KC Chiefs: Top five MVP candidates heading into week 11
By Gage Stagner
MVP CANDIDATES
Number 5 – Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers
The Aaron Jones breakout is upon us.
Matt LaFleur has completely untapped the young running back’s potential. Jones is tied for the league lead in touchdowns for a non-quarterback with 14 this year already. He’s averaging 4.4 yards per carry in a much larger sample size than last year’s.
ESPN’s Matthew Berry pleaded last year to free Aaron Jones and that’s exactly what LaFleur has done. He has even given up touches and touchdowns to fellow backfield mate Jamaal Williams, but it’s been LaFleur’s dedication to the run that has made this team and Aaron Jones special.
The Case For:
As stated before, Jones is tied for the league lead in touchdowns for a non-quarterback, but what sets him apart is how the Green Bay offense runs through him at times. He’s third on the team in the receiving department as well, a pleasant surprise for fantasy owners and Packers fans alike.
He’s caught three touchdowns to go with his 11 rushing and if you watch the Packers, he has seemingly turned them into contenders. They are 8-2 and might be the best team in the NFC. Aaron Rodgers has arguably never had a running back as good as Jones, talent-wise. The two complement each other well.
The Case Against:
Jones has a pretty good quarterback.
Aaron Rodgers is having another great year and you could argue that Jones doesn’t face as many stacked boxes as other running backs, making it much easier for him. Jamaal Williams has been pretty darn good on the ground as well and Jones even lost some playing time to him at some points this year due to drops.
Williams is averaging more yards per carry than him, meaning the offense line could be another reason for Jones’ breakout campaign. There’s also the argument that LaFleur’s running scheme may be the reason for his success, something that must be considered.