Packers: Stat predictions for Aaron Jones in 2019 season

How many yards and touchdowns will Aaron Jones finish on in the Green Bay Packers’ new-look offense in 2019?

Aaron Jones has a big opportunity ahead of him in the 2019 season as the Green Bay Packers bring in a new offense led by rookie head coach Matt LaFleur.

We’ve seen how good Jones is at running the football, but he should now see an increased role as a receiver.

Breakout season? It’s certainly possible for the Packers’ third-year running back. But how many rushing and receiving yards, and touchdowns, will Jones finish on in 2019?

Rushing

It remains to be seen how LaFleur plans to split the carries between the Packers’ running backs, but it’s hard to imagine Jones won’t have a featured role in Green Bay’s new offense. Since entering the league in 2017, Jones has been far and away the most efficient back on the roster.

Despite playing in eight fewer games and with 60 fewer carries than Jamaal Williams, Jones has 1,176 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns over the past two seasons compared to Williams’ 1,020 yards and seven touchdowns. Jones (5.5 yards per carry) is also averaging 1.8 yards more per attempt that Williams (3.7 YPC).

I see Jones having similar success in LaFleur’s offense as Devonta Freeman did in Atlanta in 2016. LaFleur was the quarterbacks coach for the Falcons that season. Freeman, as the lead back, finished with 1,079 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Prediction: Jones will rush for 1,070 yards and five touchdowns

Receiving

Freeman also made an impact as a pass catcher in Atlanta’s offense in 2016, and the same should be expected of Jones this year. LaFleur has already made clear his plans to feature the running backs in the passing game, and that should lead to an expanded role for Jones.

Jones saw an increase in targets and receptions in 2018, finishing with 26 catches for 206 yards and a touchdown.

In his first season in LaFleur’s offense, Jones will set a career-best in each category and lead the Packers running backs in receiving yards and touchdowns.

Prediction: Jones will finish with 380 receiving yards and three touchdowns