Jordan Mason fantasy football insight from Hayden Winks - PPR Rankings

The Vikings were 26th in scoring and 30th in plays last year with horrific QB play and bad OL luck. It wasn't an environment for RB fantasy points, especially when Mason and Aaron Jones split time. They played 11 fully-healthy games together, and Jones' 46% carry share and 9.2 expected half PPR points per game out-paced Mason's 34% and 5.4. Mason had very slightly more carries with 1-3 yards to go, but Jones managed 3.4 targets per game to Mason's 0.8. That pass-game difference was enough for the veteran to be the RB35. Mason was the RB44 in half PPR. In 4 games without Jones from Week 3-7, Mason was the RB16 on RB24 usage in half PPR. He handled 63% of the carries, and this was during a stretch when the Vikings were 15th in EPA per play and 7th in points per game. This is roughly his ceiling outcome, which is nice, but not breathtaking. This upcoming season should be a lot different in terms of baseline outcomes. Jones will be 31 years old with nagging injuries every season, while Jones is 27 years old in a contract season. We should expect Mason (5'11/230) to be slightly preferred in power-back situations, but he's had under 100 receiving yards in all 4 NFL seasons to date. It'd be surprising if Mason was ever treated as a true bellcow, so his fantasy ceiling is purely tied to rushing touchdowns and positive game scripts. Well, the Vikings should be much better with Kyler Murray instead of JJ McCarthy and Carson Wentz, so Mason has a pathway to being a half PPR sleeper here if he can ghost Jones on rushing downs and 1st-and-10s. Mason's advanced rushing numbers suggest...