Staying Put - Impact Players Re-signed: Aaron Jones, Zach Ertz, Jaylen Warren, more

NFL free agency is a frenzy. As football fans, we love to see the movement around the league. It allows us to dream about the possibility of our team signing a fresh player who could make a serious impact. However, one cannot overlook the impact of re-signing significant contributors. While it is not as exciting as the movement that occurs, it is just as important.

The market for each respective position changes from season to season. As such, the movement of players around the league may increase or decrease depending on team needs, the strength of the market, and the strength of different positions in the draft. So far in 2025, many fantasy-relevant players have moved on from their teams.

Of course, there are always a few important players who stay put. Whether they are older veterans or younger studs, retaining players familiar with the system and who had past success can pay dividends. Let's dive into the most impactful re-signings from this season.

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Aaron Jones, RB, Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are having an incredible offseason. They boosted the trenches on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball and feel as though they have their quarterback of the future in J.J. McCarthy. Still, they found room to bring back their 30-year-old running back Aaron Jones.

“I said I wanted to finish my career here. It’s truly a blessing to be able to come back to such a great organization.”

- #Vikings RB Aaron Jones 🥹pic.twitter.com/vZFFrg0tKs

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) March 11, 2025

Jones spent the 2024 season with the Vikings after spending the previous seven in Green Bay. He stayed healthy for the full season and rushed for 1,138 yards and five touchdowns. He was clearly still explosive and the Vikings rewarded him by bringing him back on a two-year deal. This is likely Jones' last chance to truly cash in, and he could be on his way to finishing his career with the Vikings.

Bringing Jones back does not preclude the Vikings from drafting a young prospect behind Jones. In fact, adding a young player to the backfield would be positive for Jones' long term health. He will need a running mate so that he does not need to carry a full workload and can stay fresh for another playoff run.

Jones was excellent for fantasy last season as a consistent RB2. Expect more of the same in 2025. With McCarthy making his first NFL starts this season, the Vikings could lean on the run even more.

Zach Ertz, TE, Washington Commanders

Zach Ertz will return for his 13th NFL as the Washington Commanders attempt to repeat their 2024 trip to the NFC Championship Game. Ertz was a great fantasy option in 2024. He finished as the TE7 with a stat line of 66 receptions for 654 yards and seven touchdowns. Ertz was a fantastic safety blanket for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Ertz's production came mostly on the back of touchdowns. He scored the most touchdowns he has scored since the 2018 season when he was lighting up the league as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Touchdowns do not stick from season to season, but Ertz clearly has a huge role in this offense.

The Commanders have a promising young tight end in Ben Sinnott behind Ertz. Perhaps they will attempt to work Sinnott into their gameplan more often in 2025. Still, Ertz is a savvy veteran who displayed an ability to get open in 2024. He could provide streaming value at the position once again in 2025.

I'm thrilled that my Commanders have resigned two of our leaders both on the field and in the locker room, Bobby Wagner and Zach Ertz!

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) March 12, 2025

Marquise Brown, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

Marquise Brown is returning to Kansas City after a semi-lost 2024 season. Brown hardly played last season after suffering a shoulder injury during the preseason. He only played in two games and was a non-factor for fantasy football.

Heading into 2024, the hope was that Brown could emerge as a legitimate option in a solid Chiefs offense. Instead, the offense struggled through a rotation of several wide receivers due to a myriad of injuries. Brown did not contribute much following his return from injury. He recorded 91 receiving yards in his two games and a paltry 50 yards in his three playoff appearances.

Brown will be part of a three-man crew consisting of Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice in 2025. The Chiefs could still add another wide receiver to this rotation that could further bump Brown down the line. He is only going to be 28 years old in 2025, but Brown's fantasy-relevant days are likely behind him.

Jaylen Warren, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Jaylen Warren has been tagged with a second-round tender. The tender allows the Steelers to match any offer Warren receives from another team. If the Steelers elect not to match the offer, they will receive a second-round draft pick as compensation from whichever team were to sign Warren. As such, it appears as though Warren is likely to stay in Pittsburgh in 2025.

Teams will often tender players to gauge their market value while also offering them a solid salary if they do not receive another offer. Warren will make approximately $5.346 million this season if he is not offered another contract. He has been a production NFL running back who is certainly worthy of that type of money.

Warren has a new backfield mate in Kenneth Gainwell this season with the departure of Najee Harris. Gainwell and Warren possess similar skill sets, which suggest the Steelers may further fortify their backfield in the draft. If that happens, Warren is likely to have similar fantasy value in 2025 as in previous years. However, if Warren is sharing the backfield with Gainwell, expect Warren's role to grow.

Jordan Mason, RB, San Francisco 49ers

Jordan Mason has also been hit with the second-round tender. Mason was excellent in 2024 while filling in for an injured Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco. He seems likely to return to the 49ers on his tag for at least the 2025 season. If he does, expect Mason's role to grow in an effort to keep McCaffrey healthy.

Mason ran for 789 yards and three touchdowns in 2024. At one point during the season, he was an RB1 for fantasy. Mason faded down the stretch and eventually suffered an injury of his own but his pure running talent was apparent.

the more i watch the more i NEED Jordan Mason on my team pic.twitter.com/k9uZz3dIQ0

— Tyler🐴 (@HighAsTy) February 28, 2025

If Mason can receive a handful of carries and a target or two while playing alongside McCaffrey in 2025, Mason could find himself in the flex conversation for fantasy.

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