New Orleans Saints rookie running back Alvin Kamara won the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award in part because he was an explosive game-changer on a weekly basis.

And while Kamara deserves the recognition and credit for a tremendous rookie season, he may not have been quite as explosive as Packers rookie running back Aaron Jones.

According to Tom Silverstein of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Of all the backs in the NFL with 50 or more carries, none gained 20 or more yards at a better rate than Jones (every 13.5 carries). The next closest was Vikings first-round pick Dalvin Cook (18.5). The Saints’ Alvin Kamara (24.0), the Chiefs’ Kareem Hunt (23.5) and the Rams’ Todd Gurley (35.0) weren’t even close.”

Of course sample size matters, but it’s hard to discount what Jones did in his limited opportunities this season.

Jones, drafted in the fifth round (No. 182 overall), stepped onto the scene and broke out against Dallas, where he sliced the Cowboys defense for 125 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown.

It was also the game in which he did this:

Two weeks later, Jones would gash the Saints for 131 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown (7.7 average).

Injuries slowed down his rookie year, but he quickly reminded fans and coaches what he can bring to this offense in overtime against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when his sole carry in the game went for exactly 20 yards and a touchdown.

Overall, Jones ripped off six runs of 20 or more yards, tied for the 11th most in the NFL. Among those who had fewer: Ezekiel Elliott, Le’Veon Bell, Melvin Gordon, Jordan Howard, Kamara and Leonard Fournette.

As Silverstein emphasized in his column, teams who find success running the ball tend to have some sort of thunder and lightning rotation. Jamaal Williams’ hard-nosed, downhill style fits the thunder, and Jones’ explosiveness can carry the lightning.

A big question mark early in the season, the running back depth now looks set for years to come, and hopefully the Packers can mimic what Atlanta has with Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman.

If Rodgers can work with a steady ground-game attack – and he and coach Mike McCarthy can stay faithful to the run game to the extent that defenses are kept honest – the offense could finally begin to approach its late 2010 and 2011 levels.

Rodgers plans on winning an MVP next season. Jones (and Williams) could go a long way towards helping him get there.