The Minnesota backfield is the year’s biggest fantasy intrigue in the Vikings’ offense. Aaron Jones signed a two-year deal to stay in Minnesota, but the club also added Jordan Mason, signaling a modular 1A/1B approach rather to rely on one bell cow. The question for 2025 fantasy drafts isn’t who handles the workload first, but who thrives with fewer touches. Early signs point to Mason delivering superior efficiency and explosive-play ability, while Jones brings veteran steadiness and pass-catching value. With a young QB at the helm, Minnesota is likely to lean on the ground game to support J.J. McCarthy, and Mason’s metrics suggest he could seize the high-leverage, high-variance role as the year unfolds. Jones remains a plausible RB2, but the path to sustained value narrows as Mason’s opportunity grows and the coaching staff vocally backs a 1A/1B tandem. Expect Mason to carve out standalone flex viability and possibly become the Vikings’ backfield lead by midseason, making him the more dynamic pick in many 2025 formats.

Draft-day calculus emphasizes Mason’s younger age, clearer efficiency signals, and direct coaching optimism. Mason’s 2024 metrics highlighted sharp efficiency and broken-tackle aptitude, paired with a high explosive-run rate that outpaced Jones in several categories. The ADP gap between Mason and Jones is one to watch, with Mason trending toward mid-rounding while Jones sticks in the later rounds. In deeper leagues or best-ball setups, Mason could serve as an ideal RB2 with league-winning upside if he continues to harness the 1A/1B arrangement into a true 1B breakout by autumn.