Aaron Jones lands on IR with a four-week hamstring timeline, forcing Minnesota to lean on a reshuffled backfield. Mason steps in as lead back, and Cam Akers could join as depth. Jones’ 2024 breakout, 1,138 rushing yards, and a 27-yard Week 1 TD loom as benchmarks in a Week 3 mismatch against Cincinnati.

The offense shifts with J.J. McCarthy sidelined; Carson Wentz is slated to start, while Jake Browning handles Cincinnati’s quarterback duties. Minnesota sits as a small home favorite, elevating Mason’s fantasy ceiling and Akers’ late-season upside in a backfield-by-committee landscape.

Expect Mason to command a sizeable early-down role, with Akers offering insurance and dormancy risk but upside in favorable scripts. This creates real DFS and weekly RB2 intrigue as the Vikings navigate the next four weeks.

NFL roster cuts to 53 usher in a wave of quarterback churn and fresh depth-chart bets, with Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Dresser Winn, DJ Uiagalelei, Sam Hartman, Logan Woodside, Bailey Zappe, Tommy DeVito, Hendon Hooker, Desmond Ridder and Kyle Trask among those shifted or released. fantasy managers should watch where backups land next and which clubs add signal-caller insurance to stay viable on waivers.

On the offensive and defensive sides, Cam Akers, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Robert Woods, Hunter Renfrow, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Michael Gallup, Dustin Hopkins, Kenyon Green, Desmond Watson, Shilo Sanders, Mike Edwards, Isaiah Simmons, Clelin Ferrell and Mike Hilton were cut, underscoring a wide-open process squad landscape and plenty of late-round sleepers who could pop on practice squads or alternative rosters.