Aaron Jones vs Jaylen Warren: Who Should You Start?
Aaron Jones and Jaylen Warren are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Aaron Jones averaged 8.7 PPG across 12 games with the Minnesota Vikings, while Jaylen Warren posted 12.3 PPG in 16 appearances for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A 3.6-PPG gap gives Jaylen Warren the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Jaylen Warren is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 40 targets into 333 yards, while Aaron Jones profiles as a more traditional rusher with 548 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Jaylen Warren carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.
Aaron Jones has his bye in Week 6, and Jaylen Warren rests in Week 9. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.
