After missing three weeks, Aaron Jones made his return to the Green Bay Packers’ lineup last week and put up decent numbers in limited time on the field. And, with AJ Dillion missing last week’s game with a thumb injury, it seems likely that Jones will get even more opportunities in Week 16. We’ll give you the fantasy football breakdown for each player.
Should You Start Aaron Jones in Fantasy This Week?
After a three-game absence, Jones showed flashes of his old self last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 29 offensive snaps, Jones carried the ball 13 times for 53 yards — an average of 4.1 yards per carry.
He also was targeted four times and caught each one, albeit for only 16 yards. But in this injury-filled season, last week marked just the second time all season that Jones rushed for 50 or more yards.
Of particular note from last week was the 13 carries for Jones. While not a season-high, it was only the third time in eight games this season that Jones reached double figures in rush attempts. Assuming he enters Week 16 healthy, fantasy football managers can probably expect an even heavier workload.
The four receptions also tied a season-high for Jones, who has had at least four catches in four of his eight games. So, if Jones is the every-down back for the Packers, they will continue to utilize his all-around skills.
Should You Start AJ Dillon in Fantasy This Week?
Dillon, who broke his right thumb on the final drive of the Packers’ Week 13 loss to the New York Giants, missed last week’s game with the Buccaneers, and his status for Sunday is uncertain.
Even if he can go, it would be difficult to see him taking too many snaps from a healthy Jones. In games that Dillon hasn’t started this season, he only averages 10.1 carries per game.
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And for the season, Dillon is still averaging well under four yards a carry (3.5) and has one touchdown in 186 touches.
Whichever running back gets the bulk of the carries this week will be facing a Carolina Panthers defense that may be 20th against the run (117.9 yards per game) but is coming off a win over the Atlanta Falcons in which they allowed a season-low 52 rushing yards.
Using the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, our Consensus Rankings say that Jones is the player to start. His projected 11.4 points include 44 rushing yards and three receptions for 20 receiving yards. His projected stat line outperforms that of Dillon, who is projected to have 6.2 points.
Dillon is projected to finish with 26 rushing yards, one reception, and 10 receiving yards.
My ranking for these running backs aligns with the consensus. Jones’ performance in his return to the lineup last week gives hope for even more production this week.
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