Aaron Jones’ injury situation was a major concern for fantasy football managers coming into Week 10. The Green Bay Packers RB was seen leaving Ford Field on Sunday in a walking boot, having left the game with an ankle injury. What is the latest update regarding Jones’ injury situation, and what does it mean for fantasy managers of Jones and AJ Dillon heading into Week 10?
Aaron Jones’ Injury Is Not as Serious as First Feared
Whenever we see a running back taken from the field with an ankle issue, it’s hard not to assume the worst. While Jones told reporters after the game that the X-rays were “fine” and that he felt he could have gone back in, we got a contrasting report first thing on Monday morning from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. On Good Morning Football, Rapoport said the X-rays were inconclusive, and the Packers were getting further imaging.
However, we found out shortly afterward from ESPN’s Adam Schefter that all the tests came back negative, and Jones “should be able to play this week.” That is really good news for Jones’ fantasy managers. Although it is worth remembering that a few weeks back, Jonathan Taylor’s ankle tests came back negative, and he ended up missing two games.
Therefore, we will need to monitor Jones’ ankle situation carefully. If he ends up missing practice this week, he could be in line to be held out of the Packers’ Week 10 game against the Dallas Cowboys. If that is the case, that could make Dillon an intriguing fantasy option this week, both in season-long leagues and in weekly Best Ball leagues on Underdog Fantasy.
What Does Week 10 Look Like for Fantasy Managers of Jones and AJ Dillon?
The matchup this week for the Packers’ RBs could not be much tougher. The Cowboys currently rank as the fifth-toughest fantasy matchup for running backs, allowing an average of 16.28 fantasy points per game.
Running backs have found mixed success against the Cowboys in recent weeks. In two of the past four weeks, RBs have scored more than 15 fantasy points against Dallas. However, in the other two weeks, opposing backs have managed fewer than 12 fantasy points.
Therefore, it’s been somewhat boom-bust for opposing RBs when facing the Cowboys. With a high of 22.9 fantasy points allowed to the position, it has been tough for two backs to both find fantasy value against the Cowboys in the same game. Therefore, if Jones ends up being limited by his ankle situation, it might be wise to consider him as an option to sit in Week 10.
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If Jones were limited, then Dillon’s workload should greatly increase. Kylin Hill is viewed as more of a backup-type option than a direct replacement in the two-headed approach Green Bay has utilized this year. Therefore, Dillon could see his opportunities increase from the average of 10.9 rush attempts and 2.78 targets per game he has seen so far.
An increase could help Dillon salvage his declining fantasy value. Averaging just 43.2 rushing yards, 1.78 receptions, and 11 receiving yards per game, Dillon is below the level required for a starting RB option most weeks. He’s also only found the end zone once this year.
At just four yards per carry and 6.2 yards per reception, Dillon would need to pick up a significant amount of Jones’ 11.9 rushing attempts or 4.44 targets per game to have a significant increase in value. If he takes five rushing attempts and two of the targets, you are realistically looking at around a 2-4 fantasy-point increase, not including touchdowns, which would put him into borderline 12-team starting value this week.