After Dalvin Cook was let go by the Vikings in early June, Mattison is now expected to be the lead running back for the Vikings. The 25-year-old only has eight career games with 15-plus touches. In those games he's accrued at least 15 Fantasy points six times, with five of them coming in 2021. And in those five 2021 games he averaged 4.2 yards per carry, 5.0 targets, 4.4 receptions and 9.6 yards per catch. These are better examples of his efficiency than the games he sporadically played, as in 2022 when he had 10 or more touches just twice. But they also included plenty of negative rush plays, something he's had a high percentage of his entire career. Minnesota figures to also stick to a pass-heavy offense that could lower Mattison's touch numbers, but last year they leaned heavily on Cook to handle a large workload and comments by the coaching staff this offseason suggest they'll give Mattison the same treatment. As a volume-dependent running back, Mattison will get taken between 35th and 50th overall in most drafts.
Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Garners 63 total yards in loss
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Mattison rushed 10 times for 52 yards and secured both targets for 11 yards in the Vikings' 12-10 loss to the Bears on Monday. He also fumbled once but recovered the ball.
Mattison led the Vikings in rushing yards and averaged over 5.0 yards per carry for just the second time this season with the help of a 21-yard run. The veteran back also saw two targets for the fourth straight contest, and his rushing yardage total qualified as his second highest since Week 4. Mattison notably outpaced Ty Chandler by six carries, sending the former into the Week 13 bye in control of the No. 1 running back role before a favorable Week 14 road matchup versus the Raiders.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Solid rushing numbers in loss
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Mattison rushed 18 times for 81 yards and brought in his only target for minus-1 yard in the Vikings' 21-20 loss to the Broncos on Sunday night. He also lost a fumble.
Mattison got off to a hot start before his efficiency waned late, but he still finished with his highest rushing yardage total since Week 4. The fifth-year pro's fumble was also costly, as it came on the Broncos' 35-yard line and led to a Denver field goal. On the brighter side, Mattison made a remarkably quick recovery from his Week 10 concussion to suit up Sunday night and outpaced backfield mate Ty Chandler by eight carries, seemingly keeping his hold on the No. 1 running back job secure heading into a Week 12 home matchup against the Bears on Monday night, Nov. 27.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Officially active Sunday
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Mattison (concussion) is active for Sunday's contest at Denver.
Mattison left last Sunday's win against the Saints in the third quarter due to a concussion, but he made quick progress through the protocol for head injuries, including a full practice Friday and a declaration from coach Kevin O'Connell that same day that the Vikings expected the running back to gain clearance soon from an independent neurologist, per Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. With his status confirmed for Sunday Night Football, Mattison now may have to contend with fellow running back Ty Chandler for work after the latter had 15 carries for 45 yards and one touchdown Week 10.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Expected to suit up Sunday
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Mattison (concussion) remains listed as questionable but is expected to play Sunday against the Broncos, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Mattison exited the Vikings' Week 10 win over Saints after being diagnosed with a concussion, but he made quick progress through the NFL's five-step protocol for head injuries. After sitting out Wednesday's practice session, he returned to the field Thursday as a limited participant, then was able to practice fully Friday. Rapoport's report implies that Mattison likely passed the final phase of the protocol Saturday, when he was cleared by an independent neurologist. Assuming he's officially cleared when Minnesota releases its inactive list 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff, Mattison should remain the Vikings' lead option on the ground, though he had ceded some work to Ty Chandler in Week 10 before departing with the head injury. As a result, it's possible that Minnesota opts for more of a timeshare out of the backfield between Mattison and Chandler, the latter of whom carried 15 times for 45 yards and a touchdown against New Orleans.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Status in question for Sunday
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Mattison (concussion) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Denver.
Mattison departed the Vikings' Week 10 win against the Saints due to a concussion, and after sitting out Wednesday's session and returning as a limited practice participant one day later, he has a chance to miss no games as a result. Coach Kevin O'Connell even told Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Mattison likely will gain clearance from an independent neurologist Friday, but that has yet to come to pass. Assuming he's able to suit up this weekend, Mattison should be good to approach the range of his typical 15.4 touches per game.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Makes progress with head injury
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Mattison (concussion) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday.
Mattison was estimated as a non-participant on Wednesday's practice report due to the concussion that knocked him out of this past Sunday's win against the Saints. One day later, he displayed some progress through the protocol for head injuries with a capped session. Mattison thus has only one more chance to get back to all activity this week, and he'll have the added step of needing to gain clearance from an independent neurologist in order to play Sunday at Denver. If Mattison is sidelined this weekend, Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu and potentially practice-squad member Myles Gaskin will be the beneficiaries out of the Vikings backfield.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: No practice Wednesday
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Mattison (concussion) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's practice estimate.
Mattison departed this past Sunday's win against the Saints with a head injury and eventually was confirmed to be in the concussion protocol Monday. With no on-field work to speak of to begin Week 11 prep, he doesn't appear to be in a great spot ahead of Sunday's game at Denver. If Mattison is unable to gain clearance from an independent neurologist by Saturday, the Vikings may be forced to use the combination of Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu and recent practice-squad signee Myles Gaskin out of their backfield this weekend.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Sustains concussion
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Mattison won't return to Sunday's game against the Saints after sustaining a concussion in the third quarter, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
Mattison reeled in one of two targets for six yards and carried seven times for 24 yards before suffering the head injury on a three-yard gain on what proved to be his final tote of the day. Ty Chandler -- who had moved up to No. 2 on the depth chart in the wake of Cam Akers suffering a season-ending Achilles injury last week -- will finish Sunday's contest as the Vikings' top back.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Produces as pass catcher
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Mattison rushed the ball 16 times for 44 yards in Sunday's 31-28 win over Atlanta. He added two catches on two targets for 49 yards and a touchdown.
Mattison led the backfield with 18 touches compared to 10 for Cam Akers (Achilles). He wasn't particularly effective on the ground -- he averaged only 2.8 yards per carry with a long of eight -- but he accounted for Minnesota's longest play from scrimmage on a 47-yard reception. Mattison also found the end zone on a two-yard touchdown catch just before halftime. With Akers feared to have suffered a season-ending torn Achilles' tendon, Mattison could reclaim a more substantial portion of the snaps and touches out of Minnesota's backfield heading into a Week 10 matchup with the Saints.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Sit Him (Lineup Decisions)
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Mattison continues to average a respectable touch total of 15.9 per game but is averaging a hideous 10.1 PPR points. Even in what seems to be a favorable matchup, Mattison doesn't carry a lot of upside to help Fantasy managers in Week 9. Tack on his seemingly rigid rotation with Akers and there's no promise as to how many numbers he will get. Sitting him is more about his game and the Vikings offense than it is the matchup. I'd rather start a Browns RB or a Rams RB.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Shut down in Sunday's win
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Mattison carried the ball 16 times for 31 yards and caught his only target for two yards in Sunday's 24-10 win over the Packers.
While his 17 touches topped Cam Akers' 10, it was the latter who punched in a six-yard TD late in the first quarter. Even if Mattison maintains his top spot in the Minnesota backfield, the upside of the whole offense suddenly looks a lot more questionable with Kirk Cousins having potentially suffered a season-ending Achilles injury Sunday. Mattison and Akers could be working with rookie QB Jalen Hall instead in Week 9 against the Falcons.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Modest workload in win
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Mattison rushed eight times for 39 yards and brought in two of three targets for three yards in the Vikings' 22-17 win over the 49ers on Monday night.
Mattison outpaced backfield mate Cam Akers by eight yards while compiling a team-high total, but the latter logged two additional carries. The workload split had been much more expansive between the two in Week 6 against the Bears, when Mattison had taken 18 carries to Akers' one. Mattison also could have improved his final line had he been able to corral a third-quarter pass from Kirk Cousins in the end zone, but the two weren't quite on the same page. Whether the drastic change Monday night is indicative of what the division of labor between the two might look like moving forward remains to be seen, but both backs will have an appealing matchup against the Packers' suspect run defense on the road Week 8.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: RBs to Start
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The Bears did a good job stopping Brian Robinson Jr. in Week 5, holding him to just 8.3 PPR points. Prior to that, six running backs in the first four games against Chicago (Aaron Jones, Rachaad White, Jerick McKinnon, Isiah Pacheco, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jaleel McLaughlin) scored at least 12.7 PPR points, and Mattison should follow suit in Week 6. While Mattison didn't have a great game in Week 5 against Kansas City with 46 total yards on just 10 total touches (two catches on three targets), he did catch a touchdown to score 12.6 PPR points. That gives him at least 12.6 PPR points in three of five games this year, and I like him as a No. 2 running back in all leagues against the Bears.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Salvages day with TD
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Mattison carried the ball eight times for 26 yards and caught two of three targets for 20 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-20 loss to Kansas City.
The Vikings' running game had no success on the day -- Cam Akers managed only 15 rushing yards on five carries -- but Mattison's nine-yard TD catch on a screen pass from Kirk Cousins early in the fourth quarter brought Minnesota within a score. The fifth-year RB then dropped another potential touchdown on the team's next possession, however. Mattison is still looking for his first rushing touchdown of the year to go with his two receiving TDs, and he appears to be drifting into a timeshare with Akers heading into a Week 6 clash with the Bears.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Approaches 100 yards
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Mattison rushed 17 times for 95 yards in Sunday's 21-13 win over the Panthers. He also caught his only target for three yards.
Mattison was efficient on the ground, posting season highs in rushing yards and yards per carry. The tailback has now topped 95 scrimmage yards in consecutive games, which should help his case to maintain the Vikings' starting tailback job ahead of Cam Akers, who finished with 51 yards on seven touches in his team debut Sunday.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Bust Candidate (Lineup Decisions)
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If we knew Mattison wasn't in jeopardy of losing his job he'd be a must-start. That's how good the matchup is. But Mattison is expected to lose carries to Akers to some degree, and the Vikings are already the pass-heaviest offense in football, throwing on average 74.5% of their snaps -- and that number is down from where it was a week ago! Consider Mattison a low-confidence starter who you'll use over any other back who you can't expect too much from, including Rachaad White, Isiah Pacheco, Najee Harris and the Jets' duo.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Tallies 125 total yards
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Mattison rushed the ball 20 times for 93 yards in Sunday's 28-24 loss to the Chargers. He added five receptions for 32 yards.
Cam Akers (coach's decision) was inactive after being acquired earlier in the week, leaving Mattison as the lead back once again. Mattison made the case to keep the role moving forward with production as both a rusher and receiver. Entering Sunday's action, he had just 62 total yards on the ground through two games, but he managed to easily surpass that mark with four of his 20 carries going for double-digit gains. Mattison also has at least four targets in every contest this season, though it remains to be seen how the Vikings plan to incorporate Akers into the offense, presumably starting in Week 4 against Carolina. Of particular concern for Mattison has been his ball security, as he's lost one fumble across three games this season and had two additional fumbles negated in Sunday's loss to the Chargers.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Still has coach's confidence
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Coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters Friday that he still views Mattison as the Vikings' lead back after a recent trade for Cam Akers, who is unlikely to play this Sunday against the Chargers, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.
O'Connell went as far as saying nothing has changed for Mattison despite his rough start to the season and now the addition of a 2020 second-round pick to Minnesota's backfield. In reality, Mattison is on the hot seat, though Akers won't necessarily provide the stiffest competition given his inconsistent tenure in Los Angeles. Akers finished his rookie year strong and had a nice four-week stretch to close out last season, but it's otherwise been a series of demotions and subpar performances ever since he tore his Achilles in the summer of 2021. O'Connell said Akers won't be ready to play for his new team this Sunday, giving Mattison at least one more game with only Ty Chandler taking away any backfield snaps.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Contrarian DFS Play
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Mattison has had a miserable start to the season, but so has the Chargers' defense. Mattison is at home in the game with the highest over/under on the slate against a bad run defense. If he can't get it going here, I'm not sure he's going to. The Cam Akers trade should make Mattison even less popular, but I wouldn't expect a big role from Akers in Week 3.
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Vikings' Alexander Mattison: Vikings haven't lost confidence
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The Vikings have not lost confidence in Mattison despite Wednesday's trade for Cam Akers, offensive coordinator Wes Phillips told reporters Thursday. "Unfortunately we've had a couple turnovers in the run game where we obviously need to clean that up. Everyone's aware of that. But we still feel very strongly in Alex and [backup Ty Chandler] and those guys being able to go in and produce," Phillips told ESPN.
Mattison has had a slow start to the season with a lost fumble in Week 2 and just 62 yards rushing on 19 carries for a paltry 3.3 YPC. Akers may not play much this week against the Chargers as he gets up to speed on the offense, but could quickly move past Ty Chandler for the backup role. Given Mattison's struggles, it's not hard to envision Akers moving into a time share with Mattison. However, Akers still has much to prove after his own underwhelming performance this season (29 yards rushing on 22 attempts in Week 1).
