1 Big Question Facing Each Green Bay Packers Player: Running Backs
By Paul Bretl
As my position-by-position and player-by-player preview continues for the Green Bay Packers, up next is the one big question facing each member of the running back room.
If you missed my look at the quarterbacks, you can find that article below.
How much more active will Aaron Jones be in the Green Bay Packers passing game?
This is a bit of a loaded question since Aaron Jones is already an active member of the Green Bay Packers’ passing game. In each of the last three seasons under Matt LaFleur, Jones has finished second on the team in targets, behind only Davante Adams each year.
From 2019 through 2021, Jones has been targeted at least 50 times each season, including a career-high of 61 this past year. He also has over 500 receiving yards in two of those three seasons and 13 total games of at least 40 yards through the air, according to PFF ($$).
So it’s safe to say that Jones is going to be an active member of the passing game, but given the uncertainty at the receiver position, will he be an even bigger target for Aaron Rodgers? And will he be utilized in the slot or out wide more often?
With how heavily he is targeted, Jones clearly has the trust of Rodgers, which we know is important, and he’s caught over 73% of the passes thrown his way. Although now a wide receiver, he very well could be a preferred target of Rodgers.
Matt LaFleur also does a very good job of getting Jones in space and finding ways to get him the ball both outside the hash marks as well as over the middle, with 33 of his targets in 2021 coming between the numbers and 38 on the boundaries.
Last season, 21% of Jones’ total snaps came either lined up in the slot or out wide, and we could see more of that season–especially if there is an effort to get both Jones and AJ Dillon on the field together more frequently, which there absolutely should be.
Regardless of position, teams want to get the ball in the hands of their playmakers as often as possible, and right now, Jones is one of the most dynamic players on the Packers with the ball in his hands–whether that be on the ground or through the air.
As a result, this could end up being a career year for Jones as a pass-catcher with a number of targets now available and the uncertainty at the receiver position.