Vikings beat writer Alec Lewis was recently on The Athletic Football Show with Robert Mays and iterated that Alexander Mattison is no doubt a target for fantasy football drafters. Per Lewis,
“From the outset, Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings staff are very committed to Alexander Mattison being the guy.”
This echoes what Lewis has been saying all summer, claiming that he is getting a lot of reps as a receiver and remarking with this when talking about the team’s 53-man roster projections;
O’Connell has not been shy about saying that Mattison will succeed as the team’s featured back this year. He may not possess Dalvin Cook’s explosiveness, but Minnesota is attempting to improve its rushing efficiency more than anything else, and Mattison’s physical style aligns with that goal.
The Vikings have released seventh-round rookie selection DeWayne McBride, who was thought of as the biggest threat to Mattison’s rushing work, particularly around the goal line. Though Ty Chandler has earned the backup spot throughout a great preseason and will certainly spell Mattison from time to time, but that’s the case for nearly every RB1 in the league. Alexander Mattison should absolutely be a target in the fifth round of fantasy football drafts.
“From the outset, Kevin O’Connell and the Minnesota Vikings staff are very committed to Alexander Mattison being the guy.” – @alec_lewis on The Athletic Football Show with @robertmays https://t.co/VMVllYkhwk— Connor Allen (@ConnorAllenNFL) August 28, 2023
Alexander Mattison, Running Back, Minnesota Vikings, 4for4’s RB16 in Half PPR Fantasy Football Rankings
Alexander Mattison’s usage in 2022 was disappointing, as he hit career lows in attempts and rushing yards, but inversely set a new career-high with his six total touchdowns. This was in part due to the fact that the team decided to ride Dalvin Cook until the wheels fell off, giving him 320 opportunities (attempts plus targets) on his way out the door. Notably, Mattison scored only three fewer rushing touchdowns than Cook (eight-to-five) despite receiving 13 fewer carries from inside the opponent’s five-yard line.
Minnesota Vikings current running back depth chart:
- Alexander Mattison
- Ty Chandler
- Kene Nwangwu
- DeWayne McBride
Alexander Mattison 2023 Fantasy Football Outlook
In a minor surprise, the Vikings re-signed Mattison to a two-year contract worth $7 million. His guaranteed money ($6.35 million) was the fourth-most among this year’s free agent class behind Miles Sanders, David Montgomery, and Jamaal Williams. With Dalvin Cook out of the way, Mattison has a great chance to finish as a fantasy RB1. In the 14 games that Mattison has seen at least 10 carries, he has averaged 18.1 touches for 88 yards and 0.57 touchdowns.
The resulting 13.0 half-PPR points per game are about what Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones averaged as low-end RB1s in 2022. Even better–in his seven starts from 2020-21, he averaged 23.3 touches for 118 yards and 0.72 touchdowns per game. That production would have beaten out Saquon Barkley and Nick Chubb last season.
Who is running back Alexander Mattison?
Alexander Mattison is an American football running back currently playing in the National Football League (NFL). He was born on June 19, 1998, in San Bernardino, California, and attended San Bernardino High School, where he showcased his exceptional football skills.
Mattison then went on to play college football at Boise State University. During his time there, he became one of the most promising running backs in the nation, earning First-Team All-Mountain West Conference honors in both his sophomore and junior seasons. After achieving a successful college career, Mattison decided to forgo his senior season and declare for the 2019 NFL Draft. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round, 102nd overall. In his rookie season, Mattison showed great potential as a backup to star running back Dalvin Cook, providing a reliable option off the bench.
With his powerful running style and ability to break tackles, Mattison has quickly become a fan favorite among Vikings supporters. As he continues to develop and gain experience in the league, many anticipate that Mattison’s role with the team will only expand, making him an exciting player to watch in the coming season.
Who are some additional Vikings players to keep an eye on in fantasy football drafts?
The Minnesota Vikings are teeming with potential fantasy football stars ahead of the 2023 season. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the consensus 1.01, while T.J. Hockenson is often drafted as the TE3 in the fourth round, coincidentally immediately after Alexander Mattison. Rookie Jordan Addison is projected to do his best to replace an aging Adam Thielen, who went to the Carolina Panthers in the offseason and should be a good bet to produce a solid WR3 season.
There are even a couple of fantasy football fliers with the Vikings, as K.J. Osborn and Ty Chandler should be late-round considerations while we see exactly what their role on the team is going to be in the early season.
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