The Green Bay Packers have one of the best running back duos in the NFL with Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. They are a highly regarded pairing that mesh well together on the field given their differing strengths.
Jones is one of the best dual-threat running backs in the NFL, dangerous carrying the ball or being split out as a receiver. He is the lightning to AJ Dillon’s thunder, a powerful early down back who has shown immense improvement as a pass catcher in his career.
Both players are set for major roles in the offense this year as they look to ease Jordan Love into the starting quarterback role. A young quarterback’s best friend is a strong running game and the Packers have the pieces for a dominant one.
Jones has been projected for a big season over at NFL.com, where they have already begun sharing Fantasy Football updates. AJ Dillon’s projections are also forecasting another solid season for the Boston College product.
He is projected to score 167.88 fantasy points, which would put him at No. 31 for the season. That is an impressive mark given the fact that Jones is the lead back in this pairing and he is projected for a top-10 season himself.
NFL.com is projecting AJ Dillon to rush for 760 yards and four touchdowns, adding 27 receptions for 230 yards and one more score. If those hold true, it would be the second straight season that AJ Dillon saw his production decrease across the board, albeit very slightly.
For a No. 2 back, those numbers are pretty strong. But, heading into a contract season, as 2023 is the final year of his rookie deal, AJ Dillon will be hoping to surpass the projections that have been set for him.
There are likely teams around the NFL that would be interested to see what AJ Dillon could do with a true lead-back role, as he will also be second-fiddle to Jones given the disparity in their third-down skill sets. But, for now, he will look to make the most of his role with the Packers as a 1B to Jones’ 1A.