Who Should I Start? Jordan Mason or Kaleb Johnson

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.

Friday, August 29, 1:54 PM

The Pittsburgh Steelers have turned to rookie running back Kaleb Johnson as the primary change-of-pace option behind Jaylen Warren. With the ground game sputtering this preseason, Johnson has an opportunity to carve out a bigger role if he continues to showcase his strengths. At 6'0" with an athletic frame, Johnson brings patience, vision, and balance to his runs, piling up explosive carries by trusting his blocks and shedding tacklers. To become a true every-down back, however, Johnson must improve his pass protection.