Jordan Mason vs. Aaron Jones: Minnesota Is Telling Us This Is a Real Committee

If you're trying to figure out whether Aaron Jones or Jordan Mason is Minnesota's starting running back, the Vikings have given us an unusually honest answer.

Their depth chart says:

Aaron Jones OR Jordan Mason.

Not Jones with Mason underneath him.

Not Mason with Jones underneath him.

OR.

Fantasy managers should probably listen.

This isn't a backfield where I'm trying to predict one player taking 80 percent of the touches.

It's a backfield where I'm trying to figure out which role I want at cost.

Mason Already Took a Step Forward

Jordan Mason's first year in Minnesota wasn't huge for fantasy.

But the rushing production was good.

He finished with:

159 carries

758 rushing yards

6 rushing touchdowns

That's 4.8 yards per carry.

Mason isn't just an injury handcuff anymore.

He has already shown Minnesota that he can handle legitimate early-down volume.

Jones Is Still the Better Receiving Back

Aaron Jones isn't disappearing.

Even at 32, Jones remains the more complete passing-game back.

He understands protections.

He runs routes.

He catches the football.

And Kevin O'Connell trusts him.

That gives Jones a PPR role Mason probably can't completely take.

If you're looking at this backfield and thinking:

Mason = early downs

Jones = passing downs

I think that's probably too simplistic.

Both will do multiple things.

But it describes the strengths of the two players pretty well.

Minnesota Is Changing the Run Game

The Vikings have spent the offseason changing some of their rushing concepts.

Minnesota has talked about incorporating more vertical wide-zone concepts, shotgun runs, pistol looks and misdirection.

That benefits both backs.

But Mason's physical running style fits extremely well with an offense trying to create one decisive cut and get downhill.

Where Mason Can Win: Touchdowns

This is the part that makes me lean Mason.

Mason scored six rushing touchdowns last season.

And his build makes him a logical candidate for valuable short-yardage work.

Jones will still score.

But if Minnesota consistently uses Mason as the more physical back near the goal line, he doesn't need a huge receiving role to produce usable fantasy weeks.

Ten to 14 carries plus goal-line opportunities can matter.

Especially if this offense is good.

Where Jones Can Win: PPR Floor

Jones has the opposite path.

He might lose the carry battle and still outscore Mason in PPR.

Three or four receptions can erase a significant rushing-yardage difference quickly.

That's why I don't view this as Jordan Mason taking Aaron Jones' job.

I view it as two backs with different fantasy paths inside the same committee.

My Fantasy Read

I slightly prefer Jordan Mason.

The early-down role is real.

The touchdown path is better.

Minnesota is literally listing him as an OR starter with Aaron Jones.

And if Jones misses time at age 32, Mason's ceiling becomes significantly higher.

But I don't think there should be an enormous gap between them.

In full PPR, Jones remains interesting because the receiving work can keep him relevant even if Mason handles more carries.

So my decision is price dependent.

If Mason is around the middle rounds, I'm interested.

If someone pushes him significantly higher because they think he's about to completely take over the backfield, I'll take Jones later.

This isn't one running back beating the other.

It's a committee.

Minnesota is telling us that directly.