Who Should I Start? Jordan Mason or James Cook

Tuesday, April 14, 7:38 PM

Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason is an intriguing target in dynasty leagues this offseason. The Vikings did bring back Aaron Jones on a restructured deal, indicating that the veteran will remain a part of their backfield in 2026. However, he won't be any more involved than last year, and we wouldn't be surprised if he takes a backseat to Mason early in the season. Mason certainly has the ability to handle lead-back duties. In the five weeks that Jones missed last year, Mason averaged 14.8 carries, 75.2 rushing yards, 1.2 catches, 3.8 receiving yards, and 0.8 touchdowns per game. That comes out to an average of 13.9 fantasy points per game in PPR leagues. Extrapolated over a 17-game season, that would have ranked 18th-highest among running backs. Sure, we don't think he'll have an every-down role for 17 games, especially with Jones healthy. Still, he has high-end RB3 appeal with legitimate RB2 upside in 2026 and beyond. At a modest age of 26 years old, and with Jones presumably retiring in the next couple of years, Mason is a worthwhile dynasty target in offseason trades. He ranks as the RB54 in dynasty rankings at the moment, which means the market is still allowing managers to acquire him at a discounted price.