Aaron Jones Not Ready for Fantasy Owners Until at Least Week 8
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The Minnesota Vikings do not only have a positional dilemma with their quarterbacks. Aaron Jones suffered a hamstring injury in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons. The starting Running Back came off a breakout season for Minnesota (1,138 rushing yards, five touchdowns). Add in more than 400 yards receiving and a couple more touchdowns and it was thought Minnesota was in trouble.
Fortunately, for the Vikings, they acquired Jordan Mason from the San Francisco 49ers. Despite an average offensive line, Mason has stepped in and delivered an impressive 4.7 yards per carry. This has allowed Minnesota not to rush the 30-year old Jones.
It is time to take a look under the hood to see what Minnesota may do with Jones once he returns.
Injured Reserve Rules Buy Minnesota Some Time
The good news for Jordan Mason fantasy owners is this. Aaron Jones cannot return until Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers at the earliest. Jones is on IR which means he must miss four full games of action. That does not mean four weeks. A bye week does not count toward the injury time.
Here is something to consider though.
Vikings offensive EPA per play,
— vikesinsider (@vikesinsider) October 7, 2025
with Jordan Mason on the field: +0.035 (15th)
with Aaron Jones on the field: -0.734 (32nd)
EPA (Expected Points Added) is a fancy way of assessing the probability of scoring points. It goes up and down depending on a variety of factors including down and distance, field situation, and time left on the clock, etc. There is some debate on the stat. However, Mason (26 years old) has been used more (13.8 carries per game). Jones last year was at 15 a contest (6.5 in 2025).
Minnesota was trying to figure out how to split the carry distribution going into Week 2 when the injury clarified the situation. Mason was allowed to take over. He has averaged 4.7 yards per carry on the season. Zavier Scott has provided a little depth but his inability to hold onto the football (two fumbles on 15 carries) concerns the Vikings.
It is why the time can not pass fast enough for Jones to return. Yes, it impacts fantasy football owners but come Week 8, Minnesota should be a better team than where they were at the start of the season. The Vikings have battled injuries all season. Thankfully, that extra week helps Jones get back to 100% while allowing other players to heal as well.
What Happens When Jones Does Return?
This is the big question. Jones will turn 31 early in December. For a running back, that is like being an elder statesman in the NFL. How many 30+ year old running backs are in the league performing at a high level? Derrick Henry comes to mind with Baltimore and even he is suffering with the Lamar Jackson injury.
Raheem Mostert and Ameer Abdullah come to mind but are playing depth roles at best with Las Vegas and Indianapolis respectively. Mostert is at least the primary backup to Ashton Jeanty. That seems the likely path for Jones when he does return.
One thing that Mason does not do is catch the ball out of the backfield. Last season, Mason had 51 catches at around eight yards a reception. Mason is at 3.8 this year but has averaged less than two receptions a game the past two seasons.
There figures to be a period (might be permanent) where Mason is the 1A and Jones is the 1B when Jones comes back. Mason has 13+ carries in four of five contests and that number likely continues. Remember the dynamic of J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz. McCarthy needs a more stable ground attack and safety valves.
A Last Word Or Two
Fantasy football owners do not quite know what Minnesota will be like. This is why.
Vikings are 3-2 despite:
— Patrick Siepman (@PatSieps) October 6, 2025
Christian Darrisaw hurt
Blake Cashman hurt
Andrew Van Ginkel hurt
Aaron Jones hurt
J.J. McCarthy hurt
Donovan Jackson hurt
Ryan Kelly on hurt
Brian O’Neill hurt
Two international games
Jordan Addison suspension
We have no idea who the 2025 Vikings are.
As the offensive line gets healthy, that should help the Running Backs further. Fantasy owners need a little patience as the Minnesota offense sorts itself in the weeks after the bye.
