The Vikings are pretty happy to get RB Jordan Mason back from the IR, after he underwent surgery on a fractured thumb in between Weeks 1 and 2. Minnesota has listed him as a full participant in both Wednesday and Thursday’s practices, an indication that he should be a full go this Sunday.
Mason was a must start when Aaron Jones went down with an injury last season, averaging 15 fantasy ppg over a 4 game span. Expect Mason to get a good work load, as the plan going into the season was to split carries, and Jones has been playing through a sprained MCL since Week 2. The Colts run defense ranks 21st in the league in yards allowed per game, so this is a good matchup to shake the rust off for Mason.
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (thumb) has been...
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (thumb) is ...
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (thumb), who is...
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the Vikings are hopeful to activate RB Jordan Mason (thumb) from IR in time for their Week 7 matchup against the Colts. Mason was placed on IR after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured thumb sustained in Week 1’s win over the Packers.
This news comes as a major relief for the Vikings after tailoring their offseason game plan around Mason’s skill set. In his absence, veteran RB Aaron Jones (PlayerProfiler’s RB 24 in seasonal-redraft) filled in and produced solid total numbers, though his production stemmed more from volume than true efficiency. Reinserting Mason gives Minnesota’s backfield its ideal dual-threat balance, and fantasy football managers can comfortably plug Mason (PlayerProfiler’s RB 41 and rising) back into lineups for Week 7. ~Jason Diaz
A bit of quiet IR news, as the Minnesota Vikings placed running back Jordan Mason on IR. Mason suffered a hand injury during the Week 1 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. He suffered a small fracture in his thumb that has already been fixed, per coach Kevin O’Connell. He’ll be out for the next four games but should return in Week 6.
That means veteran Aaron Jones looks to be the lone starter in the Vikings’ backfield. Jones produced 63 all-purpose yards in a game in 2025 that Mason missed. We should also expect rookie running back Demond Claiborne to see some action in the short term, along with newly added DeeJay Dallas, with Mason heading to IR. Jones currently ranks as RB28 in PlayerProfiler’s Weekly Rankings and should see the bulk of the work against the Chicago Bears.
Sixth-round rookie Demond Claiborne is generating early summer buzz in Minnesota and has the potential to make an impact in Year 1. Claiborne enters a shallow, fragile backfield behind an aging, 31-year-old Aaron Jones and a one-dimensional grinder Jordan Mason.
Armed with an above-average College Target Share and a 4.37-second 40-yard dash time, Claiborne possesses the exact athletic profile required to earn touches, and his ceiling becomes uncapped if and when Jones goes down with an injury. Claiborne is currently a smash in the third round of dynasty rookie drafts.
Stop if you’ve heard this before, but 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has popped up on the 49ers injury report with a calf issue. Fantasy gamers don’t need much more to recall the scare that was last year where McCaffrey was a late scratch before Monday Night Football kicked off.
McCaffrey only played 4 games last year and didn’t make it back until Week 10. This is surely causing fantasy managers panic as McCaffrey has had glowing reports this offseason of looking like his prime self and being fully healthy.
The 49ers recently traded for Brian Robinson from the Washington Commanders. Suspicious fans will now wonder if Robinson was added with protection in mind in the event that McCaffrey misses time. Keep an eye on the Friday practice report as this late week injury report will cause ripple effects throughout the fantasy football landscape.
Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)
Weeks ago, Minnesota acquired Mason and a 2025 sixth-round pick from the San Francisco 49ers for a 2025 sixth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick. Since then, fans and analysts alike have attempted to project what kind of workload Mason will receive in the upcoming season. O’Connell’s comments from the NFL’s 2025 League Meetings confirmed what some assumed.
“I do think Jordan’s gonna bring something to the table in those short-yardage situations, those goal-line situations, goal-to-go, where we’ve really left a lot to be desired as a football team,” O’Connell said.
Most teams in the modern NFL opt to rotate through multiple running backs during games, and the Vikings are no different. Mason’s skillset will (ideally) complement what veteran tailback Aaron Jones brings to the table as they share opportunities. Jones made a name for himself as an explosive runner and reliable receiver in his seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers, continuing to add to his resume last year with the Minnesota Vikings. He remains an effective player, but now that Jones is in his 30s, he’s no longer viewed as a workhorse option. Instead, and as his head coach alluded to, Minnesota hopes to preserve Jones in the final years of his career by lightening his workload. We can safely assume he’ll continue to be their featured back in passing situations, but Mason will get plenty of early down and short yardage work.
Mason set career-highs across the board last season in relief of Christian McCaffrey, totaling 880 yards from scrimmage while averaging 5.4 yards per touch. Mason’s durability issues loom, but when active he’s proven to be an efficient runner. He signed a new contract with the Vikings post-trade and now has two seasons to prove his worth to his new team.
Author: Trey Kroll (@TreyK_FB)
