There was a report that the Vikings have called around, exploring whether anyone had any interest in Alexander Mattison. It doesn’t surprise me. He’s in a contract year, and the Vikings have other backup options.
Mattison has done fine with his limited work over the last three years, but I don’t think the Vikings have much interest in re-signing him. They’ve got younger, cheap options available. So there’s an opportunity (if they can find a partner) to pull a Sony Michel trade, getting a draft pick for Mattison as he’s walking out the door.
Entering the preseason, I was thinking Minnesota in 2023 might roll with Kene Nwangwu. He’s raw but had an intriguing rookie season, with a pair of touchdowns on kickoff returns. Nobody else in the league did that.
But now, I’m pivoting to Ty Chandler. He’s their fifth-rounder who played his college ball at Tennessee and North Carolina. He carried 5 times for 50 yards in the game against the Raiders, and finished the season by carrying 5 times for 44 yards against the Broncos. (Not as effective in the 49ers game, with 5 for 19).
I like the look of him. I like the way he moves and cuts, finding the holes. He looks like an NFL back. Every year there are a few of the later-round running backs who stick, making an NFL impact, and he’s looking like one of those guys. I think he probably has better instincts and feel for the position than Nwangwu.
He’s a little lean (5-11, 204), but he’ll bulk up. It looks to me like Chandler probably will be Minnesota’s No. 2 tailback entering next year. Makes some sense in dynasty formats if you’re in one of those leagues with the deep rosters.
| PRESEASON RUSHING LEADERS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | G | Att | Yds | Avg | Lg | TD |
| Huntley, Jason (PHI) | 3 | 35 | 163 | 4.7 | 67 | 2 |
| Dallas, DeeJay (SEA) | 3 | 28 | 163 | 5.8 | 27 | 1 |
| Willis, Malik (TEN) | 3 | 14 | 159 | 11.4 | 50 | 1 |
| Brown, Brittain (LV) | 4 | 34 | 152 | 4.5 | 36 | 2 |
| Huntley, Caleb (ATL) | 3 | 38 | 138 | 3.6 | 21 | 1 |
| Davis, Malik (DAL) | 3 | 31 | 132 | 4.3 | 16 | 1 |
| Book, Ian (NO) | 3 | 18 | 121 | 6.7 | 30 | 0 |
| Kelly, John (CLV) | 3 | 37 | 117 | 3.2 | 16 | 1 |
| Blackshear, Raheem (BUF) | 3 | 24 | 116 | 4.8 | 25 | 2 |
| Chandler, Ty (MIN) | 3 | 15 | 113 | 7.5 | 25 | 1 |
| Vaughn, Ke'Shawn (TB) | 3 | 29 | 109 | 3.8 | 17 | 2 |
| Jackson, Justin (DET) | 3 | 18 | 109 | 6.1 | 21 | 0 |
| Goodson, Tyler (GB) | 3 | 29 | 107 | 3.7 | 24 | 1 |
| Chestnut, Julius (TEN) | 3 | 26 | 106 | 4.1 | 29 | 1 |
| Shampklin, Aaron (DAL) | 3 | 28 | 106 | 3.8 | 16 | 0 |
| Walter, Austin (LV) | 4 | 23 | 104 | 4.5 | 22 | 1 |
| Ingram, Keaontay (ARZ) | 3 | 27 | 97 | 3.6 | 11 | 1 |
| Mason, Jordan (SF) | 3 | 19 | 94 | 4.9 | 17 | 0 |
| Howell, Sam (WAS) | 3 | 13 | 94 | 7.2 | 17 | 2 |
| Williams, Antonio (NYG) | 3 | 16 | 93 | 5.8 | 19 | 1 |
| Mack, Marlon (HST) | 3 | 21 | 90 | 4.3 | 24 | 0 |
| Smith, Abram (NO) | 3 | 29 | 90 | 3.1 | 9 | 0 |
| Homer, Travis (SEA) | 3 | 12 | 90 | 7.5 | 33 | 0 |
| Ford, Jerome (CLV) | 3 | 19 | 88 | 4.6 | 41 | 1 |
| Pierce, Dameon (HST) | 3 | 11 | 86 | 7.8 | 20 | 1 |
| Johnson, Duke (BUF) | 3 | 21 | 84 | 4.0 | 10 | 2 |
| Reynolds, Craig (DET) | 3 | 16 | 81 | 5.1 | 17 | 0 |
| Harris, Kevin (NE) | 3 | 13 | 80 | 6.2 | 33 | 1 |
| Dowdle, Rico (DAL) | 3 | 22 | 80 | 3.6 | 15 | 1 |
| White, Zamir (LV) | 4 | 25 | 78 | 3.1 | 14 | 2 |
| Gaskin, Myles (MIA) | 3 | 14 | 78 | 5.6 | 20 | 0 |
| Freeman, Royce (HST) | 3 | 27 | 75 | 2.8 | 14 | 0 |
—Ian Allan