Why Jordan Mason's early ADP is too low
Yahoo Fantasy analysts Matt Harmon and Andy Behrens explain why the Minnesota Vikings' new running back's draft position should rise closer to the season. Hear the full conversation on the 'Yahoo Fantasy Forecast' podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify or wherever you listen.
View more
Video Transcript
Consensus ranking right now is 37, which is actually higher uh than when I wrote the article when he was running back 40.
Advertisement
Um, that's a, it's a big gap between him and Aaron Jones at running back 22.
And look, I think like Jones should be ranked higher, but I wonder if that gap needs to be tighter, Andy, because like Jordan Mason last year, weeks 1 to 7, was second in the NFL and rushing yards behind only Derrick Henry.
And I think when you look at why they went out to get Jordan Mason.
Uh, the Minnesota Vikings did because this has been a very zone heavy run game.
It's been kind of a one note rushing game, uh, under Kevin O'Connell's tenure there.
And it started off pretty well with Aaron Jones last year, but then of course it faded with injuries.
Advertisement
And you look what they did in the offseason, they added a bunch of beef.
Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, Donovan Jackson, fixed the interior that.
Offensive line and Jordan Mason last year at 5.95 yards per carry on gap scheme runs.
I kind of think Jordan Mason might be key to the what seems like the desired evolution of the run game here in Minnesota.
So, again, he's somebody that depending on like training camp usage and stuff like that, I could certainly see coming up from his current consensus rank.
Yeah, this is one where I think you've just kind of exposed a problem in the ranks, uh, and, and he's, he's, he's a near lock to come up, um, because people are going to remember that Jordan Mason for like a month and a half was, was the absolute right answer in fantasy, and you were, you know, until he, until the point that his injury hit, um, like he, he was a weak winner for you and and he was somebody who was going to be able to ride a great situation.
Advertisement
And pretty significant talent to to an absolutely huge season, like he was gonna cruise to, I don't know, 1300 rushing yards, something like that.
He looked awesome.
Um, and there were, there were more touchdowns ahead for him as well.
So like he looked great in in there should absolutely not be whatever the whatever the gap is in the ranks between Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason is right now.
It it shouldn't be like that.
Like Aaron Jones is a very valuable player and he's one of the best like.
It's like a, like a legit route running, kind of, kind of running back too.
I think he's a really gifted receiver and we're gonna, we're gonna see that role for him throughout the year.
Advertisement
But man, Jordan Mason is a really good compliment and there's no way that Jordan Mason is, is simply viewed as a straight backup, right, or somebody that they're only going to give 68 touches to.
Jordan Mason's really good.
He proved it.
Um, and he should probably be, I don't know, for 40% of the snaps and a whole bunch of touches, um, so yeah, I, I think this one gets corrected as the, as the draft season moves along.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Steelers finally get their quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, but buyer beware
It feels like we just watched Aaron Rodgers on a weird, man-on-the-streets version of a reality TV dating show, one in which our dapper dude begrudgingly committed to someone after a far more arduous saga than anyone ever imagined. Resigned to the belief that a third-best option was better than no option at all, our bachelor talked himself into awarding the rose to the only partner left standing. Together, they awkwardly begin their new union, ignoring the signs that suggest this won't end well. Advertisement That's basically what happened between Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday. Some 85 days after the revamping New York Jets released him, after the Minnesota Vikings pledged loyalty to second-year pro J.J. McCarthy, and after the New York Giants signed Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson in free agency and drafted Jaxson Dart for good measure, Rodgers is officially a Steeler. Contingency plan Mason Rudolph led the Steelers' first-team offense through its sixth and final voluntary offseason practice session. But the plan now calls for Rodgers to fly to Pittsburgh, where on Tuesday he'll take the field for his new team's three-day mandatory minicamp, catch his breath for six weeks and then report for training camp No. 21 and begin his quest for one last shot at football glory. Their patience — or desperation — rewarded, the Steelers got their guy. They're rolling the dice on yet another long-in-the-tooth quarterback, viewing him as better suited to lead their roster into battle than any journeyman, project quarterback or unproven rookie. This is a buyer-beware situation, however. The Steelers signed a sure-fire Hall of Famer with a Super Bowl ring, four MVPs and 10 Pro Bowl selections on his resume. But Rodgers, who turns 42 in December, is a shell of himself. Coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan envision Rodgers replicating what Tom Brady did with Tampa Bay and leading the Steelers on a storybook championship march. But Rodgers is no Brady — who was a robot of a professional, even at 43, with no agenda beyond winning — and this Steelers roster is not on par with those 2020 Buccaneers. To be clear, Rodgers is better than any other quarterback the Steelers have on their roster. Rudolph, on his second stint with the team, is 9-8-1 with 28 touchdowns, 20 interceptions and 13 fumbles in five seasons. Skylar Thompson has three starts and 10 total appearances to his name, with just one touchdown pass and three interceptions. Sixth-round rookie Will Howard is a project quarterback. Advertisement So, Rodgers, who has seen every blitz package and coverage scheme known to man, will prove more proficient in directing a Steelers offense that this offseason swapped out wide receiver George Pickens for DK Metcalf and replaced running back Najee Harris with third-round pick Kaleb Johnson. But this is the same Rodgers who is coming off the most disappointing showing of his career after struggling to effectively direct a Jets offense that featured Pro Bowl-caliber wide receivers Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson and potent running back Breece Hall. Pittsburgh does have a consistently reliable defense. But will Rodgers fare much better with the Steelers, who have fielded pedestrian offenses for years? It's not like team officials made dramatic upgrades to that side of the ball. Metcalf, for whom the Steelers traded before awarding him a $132 million contract, may have Pickens beat in the maturity department. But statistically, the differences are negligible. And that raises the question of why, if Pittsburgh was so intent on this Rodgers fling, it didn't hang onto Pickens for one more season to ensure this over-the-hill legend at least had a dynamic receiver tandem with which to work. Just as Metcalf may not be a legit upgrade over Pickens, Rodgers might not be any better than Russell Wilson. Compare the aging former NFC rivals' last three seasons. The numbers are eerily similar. Rodgers completed 63.7 percent of his passes; Wilson 63.4 percent. Rodgers had 54 touchdown passes and 23 interceptions. Wilson had 58 touchdown passes and 24 interceptions. Rodgers went 14-21; Wilson 17-24. But an eight-year playoff win drought and a refusal to do what it takes to acquire a top-flight rookie quarterback and endure the development stages have clouded the Steelers' judgment. Did they forget that Father Time remains undefeated? Sure, Brady and Peyton Manning managed to deliver Super Bowls to new teams as the sun set on their careers. But those occurrences are rare. Just ask Joe Montana and the Chiefs, Joe Namath and the Rams, Johnny Unitas and the Chargers, Warren Moon and the Vikings and Seahawks and Cam Newton and the Patriots. Advertisement Eventually, the magic fades. But it's not the physical decline that should concern the Steelers the most. A team that prides itself on professionalism and discipline, led by the ultimate culture guy in Tomlin, needs only to examine Rodgers' off-field behavior the last three years to realize this is not an ideal fit. Tomlin always preaches, 'The standard is the standard. We're going to do things the Steeler way.' He's all about accountability and team above self — yet he hitched himself to a quarterback notorious for finger-pointing when things go south. Did Pittsburgh forget how Rodgers' time in Green Bay ended? Unhappy with the way team president Mark Murphy and general manager Brian Gutekunst were running the team and his lack of input, Rodgers was publicly critical of both and wanted Gutekunst fired. Fatigued by his antics and growing non-football interests, the Packers moved on with Rodgers in the dark. Did the Steelers forget how Rodgers criticized the dysfunctional ways of the Jets organization, eventually leading to head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas getting fired? Rather than accept accountability for New York's shortcomings during last year's 5-12 debacle, Rodgers regularly used his buddy Pat McAfee's show as a platform to call out teammates and Jets leadership. Pittsburgh officials are guilty of arrogance, viewing themselves as a far superior franchise to the Jets and immune to such a debacle. Perhaps they see more similarities to Green Bay and believe Rodgers will embrace a return to structure and simply play his role. But that would require Rodgers to possess a keen focus and unquenchable thirst for winning at all costs and the humility necessary to adapt and alter his approach. If Tomlin thinks he's getting a laser-focused Rodgers who's all about sacrificing for the greater good, he should think again. Sure, Rodgers may have expressed respect during this drawn-out courtship, which seemingly even included Tomlin cutting a deal that let the quarterback skip all but three days of the offseason program. But as he welcomes Rodgers aboard, Tomlin is putting himself and the franchise at great risk. Advertisement League insiders have long regarded Tomlin as a strong leader of men with a knack for managing complicated personalities and getting his charges to exceed expectations and overcome adversity. He draws praise for having never experienced a losing season in 18 years as head coach. However, he'll have to use every management and relationship-massaging trick he's got to prevent Rodgers from taking a stick of dynamite to the Steelers' near pristine culture if things play out poorly. Critics have long said that while Tomlin's avoidance of losing records is remarkable, his unwillingness to evolve in the areas of team operations, staff construction and talent evaluation actually holds the Steelers back. If losses mount and Rodgers makes the same observations about an antiquated approach, he'll certainly pull back the curtain on this boss, as he has on others, and subject a proud franchise to embarrassment. Speaking of relationships, one of the most important ones will be that of the quarterback and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Many league insiders believe that to avoid a combustible situation, Tomlin will give Rodgers freedom to operate as he pleases. It will take work for Smith to align his conservative, run-first philosophies with those of Rodgers, who still views himself as a gunslinger. The two have never worked together. Smith worked under Matt LaFleur, Rodgers' head coach in Green Bay, when LaFleur was the offensive coordinator in Tennessee. And Steelers quarterbacks coach Tom Arth had a brief stint as an offseason teammate of Rodgers' in 2006. But there are no pre-existing ties to ensure this thing remains on track. Blending existing concepts with those of a veteran quarterback isn't easy. Just ask Bruce Arians and Byron Leftwich, who spent half of the 2020 season trying to do so for Brady before finding the perfect mix late in that season. And that was while working with the laser-focused Brady and not a quarterback like Rodgers with meandering interests and a strong sense of entitlement. Ideally, Smith would have had all offseason to cultivate a relationship with his quarterback and integrate his favorite concepts and plays into the Steelers' playbook. The two could have experimented, massaged and tweaked throughout the offseason. But instead, they will receive one three-day on-field stretch together before reconvening for training camp. Advertisement How will Rodgers respond if the offense sputters, should he and Smith clash? Will he eventually go rogue and get into on-field trouble while overestimating his declining physical gifts? And then there's chemistry with teammates. Unlike the Jets' experiment, Pittsburgh isn't going out to get as many hand-picked former Packers for Rodgers. Instead, he will have to start from scratch on Tuesday and continue throughout training camp. And even then, will it be enough? If he threw Jets teammates he'd known for nearly two years under the bus, what will he do to Pittsburgh players he hardly knows? Will Tomlin and Steelers owner Dan Rooney be able to stomach weekly outlandish comments from their quarterback on McAfee's show? Pittsburgh's desperation for a deep playoff run is real — so real it feels like the usually conservative Tomlin and Steelers were willing to ignore a dozen red flags, including that they were nowhere close to his first choice. But maybe things will not go as disastrously as they could. Maybe Rodgers will change his stripes and be the model teammate and ultimate professional — a big maybe. He doesn't make the Steelers better than the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens. He might not even have the capability to carry Pittsburgh past Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. We won't even talk about the Kansas City Chiefs. So, is this soul-selling dance worth it? There's no Super Bowl run left in this version of Aaron Rodgers. If we're being honest, the best realistic scenario involves this experiment going woefully wrong, and at last, the Steelers find themselves in position to draft a top-flight quarterback. At worst, Rodgers and the Steelers labor through another season and finish a tick above .500 — as is customary — only to remain stuck in football purgatory with no clear path out.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sights and Sounds from Day 2 of Vikings OTAs
The Minnesota Vikings opened their first set of organized team activities on Tuesday, and there was a lot to take in. On Wednesday, we got to see that everyone from the team had arrived and it meant we got to see a little bit of everything. It speaks to how motivated this Vikings team is after yet another early playoff exit, despite going 14-3 and being one of the best teams in the NFC last year. Advertisement The biggest name that fans and media will see at OTAs includes the long-awaited return of J.J. McCarthy. Following a torn meniscus in the first preseason game of 2024, we had not seen the former Michigan Wolverine since then when he showed everyone what was in store for Vikings fans. Now, there is renewed hope with his return, so getting to see him for the first time in nine months is something special. Here are the sights and sounds from Day 2: This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Sights and Sounds from Day 2 of Minnesota Vikings OTAs


Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Vikings' Justin Jefferson Sends Clear Message to JJ McCarthy
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Minnesota Vikings are set to begin a new era of football in 2025. J.J. McCarthy is taking over as the team's new franchise quarterback. When McCarthy was drafted with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, it was clear that the Vikings were going to make him their future. Now, he'll have a chance to prove them right. During the offseason, Sam Darnold chose to leave town to sign with the Seattle Seahawks on a three-year, $100.5 million contract. Rumors surrounding Aaron Rodgers as a possible option for Minnesota, but the team chose to pass on the future Hall of Famer in favor of McCarthy. Justin Jefferson #18 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts after a play against the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 24, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Justin Jefferson #18 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts after a play against the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 24, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photo byMcCarthy will have a leg up on most young quarterback. He will have arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL as his top target. Read more: Vikings Receive Another Head-Turning Aaron Rodgers Update Justin Jefferson is an absolute menace at the wide receiver position. He was a big part of Darnold's breakout season last year and will be a big part of helping McCarthy get off to a fast start to begin his professional career as a starter. Ahead of the 2025 season, Jefferson has spoken out with a clear message of advice to his young quarterback. "Just throw it up anywhere and I'm going to go get it," Jefferson said bluntly. That was good advice last season. Jefferson played in all 17 regular season games in 2024, catching 103 passes for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns. Once again, he was almost unstoppable. As for McCarthy, the 22-year-old quarterback missed the entire season due to a knee injury that he suffered during the preseason. He missed out on valuable reps throughout the year, but he focused on learning mentally. There is no denying the confidence that he brings into his second NFL season. Read more: Peyton Manning Doesn't Hold Back About Bengals QB Joe Burrow With Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, TJ Hockenson, and the rest of the offense around him, McCarthy has been set up for success. It will be interesting to see if he is able to come out strong and keep the Vikings looking like a Super Bowl contender. Last season, Minnesota finished the year with a 14-3 record under Darnold. That is a high goal for McCarthy, but the talent is in place for the Vikings to push for the same kind of success. For more Minnesota Vikings and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.