Who is challenging Alexander Mattison for carries?
Alexander Mattison looks to be the first running back not named Dalvin Cook to carry the bulk of the load for the Vikings since 2018.
Dalvin Cook's departure sees the fifth-year running back from Boise State step into the primary back role for Minnesota this season. Cook has had over 249 attempts each of the past four seasons while Mattison broke 100 attempts just twice in that span.
Kevin O'Connell's Rams offenses split carries far more than that Vikings have, although granted, they didn't have a back like Cook in their offense in O'Connell's two years as offensive coordinator.
- 2020: Cam Akers (145 attempts), Darrell Henderson (138), Malcolm Brown (101)
- 2021: Sony Michel (208), Darrell Henderson (149)
"They truly could have, depending on how the other guys perform in training camp and preseason, a running back rotation," says Purple Insider's Matthew Coller about the Vikings new look backfield.
If there is a rotation, it means Mattison is probably won't break the 250-carry mark that Cook regularly surpassed. So, who's the No. 2 back in in 2023?
"I think the most interesting player for this is Ty Chandler," said Coller. "A very small sample of preseason carries, but my gosh were they some good preseason carries. He had 15 carries last year, over 100 yards rushing, a number of explosive plays and he's got great quickness."
Chandler finished the 2022 preseason with 113 rushing yards on 15 carries, which is good for 7.5 yards per touch. Those are against preseason defenses but it was still an impressive sampling from a rookie running back.
"I also look at Mattison as being a very Latavius Murray-like type of running back," Coller continued. "Where if he's taking half the carries and there is a Jerick McKinnon of sorts, to make a 2017 comparison, a quicker running back, who can catch some screens, who can mix it up a little bit. I think they can have a very effective running game."
Minnesota has drafted a running back in each of the last three seasons despite having a workhorse in Cook paired with Mattison on the roster.
- 2021 - Kene Nwangwu (4th Round)
- 2022 - Ty Chandler (5th Round)
- 2023 - DeWayne McBride (7th Round)
"I don't think Mattison is going to be a 250- to 300-carry back," Coller said. "I think it's probably more along the lines, in an ideal world, to have him 150 to 175 and then someone else emerges as well. Who that's going to be? I think Chandler is first in line. Kene Nwangwu, we'll see. He didn't get a whole lot of work last year. In fact, almost no work last year. But that was with Dalvin Cook and now this is kind of a new day."
Cook had 264 carries last season, followed by 74 for Mattison, nine for Nwangwu and six for Chandler.
"Nwangwu runs a 4.3 (40-yard dash) and is 6-foot-1, and DeWayne McBride has a heck of a college highlight reel where he can't be knocked down," said Coller. "So, they've got some talent here."
"I think there's an opportunity here for somebody to emerge," Coller concluded. "There's players at this position who are always, kind of, emerging from the middle rounds or even, sometimes, undrafted free agents. I think there's a good chance that we see that from one of these guys this year for the Vikings."
