<img decoding="async" src="https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/USATSI_10348604.jpg" width="788" height="444" data-attachment-id="130335" data-permalink="https://vikingsterritory.com/2024/news/analysis/new-viking-labeled-with-bust-potential/attachment/nfl-green-bay-packers-at-minnesota-vikings-87" data-orig-file="https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=2560,height=1706,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/USATSI_10348604-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1706" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS-1D X Mark II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Oct 15, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings defensive end Brian Robison (96) and defensive tackle Shamar Stephen (93) during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1508089605&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Brace Hemmelgarn&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;400&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;1250&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;NFL: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="NFL: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Oct 15, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings defensive end Brian Robison (96) and defensive tackle Shamar Stephen (93) during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports.&lt;/p&gt;
" data-medium-file="https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/USATSI_10348604.jpg" data-large-file="https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=786,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/USATSI_10348604.jpg" />Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings hope to finally fix their ground attack in 2024 after underwhelming team performances in 2022 and 2023.
<h4>New Viking Labeled with “Bust” Potential</h4>
To do so, the franchise onboarded Aaron Jones from the Green Bay Packers in March, the solve-all solution at RB1 for one year and $7 million. However, according to CBS Sports, Jones carries a large “bust” risk, specifically when applied to fantasy football, but with obvious ripples in overall implications.
<img decoding="async" src="https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ajpack.jpg" data-attachment-id="129430" data-permalink="https://vikingsterritory.com/2024/news/analysis/so-is-aaron-jones-still-a-bellcow-back/attachment/ajpack" data-orig-file="https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=2560,height=1411,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ajpack-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1411" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Raj Mehta&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS-1D X Mark II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577636284&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;400&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;2500&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0005&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="ajpack" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Dec 29, 2019; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) celebrates after a play during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports.&lt;/p&gt;
" data-medium-file="https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ajpack.jpg" data-large-file="https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=650,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ajpack.jpg" />Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports. –
Jones went hog wild during the final five games of the 2023 season, helping the Packers secure a playoff berth and later upset the Dallas Cowboys on the road in the Wildcard Round. Accordingly, Minnesota sought to prolong that hot streak with a contract in the Twin Cities, brushing away any age-related fears as Jones will turn 30 in December.
CBS Sports’ Dave Ricard warned about the fantasy bust potential this week: “Why might he bust? Before he erupted in the playoffs last year, Jones totaled 483 yards and three touchdowns on 102 touches over eight games. And with Kevin O’Connell as head coach, the Vikings have been among the most pass-heavy offenses in football and have failed to produce a RB with 15-plus PPR points each of the past two seasons (Alexander Mattison averaged 8.3 PPR per game in 2023).”
<img decoding="async" src="https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/USATSI_19333914.jpg" data-attachment-id="129611" data-permalink="https://vikingsterritory.com/2024/news/analysis/vikings-have-a-bounceback-candidate-in-2024/attachment/nfl-green-bay-packers-at-buffalo-bills-7" data-orig-file="https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=2560,height=1707,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/USATSI_19333914-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;ILCE-9M2&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Oct 30, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) runs with the ball against the Buffalo Bills during the second half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1667182791&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Gregory Fisher&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;179&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;5000&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.001&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;NFL: Green Bay Packers at Buffalo Bills&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="NFL: Green Bay Packers at Buffalo Bills" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Oct 30, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) runs with the ball against the Buffalo Bills during the second half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports.&lt;/p&gt;
" data-medium-file="https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/USATSI_19333914.jpg" data-large-file="https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/USATSI_19333914.jpg" />Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports. –
If Jones gets injured or encounters an age-related decline, Ty Chandler will be waiting for RB1 duty. The Vikings are also expected to sign Cam Akers sometime soon.
“Jones has missed playing time in three of his past four seasons and will turn 30 this season. He’s much more of a quality RB to use in lineups to begin the year but not count on as a season-long starter,” Ricard added.
Justin Jefferson Signs and Purple Nation Sighs in ReliefUnmute00:04/59:5<img decoding="async" src="https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/USATSI_13834351.jpg" data-attachment-id="126880" data-permalink="https://vikingsterritory.com/2024/news/analysis/another-packer-bolts-wisconsin-joins-vikings/attachment/nfl-green-bay-packers-at-minnesota-vikings-85" data-orig-file="https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=2560,height=1706,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/USATSI_13834351-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1706" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS-1D X Mark II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Dec 23, 2019; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) carries the ball for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577156387&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Brace Hemmelgarn&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;400&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;6400&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.000625&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;NFL: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="NFL: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Dec 23, 2019; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) carries the ball for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports.&lt;/p&gt;
" data-medium-file="https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/USATSI_13834351.jpg" data-large-file="https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/USATSI_13834351.jpg" />Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports. –
If that were replicated in the Vikings’ offense sometime during the early part of the regular season, the “bust” assessment would be visible in living color.
Minnesota saved $3.35 million by releasing Alexander Mattison in March, flipping that cash into Jones for a one-year experiment. Jones has played against Minnesota 11 times in his career, and now, with any luck, he’ll suit up for 17 games with his former foe, including two games versus the Packers. He’s tallied 847 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns as a Packer against the Vikings since joining the NFL in 2017 as a 5th-Round Pick.
<img decoding="async" src="https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/USATSI_19146383.jpg" data-attachment-id="97582" data-permalink="https://vikingsterritory.com/2023/news/top_news/vikings-coach-says/attachment/nfl-international-series-minnesota-vikings-practice-12" data-orig-file="https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=2560,height=1707,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/USATSI_19146383-scaled.jpg" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;6.3&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;ILCE-1&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Sep 30, 2022; Thundridge, United Kingdom; Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips during practice at Hanbury Manor. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1664560018&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Kirby Lee&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;600&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;5000&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.001&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;NFL: International Series-Minnesota Vikings Practice&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}" data-image-title="NFL: International Series-Minnesota Vikings Practice" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="&lt;p&gt;Sep 30, 2022; Thundridge, United Kingdom; Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips during practice at Hanbury Manor. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.&lt;/p&gt;
" data-medium-file="https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/USATSI_19146383.jpg" data-large-file="https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/USATSI_19146383.jpg" />Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports. –
In May, Pro Football Focus named Jones the eighth-best running back in the NFL entering 2024. So, something’s gotta give — either CBS Sports o

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New Viking Labeled with “Bust” Potential