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Jordan Mason Officially Active for Week 7 Against Colts
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (thumb) is active for Sunday's Week 7 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, and he carries RB3/flex appeal, particularly if Minnesota restores his early-down and goal-line opportunities. He returns to a backfield that has leaned heavily on Aaron Jones Sr. since Mason's Week 1 thumb injury. Before undergoing surgery, Mason led Minnesota with 15 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers, while Jones recorded 12 carries for 40 yards and a score. Jones handled 85 rushing attempts over four games in Mason's absence. The 27-year-old practiced in full throughout Week 7 before being activated from injured reserve Saturday. Indianapolis has surrendered 4.8 yards per carry through six games, providing an appealing matchup for his return.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Jordan Mason Officially Activated Ahead of Week 7 Return
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (thumb) has been activated off Injured Reserve and will play in his team's Week 7 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. Mason has not played since fracturing his thumb in Week 1. Across 16 games with the Vikings in 2025, the 27-year-old recorded 758 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 159 carries. Upon his return, he will form one half of a backfield committee in Minnesota with veteran back Aaron Jones Sr. However, Mason could see a majority of the team's early-down and goal-line work. He also gets a favorable matchup in his return against a Colts defense that has struggled to defend the run this season. Now that he's active, Mason profiles as a solid flex option for fantasy managers in Week 7.
Source: KPRC 2 Houston - Aaron Wilson
Source: KPRC 2 Houston - Aaron Wilson
Jordan Mason Expected to Be Activated Saturday
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (thumb) has RB3/flex appeal against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7 if he is activated, because he should immediately reclaim a substantial portion of the rushing workload and cut into early-down opportunities for Aaron Jones Sr. Mason is expected to be activated from injured reserve Saturday, barring any setbacks, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. He missed four games after fracturing his thumb in the season opener and undergoing surgery, but he practiced in full throughout the week and is listed as questionable for Sunday's matchup. In Week 1, Mason led Minnesota with 15 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown, while Jones handled 12 carries for 40 yards and a score. Jones has since shouldered 85 carries over four games, but the Vikings originally planned to rotate the two backs before Mason's injury.
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Source: Jeremy Fowler
Lineup Potential For Aaron Jones Sr. Despite Likely Decrease In Volume
With Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (thumb) questionable but trending toward returning on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, fellow ball-carrier Aaron Jones Sr. is likely to see a reduction in volume from his starring role over the past month. For the Vikings and Jones' longevity, Mason's return is great news. For managers who enjoyed the veteran's stretch of workhorse-like volume, the Vikings' split backfield isn't nearly as appealing. Still, the Colts' defense presents a good enough matchup that the veteran back is in consideration for most formats. The Colts rank 27th against half-PPR running backs, have allowed nearly 5 yards per rush, and surrender points on 47% of opposing teams' drives. While the brief days of Jones earning 20 carries are likely gone, this matchup and his continued value in the passing game give him RB3/Flex value. He's RotoBaller's 25th-ranked running back this week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jordan Mason Could Return In Time For Excellent Matchup
For fantasy managers who held onto Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (thumb) through his stint on injured reserve, a possible return against the wayward Indianapolis Colts in Week 7 is exactly the type of matchup that could make their patience worth it. Officially listed as questionable, Mason fully practiced this week and his outlook for Sunday is "positive," according to Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell. The Colts, who already fired their general manager and seem inches away from a full-scale rebuild, have especially struggled on defense. Indianapolis is allowing 4.8 yards per rush and 27.3 points per game, both of which rank 27th in the league, while they pressure the quarterback and force turnovers at the lowest rates in the NFL. The former San Francisco 49er will split work with backfield mate Aaron Jones Sr., who is the team's preferred pass catcher among the two, though the setting is still good enough that both can be considered a quality RB3/Flex option. Mason is RotoBaller's No. 26 running back this week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jordan Mason Questionable to Return in Week 7
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that running back Jordan Mason (thumb) is questionable to come off Injured Reserve this weekend to take on the visiting Indianapolis Colts in Week 7 on Sunday, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. Mason has not played since the season-opening win over the division-rival Green Bay Packers due to a fractured thumb, but he practiced in full on Thursday and has been trending towards making his return against the Colts. When the 27-year-old does return, he is expected to take over a good chunk of the backfield duties to give overworked veteran Aaron Jones Sr. a breather. If the Vikings hold Mason out for another week, though, Jones will once again be an RB2 play in fantasy against the struggling Colts. Mason had a big role in Week 1 for Minnesota, carrying the ball 15 times for 59 yards and one touchdown, although he was not targeted in the passing game. If Mason is officially activated from IR and is active on Sunday, he should be treated as an RB3/flex option in his first game back.
Source: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
Source: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
Aaron Jones Sr. Set to Lose Carries With Teammate Returning
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. has averaged more than 21 carries over his last four games, a workload born out of Jordan Mason's (thumb) absence. Minnesota originally planned to rotate the two, and their Week 1 split reflected that approach: Mason carried 15 times for 59 yards and a touchdown against Green Bay, while Jones rushed 12 times for 40 yards and a score. Jones then logged 23, 17, 20, and 25 attempts from Weeks 2-5, closing that stretch with 113 yards and a touchdown at New Orleans. Mason practiced fully Wednesday and Thursday ahead of Sunday's game against Indianapolis, with his return from injured reserve still awaiting activation. Jones also revealed this week that he has played through a sprained MCL in his left knee since Week 2. He recorded 34 receiving yards in both Weeks 3 and 4, giving him a continuing role in the passing game. A restored rotation would leave Jones closer to flex territory in PPR formats after four games as Minnesota's featured back.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Aaron Jones Sr. Faces a Drastically Lowered Ceiling with Teammate's Return
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. was the fantasy RB12 from Weeks 2-5, but with teammate Jordan Mason (thumb) practicing in full after the team's Week 6 bye and expected to make his return after a four-game stint on Injured Reserve, the 31-year-old veteran is likely to find himself back in a timeshare. In a Week 1 win over the Packers, Mason handled 15 carries to Jones' 12, but his absence has given the former Pro Bowler an almost unheard-of 90.4% running back rush share while still finding involvement in the passing game. While Jones has made the most of his expanded opportunities, Mason's return will almost certainly eat into his week-winning workload, and he has fallen to RotoBaller's RB27 ahead of a Week 7 clash with the Colts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jordan Mason Practicing in Full Ahead of Week 7
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (thumb) is still on Injured Reserve, but he managed to put in a full practice on Wednesday. Mason underwent surgery for a small fracture in his thumb that he suffered in the Week 1 win over the division-rival Green Bay Packers, but all signs point to the 27-year-old making his return this weekend in Week 7 at home against the Indianapolis Colts. While Mason could be eased back into Minnesota's backfield, he is eventually expected to take over lead-back duties from veteran Aaron Jones Sr. Fantasy managers should be checking their league's waiver wire to see if Mason is available following his IR stint. He had 15 carries for 59 yards and his first touchdown of the 2026 season in Week 1 before he fractured his thumb, although he was not targeted in the passing game. At the very least, Mason should be back in play as an RB3/flex for fantasy managers in Week 7 if he is activated from IR before the deadline on Saturday.
Source: Minnesota Vikings
Source: Minnesota Vikings
Jordan Mason Expected to Practice on Wednesday
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that running back Jordan Mason (thumb) is expected to practice on Wednesday, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. The expectation has been that Mason will come off Injured Reserve this week to play in Week 7 against the visiting Indianapolis Colts, although it is not official just yet. The 27-year-old has missed the last four games after having surgery to fix a small fracture in his thumb. When he returns to Minnesota's backfield, he should take over lead-back duties as the Vikings look to take some of the heavy load off of Aaron Jones Sr. In the season-opening win over the division-rival Green Bay Packers, Jones saw 15 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown. He was not targeted in the passing game. Mason is currently rostered in 68% of Yahoo leagues, but that number should be rising once it is officially announced that he will return for Week 7 action. With a potentially lighter workload as the Vikings work Mason back into the fold, he is trending as more of an RB3/flex if he is active against the Colts.
Source: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
Source: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
Jordan Mason is Worth Stashing with Return Looming
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (thumb) was designated to return from the Injured Reserve on Monday. Mason will have his 21-day practice window opened after missing the last four games while recovering from thumb surgery. The Vikings are hopeful that Mason will be able to return for Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts. It has been a month-long layoff for Mason, so he might not be quite ready yet from a conditioning standpoint. Once he's healthy, Mason should see a fairly consistent role behind Aaron Jones Sr. in the backfield. Fantasy managers looking for help at the running back spot should consider stashing Mason.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
"Lots of Optimism" That Jordan Mason Will Play in Week 7
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (thumb) has been designated to return from Injured Reserve, and there is "lots of optimism" that he will be able to play in Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts, per ESPN's Kevin Seifert. Mason has been sidelined since fracturing his thumb in Week 1, but it appears he is on the doorstep of a return to the field. The 27-year-old recorded 15 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 before getting injured, and he tallied 758 rushing yards and six scores across 16 games with Minnesota in 2025. Upon his return, Mason will likely split carries with veteran back Aaron Jones Sr. Mason has typically not seen much involvement in his team's passing game throughout his career, which limits his fantasy upside. However, he profiles as the more physical of the two Vikings backs and could emerge as the preferred option on early downs and near the goal line. Once healthy, Mason profiles as a borderline top-24 running back with significant upside should Jones Sr. suffer an injury at any point.
Source: ESPN - Kevin Seifert
Source: ESPN - Kevin Seifert
Vikings Could Target Running Back at Trade Deadline
The Athletic's Alec Lewis thinks that the Minnesota Vikings could go after a running back "with home-run burst" at this year's Nov. 10 trade deadline. Jordan Mason looked destined for a big year back in training camp over the summer, but he suffered a thumb injury in the Week 1 win over the division-rival Green Bay Packers and landed on Injured Reserve after needing surgery. Mason could make his return in Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts, which will help alleviate the pressure on veteran Aaron Jones Sr., but Lewis thinks that "additional depth would be advantageous." Through six weeks, the Vikings are hovering around the middle of the pack with 3.9 yards per carry, but they also rank 26th in rushing yards over expected, according to Next Gen Stats. Obviously, a trade by the Vikings to add to their RB depth would be bad news for any fantasy managers who have Mason or Jones rostered. Lewis lists the Chargers' Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal, the Titans' Tony Pollard, the Buccaneers' Kenny Gainwell, and the Cardinals' Tyler Allgeier as options.
Source: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
Source: The Athletic - Alec Lewis
Can Managers Trust Jordan Mason When He Returns to Action?
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (thumb) is expected to return to action after the team's Week 6 bye, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert. The 27-year-old was placed on Injured Reserve with a fractured thumb after the team's Week 1 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Mason has missed his required four games after landing on Injured Reserve and will get an additional week because of the bye. During Mason's absence, Aaron Jones Sr. has handled the majority of the work and has been the PPR RB11 in overall scoring, averaging 15.1 points per game. Jones' production should give Mason managers hope that he can become a solid fantasy asset for the remainder of the season. However, it will be interesting to see how the team utilizes both backs when Mason returns. If Mason is on the waiver wire, he is a worthy bench stash until he returns to the lineup.
Source: ESPN.com - Kevin Seifert
Source: ESPN.com - Kevin Seifert
Aaron Jones Sr. has Become a Workhorse in Vikings Offense
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. has taken on a workload that not even his most fervent supporters could have envisioned. With Jordan Mason on Injured Reserve due to a thumb injury, Jones has seen at least 20 carries in three of the last four weeks and has gone over 100 yards rushing in two of those contests. In total, the 31-year-old veteran has 85 rushing attempts for 370 yards (4.4 yards per carry) and one touchdown, while catching 12 of his 17 targets for 72 yards through the air. It has vaulted Jones to RB15 in half-PPR scoring through the first five games of the 2026 season. He had a season-high in touches with 28 in the Week 5 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Savvy fantasy managers will want to sell high on Jones as the Vikings head into their bye week. Mason is expected to return in Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts, and at that point, Minnesota plans to give Jones a break so that he does not wear down early this season. In the season-opening win over the division-rival Green Bay Packers when Mason was healthy, Jones had 12 carries for 40 yards and a touchdown and went without a catch. His volume is about to fall.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
