Who Should I Start? Aaron Jones Sr. or David Montgomery

Friday, February 6, 10:42 AM

In his first season with the team in 2024, Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. recorded over 1,500 yards from scrimmage and played 17 games, earning himself a second contract. However, Jones Sr. struggled through injuries and a production decline in 2025, logging just 747 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns on 160 touches across 12 games played. Even when Jones Sr. was healthy, Minnesota split backfield work between him and Jordan Mason, limiting the production upside for both players. If Jones Sr. is back with the Vikings in 2026, he figures to work in a timeshare with Mason once again. Minnesota could also save $8 million against the cap by releasing Jones Sr., so the veteran running back may find himself in a new home come September. Regardless of where Jones Sr. is playing in 2026, his days as a true lead back for an NFL team may be coming to an end as he hits his age-32 season.

Saturday, February 14, 7:01 AM

Since signing with the Detroit Lions as a free agent before the 2023 season, running back David Montgomery has been a key cog in the team's offensive resurgence. However, the 28-year-old saw a definitive downturn in his production in 2025, as star Lions back Jahmyr Gibbs took over a true lead role in the Detroit backfield. Across 17 games played, Montgomery recorded 716 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 158 carries. Over his last eight contests of 2025, Montgomery recorded more than eight rush attempts just once. At the conclusion of the regular season, Lions general manager Brad Holmes mentioned the possibility that the team could look to move on from Montgomery. While a change of scenery could help Montgomery's playing time outlook, he may no longer be able to handle a true RB1 workload as he enters his age-29 campaign. If Montgomery remains with the Lions, he likely profiles as a touchdown-dependent running back option with a limited upside for fantasy managers, unless Gibbs suffers an injury.