Who Should I Start? Aaron Jones or Jameson Williams

Monday, April 7, 12:27 PM

The Minnesota Vikings have running back Aaron Jones penciled in as their starting RB again in 2025 after paying him more to return ($20 million over two seasons). However, ESPN's Kevin Seifert writes that new RB Jordan Mason isn't going to be a typical backup after they acquired him in a trade from the San Francisco 49ers. Head coach Kevin O'Connell has been very clear that he wants to pull back on Jones' usage after he set career-highs in snaps (700), rushing attempts (255) and total touches (306) in 2024. "When he has historically had that 1A/1B backfield structure, he can be a total game-changer every time he touches the ball," O'Connell said. "So it was always about bringing Aaron back ... but what are we going to pair him with?" It's obviously bad news for Jones' chances of an RB1 finish in fantasy in 2025, with Mason expected to be used in short-yardage and goal-line situations for the Vikes.

Friday, May 30, 12:41 PM

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that the team is expecting wide receiver Jameson Williams "to have a huge season." The Lions are expecting more from Williams after his breakout season in 2024 in which he caught 58 of his 91 targets for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 regular-season games (11 starts). The 24-year-old former 12th overall pick in 2022 out of Ohio State battled injuries in his first two NFL seasons and also was hit with a suspension before finally realizing his potential last year. He also had 11 carries for 61 yards and a touchdown as a rusher. While fantasy managers have come to love Williams' big-play potential in one of the highest-scoring offenses in the NFL, it's going to be hard for him to maintain significant targets in an offense that lost offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Detroit could emphasize the deep passing game more often, but Williams will be more of a boom/bust WR3/flex.