Aaron Jones is back in the Green and Gold, so say it with me: Run it back!
.@Showtyme_33 & the #Packers have "unfinished business."#GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/On0nvLeLpY
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) March 27, 2021
While Jones might not have been an exciting signing from another team, the Packers were able to retain a dynamic offensive weapon many thought was unsignable by the cap-strapped Pack. Clearly, the front office thought very highly of Jones, finding his particular set of skills irreplaceable in either free agency or the draft. While it may have cost a pretty penny, Green Bay got their guy in Jones.
Still not convinced? Let’s take a look at the Aaron Jones’ top-5 fantasy outputs from last season:
Jones’s 5-Pack #5: Week 3 Vs. New Orleans (14.6 points)
In a road game of NFC heavyweights, much overshadowed by a mythological QB duel (despite both missing their WR1), and quite possibly the best game of Allen Lazards’ young career, Aaron Jones put up strong numbers.
Against a strong run defense that allowed less than 4 yards a carry in 2020, Jones punched in a score, ran for a very nice 69 yards, and caught 2 passes for 17 additional yards for 14.6 points. It was rarely flashy, but in a pass-heavy game, it was Jones’s ground threat that kept the air attack viable.
Jones’s 5-Pack #4: Week 4 Vs. Atlanta (17.1 points)
Jones followed up a solid performance against the peak of the NFC South with an even stronger one against the cellar-dwellers. With Davante Adams and breakout performer Lazard out of this matchup as well, Jones stepped up (along with an incredible outing by Tonyan), rushing 15 times for 71 yards (4.7 average).
What really makes this a standout game – and an example of why we paid the man – we have to look at his receiving stats: 5 catches on 5 targets (100%) for 40 yards and an opening drive touchdown. If he’s on the field, he must be accounted for.
Jones’s 5-Pack #3: Week 13 Vs. Philadelphia (20.8 points)
This game could have been historic for Jalen Hurts. Playing in his first game over the presumed QB1 for Philly for years to come, Hurts played well. He moved around, threw some dimes, and what was looking like a blowout was looking like a comeback for the rookie QB.
Enter Aaron Jones.
An underwhelming day at the office nearing the end, Jones nearly tore off a great run, but he got a hand on him and went down. Jones popped up, went back to the huddle, and told Aaron Rodgers to give it to him again. The next hands he saw were the raised hands of the refs signaling “touchdown” as Jones sprinted down the sideline untouched for a career-long 77-yard score, putting the game out of reach in the process. Jones racked up 130 rushing yards and an additional 18 receiving in a day he would be rightly labeled “Hero”.
Jones’s 5-Pack #2: Week 15 Vs. Carolina (21.8 points)
Can Aaron Jones play the NFC South every year? In a game dubiously remembered as one the Packers almost let get away from them, a hot start proved insurmountable by a solid-but-underachieving Panthers team playing without star starters McCaffery or Okung.
Jones actually ran for more yards than an underwhelming Rodgers threw for, edging the other Aaron out 145 to 143. Jones high-stepped into the endzone on a crucial scoring drive and provided a spark to the offense when nothing else seemed to be working. A loss here would have been devastating to the Packers hopes for the 1-seed in the NFC. His big game helped Green Bay clear that hurdle.
But it was not his biggest game. Not by a long shot.
Jones’s 5-Pack #1: Week 2 Vs. Detroit (41.6 points)
Nearly doubling the fantasy output from his second and third best weeks combined, I present to you the #1 reason Jones got paid.
Jones can bring a game like this to you any given week.
Any given day.
Any given time.
168 yards rushing. 3 TDs (including a 75-yard tear on the very first play of the 2nd half). A team-leading 68 yards and a TD on just 4 catches.
Yeah. Aaron Jones is that guy. And he’s on your favorite team. If you weren’t excited when he did get re-signed, get excited.
And get a sombrero.
Another dominant season for @Showtyme_33. 💪
His best plays from 2020! pic.twitter.com/b4Vce9e4mc
— NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2021
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