Who Should I Start? Aaron Jones or Najee Harris

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.

Monday, April 28, 11:53 PM

While nothing is set in stone right now, Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said that the team plans to deploy a booming 1-2 punch with rookie running back Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris in 2025. True to the Harbaugh mentality, the Bolts plan to line up and run the ball with Hampton and Harris, who are both big and powerful backs. Harbaugh raved about Hampton's ability to break tackles -- According to Pro Football Focus, 2,505 of his career rushing yards at North Carolina came after contact. At No. 22 overall in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft last Thursday, Hampton was a "unanimous" decision for the Chargers. Hampton averaged 5.9 yards per carry in each of his last two seasons with the Tar Heels and was a true workhorse. While his fantasy upside will be limited while sharing the backfield with Harris in 2025, Hampton's long-term fantasy upside in Harbaugh's system has to excite those in dynasty formats.