Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones has established himself as one of the NFL's best RBs. 

His numbers are really all you need to make the case. Since 2017, Jones has the sixth-most rushing yards (5,284), ninth-most rushing touchdowns (43), second-highest YPC (5.1), and seventh-most first downs (252) among all backs with at least 672 carries. 

Jones' prowess on the ground isn't the entire scope of his game, either. The dude is easily one of the NFL's best pass-catchers at his position. His 1,843 receiving yards since 2017 is ninth-best and he's tied with Kareem Hunt for the fourth-most receiving touchdowns among all running backs with at least 188 targets.

The receiving aspect is what really solidifies Jones as a threat and as a top-5 running back. He's a threat any time he touches the ball and he can make any defender look silly in space. It's a huge why he has 47 catches or more in four straight seasons. Defenses have to respect him no matter where he is on the field.

Jones has been working on getting better at receiver during the offseason, which is a scary thought for the other 31 NFL defenses. It's also a major weapon and huge help for Jordan Love. In all, there have been plenty of benefits from the side work he's been undertaking in California.

"It was very insightful, a lot of learning for me," Jones told reporters Tuesday. "I have played out there, a little bit, in the in the receiver position; but, I hadn't necessarily been taught all the all the ways and releases and things like that. So I ended up learning a lot out there and I'm planning to go back out there once we get that little break."

Jones is already an important and versatile cog in the Packers' passing game. Per Pro Football Focus, Jones ran routes on 85.2% of pass plays in which he was on the field, which was sixth-most among running backs with at least 34 targets in 2022. He lined up out wide at the second-highest rate (12.9%) and in the slot at the ninth-highest rate (11.6%).

He made efficient use of his opportunities, as well. His 1.25 yards per route ran came in at No. 13 of the 32 qualifying players.

That's not going to change in 2023, but, it should get a lot better. A better understanding of the nuances of the position, along with Jones' athleticism, will only elevate his game and make him better as a receiver. 

And the Packers are already drawing up some different ways to use him.

"We have seen a little difference in like, personnel.," said Jones. "You can pretty much run any play out of any personnel. And so we've been working on that, running out of four different personnel as the same play. And so, you know, one play I might be in the backfield, one play I might be somewhere else.

"So we're just working on that and it is a little, a little new, but I think it finds mismatches and different ways to get people the ball." 

This is big when considering what is best for the Packers offense in Year 1 with Love. Matt LaFleur is going to need the running game in a big way, but he also needs to avoid being too predictable and the three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust method is archaic and puts a ceiling on teams these days. A versatile player like Jones will add an element of ambiguity and, it'll allow A.J. Dillon to get on the field more often. 

"It definitely is exciting for me," said Jones. "I mean, I look to help this team anywhere I can and that means if we've got to take some attention from the ball carrier [by] trying to draw three or four people out – so be it. Whatever it is to help my team, I'm here for that, and I know I can be a decoy and some eyes will be on me to help other guys and make their job easier."

But don't worry, Jones won't be challenging Christian Watson for the WR1 job anytime soon. Watson's job is safe, according to Jones.

"No, no, no. He can have it. I'm just here to help him," Jones said, laughing.

In all seriousness, it'll be exciting to chart Jones' receiving accomplishments this year and it'll be even more exciting if he lives up to the hype.