The Green Bay Packers have long been searching for a suitable running back to pair with Aaron Rodgers. In 2018, their search may have ended. Then-second year fifth-round UTEP product Aaron Jones burst onto the scene for a season in which he recorded 934 scrimmage yards in 12 games played. The back recorded 728 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground on an average of 5.5 yards per carry. He also chipped in as a receiver, tallying 26 receptions for 206 yards and a score.
Entering 2019, Jones is the established starter in Green Bay and is looking to break 1,000 yards for the first time. Before then, however, we take a look at his top three performances from his break out 2018 campaign.
3. Week 14 Vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stats: 17 rushes for 78 yards, 1 touchdown. 3 receptions for 28 yards.
Jones' stat line as a rusher in the Packers' week 14 bout versus the Atlanta Falcons isn't particularly impressive. He ran for 78 yards on an average of 4.6 yards per carry. But, he also added in extra three receptions for 28 yards to round out a 106-yards-from-scrimmage game. The Packers were looking for revenge after a disappointing loss against the Arizona Cardinals the week before and got just that by beating the Falcons 34-20, in part, due to Jones' performance.
Jones was consistent on the ground for the entirety of the game, not recording a fumble, and treading yards consistently. The highlight of the game, for Jones, is a 29-yard run in the third quarter. Aaron Rodgers handed Jones the ball up the gut, where he cleared the path, found the sideline, then burst past defenders, stiff-armed another, and walked into the end zone. The game at that point was decided, as the Packers built the lead up to 34-7.
2. Week 11 @ Seattle Seahawks
Stats: 11 rushes for 40 yards, 1 touchdown. 5 receptions for 63 yards, 1 touchdown.
Jones, admittingly, struggled to rush the ball against the Seattle Seahawks during their week 11 matchup. He recorded 40 yards on an average of 3.6 per carry. All game long, he found himself bottled up behind the line of scrimmage; upset for two runs that ultimately found himself in the end zone. On the first, the Seahawks pressed the interior line of scrimmage, so Jones waited, cut outside, and finished the run with a truck. The second, a simple toss play where he sprinted in for a touchdown.
Jones still tallied over 100 scrimmage yards in the game, due to his five receptions for 63 yards as a pass-catcher. In the second quarter, Rodgers found Jones on a screen, which he took down 22 yards. In doing so, he cut through the Seahawks' defense, as he squirmed his way out of a tackle and ran for a big gain. In the same drive, Jones ran a wheel route to the end zone, where his quarterback found him for a 24-yard pass. Boom, two touchdowns in the first half in an important game. Unfortunately, the Packers lost 27-24.
1. Week 10 Vs. Miami Dolphins
Stats: 15 rushes for 145 yards, 2 touchdowns. 3 receptions for 27 yards.
Would it have been any other game? Of course not. Aaron Jones had his coming out party against the Miami Dolphins in week ten, and found himself winning a fair share of crucial late-season fantasy football matches for others. Jones simply gashed the Dolphins' shoddy run defense all game long, recorded 145 yards and two touchdowns on just 15 carries (an average of 9.7 yards per attempt). Adding in three receptions for 27 yards is the icing on the cake of 19 point win for the Packers.
Nearly every time Jones got the ball the defense didn't have answers. In the first quarter, Miami thought they had him under control; until he quickly juked his way out of trouble to gain first down after first down. His most impressive run may have been a simple one; a quick feed up the gut. Then a four-point game, Jones turned the run into a 75-yard sprint, until he was stopped a few yards short of the end zone. From then on, Jones looked the part of the Packers' future at the position; which he now is.
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