Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones put up another monster performance in Week 8's Sunday night game against the Mahomes-less Kansas City Chiefs. Sunday always marked the sixth time this season where Jones has hauled in at least four receptions in addition to at least 10 carries.
We were able to see how effective Jones can be on the ground when he faced off against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5, a game in which he saw end zone four separate times. This past week we were able to see how effective he can be in the passing game as he led the team with 159 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
This was the kind of dual rushing and receiving threat the Packers had hoped for Jones to become when they drafted him in 2017. So far this season, Jones has proven himself to be a top-five caliber back in the NFL.
Sure, it helps when you have Aaron Rodgers on your team who has opposing defenses shaking in their boots, but Jones is no slouch. Up to this point, Jones has totaled 11 touchdowns, which leads the league, and is the third leading receiver in the Packers offense with 355 yards on 42 targets.
In a season that began with the much talked about relationship between first-year head coach Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers, Jones has been a primary reason as to why that relationship is currently going so well at the moment. His ability to give the Packers a rushing attack has opened up opportunities for Rodgers to do what Rodgers does, which is make spectacular plays.
Although Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers running backs Dalvin Cook and Christian McCaffrey have both had an otherworldly season so far, Jones has been able to be right behind them in terms of production and is only one of three running backs with at least 355 receiving yards, with the other two not being named Cook or McCaffrey.
Of course, Green Bay wouldn't be 7-1 without Rodgers but one could make the case that they wouldn't be there without Jones either.
The running back has been a staple of the Packers offense this season and has introduced himself to the national stage as one of the top backs in the game. His ability to be out on the field in any system the Packers are running has been key to his production.
While he may not be up there with Cook and McCaffrey in terms of MVP talks, Jones has demonstrated the kind of impact he can have on a game, and even take one over in some.
Without Jones, who knows where Green Bay would be.
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