After Alexander Mattison's Rough Season, What Will Vikings Do at RB in 2024?

Mattison had a disappointing year and the Vikings' run game as a whole never really got going.

Author:
Will Ragatz
Publish date:
Jan 12, 2024 7:11 PM EST

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Last offseason, the Vikings re-signed Alexander Mattison to a two-year, $7 million contract, which allowed them to release Dalvin Cook and free up cap space. The hope was that Mattison, Cook's longtime backup, would capitalize on his first opportunity to lead an NFL backfield and help restore some efficiency to a Vikings run game that struggled in 2022.

The decision to release Cook looks prescient after his disastrous 2023, but Mattison wasn't effective either. He averaged 3.9 yards per carry and finished 30th in PFF rushing grade out of the 35 running backs with at least 150 carries this season. Mattison made the wrong kind of history, becoming the 13th player in the Super Bowl era — and just the second since 2003 — with at least 180 carries and zero rushing touchdowns (though he did have three receiving TDs). He also lost two fumbles in big spots.

With Mattison at the forefront, it was another rough year for the Vikings' running game as a whole. They had seven total rushing touchdowns, which was tied for the fewest in the league. Three of those came from Josh Dobbs, meaning just four came from running backs (three by Ty Chandler, one by Cam Akers). The Vikings were 30th in rushing percentage, 29th in rushing yards per game, 27th in rushing DVOA, and 25th in EPA per rush.

Improving in that area has to remain a focus heading into the 2024 season.

"I think it’s always going to be something we’ll continue to look at," Kevin O'Connell said this week. "What do we want to hang our hat on? That’s what the run game is all about. The difference between running for 3.95 a carry and 4.25 a carry could be the difference between a lot more manageable downs, and it seems like such a small number, but that’s really the difference between being in the upper half or bottom half of the league."

What might the backfield look like next season? Mattison is unlikely to be cut, as that would do very little for cap savings while carrying a decent-sized amount of dead money. But he probably won't be RB1, either. Chandler finished the season as the Vikings' lead back, showing plenty of burst while finishing his second year with 461 rushing yards on 4.5 YPC. His 77.2 PFF rushing grade was also quite solid. Chandler had big games in Cincinnati and Denver and finished the year strong against the Lions.

The big thing for Chandler as he heads into year three will be continuing to work on his blitz pickups. He and Mattison both struggled in pass protection this season.

Cam Akers, who is coming off the second torn Achilles of his career, is a restricted free agent who could be brought back for cheap. Kene Nwangwu, Myles Gaskin, and DeWayne McBride are the other RBs currently on the roster.

GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could look to add to that position, whether via free agency or the draft. It would be surprising if the Vikings signed a big-name free agent or used an early pick on a back, but who knows? The more likely addition would seem to be a cheap veteran or another late-round pick. However it happens, I'd expect at least one more back to join the training camp competition with Chandler and Mattison.