Figuring Out Jones vs. Dillon
Alright, so I spent some time really digging into this whole Aaron Jones versus AJ Dillon thing. It’s something I’ve been watching closely, you know, trying to get a feel for how they stack up when you really look at ’em play after play.

First off, I pulled up some old game footage. Just sat there and watched Jones specifically. You see it right away, that burst he has. He hits the hole fast, real shifty guy. Makes people miss. You remember him getting picked later in the draft, back in 2017 I think? Feels like a steal when you watch him glide like that. Makes you think, man, if they just gave him the ball all the time, like some other top backs get, his numbers could be even crazier. Sometimes it felt like they held him back a bit, especially early on.
Watching Jones, these things jumped out:
- Quick feet, finds the small creases.
- Great hands out of the backfield, a real weapon in the passing game.
- Has that home run speed, can take it the distance.
- Sometimes durability felt like a question mark, maybe because of his style.
Then, I switched gears and focused purely on AJ Dillon. Completely different beast, right? Watching him is like watching a bowling ball smash through pins. He’s just pure power. Defenders seem to just bounce off him sometimes. He doesn’t have that same wiggle as Jones, but man, in short yardage or when you need to wear down a defense, he’s the guy.
My observations on Dillon:
- Pure power runner, breaks tackles through strength.
- Great for goal line and short yardage.
- Seems durable, built to take a pounding.
- Doesn’t have that breakaway speed Jones has.
- Pass catching has improved, but not his main strength like Jones.
So What’s the Deal?
After really sitting down and focusing on how they play, not just the stats, it became clearer. It’s not really about who is flat-out “better” overall. They just bring totally different things to the table. Jones is your lightning, the big play waiting to happen. Dillon is the thunder, the guy who punishes defenses and moves the pile.

I guess my whole process here, just watching them back-to-back, solidified it for me. You need both types. Having Jones’ speed and receiving ability keeps defenses honest. Having Dillon’s power means you can grind out tough yards and control the clock. It’s a classic thunder and lightning combo when they’re both healthy and used right.
So yeah, that was my little project. Just spending some time to actually watch and compare them side-by-side instead of just going off highlights or box scores. Helped me appreciate what each guy brings. It’s less about picking one over the other, and more about seeing how they fit together.