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Aaron Jones

Looks like Viking may re-up with aging starter

The Packers got a great year out of Josh Jacobs, so no one can criticize them too heavily for not bringing back Aaron Jones. But Jones was a nice find for the division-rival Vikings, and yesterday's move by Minnesota suggests the 30-year-old could be their starter again next year.

Jones had a career-high 1,138 rushing yards, while also catching 51 passes for 408 more, with 7 total touchdowns. That ranked him 12th at his position in PPR leagues. The Vikings had to make a decision on a void date on his contract by tomorrow, but they've pushed that date back until the start of free agency, giving them more time to work out a new deal. Kevin O'Connell has said he wants to bring Jones back, which makes sense after the season he just had.

Thirty, or even 29 or 28, seem to be the time teams want to move on from running backs (fantasy coaches too), but there have been a solid number of success stories lately. I pulled the numbers from all 30-year-old running backs to get a significant workload in the last 10 years (I went with 100-plus rushing attempts). There have been 41 such backs, so about 4 per season.

I also included the 29-year-old running backs to get that kind of workload last season; there were five such backs.

Of those backs, 12 (including four last season: Jones, Derrick Henry, and 29-year-olds James Conner and Alvin Kamara) ranked in the top 12 at their position (PPR). Six more at least ranked in the top 25, starters in typical leagues.

In general, while I wouldn't want to be rostering Jones, Kamara or Conner in a dynasty league, I see little reason to think they can't be solid starters in fantasy leagues for the 2025 season. They won't be hotly sought after in best-ball drafts, but could pay off pretty well, relative to where they'll be selected.

In the table, backs who fit the profile from 2024 are in bold.

30-YEAR-OLD RBS (PLUS 2024 29S) WITH 100-PLUS CARRIES, 2015-2024
YearPlayerAgeAttRunNoRecTDRk
2015Adrian Peterson, Min.30327148530222112
2024Derrick Henry, Balt.30325192119193184
2023Raheem Mostert, Mia.31209101225175215
2015DeAngelo Williams, Pitt.3220090740367115
2015Matt Forte, Chi.302188984438978
2016LeGarrette Blount, N.E.302991161738189
2024Alvin Kamara, N.O.292289506854389
2019Mark Ingram, Balt.302021018262471510
2021Cordarrelle Patterson, Atl.30153618525481110
2024James Conner, Ari.29236109447414911
2016Frank Gore, Ind.33263102538277812
2024Aaron Jones, Min.30255113851408712
2015Frank Gore, Ind.3226096734267714
2018Adrian Peterson, Was.33251104220208819
2017Frank Gore, Ind.3426196129245420
2016Matt Forte, NYJ3121881330263821
2015Rashad Jennings, NYG3019586329296422
2017Marshawn Lynch, Oak.3120789120151723
2022Raheem Mostert, Mia.3018189131202526
2024Kareem Hunt, K.C.2920072823176731
2022Cordarrelle Patterson, Atl.3114469521122931
2019Adrian Peterson, Was.3421189817142532
2022Latavius Murray, 2TM3217176027132632
2020Latavius Murray, N.O.3014665623176534
2016Rashad Jennings, NYG3118159335201436
2018LeSean McCoy, Buff.3016151434238339
2016Tim Hightower, N.O.3013354822200539
2020Adrian Peterson, Det.3515660412101740
2019LeSean McCoy, K.C.3110146528181540
2017Jonathan Stewart, Car.30198680852741
2015Justin Forsett, Balt.3015164131153242
2017Matt Forte, NYJ3210338137293342
2017LeGarrette Blount, Phil.31173766850345
2020Frank Gore, NYJ371876531689246
2018Frank Gore, Mia.3515672212124147
2015Chris Johnson, Ari.30196814658348
2021Mark Ingram, 2TM3216055427162249
2019Frank Gore, Buff.3616659913100250
2021Rex Burkhead, Hou.3112242725186352
2021Latavius Murray, Balt.311195011075654
2024Nick Chubb, Cle.29102332531458
2018LeGarrette Blount, Det.321544181067559
2024Gus Edwards, LAC2910136536459
2017Adrian Peterson, 2TM321565291170261
2018Chris Ivory, Buff.3011538513205165
2018Alfred Morris, S.F.30111428873269

--Andy Richardson

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