Friday, June 28, 2024

Top 100 NFL Running Backs - #47: Aaron Jones


Aaron Jones

Teams

Green Bay Packers (2017-2023)

Minnesota Vikings (current)


Playoffs

Appearances - 4 (2019,2023,2021,2023)

Conf Champ Games - 2 (2019,2020)

Super Bowls - 0

Championships - 0


Awards and Honors

Pro Bowl - 1 (2020)


All-Time Ranks

Yards per Rush - #10

Rushing Yards per Game - #82


League Leads

Rushing Yards (#4-2020, #10-2022)

Rushing Touchdowns (#1-2019)

Yards per Rush (#1-2018, #5-2020, #6-2022, #10-2021)

Rushing Yards per Game (#4-2020)

Total Touchdowns (#1-2019)

Scrimmage Yards (#7-2020, #8-2019, #9-2022)


After setting UTEP's all-time rushing record, and gaining 1773 yards on the ground as a senior, Aaron Jones was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 5th round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Jones spent his first two seasons as a backup in Green Bay, getting better as time passed. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry in both of those seasons, which made him the league leader in that category in 2018, which helped him earn the starting job heading into 2019.

In his first season as a starter, Jones gained 1084 yards on the ground, along with 474 through the air, and led the league with 16 rushing touchdowns and 19 overall. He also helped the Packers make the playoffs for the first time in his career, and he scored 2 touchdowns in each of their playoff games, though they lost in the NFC title game.

He had his best season so far in 2020. He scored fewer touchdowns, with only 9, but he gained 1104 rushing yards, and once again averaged 5.5 per carry, and as a result he was voted to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. The Packers again reached the NFC Title Game, but this time Jones was injured during the game, and they fell short of the Super Bowl by a game again.

Jones was still the team's starter in 2021, but started splitting the backfield load with AJ Dillon, and he ended the season with only 799 yards. He bounced back in 2022, gaining a career-high 1121 yards, but scoring only twice on the ground.

Jones missed 6 games in 2023 with hamstring issues, and it resulted in him gaining only 656 rushing yards in 11 games, the lowest since his rookie season. After the season, he was released by the Packers, and has since signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

Jones has not been a volume rusher during his time in the NFL so far, but he gains a lot of yardage each time he touches the ball. He is #10 on the all-time list for yards per carry, averaging 5 yards each time he carries the ball. He has led the league in that category once, and has been near the top 3 other times, and scored the most touchdowns of any player in 2019. He's currently 29 years old, so he could have several more good years to go, but he's already proven to be one of the best to play the game.



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