ESPN's Kevin Seifert writes that "all evidence suggests" that the Vikings will use RB Alexander Mattison "in the same every-down role that [Dalvin] Cook performed last season in coach Kevin O'Connell's offense." Cook played 72% of Minnesota's offensive snaps last year, averaging 15.5 carries and 3.3 targets per game. He ranked 12th among RBs in expected PPR points per game and 14th in actual PPR points per game. Mattison will return a nice profit for fantasy teams if he approximates that role. Seifert also believes that RB Ty Chandler is the favorite for the #2 job, ahead of RBs Kene Nwangwu and DeWayne McBride.
The Vikings are releasing RB Dalvin Cook, according to multiple reports. The move (or a trade) has been anticipated all offseason. His departure leaves Alexander Mattison as the top candidate to lead Minnesota's backfield, and there's big volume upside. Cook ranked 11th among RBs in opportunity share last season, the team's first under HC Kevin O'Connell. Ty Chandler, DeWayne McBride and Kene Nwangwu will compete for roles behind Mattison. Cook now hits the open market, ready to significantly alter the RB projections for some new team. Check our fantasy football RB rankings for updated numbers.
RB Alexander Mattison sits second on the Vikings' depth chart right now. But he'll climb a peg if RB Dalvin Cook is traded or released. And HC Kevin O'Connell sounds confident that Mattison could handle the lead role. “It’s been really good to see Alex Mattison take a few more reps and really show that all three-down kinda ownership that he’s been capable of for a long time,” O’Connell said Wednesday. Mattison has shown the ability to handle hefty workloads in the past. He's topped 20 touches five times over the last three seasons. His RB29 ADP in recent FFPC drafts will prove to be a bargain if Cook departs before Week 1.
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer hears that RB Dalvin Cook is now likely to remain with the Vikings for the 2023 season. "The Vikings have told other teams they're cap clean now, so there’s no urgency at this point to offload Cook," Breer writes. It sounds like Cook might still be available if another team was hot for him, but that seems unlikely considering Cook's age (28 in August), injury history, and cap hit ($14.1 million). We'll continue to keep an eye on this situation, but you should be drafting for now as if Cook will be a Viking this season.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler hears that the Vikings might cut RB Dalvin Cook before the NFL Draft at the end of this month. Cook compiled 1,468 total yards and 10 TDs last year, finishing 10th among RBs in PPR points. But he ranked just 41st among 48 qualifying RBs in rush yards over expected per attempt, turns 28 in August, and is recovering from shoulder surgery. Cook carries a $14.1 million cap hit in 2023, although releasing him would save Minnesota just $5.9 million. The Vikings have also talked to at least one team about a Cook trade, Fowler adds. (The Dolphins have previously been rumored to be interested.) We'll see where this goes over the next couple of weeks, but Cook is a risky pick in current best-ball drafts. His departure would leave RB Alexander Mattison atop Minnesota's depth chart -- barring a significant addition in the draft.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Vikings have agreed to a two-year deal with RB Alexander Mattison. The deal will pay him $7 million, with a max value of $8 million and $6.35 million guaranteed. Mattison's return will get more interesting if/when the Dalvin Cook trade rumors come true. Even in that case, Mattison's presence won't preclude Minnesota from adding someone else -- either via the NFL Draft or free agency. Don't go nuts over Mattison in best ball drafts. But he's OK to mix in as a RB4 or later RB3.
Vikings RB Dalvin Cook managed just 27 yards on 9 carries in Sunday's lopsided loss to the Packers. He added just 2 catches for 17 more yards. It was Cook's fewest rushes and rushing yards since Week 2. The whole offense gets a better matchup at Chicago in Week 18.
Vikings RB Dalvin Cook ran for 86 yards and a TD on 20 carries in Sunday's win over the Jets. He dominated backfield work, beating #2 RB Alexander Mattison by 17 attempts. Mattison scored the team's other rushing TD from 14 yards out in the 2nd quarter, however. Cook added 2 catches among 3 targets but lost 3 yards on those plays. (None went for a gain.) Minnesota heads to Detroit next week, a positive matchup for everyone on offense.
Vikings RB Dalvin Cook managed just 47 yards on 17 carries (2.8 per rush) in Sunday's win over the Commanders. He saved his fantasy football line with a 12-yard TD among his 2 receptions on 6 targets. Cook dominated backfield work, though, and remains a weekly starter. Week 10 pits him against a Buffalo defense that has gone softer against the run the past 2 games.
Vikings RB Alexander Mattison (shoulder) is active for today’s game vs. the Dolphins. He was limited in practice all week and listed as questionable, but we never heard much concern about his status. Mattison should be ready for his usual role today. He played a season-high 43% of Minnesota’s offensive snaps last week.
Vikings RB Alexander Mattison (shoulder) is expected to play vs. the Dolphins today, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Mattison is listed as questionable but should be ready for his usual #2 RB duties behind Dalvin Cook.
Vikings RB Alexander Mattison (shoulder) was limited in practice all week and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Dolphins. We haven’t heard any concern about his availability, but we’ll check his status on Sunday morning. Mattison’s absence would be a boost to RB Dalvin Cook.
Vikings RB Dalvin Cook assumed his usual rushing lead in Sunday's win over the Bears, racking up 18-94-2 on the ground to make fantasy football managers happy. But Alexander Mattison siphoned receiving opportunities for the 2nd straight week. Mattison drew 4 targets to Cook's 2, compared with the 18-9 carry split in Cook's favor. And Mattison actually ran 2 more routes than Cook this time after merely drawing close to Cook in that category in Week 4. This won't be a big issue as long as Minnesota wins but could cut into Cook's fantasy production when the Vikings trail. We'll watch to see if Minnesota alters the plan here as Cook moves further beyond his shoulder injury -- or if there's just a preference to get Mattison more involved with the passing game.
Vikings RB Dalvin Cook overcame his Week 3 shoulder injury to assume his usual workload in Sunday morning's win over the Saints. He carried 20 times to Alexander Mattison's 3 and caught both of his targets. Cook collected a just-OK 86 total yards and didn't find the end zone. WR Justin Jefferson vultured a 3-yard rushing TD, and Mattison scored from 15 yards out on his only reception. Although Cook's Sunday didn't do much to help you fantasy football team, we'll at least count the workload and emerging from the game healthy as positives. He'll get a nice matchup with the Bears in Week 5 before a visit to Miami and then a Week 7 bye.
Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell again labeled RB Dalvin Cook (shoulder) "day-to-day" on Wednesday. O'Connell added that they're hoping to at least get Cook some work in walkthroughs this week before deciding whether he can play vs. the Saints on Sunday morning. That makes Cook sound less certain for Week 4 than previous reports. Alexander Mattison is on standby as a RB1 if Cook misses.
Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell called RB Dalvin Cook "day to day" with the shoulder injury that knocked him out of Sunday's contest, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. That follows in line with initial reports on Cook's status. It sounds like Minnesota expects Cook to be available for Week 4, but we'll have to track his status through the practice week.
Pro Football Talk hears that the "current expectation" is for Vikings RB Dalvin Cook to wear a brace on his injured left shoulder and play vs. the Saints in London next week. We wouldn't go locking Cook into Week 4 fantasy lineups just yet but will track Cook's status throughout this coming week. RB Alexander Mattison should be owned in all fantasy leagues in case Cook misses further time.
RB Dalvin Cook amassed just 17 yards on 6 carries as the Vikings got whipped by the Eagles on Monday night. Cook was matched in rushing yards by WR Jalen Reagor's lone carry and beaten by QB Kirk Cousins' 2 rushes for 20 yards. Cook added 4-19 receiving on 6 targets, on a night where Minnesota could get nothing going. RB Alexander Mattison contributed 8 yards on 2 carries and 3 catches for 6 yards on 5 targets.
Vikings insider Chris Tomasson hears that the team is "open to trading" RB Alexander Mattison. He's entering the final year of his rookie deal, and no progress has been made on a contract extension. Of course, "open to trading" is much different from "likely to trade." We'll see if another team makes a legitimate offer for Mattison. A move out of Minnesota would be good news for his 2022 fantasy value. And it'd leave RBs Kene Nwangwu and rookie Ty Chandler behind Dalvin Cook on the depth chart.
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