No running back in the division had a better 2018 season than Aaron Jones of the Green Bay Packers.
According to Pro Football Focus, Jones finished the season with the highest grade at the position in the NFC North, edging Lions rookie Kerryon Johnson for the top spot:
Jones, who rushed for a career-high 728 yards in 2018, also beat out Latavius Murray and Dalvin Cook of the Minnesota Vikings and Pro Bowler Tarik Cohen of the Chicago Bears.
His season started with a two-game suspension and ended on injured reserve with another knee injury, but in between Jones was a dynamic playmaker, averaging an NFL-high 5.5 yards per carry and scoring nine total touchdowns on just 159 touches.
During a stretch in November and December, Jones scored touchdowns in five straight games and six out of seven. He also set a new career high with 145 rushing yards against the Miami Dolphins, a performance that included a 67-yard touchdown run. A week later, he caught his first touchdown pass and set a new career high in receiving yards (63) in Seattle.
A sprained MCL suffered in Chicago on Dec. 16 ended his season two games short.
However, Jones should go into his third NFL season as a focal point of Matt LaFleur’s new offense, giving him Pro Bowl potential in 2019. A healthy season and more touches could transform Jones from a top player in the NFC North into a top playmaker in the NFL.
