The NFC Championship Game was a huge disappointment for the Green Bay Packers organization, but few players felt the pain like running back Aaron Jones, who was knocked out of the contest early with a chest injury and remained on the sideline for the rest of the game.
As an impending free agent, that may have been Jones’ last game in a Packers uniform. It makes too much sense for Green Bay to move forward with second-round pick A.J. Dillon on a cheap contract than to sign Jones to a lucrative extension.
With Jamaal Williams also a free agent in 2021, we could easily see Dillon entrench himself as the early-down bell cow and become a fantasy phenom in 2021.
Dillon may not be the next Derrick Henry yet, but he showed enough in 2020 for us to wonder how high the ceiling is in Year 2. And let's not write off Jones, either — the 26-year-old might be donning new colors in 2021, but he would do so with little tread on the tires and an impressive four-year resume on the ground and through the air.
DILLON'S SECOND-YEAR OUTLOOK
Dillon only played 11 games during his rookie season, missing Weeks 9-14 after being placed on the COVID-list. But he certainly lived up to the second-round draft capital when he did get opportunities.
Dillon earned an 80.7 PFF rushing grade (80.7, 15th), averaged 5.2 yards per attempt (sixth), 3.4 yards after contact per attempt (seventh) and ranked No. 1 in the NFL in missed tackles forced per attempt (31%). These accolades come with his caveat of just 55 rushing attempts, but former Boston College superstar's talent was obvious.
Coming out of school, we expected him to be an absolute bruiser of a running back — Derrick Henry lite — and that is exactly what the 250-pounder delivered.
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