Green Bay Packers: 5 Breakout players set to shine in 2019

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GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 09: Aaron Jones #33 of the Green Bay Packers runs against Foye Oluokun #54 of the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of a game at Lambeau Field on December 09, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

2. Aaron Jones, RB

This guy might be the most obvious breakout candidate for the Packers in 2019. Running back Aaron Jones has the potential to be a top-five player at his position. He just needs two things to go his way: 1. Opportunity and 2. Stay healthy.

For starters, the Packers ran the ball the least amount of any team in 2018 (only 333 rushing attempts) and were last in overall run percentage (32.5 percent), as highlighted by The Athletic’s Ben Fennell. If that wasn’t bad enough, Green Bay also finished last in first-and-10 run percentage (39.2 percent). Only the Atlanta Falcons have had fewer attempts (321) since 2013.

Aaron Jones led the league with 31% of his carries going for a first down or touchdown in 2018. pic.twitter.com/V8ksl1cZE6
— PFF (@PFF) March 23, 2019

It didn’t take a genius to realize former head coach Mike McCarthy wasn’t giving the ball to Jones enough last season. But even with his limited touches — only 133 rushing attempts in 12 games — Jones was hyper-efficient, finishing the season with a league-leading 5.5 yards per attempt. He also holds the record for highest yards per attempt in NFL history at 5.5 yards per attempt (min. 200 attempts).

Giving Jones only 11 rushing attempts per game seems like a crime based on his production, but there’s one thing that’s held him back over his short three-year career: injuries. Jones has dealt with three separate knee injuries in his first two seasons and was sidelined for two weeks during training camp this season with a hamstring issue.

If Jones can stay healthy, it seems inevitable that he’ll reach his first 1,000-yard season.

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