{"id":182609,"date":"2024-07-23T10:30:24","date_gmt":"2024-07-23T14:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=182609"},"modified":"2024-07-23T06:19:44","modified_gmt":"2024-07-23T10:19:44","slug":"vikings-training-camp-preview-running-backs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/07\/23\/vikings-training-camp-preview-running-backs\/","title":{"rendered":"Vikings Training Camp Preview: Running Backs"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2023, the Minnesota Vikings<\/a> were 24th in yards per carry, 25th in rushing EPA, and 29th in rushing yards per game. There are a plethora of reasons that play into these statistics. The Vikings went through multiple running backs, none of which could hold onto the job for one reason or another. Kirk Cousins<\/a> tearing his Achilles put way more pressure on an already struggling run game, which certainly didn\u2019t help. Also, according to ESPN analytics<\/a>, the Vikings offensive line was an average run-blocking group, which wasn\u2019t enough to make up for the deficiencies previously mentioned. With a clear need for improvement, the Vikings moved on from veteran Alexander Mattison<\/a>. They brought in a proven star who gives the Vikings a real rushing threat for the first time in years, adding to an unproven but talented backfield.<\/p>\n

Vikings Training Camp Preview: Running Backs<\/h2>\n

Aaron Jones<\/h3>\n

After years of fighting on the side of evil, Aaron Jones<\/a> was released and signed immediately by the Vikings, joining the long list of inter-divisional signings between the two rivals. From week 15 to 18, the games Jones returned from injury, Green Bay was third in rushing EPA and first in EPA per play and headlined in a 48-32 blowout of the Cowboys in the wild-card round, rushing for 118 yards and three touchdowns. Jones will raise both the ceiling and the floor of this run game and will take the stress off whichever quarterback plays from week to week, something last year\u2019s running game couldn\u2019t do. Jones does have a bit of an injury history, so expect the workload to be more of a committee and not a bell cow workload, but even with semi-limited carries, Jones will be highly impactful in 2024.<\/p>\n

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Aaron Jones gained 107 yards & 2 TD on 18 carries from under center (55.6% success rate).<\/p>\n

Jones has gained 322 yards & averaged 5.9 YPC on carries from under center since returning from injury in Week 15, picking up a league-high 24 first downs.#GBvsDAL<\/a> | #GoPackGo<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/M0dhEFiJNi<\/a><\/p>\n

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 15, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n