The first Monday Night Football matchup is here as the Vikings visit the Bears. The two teams had vastly different seasons in 2024, with Minnesota finishing 14-3, while Chicago was 5-12.
These two franchises do have something in common, however. Their starting quarterbacks were both top 10 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. Caleb Williams was the No. 1 pick, while J.J. McCarthy was the No. 10 selection. McCarthy will make his professional debut this year after suffering a knee injury prior to the 2024 season.
These teams are more than just their quarterbacks, though. One big name to watch is Aaron Jones. The Vikings running back finished last season with 1,138 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.
With his season debut set for Monday night, here are my favorite Jones prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Best Aaron Jones Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
The Vikings had a terrific 2024, but they’ll look different with McCarthy under center. There will be some consistency, however, with Jones in the backfield. He’s been a solid running back throughout his career and excelled in his first year with Minnesota.
His second season should also be strong, but there’s more competition in the backfield. The team acquired Jordan Mason in the offseason, giving depth to the position.
While this shouldn’t be a running back committee, Mason will likely eat into Jones’ touches a bit. DraftKings Sportsbook is setting Jones’ rushing yards at 52.5 and Mason’s at 39.5. The carries aren’t far apart either with Jones at 12.5 and Mason at 9.5.
Without a major difference between the two, it’s better to stay away from rushing props until there’s more certainty. That said, the receiving props are a more solid option.
Jones played a big role in the passing game, racking up 408 yards on 51 receptions in 17 games last year. Mason, on the other hand, had 11 catches for 91 yards in 12 games (six starts). Mason’s receiving numbers don’t compare to the 789 rushing yards he tallied last season.
Even if the two are splitting time in the backfield, Jones will be in for passing plays. Having a pass-catching running back is beneficial for young quarterbacks, especially McCarthy who hasn’t thrown an NFL pass yet.
Jones will be there for easy yards, making both his receptions (2.5) and receiving yards (17.5) worth looking at. I prefer the receiving yards as Jones can surpass 17.5 with one catch, but both are viable options.
If you want to parlay both, it yields +128 value.