Aaron Jones Sr. or Woody Marks: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 1 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Start Jones for the steadier PPR path, but keep expectations at flex level

Aaron Jones Sr.’s receiving involvement gives him the better PPR floor, even though this is a narrow flex preference rather than a confident RB play. The key distinction is role: Jones remains in a true 1a/1b tandem with Mason (Yahoo Sports 2026-08-31), while Marks is explicitly complementary and behind Montgomery (houstontexans.com 2026-09-10; Sports Illustrated (SI.com) 2026-09-04). Jones’ slightly stronger workload and ranking matter more than Houston’s marginally better scoring outlook, but the risk is that Mason absorbs enough touches to erase Jones’ edge.

What flips it: A confirmed standalone passing-down role for Marks or a Mason promotion to clear lead back.

Sources: Yahoo Sports · Aug 31, 2026 · houstontexans.com · Sep 10, 2026 · Sports Illustrated (SI.com) · Sep 4, 2026

AI editor

Aaron Jones Sr.

Aaron Jones Sr.

RB35MINvs GB

Projected Points

Toss-Up· medium
Woody Marks

Woody Marks

RB44HOUvs BUF

Projected Points

Sit

Aaron Jones Sr.’s market

RUSH YDS
O/U 28.5
-114 / -110
Rushing Yards Props →
REC
O/U 2.5
-114 / -112
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 14.5
-113 / -111
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+180
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Woody Marks’s market

RUSH YDS
O/U 27.5
-108 / -116
Rushing Yards Props →
REC
O/U 1.5
-112 / -114
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 8.5
-111 / -120
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+265
Anytime Touchdown Props →
GB@
MINSun, Sep 13, 4:25 PM ETView the game →
BUF@
HOUSun, Sep 13, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

Why Aaron Jones Sr.

Toss-Up· medium

RB1 and veteran lead back. Balanced runner with reliable receiving chops, though workload now shared.

55% snaps and a 12% target share give a PPR floor, but the Mason 1a/1b split and an RB35 rank (10.3 proj) make him a flex-only play.

  • Jones can pay off without a rushing touchdown because his receiving role keeps him involved when the game script shifts.
  • His floor is fragile: the Mason tandem means the veteran lead-back label does not guarantee lead-back volume.

The call

  • The role is real but capped: 55% snap share and a 12% target share over 12 games keep the PPR floor alive, yet Yahoo's depth chart calls Jones and Jordan Mason a true 1a/1b tandem, so there's no path to a lead-back workload.
  • Consensus has him RB35 at 10.3 projected points — that's flex territory in a 12-team PPR, not a locked starting RB2.
  • Game script is neutral: a 1.5-point spread and a 21.5 implied team total mean neither a pass-heavy chase nor a clock-killing ground script is likely, which caps the upside on a split workload.
  • What tips it: if your alternative is a sub-10-point projection, the receiving work makes Jones startable; any RB with a defined lead role should beat him out.

Latest on Jones

Role

In the post-cuts projected depth chart, Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason are described as a true 1a/1b tandem rather than a clear starter-backup split, so Jones' per-game workload should not be read as a lead-back share.

Yahoo Sports · Aug 31, 2026

Why Woody Marks

Sit

RB2 behind David Montgomery. Between-the-tackles committee back who carried 196 times for 703 yards as a rookie with light pass-game usage.

Sit — bench-tier RB at consensus RB44: 7% target share in 2025, 8.3 PPR projected vs BUF.

  • Marks’ between-the-tackles style could benefit if Houston controls the game, but his complementary role limits that path.
  • With Montgomery ahead of him, Marks needs an efficiency or touchdown spike rather than ordinary usage.

Latest on Marks

Role

Woody Marks is being used as a complementary back rather than competing with David Montgomery for the same 20 carries.

Why the David Montgomery Trade Makes Woody Marks Betterhoustontexans.com · Sep 10, 2026
Role

Houston's unofficial Week 1 depth chart lists Woody Marks as the clear RB2 behind David Montgomery, with British Brooks as the only other active running back.

Sports Illustrated (SI.com) · Sep 4, 2026

Head-to-head stats

MetricAaron Jones Sr.Woody Marks
Projected points
Consensus rankRB35RB44
Opponent vs positionGBno ranking yetBUFno ranking yet
Target share12%(2025)7%(2025)
Reception share13%(2025)7%(2025)
Implied total · spread21.5+1.522.0+1.5
Depth chartRB1RB2
Snap share55%(2025)52%(2025)
Start/Sit record0–0+1 toss-up—

Signal breakdown

  • 10.3 vs 8.3 projected PPR pointsAaron Jones Sr. +
  • Rank 35 vs 44Aaron Jones Sr. +
  • Matchup (DvP composite)even
  • Implied 21.5 vs 22.0 team pointsWoody Marks +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 55% vs 52% snap shareAaron Jones Sr. +

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