Who Should I Start? Jordan Mason or Braelon Allen

Tuesday, August 5, 11:49 AM

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.

Sunday, August 31, 5:58 PM

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen feels that he has a lot left to prove, according to an interview he conducted with Steve Serby of the New York Post. "I felt like I was the best running back in [the 2024] draft, and I still do," Allen said. "I have a lot left to prove, not even to the outside world but still people in this locker room and people in this building and to myself. Last year, I kind of gotta flush it, forget about it, but that still drives me." In 2024, Allen totaled 334 rushing yards, 148 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. He enters his second NFL season with a chance to carve out an even larger role in the Jets' offense. There's a growing sense that New York may look to reduce Breece Hall's workload, which could lead to additional opportunities for Allen and Isaiah Davis. Still, those opportunities will have to be earned, and Allen sounds dedicated to proving himself to his teammates, the Jets' front office and coaching staff, and the rest of the league. He's currently being drafted 101st in Yahoo leagues, which ranks 33rd among running backs. That price tag seems a little steep when you consider that Allen is the overall RB39 in this year's RotoBaller fantasy draft rankings.