A fantasy draft is all about obtaining the most value with each selection. Value is available throughout a draft; grabbing it is one of the most important keys to a successful fantasy team. To point out this value, we asked our staff to identify players available in the top half of your draft who should outperform their draft position.
RELATED: See 3 Underrated Quarterbacks here
RELATED: See 3 Underrated Tight Ends here
Five underrated running backs quickly gathered interest. See what our staff has to say about each player.
Underrated RB Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings
Jason Wood: Aaron Jones finished as RB19 last season, and the Vikings saw fit to re-sign the veteran to a 2-year, $20 million contract with $13 million guaranteed in March.
There’s a cognitive dissonance surrounding the Vikings this offseason, where many are fading the offense due to concerns that quarterback J.J. McCarthy can’t match what Sam Darnold did in 2024. Yet those same people are treating Darnold as one of the worst fantasy options this year now that he’s signed with the Seahawks.
Either you believe the Vikings offense is a product of Kevin O’Connell’s system and Justin Jefferson’s dominance, or you don’t. You can’t have it both ways. I’m in the camp that McCarthy will be as good, if not better, at executing the offense this year. And Jones is being paid to reprise his role as the centerpiece of the rushing attack.
Ben Cummins: Minnesota’s offseason included signing guard Will Fries and center Ryan Kelly while also extending blocking tight end Josh Oliver. The Vikings aim to run more effectively in 2025, which makes sense as it will alleviate pressure on J.J. McCarthy, who operated in a run-heavy collegiate attack and has yet to take an NFL snap.
Yes, running back Jordan Mason was also brought in. He was very efficient last season, but the biggest beneficiary of this philosophy shift is Aaron Jones.
Jones will turn 31 years old during the season, but he has shown little to no signs of slowing down. Jones entered the NFL as one of the best athletes the league had ever seen and continued to showcase that electricity last year, consistently utilizing his speed to get to the edge and create plays in space.
He racked up 1,546 total yards and 7 touchdowns and ranked 11th in opportunities per game (18.8), 14th in total yards per game (91.9), eighth in running back targets (62), and seventh in running back receiving yards (408). The dual-threat will once again thrive in an offense that ranked sixth in Expected Points Added per Play in 2024.
Bob Harris: Aaron Jones thrived in his first year with Minnesota, setting career highs in touches (306), carries (255), and offensive snaps (700) while playing all 17 games. Despite battling hip, rib, and quad injuries, Jones posted 1,138 rushing yards and 1,546 scrimmage yards -- both top-tier numbers -- and scored seven total TDs.
He finished 2024 as RB12 overall and RB19 on a per-game basis (14.6 PPR). In addition, Jones remains one of the league's most versatile backs, ranking in the top 10 at the position in catches (51, tied for the eighth-most) and yards receiving (408, seventh-most).
Are there concerns? Sure. Jones wore down as the season progressed. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry over his first six games but dropped to 4.1 yards per carry over his final 11.
Other issues include Jones' age, injury history, Minnesota's QB situation, and an offseason trade for Jordan Mason, all of which could continue to depress his value. Still, fantasy investors able to land him as their RB3 should consider that a win.
Phil Alexander: The Vikings didn’t give Aaron Jones $13.5 million guaranteed to play second fiddle. He was signed to lead a backfield that should generate plenty of scoring chances with Kevin O’Connell calling plays and talented first-year starter J.J. McCarthy under center. Jordan Mason figures to see more work than Ty Chandler did, but Jones is the most complete back on the roster and remains a fixture in the passing game.
Jones has averaged 48 receptions per season since 2019 and continues to operate as one of the league’s most versatile backs, even while managing nagging injuries. In 2024, Jones ranked top-10 among running backs in routes run, targets, receptions, receiving yards, and red zone touches — all signs of a strong weekly floor and access to high-value volume.
Even at age 30, it’s wild to see a back this proven falling behind rookies in crowded backfields or veterans with murky roles. Jones is healthy and running behind one of the league’s most underrated offensive lines. The Vikings are counting on him to be a difference-maker.
If he stays on the field, he should deliver top-15 returns at a late-range RB2 cost. Draft him before the market catches up.
Andy Hicks: In his first season in Minnesota, former Packer Aaron Jones had a career year. He had never recorded more rushing attempts and yardage than he did in 2024. His work as a receiver was also close to career peaks.
What held him back in fantasy rankings was only seven total touchdowns. With the Vikings changing quarterbacks from Sam Darnold to 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, expect the team to lean on the running game, allowing the inexperienced quarterback to find his feet.
Yes, Jones will be 31 this year, but he was relatively underused in Green Bay. With his strength as a receiver, I expect him to be as effective as he was last year, with a good chance that he will increase his touchdown total.
Much will be made of the arrival of Jordan Mason from San Francisco in a trade. He looked explosive in patches for the 49ers but struggled with workload and was invisible in the passing game.
Jones has proven to be durable, and his work as a receiver is a notable strength. At his current ADP, Jones not only presents as a good selection, but his chances to exceed the ADP are excellent.
Ryan Weisse: Aaron Jones is being drafted like a fading veteran, but his 2024 production tells a different story. He quietly finished as a top-15 fantasy running back, playing all 17 games and racking up 1,138 rushing yards, 408 receiving yards on 51 catches, and seven total touchdowns.
Those are solid numbers, and his situation in Minnesota hasn’t changed much. If anything, it may have improved. Yes, there’s a new quarterback in J.J. McCarthy, but the offense should remain largely intact, and rookie quarterbacks tend to lean on reliable backs in the passing game. That’s where Jones shines.
Unlike most backs being drafted near him, Jones remains a true every-down option. He’s not the flashiest name on the board, but few backs offer his combination of floor, usage, and versatility. The team added Jordan Mason, but he’s more likely to absorb the leftover carries from last year’s rotation, not eat into Jones’ workload.
Volume is king in fantasy, especially when it comes through the air, and Jones is a safe bet to see plenty of carries and targets again. With another 250-plus-touch season well within reach, Jones is a classic value pick being discounted for all the wrong reasons.
Jeff Haseley: There may be some pause among people pursuing Aaron Jones as an every-week starter for your fantasy lineup. The Vikings will have a young, inexperienced quarterback running the offense in J.J. McCarthy, plus Jones himself (age 30) is on the downward slope of his career.
He is coming off a productive top-15 season and may not be able to reach those heights again. The general rule of thumb for fantasy running backs is to avoid those who are 30 years of age or older.
As a result of all of these negatives, his draft position is falling further down the board. Is it a legit concern? If not, Jones could be one of the better running back value plays this season.
Minnesota was competing for the #1 seed in the NFC in the final week of the 2024 season. Sam Darnold is no longer in the picture, but what if the reason for their success is Kevin O'Connell's brilliant offensive mind and system? Insert McCarthy into that system, rinse and repeat. The Vikings are relying on Jones to produce again in a potent offense. If they are, it stands to reason that we can do the same for his fantasy outlook.
Matt Waldman: The age cliff boogeyman is scaring off the fantasy community once again with 30-year-old Aaron Jones. As was the case with Derrick Henry, backs who prove they can handle a large workload over time are good bets to continue doing so as long as they are healthy and remain explosive.
Jones had a career year with touches and yardage in 2024 while playing through a leg injury that didn't limit his explosion. Yes, the age cliff can come at any time after 29, but Jones didn't slow down at 29 and has had at least 250 touches three times during his eight-year career despite splitting time with another viable runner.
Jordan Mason could force a bigger split, but that's the best reason to downgrade Jones' potential volume. Until we learn that's the case, expect another 250-touch campaign for the veteran.
And remember, Jones has split time with another viable fantasy runner for most of his career in Green Bay and has been a top-15 RB in the four years he played at least 14 games and a top-24 option when he had at least 12 appearances.
_png)