Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason found the end zone and caught three passes Sunday against Cleveland, saving an otherwise average game with just 56 total yards. Mason and Minnesota did just enough, with the back scoring a second-half running touchdown to highlight a day in which he had 52 yards on 13 carries in Minnesota's 21-17 comeback win. The first-year Viking coughed up the ball in the first half for the second straight week, and lost some touches to backup Zavier Scott, who came in and also fumbled. The performance yardage-wise was to be expected as a decimated Vikings' O-line went against a good Cleveland front, but Mason should hang onto fantasy value as long as he can hang onto the ball. The Vikings will return to action in Week 7 after a bye next week.
Oct 5, 2025 1:58 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason is facing a brutal matchup in Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns, but has enough command over his team's backfield to still be considered a low-end RB2. The Browns have allowed the fewest yards per carry of any team in the NFL, and the Vikings will meet them without three of five starters on their offensive line and a backup quarterback. But with fellow running back Aaron Jones (hamstring) still on injured reserve, Mason still should see a significant amount touches and a similar game plan to last week, in which he carried the ball 16 times and was targeted three times, catching all of them. Despite the highly unfavorable matchup, there's enough opportunity here for Mason to be considered for starting lineups.
Oct 3, 2025 4:54 PM EST
As the Minnesota Vikings' lead back, Jordan Mason should be viewed as a high-end RB2 and a starting option when his team takes on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4. With Aaron Jones (hamstring) on injured reserve and unable to play, Mason will be the top option out of the Minnesota backfield until at least Week 7, and possibly longer given his effectiveness so far. The first-year Viking surpassed 100 yards and scored twice last week as the No. 1 back, and now he takes on a Pittsburgh defense that ranks 19th in yards per attempt allowed and 31st in missed tackles. Now that Minnesota has other key pieces like left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee) and receiver Jordan Addison (suspension) back in action, Mason should have a starring role in an offense on the rise.
Sep 26, 2025 5:01 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason made his first start in place of Aaron Jones Sr. (hamstring) during Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Vikings said they planned to heavily involve Mason in the game plan, which they certainly did. Mason rushed 16 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns in the blowout victory. He wasn't targeted in the passing game, which is a bit of a concern going forward. However, Mason is going to be just fine if he continues to rush the ball like that. He'll get a tougher matchup next week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mason remains the primary back going forward, so fantasy managers should consider him a low-end RB1 for Week 4.
Sep 21, 2025 6:52 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason is expected to take on a "heavy load" when the Vikings face the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon. With lead running back Aaron Jones Sr. (hamstring) on the injured reserve, the former 49er is slated to see the bulk of the carries. Last season, Mason proved to be a reliable RB1 when he replaced the injured Christian McCaffrey. Through the seven games in which Mason saw more than 40 snaps, the running back averaged a stellar 95.3 rushing yards per game with 14.8 PPR points per game. This afternoon, the Vikings will face the Bengals, who have allowed the second-most PPR points to opposing RBs this season, which makes Mason a must-start low-end RB1 in all formats.
Sep 21, 2025 11:12 AM EST
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason is in line for a heavy workload in Week 3. Signed this offseason, Mason has already logged 24 carries for 98 yards through two games, and with Aaron Jones Sr. landing on injured reserve, the backfield is now his to lead. Mason proved last year with the 49ers that he can handle volume, producing 667 yards and three touchdowns on 128 carries across seven starts in 2024. Now he draws a favorable matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, who have allowed the third-most half-PPR fantasy points to running backs early this season. With both opportunity and matchup working in his favor, Mason profiles as a high-end RB2 with RB1 upside in Week 3.
Sep 20, 2025 10:41 AM EST
With Aaron Jones (hamstring) out for a minimum of four weeks, Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason is a quality RB2 candidate against a bad Cincinnati defense. The Vikings have been among the most hard-luck teams in the league in terms of injuries, and will enter Week 3 without their starting quarterback, center, and possibly left tackle -- meaning Minnesota needs its running game to get going in the worst way. Cincinnati is a bottom-five defense against fantasy running backs, and better for Mason, he has very little competition for touches with unproven Zavier Scott and recently signed Cam Akers as the only other real options. Mason also could see some of the receiving work that normally goes to Jones, making him a clear starter with a reasonable chance at a big week.
Sep 19, 2025 7:49 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason is expected to be the main focus in the running game over the next few games. Recently, head coach Kevin O'Connell expressed confidence that Mason has bellcow potential. They expect Mason to handle a significant rushing workload while Aaron Jones (hamstring) is sidelined. The Vikings believe Mason is a multi-faceted player that can do just about anything on the football field. So far this season, Mason has rushed 24 times for 98 yards over the first two games of the season. There's not much competition behind Mason in the backfield right now. He should see all the carries he can handle, which should at least offer RB2 value for their upcoming matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Sep 17, 2025 9:14 PM EST
With Minnesota Vikings starting running back Aaron Jones (hamstring) facing an injury, fellow running back Jordan Mason could be in line for more work with Minnesota set to face Cincinnati in Week 3. Already operating with a committee, the Vikings have seen significantly more rushing success with their new acquisition, whom the team extended after the trade that brought him from San Francisco to Minnesota. Even with a mostly awful offensive showing so far this season by the Vikings, Mason has 98 yards on 22 carries and three catches in two games. Should Jones miss any time, Mason is likely to get a feature-back workload for a team that desperately needs its running game to get going.
Sep 15, 2025 11:11 AM EST
In the first week of the season, Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason made a compelling case for more touches, which bodes well as his team takes on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. The first-year Viking helped turn the tide in last week's win at Chicago with tough running, gaining 68 rushing yards, adding a catch, and showing the setup with incumbent starter Aaron Jones Sr. can be fantasy relevant for both players. Though the Falcons' defense is mid-tier against fantasy running backs, Mason is the leading candidate to get short-yardage carries, including the valuable ones near the goal line. Though Jones is preferred as a receiver, Mason has RB3/flex potential playing on a good offense with a solid matchup.
Sep 12, 2025 5:28 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason was very involved in his Vikings' debut, playing 54% of snaps and leading the team with 15 carries. He turned those carries into 68 rushing yards and converted his only target into a seven-yard reception. Mason didn't find the end zone, while his backfield-mate Aaron Jones Sr. scored on a key catch in the fourth quarter. Mason and Jones split the playing time just about evenly, although Jones' touchdown made him the better fantasy performer in Week 1. Both will be viable flex plays in Week 2 against the Falcons on Sunday Night Football. J.J. McCarthy ran the offense well enough that both running backs will have touchdown-dependent RB2 upside against Atlanta.
Sep 9, 2025 9:49 AM EST
Running back Jordan Mason will make his Minnesota Vikings debut on Monday against the Chicago Bears, against whom he should be viewed as a viable flex option. The Vikings have been dreadful in short yardage in recent seasons, but completely revamped their interior line and traded for the 26-year-old running back, who rushed for a career-best 789 yards in relief of Christian McCaffrey with San Francisco last season. Minnesota also brought back Aaron Jones Sr., so uncertainty surrounding the Vikings' backfield relegated both backs to the middle rounds of fantasy drafts. Ultimately, there is a reason Minnesota traded for Mason, who is likely to see regular short-yardage carries, including those near the goal line. Jones is the better receiving back, but Mason figures to still get enough touches to be fantasy relevant.
Sep 6, 2025 3:45 PM EST
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason was viewed as a "massive" part of Minnesota's offseason plan, according to head coach Kevin O'Connell. During the spring, the Vikings acquired Mason via a trade. During the 2024 campaign, Mason emerged as a key contributor to the San Francisco rushing attack when Christian McCaffrey was sidelined. On a career-high 153 carries, Mason tallied 789 yards and three scores. During the first seven weeks, Mason flashed RB1 upside as he averaged a strong 14.8 PPR points per game and averaged 95.3 yards per game during this stretch. In addition, reports from Vikings camp suggest the team views him and veteran Aaron Jones as "Co-RB1s." While Jones will likely see the slight majority of carries, Mason possesses much higher upside given his age and speed. He is worth viewing as a standalone flex option and a high-upside handcuff if Jones were to miss time.
Aug 5, 2025 11:49 AM EST
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason could be the "Co-RB1" alongside Aaron Jones in the upcoming season. According to Jeremy Fowler, Mason could operate as the Co-RB1 in the offense. During their recent practice session on Friday, Fowler noted that Mason saw significant opportunities and is a good complement to the veteran Jones. Last season, Mason operated as the lead back in San Francisco through most of the campaign while Christian McCaffrey was injured. Mason looked quite comfortable as the top running back, averaging 14.8 PPR points per game during the first seven weeks. During this stretch, Mason averaged 95.3 rushing yards per game and found the back of the end zone three times. Given Jones' age and injury risk, Mason is an intriguing selection as he could be viewed as a reliable flex option in most weeks with the upside to produce as an RB1 if Jones were to miss time.
Aug 4, 2025 11:48 AM EST
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason looks explosive and "built" in training camp, according to Sean Borman of Vikings Territory. A free-agent addition by Minnesota this past offseason, Mason logged 153 carries for 789 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games for the San Francisco 49ers in 2024. He's expected to work in a timeshare with veteran Aaron Jones in the Vikings' backfield in 2025. Mason has historically struggled as a pass-catcher (14 career receptions), but he's been a highly efficient rusher (5.3 rushing yards per attempt on 236 career carries). That could make him the ideal complement for the 30-year-old Jones, who is an excellent receiver out of the backfield but may not be able to handle a large workload as a rusher at this point in his career.
Jul 31, 2025 11:10 AM EST
The Minnesota Vikings made a sizable investment in running back Jordan Mason by signing him to a two-year contract worth $10.5 million this past offseason. According to ESPN's Kevin Seifert, Mason's playing time split with incumbent running back Aaron Jones will be "much closer" to 50-50 than previous RB1/RB2 splits in Minnesota under head coach Kevin O'Connell. In 12 games for the San Francisco 49ers last season, Mason logged 153 carries for 789 yards and three touchdowns. He wasn't utilized much as a receiver (11 catches), but Vikings offensive coordinator reportedly referred to him as a "natural catching the ball." If Minnesota views Mason as a three-down back, he could be in a fairly even time share with the 30-year-old Jones, whom O'Connell has spoken openly about reducing the workload for. Now might be the time for fantasy managers to invest in Mason, as more buzz about his usage could send him rocketing up draft boards.
Jul 29, 2025 11:22 AM EST
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (ankle) is taking part in voluntary organized team activities this offseason. Mason missed the last five games of the 2024 season due to a high-ankle sprain, but he's back on the field in early June and should be completely healthy and ready to go for Week 1 in his first season with Minnesota. The 26-year-old had a breakout season with Christian McCaffrey missing most of the year with injuries, as he finished with 153 carries for 789 yards and three touchdowns while adding 11 catches for 91 yards in 12 games (six starts). Mason isn't going to have the kind of workload he did in San Fran with CMC injured, but the Vikings want to spell starter Aaron Jones more to keep him fresh, which is where Mason comes in. RB3/flex value seems plausible, especially if Mason is the Vikes' preferred goal-line option.
Jun 4, 2025 12:51 PM EST
It sounds as though Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason, who was acquired from the San Francisco 49ers this offseason, will have a notable role in the team's backfield in 2025 as the "1b" behind starter Aaron Jones. "I do think Jordan's gonna bring something to the table in those short-yardage situations, those goal-line situations, goal-to-go, where we've really left a lot to be desired as a football team," head coach Kevin O'Connell said. If healthy, Jones should be Minnesota's go-to guy on the early downs and on third down in obvious passing situations, but the presence of Mason as the potential goal-line guy for the Vikes could be bad news for Jones' fantasy ceiling and floor this upcoming season. Mason, 25, has averaged at least 5.2 yards per carry in his three years in the NFL and looked good filling in for the injured Christian McCaffrey in 2025. He'll be a handcuff to Jones but could also be in play as a touchdown-dependent RB3/flex in deeper leagues.
Apr 2, 2025 9:44 AM EST
The Minnesota Vikings acquired running back Jordan Mason from the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday and signed him to a two-year deal with over $7 million fully guaranteed at signing, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The maximum value of the deal is for $12 million. The Niners placed a second-round tender (worth $5.3 million) on Mason, who was a restricted free agent, but he'll now head to the NFC North, where he'll serve as the backup to Aaron Jones. San Fran also sent the 187th pick in this year's draft in exchange for the 160th pick in the draft and a sixth-round pick in 2026. The 25-year-old was one of the best waiver-wire pickups in fantasy a year ago after taking over for Christian McCaffrey as the Niners' lead back. He had 789 rushing yards and three TDs on 153 carries in 12 games (six starts) before ending the year with an ankle injury. Mason won't have much standalone fantasy value in 2025 but will be a fine handcuff for those that roster Jones.
Mar 15, 2025 10:52 PM EST
The San Francisco 49ers placed a second-round tender on restricted free-agent running back Jordan Mason on Tuesday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The second-round tender is worth over $5 million, so it means that Mason will most likely return to the Niners in 2025 as the backup to Christian McCaffrey (knee). However, with Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor Jr. also in the fold, it wouldn't be surprising to see the 25-year-old traded this offseason. Mason missed the last five weeks of the 2024 season with a high-ankle sprain, but before that, he was a waiver-wire darling in fantasy football after taking over for the injured McCaffrey as San Fran's lead back. He had a career year with 153 carries, 789 rushing yards and three touchdowns while adding 11 catches for 91 yards through the air. If Mason isn't traded, he'll be a popular handcuff option for those that take the risk with CMC as an RB1.
Mar 11, 2025 12:08 PM EST