Four Years Later, Alexander Mattison Becomes Vikings' Top RB For First Time
Four years after he was drafted, Alexander Mattison is finally set to get his first opportunity to lead the Vikings' backfield in 2023. With Dalvin Cook's official departure imminent, Mattison will take over as the team's top running back this season — but he may not be a true workhorse like Cook was.
The Vikings picked Mattison in the third round out of Boise State in 2019 after he ran for 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior. Not only was he added to improve Minnesota's depth at the position, he was also an insurance policy against Cook's injury history after the 2017 second-round pick missed 17 of 32 games over his first two seasons.
As it turned out, the Vikings didn't need Mattison all that often during his rookie contract. Cook played in 58 of 66 regular season games over the last four years, dominating touches when he was healthy and making four consecutive Pro Bowls. Cook had 1,245 touches to Mattison's 474 during that span, with a big chunk of the latter's opportunities coming in the handful of games Cook missed over the years.
As the seconds ticked off the Vikings' first-round playoff loss against the Giants last season, Mattison sat on the bench with his head down, then hugged some teammates and said goodbye to the fans as he walked off the field. Set to hit free agency, it seemed likely that his time in Minnesota had come to an end. Instead, the Vikings brought Mattison back on a two-year, $7 million deal and Cook is the one who will play elsewhere in 2024. That means Mattison, after four years as a backup, will get his first shot to be a No. 1 running back in the NFL this fall.
"We love each other," Mattison said to Adam Schefter recently. "Sharing the backfield with (Cook) for four years, I wish I could do it my entire career. But that's also not what I wish, from a standpoint of understanding what my dreams and aspirations are. I want the best for him, regardless of the situation."
Mattison has been productive when he's gotten opportunities. He has 2,196 career yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns, averaging 4.1 yards per carry and 7.5 yards per reception. Across 2020 and '21, he had five games with over 100 total yards while filling in for Cook, including 171 against the Seahawks in 2021.
At his best, Cook was one of the best, most dynamic playmakers in the league. Mattison doesn't have that same top-level talent or home-run ability, but he also doesn't carry the same price tag. And although he averaged 3.8 yards per carry or less over the past two seasons, there's hope that Mattison could be less of a boom-or-bust runner than the 2022 version of Cook. He's a physical, tenacious back who hits holes hard and is known to bust out a hurdle or two when he gets into open field.
To be clear, Mattison won't just step into the workhorse role Cook occupied during his Vikings tenure. This will be somewhat of a committee situation, with 2022 fifth-round pick Ty Chandler likely to be the primary complement to Mattison. Chandler, who bring 4.38 speed and elite acceleration to the table, could be the lightning to Mattison's thunder. Kick returner Kene Nwangwu also has an outside shot to be in the mix for carries.
Rookie DeWayne McBride, taken in the seventh round this year, is the other player to watch. He had some fumble issues and minimal receiving production at UAB, but he led the nation in rushing yards per game because he has a remarkable combination of vision, lateral agility, and contact balance. McBride missed some time in OTAs while recovering from a hamstring injury, but he could earn playing time as rookie if he impresses in training camp and the preseason.
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