a split backfield between he and Aaron Jones with Mason playing 54% of snaps and the latter playing 50%. However, Jones was injured in Week 2 and didn’t play again until Week 8. In his absence, Mason regularly produced double-digit fantasy points in PPR format, though he only eclipsed 12.6 points one time. However, the return of Jones in Week 8 completely altered the outlook once more.
Since that game, here’s how things shake out. Jones has out-snapped Mason in three of four games by margins of nine, 30, and 28 snaps. Over the last two weeks, the elder RB has truly taken over again with snap shares of 71% and 67%, showing a full grip on the backfield. The fantasy production also suggests the same — Jones has posted 11.8, 15.9 and 11.1 PPR points compared to just 4.7, 4.1 and 10.5 for Mason. The raw scoring isn’t everything though, as Jones has 34 rush attempts and 14 targets to Mason’s 20 runs and two targets.
So, what can we glean from that information? If there’s one lesson to gain, it’s that the Vikings favor their veteran once more. What makes the situation particularly interesting is that Jones has taken just nine rush attempts in two of those three games with 16 attempts in the other, so he hasn’t exactly seen a true workhorse’s opportunity in the backfield. It’s likely Minnesota’s staff is seeking to protect the 30-year-old’s health with lesser workload, but it seems they trust him far more with pass protection reps and work in the receiving game. The latter in particular is what makes Jones far more valuable than Mason in PPR formats.
The scores Jones has put up in recent weeks may not strike awe into fantasy managers, but he’s recorded at least 69 scrimmage yards and two catches in each game — the floor here seems quite safe so long as he remains healthy. When he manages to get into the end zone as he did in Week 10, the better weeks will come. Pencil the veteran in as a clear-cut starter in Minnesota who’s worthy of weekly FLEX consideration. Don’t ignore Mason though, especially since he’s simply one injury away from a real role.
While a Week 12 matchup with the Green Bay Packers proves difficult, the Vikings do have the sixth-easiest playoff schedule for RBs. That’s worth keeping in mind over the coming weeks.
