Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell described his 2025 backfield as a "1A and 1B" situation with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. "Aaron Jones is at his best when we can keep him fresh, we can keep him truly as that 1a, because we’ve got the 1b with him, and that was Jordan Mason," O'Connell said.
O'Connell on Mason: "There were some potential great options to pair Jones with in the draft and free agency, but we really felt like what we were looking for was Jordan Mason. Heavy runner, slash runner, tough to tackle, gets in space and has burst and explosion to finish runs. Also a guy that probably doesn’t get enough credit in his pass protection and every-down versatility so we don’t get pigeonholed."
The Vikings clearly targeted Mason this offseason as a guy who fit their backfield plans. They traded a pair of Day 3 picks to acquire him from San Francisco and then gave him a two-year, $10.5 million deal with $7.2 million guaranteed.
Mason was excellent as the 49ers' lead back over the first half of last year, averaging 95 rushing yards per game on 5.2 yards per carry. He ranked third among 47 qualifying RBs in rush yards over expected per attempt on the season.
Jones, meanwhile, is coming off a strong fantasy season. But he registered a career-low Pro Football Focus rushing grade and averaged his fewest yards after contact per attempt since his 2017 rookie season. That, not coincidentally, came on a career-high 15.0 carries per game.
The Vikings clearly want to reduce Jones' rushing volume in 2025, with Mason picking up that work.
For more on Mason's 2025 fantasy value, check out our Sleepers article.
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