Aaron Jones Sr. or Davante Adams: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 2 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Adams' role and scoring environment outweigh Jones' tiny projection edge
Start Davante Adams: the near-identical projections obscure a meaningful edge in role and environment. His WR2 role comes with more receiving opportunity, while a Rams offense expected to score often gives this veteran red-zone weapon more paths to beat Jones. Jones has the stronger raw projection and a lead-back profile, but his committee workload and limited receiving involvement make him dependent on touchdowns or efficient rushing. Adams' risk is another quiet outing, though NBC Sports 2026-09-10 documents the poor opener rather than a disappearing role.
What flips it: A confirmed shift of goal-line and passing-down work to Jones.
Sources: NBC Sports · Sep 10, 2026
AI editor
Aaron Jones Sr.
12.113.214.3 Projected Points
Davante Adams
9.511.613.7 Projected Points
Aaron Jones Sr.’s market
Davante Adams’s market
Why Aaron Jones Sr.
Toss-Up· mediumRB1 and veteran lead back. Balanced runner with reliable receiving chops, though workload now shared.
14.4 projection says flex, but a 46% snap share and 4% target share in a committee cap the PPR floor — he's a volume-dependent RB3.
- Jones can win if Minnesota leans on him near the goal line; his veteran lead-back profile still offers touchdown access.
- The committee is the problem: without receiving work, a modest rushing day leaves little room for error.
The call
- The projection (14.4) and the consensus rank (RB35) disagree, and the usage data explains why: 46% snaps means Jones is splitting the backfield, not carrying it.
- A 4% target share is the real problem in PPR — there's no receiving floor to fall back on if the early-down work goes for 45 yards.
- Matchup is neutral at 18 of 32 vs RBs, and that composite is a 1-game sample with 0.00 confidence, so it shouldn't move the needle either way.
- A 21.0 implied team total with a 3.5-point spread points to a tight, moderate-scoring game — fine for touches, not a script that guarantees goal-line volume. Start him if your alternative is a clear bench body; sit him for any RB with a pass-game role.
Why Davante Adams
Start· mediumVeteran starting WR2 and red-zone weapon. Elite release package and route separation with All-Pro-caliber pedigree.
22% target share in a 28.5-implied-total offense makes Adams a WR21 play despite the Week 1 dud (3-26) and 54% snap rate.
- Adams' red-zone role makes the Rams' favorable scoring outlook more valuable than a generic WR2 ranking suggests.
- His clearest danger is role efficiency: another low-impact outing could make the opportunity look better than the result.
The call
- The volume is there even if the box score wasn't: 22% target share on an offense with a 28.5 implied total is startable WR2 usage, and the 13.7 projection lands him at WR21 — above a typical 12-team replacement.
- Week 1 was a miss (3 of 6 for 26 yards, longest gain 13) but the six looks confirm he's in the target-priority tier; efficiency regresses toward his role, not the one-game sample.
- Matchup is neutral at best — the Giants sit 16 of 32 in DvP composite off a one-game sample with zero confidence, so treat it as noise rather than a tiebreaker.
- Risk to monitor: 54% snap share as the WR-2, and an 8.5-point favorite script can turn run-heavy late and cap his ceiling.
Latest on Adams
Adams caught just 3 of 6 targets for 26 yards with a long gain of only 13 yards in the Week 1 loss to San Francisco, well below his preseason hype, and will look to rebound in the Week 2 Monday night game against the Giants.
NBC Sports · Sep 10, 2026Rams head coach Sean McVay, quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Davante Adams discuss the team's mindset as it turns the page to Week 2 against the Giants.
LA Rams head coach Sean McVay and WR Davante Adams speak to the press ahead of their clash with the San Francisco 49ers, with Adams showing mixed feelings with the late arrival and connecting with fans.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Davante Adams looked in sync throughout this summer in a way that resembled their connection during the second half of last season.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Aaron Jones Sr. | Davante Adams |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 12.113.214.3 | 9.511.613.7 |
| Consensus rank | RB35 | WR21 |
| Opponent vs position | CHI · 18 of 321-game sample | NYG · 16 of 321-game sample |
| Rushing Yards | 16 of 32 | — |
| Rushing TDs | 15 of 32 | — |
| Rushing Attempts | 11 of 32 | — |
| Receptions | 12 of 32 | 20 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 31 of 32 | 10 of 32 |
| Anytime TD | 22 of 32 | 13 of 32 |
| Receiving TDs | — | 13 of 32 |
| Targets | — | 25 of 32 |
| Target share | 4% | 22% |
| Reception share | 0% | 18% |
| Implied total · spread | 21.0+3.5 | 28.5-8.5 |
| Depth chart | RB1 | WR2 |
| Snap share | 46% | 54% |
| Start/Sit record | 0–0+2 toss-ups | 0–1 |
Recent form
Aaron Jones Sr. — last 1 week
| Week 1 | vs GB | 10.010.010.0 |
Davante Adams — last 1 week
| Week 1 | vs SF | 2.64.15.6 |
Signal breakdown
- 14.3 vs 13.7 projected PPR pointsAaron Jones Sr. +
- Rank 35 vs 21Davante Adams +
- Opponent DvP rank 18 vs 16 (32 = softest)even
- Implied 21.0 vs 28.5 team pointsDavante Adams +
- No injury designationseven
- 46% vs 54% snap shareDavante Adams +
Compare different players
Every fantasy-relevant player this week — search or filter by position.
More Jones comparisons
More Adams comparisons
This week’s toughest calls
- K. WilliamsKyren WilliamsRBLARvs NYG
C. SkatteboCam SkatteboRBNYGvs LAR
- C. SkatteboCam SkatteboRBNYGvs LARD. SwiftD'Andre SwiftRBCHIvs MIN
- D. SwiftD'Andre SwiftRBCHIvs MINB. IrvingBucky IrvingRBTBvs CLE
- B. IrvingBucky IrvingRBTBvs CLED. MontgomeryDavid MontgomeryRBHOUvs CIN
- D. MontgomeryDavid MontgomeryRBHOUvs CINJ. PriceJadarian PriceRBSEAvs ARI
- J. PriceJadarian PriceRBSEAvs ARIR. StevensonRhamondre StevensonRBNEvs PIT
- D. AdamsDavante AdamsWRLARvs NYGJ. WilliamsJameson WilliamsWRDETvs BUF
- J. WilliamsJameson WilliamsWRDETvs BUFL. Burden IIILuther Burden IIIWRCHIvs MIN
- L. Burden IIILuther Burden IIIWRCHIvs MINM. EvansMike EvansWRSFvs MIA
- M. EvansMike EvansWRSFvs MIAC. WatsonChristian WatsonWRGBvs NYJ
- C. WatsonChristian WatsonWRGBvs NYJC. SuttonCourtland SuttonWRDENvs JAX
- C. SuttonCourtland SuttonWRDENvs JAXM. GoldenMatthew GoldenWRGBvs NYJ
- K. Pitts Sr.Kyle Pitts Sr.TEATLvs CAR
G. KittleGeorge KittleTESFvs MIA
- G. KittleGeorge KittleTESFvs MIAS. LaPortaSam LaPortaTEDETvs BUF
- S. LaPortaSam LaPortaTEDETvs BUFT. KraftTucker KraftTEGBvs NYJ
- T. KraftTucker KraftTEGBvs NYJT. KelceTravis KelceTEKCvs IND
- T. KelceTravis KelceTEKCvs INDD. GoedertDallas GoedertTEPHIvs TEN
- D. GoedertDallas GoedertTEPHIvs TENJ. FergusonJake FergusonTEDALvs WSH
- D. PrescottDak PrescottQBDALvs WSH
J. DartJaxson DartQBNYGvs LAR
- J. DartJaxson DartQBNYGvs LARJ. HerbertJustin HerbertQBLACvs LV
- J. HerbertJustin HerbertQBLACvs LVC. WilliamsCaleb WilliamsQBCHIvs MIN
- C. WilliamsCaleb WilliamsQBCHIvs MINB. PurdyBrock PurdyQBSFvs MIA
- B. PurdyBrock PurdyQBSFvs MIAP. MahomesPatrick MahomesQBKCvs IND
- P. MahomesPatrick MahomesQBKCvs INDB. NixBo NixQBDENvs JAX
- B. AubreyBrandon AubreyKDALvs WSH
K. FairbairnKa'imi FairbairnKHOUvs CIN
- K. FairbairnKa'imi FairbairnKHOUvs CINH. ButkerHarrison ButkerKKCvs IND
- H. ButkerHarrison ButkerKKCvs INDT. LoopTyler LoopKBALvs NO
- T. LoopTyler LoopKBALvs NOC. SantosCairo SantosKCHIvs MIN
- C. SantosCairo SantosKCHIvs MINC. McLaughlinChase McLaughlinKTBvs CLE
- C. McLaughlinChase McLaughlinKTBvs CLEN. FolkNick FolkKATLvs CAR
- Buccaneers D/STBuccaneers D/STDSTTBvs CLE
Chargers D/STChargers D/STDSTLACvs LV
- Chargers D/STChargers D/STDSTLACvs LVPatriots D/STPatriots D/STDSTNEvs PIT
- Patriots D/STPatriots D/STDSTNEvs PITBroncos D/STBroncos D/STDSTDENvs JAX
- Broncos D/STBroncos D/STDSTDENvs JAXBears D/STBears D/STDSTCHIvs MIN
- Bears D/STBears D/STDSTCHIvs MINPackers D/STPackers D/STDSTGBvs NYJ
- Packers D/STPackers D/STDSTGBvs NYJPanthers D/STPanthers D/STDSTCARvs ATL
- D. MontgomeryDavid MontgomeryRBHOUvs CIND. AdamsDavante AdamsWRLARvs NYG
- D. AdamsDavante AdamsWRLARvs NYGD. SwiftD'Andre SwiftRBCHIvs MIN
- J. PriceJadarian PriceRBSEAvs ARIM. EvansMike EvansWRSFvs MIA
- M. EvansMike EvansWRSFvs MIAR. StevensonRhamondre StevensonRBNEvs PIT
- C. SkatteboCam SkatteboRBNYGvs LARC. WatsonChristian WatsonWRGBvs NYJ
- C. SuttonCourtland SuttonWRDENvs JAXJ. DobbinsJ.K. DobbinsRBDENvs JAX
- J. WarrenJaylen WarrenRBPITvs NE
S. LaPortaSam LaPortaTEDETvs BUF - S. LaPortaSam LaPortaTEDETvs BUFM. LloydMarShawn LloydRBGBvs NYJ
Get a Start/Sit call on your whole roster →
Save your team once and see a Start, Sit, or Toss-Up verdict on every player, every week — with the matchup, usage and game-script evidence behind each call.
Add to My Team — freeOr browse this week’s NFL games or NFL player props.