JordanMason

News: 3 days agoMason and Aaron Jones are listed as co-starting running backs on the Vikings' unofficial depth chart following cutdown day Sunday, Rob Kleifield of the team's official site reports.

Spin: The 49ers dealt Mason to Minnesota in March 2025, and the pairing of him and Jones meant a split backfield last season, with the former getting 173 touches to the latter's 160 along the way. Jones did play in four fewer games than Mason (12 vs. 16), but Mason handled far more goal-line carries (29 vs. 14), finishing with six TDs to Jones' three. A similar breakdown of work is expected for the duo in 2026, meaning Mason may have the safer fantasy floor of the two.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Mason is back for his second season in Minnesota and will battle 31-year-old Aaron Jones Sr. for backfield opportunities. Mason's role was almost exactly as expected last season, as he was utilized often as a rusher (9.9 carries per game), but a nonfactor as a receiver (1.0 targets per game). Mason reached 13 fantasy points just once in his 16 games and it was a 23.6-point effort in Week 3, one of five games Jones missed. Mason, 27, is an effective rusher -- his 5.10 YPC ranks third and his 2.42 YAC second among 54 RBs with 350-plus carries since he entered the league -- but adding so little as a receiver (34 career targets) severely limits his fantasy output. Even if Jones were to miss time, Mason would max out as a flex.