Packers: Aaron Jones can finish in the top 10 for rushing yards in 2019
Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones can finish inside the top 10 for rushing yards in 2019.
The last Green Bay Packers running back to rush for 1,000 yards and finish in the top-10 for rushing in the NFL was Eddie Lacy, who did it in back-to-back years in 2013 and 2014.
The Packers haven’t had a consistent running game since then, but Aaron Jones could change that in 2019.
Jones, who finished the 2018 season with a league-best 5.5 yards per carry, can become one of the best running backs in the league if he’s given a bigger role in the offense.
Despite making a number of big plays just about every time he was on the field, Mike McCarthy didn’t give Jones enough carries. That should change under new head coach Matt LaFleur.
Even if the Packers add another running back this offseason (which they should), Jones should be the featured back in LaFleur’s offense.
The only concern is Jones’ injury history. He missed two games due to a sprained MCL this past season, the same injury he dealt with in his rookie year. For Jones to reach his potential, he’ll need to be able to regularly carry the football 20 times in a game and not miss much time due to injury.
But based on talent alone, there’s no reason why he can’t finish inside the top-10. In the 12 games he played this past season, Jones averaged 60.6 rushing yards per game. At that average over a 16-game season, he would finish with 970 rushing yards, which this year would’ve been good for 13th in the NFL.
Jones could also make a bigger impact as a receiver next season, especially if the Packers use the quick-passing game more frequently. He caught 26 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown in 2018.
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Jones can have a huge impact in the Packers offense next season, and has every chance to hit 1,000 yards and finish inside the top-10 in the NFL for rushing yards.