5 bold predictions for Green Bay Packers in 2021

3. Aaron Jones won’t get 200 carries

The Packers’ decision to retain Jones via a four-year, $48 million deal might be the most surprising contract of the offseason. It’s not that Jones isn’t a really good player, it’s just a bit of a shock that Green Bay was willing to pay that kind of premium for a running back.

That doesn’t mean Jones is going to dominate Green Bay’s backfield in terms of carries next season. LaFleur and his staff will place a great emphasis on keeping him fresh for what they hope will be a lengthy postseason run.

That means second-year pro A.J. Dillon is still in line for a heavy workload. The former Boston College star will get enough carries to make this backfield a true timeshare. The idea that Dillon might actually get more regular season carries isn’t out of the question.

From Jones’ perspective, that means the Packers are going to manage his workload with extreme conservatism. He won’t get anywhere near the 250 carries most experts are projecting during the upcoming 17-game campaign. Look for his total to rest just under 200 if all goes according to plan in Green Bay.