The Vikings got J.J. McCarthy back from injury and snapped a four-game losing streak by rolling over the Commanders last week, improving to 5-8 on the season. In Week 15, they’ll travel to Dallas to face the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. In that matchup, can either Aaron Jones Sr. or Jordan Mason help you to a fantasy football victory this week?
Let’s take a look at the value of each Vikings running back in what should favorable matchup against the Cowboys, who have allowed the fourth most fantasy points to running backs this season. Which back will carry the load
Aaron Jones Sr. fantasy football outlook
Jones has been limited in practice this week, which has become the norm since he suffered a shoulder injury in Week 9. Despite following a similar plan last week, Jones played 29 snaps (45%) and took 14 carries for 76 yards against the Commanders on his way to 7.6 fantasy points. He didn’t catch his only target, but continues to get more work than any other running back in the Vikings’ backfield.
Jones had multiple catches in six straight games before coming up empty as a receiver against Washington. It was also his fourth straight week without a touchdown.
This season, Jones has posted over 11 fantasy points in four of his nine games with an average of 9.3 fantasy points per contest. He has a relatively high floor but hasn’t had any huge games, indicating he has a limited ceiling.
Jordan Mason fantasy football outlook
While Jones got more work, Mason was the better fantasy play, even though he only played 19 snaps (30%). He took his 11 carries for 52 yards and a touchdown and wasn’t targeted.
The score gives him six touchdowns this season, including two in the last four weeks, while Jones has not been able to get into the end zone.
Mason stepped up as the full-time back while Jones was out, but he’s very touchdown-dependent now that Jones is back and getting most of the snaps and carries in the backfield.
He had one monster game against the Bengals, racking up 26.6 fantasy points in Week 3, but he has been held under 14 fantasy points in every week since then, including last week, when he had 11.2 fantasy points against the Commanders.
The Bottom Line
Both running backs could have value, especially in such a favorable matchup, but they do definitely crowd each other’s upside. Assuming Jones plays through his shoulder injury again, he will likely be the top running back but could lose goal line carries to Mason. He’s a low-end RB2 even against Dallas in season-long leagues. Mason is a touchdown-dependent flex play in his current role and is best left on the bench in most leagues, unless you have no better options or are playing in a deep league.
On DraftKings, the Sunday night matchup is part of showdown contests, like the NFL Showdown $1M Sunday Night Showdown [$250K to 1st] (MIN @ DAL). Mason is $7,200 in a FLEX spot, while Jones is cheaper at $6,200. Since he has been busier lately, Jones seems like a strong value option, and if he can get back involved as a receiver and get back into the end zone, he’ll be a great option at this salary. Of the two players, Jones is the slightly better option of the two players this week, as long as he isn’t limited by his shoulder injury.
