Minnesota's pass-inclined offense was an ideal match for slashing running back Aaron Jones, Sr.

When Jones signed in free agency last year, following Green Bay's decision to replace him with Josh Jacobs, the Vikings got a player with plenty of juice, and a person with tremendous spirit.

Both facets were important to Minnesota's 14-win regular season, in which Jones rebuked the normal age of decline for his position as he turned 30, Cam Akers re-arrived in a trade and Ty Chandler flashed.

How well did Jones play? And the whole lot? What'd Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell perceive?

"I think [Aaron] brought a level of execution and consistency to that position that really was impactful, and his ability to sustain over the course of the season and have a career-year – 1,500 yards all-purpose and what that really meant to our team," O'Connell detailed the impacts out of the running backs room. "And then I think [about] getting Cam back and the way he infused his skill set into it throughout the [entirety] of the season. And, we still have a lot of strong feelings toward Ty and what he's able to bring."

There's greater sentiment yet about the runway for improvement.

O'Connell sounded eager in his end-of-season presser last week to discern ways to get better between the tackles, beginning with identifying the starting-five up front and then tying that structure into cleaner execution as an offense, and thus friendlier down-and-distances – elements that ease a QB's job.

Notable Numbers

2.4 – How many yards before contact per attempt that Jones averaged, which settled slightly beneath the league average of 2.5. Fourteen running backs and nine quarterbacks fared better. Akers, who rushed 40 times for Houston and 64 for Minnesota, averaged 2.2 yards. Chandler, a non-qualifier, averaged 2.3.

38.9% – Akers ranked fifth in the NFL per Pro Football Focus in percentage of runs gaining 15-plus yards, a.k.a. a breakaway, among running backs with at least 100 rushes. Akers accounted for eight such runs in his backup role, including mad dashes of 58 and 26 yards in Minnesota's last two games. The only RBs to break away more frequently were Jerome Ford (45.1%), Derrick Henry (42.6%), Jahmyr Gibbs (41.8%) and Saquon Barkley (41.7%). Jones ranked 34^th at the position (18.3%) – he was 23^rd in 2023 at 25.1%.

6 – Yards that Akers was expected to pick up on his 58-yard sprint, according to Next Gen Stats. The play finished 5 yards shy of the end zone and led to zero points, but it ranked as the No. 20 "Remarkable Rush" – runs that greatly defy what should happen after handoff – thanks to its 52 yards over expected.

73 – Catches from backfield buddies. Jones led the way with 51 catches, his most since having 59 in 2022 and his third instance of more than 50. Akers was next with 10; they both added two receiving scores. Chandler grabbed six passes, fullback C.J. Ham five and released teammate Myles Gaskin had one. It was Minnesota's most receptions from backfield players in the O'Connell era – and most since 2021 (90).

(Note: Stats are through the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs if mentioned as courtesy PFF.)

Regular-season statistics

The Highest High

Minnesota's win over San Francisco in Week 2 supplied the de facto top offensive highlight this past season, a 97-yard hookup between Sam Darnold and Justin Jefferson that propped up a sturdy 10-0 lead.

While there wasn't as dynamic of a run play in that game, the Vikings were able to topple the 49ers by leaning on their legs. Darnold had a crucial 18-yard scramble on third-and-10 at San Francisco's 39 with time dwindling in the first half, setting up a field goal as the second quarter expired, and he rushed for 32 yards overall (one of Darnold's two games in 2024 with 30-plus rushing yards). Jones was limited because of an injury scare and costly fumble near the goal line on a reception that had point potential, but he still contributed 68 scrimmage yards. The backfield leader, Chandler, had a long rush of 25 and helped salt the contest with a key splurge for 11, down inside the 49ers low red area in the game's final five minutes.

Every one of its 146 rushing yards (the second most in a game in 2024) aided Minnesota in pushing back and then beating San Francisco at what it tends to do best – i.e. dominate the line and will of opponents.

The Lowest Low

Chandler fumbling a quick toss in London on Oct. 6 was followed by a reduction in offensive opportunities. The Vikings traded for Akers in an exchange of 2026 conditional draft choices on Oct. 15.

We'd be pressed to nominate the former moment as figurative rock bottom if not for Andrew Van Ginkel responding with a pick six off Jets QB Aaron Rodgers and shifting momentum back into the Vikings laps.

Instead, we're bemoaning a topic that handicapped Minnesota in 2024.

On 12 rush attempts inside the opponent 5-yard line, Jones netted minus-4 yards. On 24 carries from the 10 or closer, he gained 8. And on 42 rushes in the red zone overall, Jones produced 74 (1.8 avg.).

Thirty-two players, including seven passers, finished with more red zone rushing scores than Jones' four.

Leading us to the lowest low: Minnesota's dreadful display in the red zone at Detroit. In Week 18, the Vikings went touchdown-less on four possessions deep in the den. A lack of confidence on the ground was apparent – they dialed up runs on three of 14 plays in that part of the field – and consequential.

For contextual purposes, we'll point out O'Connell's offenses have sputtered in terms of running the rock in tighter quarters across three seasons in Minnesota. In 2023, Chandler had a team-best three rushing touchdowns in the red zone; starter Alexander Mattison had none despite 23 carries and nine inside the 5. Dalvin Cook was middle-of-the-pack in 2022, with six trips to the paint during red zone ventures.

2 Pressing Questions for 2025

1. Will Jones re-up with the Vikings at an affordable price after a strong season?

Jones, who embodies every great character trait and is still very capable of shaking tacklers, is eligible to hit free agency. A prospective return to Minnesota for Jones has appeal but is multi-layered.

No doubt, Jones has tread left running into his 30s. Plus, he extends a bonus impact on the locker room and has described how much he's enjoyed being a Viking. At the other end, Minnesota might be tempted to get younger at the position, with Chandler the only back under contract through 2025, and more explosive, because the offense lacked a reliable breakaway threat.

Really, the question here may be whether Jones is OK weaning off a career-high 306 touches – and mentoring an addition that poses to take over or at least go halfsies – or if he desires replicable volume?

That answer probably solves the will-he-or-won't-he-run-it-back-as-a-Viking query.

2. Which market – free agency or the NFL Draft – will Minnesota look toward for RB help?

There's two main avenues for the Vikings to acquire youthfulness and explosiveness at running back.

What happens in the first, NFL free agency which opens March 12, may dictate if Minnesota goes after a back such as Iowa's Kaleb Johnson or North Carolina's Omarion Hampton with the 24^th pick in the draft.

Those are just two considerations in fun-to-track, granted dangerously early mock drafts (don't take them as gospel); Johnson and Hampton are listed as options in the mid-to-late 20s range. Boise State's Ashton Jeanty is viewed as the consensus RB1 but figures to be gone once Minnesota is on the clock.

Backtracking, now, to contestants already possessing NFL tape.

The possible group of RB free agents features tackle- and ankle-breakers (in order of youngest to oldest) Javonte Williams (24.7), J.K. Dobbins (26.1), A.J. Dillon (26.7), Najee Harris (26.8) and Nick Chubb (29.0).

Balancing injury risk/history with top-end traits and production may steer Minnesota's RB assessment.