Don’t look now, but the Green Bay Packers are looking like a team that could make some noise in the NFC playoffs. The Packers have won two consecutive games against great teams, the Detroit Lions and the Kansas City Chiefs. QB Jordan Love has been terrific throwing the ball, and the underrated receivers have put up some big plays.
However, the rushing attack of the Packers has also been very good, despite having to battle injuries. Which of Green Bay’s running backs — Aaron Jones or AJ Dillon — should be in your fantasy football lineup for Week 14?
Should you Start Aaron Jones or AJ Dillon This Week?
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say that Dillon is the player to start. His projected 10.0 points include 41 rushing yards, two receptions, and 16 receiving yards. That doesn’t seem like a big stat line, it outperforms the consensus projection of Jones’ 3.0 points.
I am going to go with the Optimizer on this one since Dillon is coming off a solid week. Also, I’m not sure if Jones is even going to play, as he has an injury that could get worse if he aggravates it.
Dillon’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
Ask the Chiefs’ defensive players what they think of Dillon after the Packers’ 27-19 win against the defending Super Bowl champions last Sunday. Multiple KC players had to leave the game after trying to tackle Dillon.
The Green Bay RB ended up with a fantastic game, carrying the ball 18 times for 73 yards. Dillon was physically dominant, and even though he wasn’t able to have a ton of big plays, his presence was felt in the game. His ability to run the ball forced the Chiefs to focus more on the run, and it allowed the Packers to get some big plays passing the ball.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
Kansas City has one of the best defenses in the NFL, so the fact Dillon was able to do that against them was even more impressive. Up next for the Packers is a matchup against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football, who don’t have a defense nearly as good as Kansas City.
This game puts two of the worst rush defenses in the NFL against each other. Green Bay is currently ranked 30th against the run (136.3 yards), while the Giants are tied for 29th (136.1 yards) with the New York Jets. Look for the Packers to establish the run early in this game, and don’t be surprised at all if Dillon finishes with a 100-plus-yard performance.
Jones’ Fantasy Outlook This Week
I’m a fan of Jones if he’s healthy, but I don’t think the Packers are going to risk bringing him back for this. This feels like a great opportunity for Jones to get some more rest and make sure he’s truly healthy before returning.
Another sign that Jones may not be playing is that the Packers recently signed RB Kenyan Drake to the practice squad. Drake has had some big fantasy weeks over the past few seasons for the Baltimore Ravens, and because Green Bay signed him, there has to be some worry that Jones isn’t going to be ready to go.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!