NFL Power Rankings 2020: Ranking every starting running back

13. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers

Jones spent his college days at UTEP, producing 1,773 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns in 2016. Despite ranking ninth in Conference USA history in rushing yards, trailing former Pro Bowlers like Matt Forte and DeAngelo Williams, Jones didn’t hear his name called in the 2017 NFL Draft until the fifth-round.

The Packers selected Jones with the 182nd overall pick, less than 50 selections after taking BYU’s Jamaal Williams with the 134th pick. The two rookies combined for 1,004 rushing yards in 2017, with Williams seeing the majority of carries. However, Jones took over as Green Bay’s top running back in 2018. Now, he’s a driving force in the team’s offense.

This past season, Jones rushed for 1,084 yards and a league-leading 16 touchdowns. He contributed another 474 yards and three touchdowns through the air. Alongside Davante Adams and Aaron Rodgers, Jones lifted the Packers to their best regular-season record since 2011.

Jones is entering the final season of his rookie deal, but he’s still focused on improving. In a recent call with reporters, Jones said, per ESPN:

"I’m really not looking at the market. I’m just focused on myself. I feel like I can play at a really high level and elite level for a very long time, so I’m just going to do what I can, and hopefully that leads to me being a Packer for life. That’s my goal."

Green Bay drafted Boston College’s AJ Dillion in the second round of this year’s draft, which could signal the team’s willingness to move on from Jones if he asks for too much money.