Around the NFL

June 02, 2023

Vikings running backs

Cook soon to be gone

A guy that's not getting interest in line with past production in early fantasy drafts is Dalvin Cook. That's understandable, since it's been a foregone conclusion for months that the Vikings are going to get rid of him. Will backup Alexander Mattison (pictured) step in and start putting up good numbers? We'll see.

ESPN's Vikings beat writer Kevin Seifert has a new story about it. He lays out the whole background, including the idea that the main reason Cook hasn't been released is that Minnesota is holding out hope of trading him for something. At some point, however, they'll probably need to give that up and cut him loose.

When they do, it will be Mattison who gets the first crack at the starting job. Mattison has had some big games filling in for Cook in the past, but as we've pointed out here, most of those games were against really bad defenses (including Detroit several times). The larger body of work suggests it's a big step down from Cook to his backup.

We don't do a lot with yards per carry, acknowledging that it's a number that can be largely reliant on offensive line, who's playing quarterback and other factors out of the running back's control. But when you see two backs putting up quite different numbers in the same offense behind the same offensive line, it seems worth mentioning.

The last two seasons, among all running backs with at least 70 carries (there are 120 of them), Cook shows up with two of the 50 best numbers, at 4.7 and 4.4 yards per attempt. Mattison shows up with two of the 25 worst (3.8 and 3.7). None of the running backs who have been worse than Mattison in this regard in each of the last two years are currently in line to be NFL starters in 2023.

RUNNING BACKS, 2021-2022
Year	Player	Att	Yds	Avg	Tgt	Rec	Yds	TD
2021	Rashaad Penny, Sea.	119	749	6.3	8	6	48	6
2022	Breece Hall, NYJ	80	463	5.8	31	19	218	5
2022	James Cook, Buff.	89	507	5.7	32	21	180	3
2022	Khalil Herbert, Chi.	129	731	5.7	12	9	57	5
2022	J.K. Dobbins, Balt.	92	520	5.7	8	7	42	3
2021	Tony Pollard, Dall.	130	719	5.5	46	39	337	3
2021	Nick Chubb, Cle.	228	1259	5.5	25	20	174	9
2021	Miles Sanders, Phil.	137	754	5.5	34	26	158	0
2022	D'Andre Swift, Det.	99	542	5.5	70	48	389	8
2021	Jonathan Taylor, Ind.	332	1811	5.5	51	40	360	20
2021	D'Ernest Johnson, Cle.	100	534	5.3	25	19	137	3
2022	Aaron Jones, G.B.	213	1121	5.3	72	59	395	7
2022	Tony Pollard, Dall.	193	1007	5.2	55	39	371	12
2022	Travis Etienne, Jac.	220	1125	5.1	45	35	316	5
2021	Chase Edmonds, Ariz.	116	592	5.1	53	43	311	2
2022	Nick Chubb, Cle.	302	1525	5.0	37	27	239	13
2022	Gus Edwards, Balt.	87	433	5.0	2	0	0	3
2022	Rhamondre Stevenson, N.E.	210	1040	5.0	88	69	421	6
2021	Kareem Hunt, Cle.	78	386	5.0	27	22	174	5
2022	Tyler Allgeier, Atl.	210	1035	4.9	17	16	139	4
2022	Raheem Mostert, Mia.	181	891	4.9	42	31	202	5
2022	Jaylen Warren, Pitt.	77	379	4.9	33	28	214	1
2022	Chuba Hubbard, Car.	95	466	4.9	17	14	171	2
2022	Zack Moss, 2TM	93	456	4.9	13	11	39	1
2022	Miles Sanders, Phil.	259	1269	4.9	26	20	78	11
2022	Jeff Wilson, 2TM	176	860	4.9	37	22	185	6
2022	Isiah Pacheco, K.C.	170	830	4.9	14	13	130	5
2022	Josh Jacobs, L.V.	340	1653	4.9	64	53	400	12
2022	Cordarrelle Patterson, Atl.	144	695	4.8	31	21	122	9
2022	Caleb Huntley, Atl.	76	366	4.8	2	2	3	1
2021	Jordan Howard, Phil.	86	406	4.7	5	2	19	3
2021	James Robinson, Jac.	164	767	4.7	46	31	222	8
2021	Aaron Jones, G.B.	171	799	4.7	65	52	391	10
2022	Christian McCaffrey, 2TM	244	1139	4.7	108	85	741	13
2021	Dalvin Cook, Min.	249	1159	4.7	49	34	224	6
2021	Elijah Mitchell, S.F.	207	963	4.7	20	19	137	6
2021	Duke Johnson, Mia.	71	330	4.7	5	4	41	3
2021	Devin Singletary, Buff.	188	870	4.6	50	40	228	8
2022	Devin Singletary, Buff.	177	819	4.6	52	38	280	6
2021	Darrell Henderson, LAR	149	688	4.6	40	29	176	8
2022	Kenneth Walker, Sea.	228	1050	4.6	35	27	165	9
2021	Damien Harris, N.E.	202	929	4.6	21	18	132	15
2021	Rhamondre Stevenson, N.E.	133	606	4.6	18	14	123	5
2021	Melvin Gordon, Den.	203	918	4.5	38	28	213	10
2021	Leonard Fournette, T.B.	180	812	4.5	84	69	454	10
2022	D'Onta Foreman, Car.	203	914	4.5	9	5	26	5
2022	Austin Ekeler, LAC	204	915	4.5	127	107	722	18
2022	Jonathan Taylor, Ind.	192	861	4.5	40	28	143	4
2021	Christian McCaffrey, Car.	99	442	4.5	41	37	343	2
2021	Javonte Williams, Den.	203	903	4.5	53	43	316	7
2022	Saquon Barkley, NYG	295	1312	4.4	76	57	338	10
2022	Latavius Murray, 2TM	171	760	4.4	35	27	132	6
2022	Dalvin Cook, Min.	264	1173	4.4	56	39	295	10
2022	Kenyan Drake, Balt.	109	482	4.4	26	17	89	5
2021	Austin Ekeler, LAC	206	911	4.4	94	70	647	20
2022	Derrick Henry, Ten.	349	1538	4.4	41	33	398	13
2022	Damien Harris, N.E.	106	462	4.4	23	17	97	3
2021	Michael Carter, NYJ	147	639	4.4	55	36	325	4
2021	Clyde Edwards-Helaire, K.C.	119	517	4.3	23	19	129	6
2021	Devonta Freeman, Balt.	133	576	4.3	42	34	190	6
2021	AJ Dillon, G.B.	187	803	4.3	37	34	313	7
2021	Boston Scott, Phil.	87	373	4.3	16	13	83	7
2021	Derrick Henry, Ten.	219	937	4.3	20	18	154	10
2022	James Conner, Ari.	183	782	4.3	58	46	300	8
2022	Dameon Pierce, Hou.	220	939	4.3	39	30	165	5
2021	D'Onta Foreman, Ten.	133	566	4.3	11	9	123	3
2022	Clyde Edwards-Helaire, K.C.	71	302	4.3	23	17	151	6
2021	Ronald Jones, T.B.	101	428	4.2	13	10	64	4
2021	Tevin Coleman, NYJ	84	356	4.2	16	11	49	0
2021	Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.	237	1002	4.2	65	47	287	12
2021	Latavius Murray, Balt.	119	501	4.2	13	10	75	6
2021	Khalil Herbert, Chi.	103	433	4.2	16	14	96	2
2022	Cam Akers, LAR	188	786	4.2	18	13	117	7
2022	Samaje Perine, Cin.	95	394	4.1	51	38	287	6
2022	AJ Dillon, G.B.	186	770	4.1	43	28	206	7
2021	Joe Mixon, Cin.	292	1205	4.1	48	42	314	16
2021	D'Andre Swift, Det.	151	617	4.1	78	62	452	7
2021	Devontae Booker, NYG	145	593	4.1	45	40	268	3
2022	Jamaal Williams, Det.	262	1066	4.1	16	12	73	17
2022	Eno Benjamin, 3TM	77	313	4.1	34	25	193	2
2021	Sony Michel, LAR	208	845	4.1	33	21	128	5
2022	Darrell Henderson, LAR	70	283	4.0	22	17	102	3
2022	Jerick McKinnon, K.C.	72	291	4.0	71	56	512	10
2021	Cordarrelle Patterson, Atl.	153	618	4.0	69	52	548	11
2022	Alvin Kamara, N.O.	223	897	4.0	77	57	490	4
2021	Antonio Gibson, Was.	258	1037	4.0	52	42	294	10
2021	Josh Jacobs, L.V.	217	872	4.0	64	54	348	9
2022	David Montgomery, Chi.	201	801	4.0	40	34	316	6
2021	Jamaal Williams, Det.	153	601	3.9	28	26	157	3
2021	Najee Harris, Pitt.	307	1200	3.9	94	74	467	10
2022	Brian Robinson, Was.	205	797	3.9	12	9	60	3
2021	Darrel Williams, K.C.	144	558	3.9	57	47	452	8
2022	Joe Mixon, Cin.	210	814	3.9	75	60	441	9
2022	James Robinson, 2TM	110	425	3.9	14	11	51	5
2022	Alexander Mattison, Min.	74	283	3.8	18	15	91	6
2021	Alex Collins, Sea.	108	411	3.8	10	9	87	2
2022	Kareem Hunt, Cle.	123	468	3.8	44	35	210	4
2022	Najee Harris, Pitt.	272	1034	3.8	53	41	229	10
2022	Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.	231	876	3.8	23	17	92	12
2021	David Montgomery, Chi.	225	849	3.8	51	42	301	7
2021	Alvin Kamara, N.O.	240	898	3.7	67	47	439	9
2022	Rachaad White, T.B.	129	481	3.7	58	50	290	3
2021	James Conner, Ariz.	202	752	3.7	39	37	375	18
2021	Jeff Wilson, S.F.	79	294	3.7	8	7	31	2
2022	Antonio Gibson, Was.	149	546	3.7	58	46	353	5
2021	Saquon Barkley, NYG	162	593	3.7	57	41	263	4
2021	Alexander Mattison, Min.	134	491	3.7	39	32	228	4
2021	Mike Davis, Atl.	138	503	3.6	58	44	259	4
2021	Zack Moss, Buff.	96	345	3.6	32	23	197	5
2021	Chuba Hubbard, Car.	172	612	3.6	37	25	174	6
2021	Myles Gaskin, Mia.	173	612	3.5	63	49	234	7
2022	Leonard Fournette, T.B.	189	668	3.5	83	73	523	6
2022	Melvin Gordon, Den.	90	318	3.5	32	25	223	2
2022	Zonovan Knight, NYJ	85	300	3.5	14	13	100	1
2022	Michael Carter, NYJ	114	402	3.5	54	41	288	3
2021	Carlos Hyde, Jac.	72	253	3.5	21	12	65	1
2021	Rex Burkhead, Hou.	122	427	3.5	32	25	186	3
2021	Mark Ingram, 2TM	160	554	3.5	35	27	162	2
2021	Phillip Lindsay, 2TM	88	249	2.8	5	4	45	2

Although it's widely believed that Cook won't be on Minnesota's roster this season, Mattison isn't getting a lot of love in early fantasy drafts. Looking at the ADP numbers at fantasypros.com, Mattison is currently 33rd among running backs, down near a lot of committee types. Cook is 16th -- good, but he was a top-10 back just last season.

Mattison is likely to be an NFL starter in Week 1, and once Cook is actually released, Mattison's ADP will rise. But I doubt I'll be selecting him anywhere. Seems unlikely he'll be productive; better to throw a last-round pick at one of young backups, either Ty Chandler, returner Kene Nwangwu, or seventh-round rookie DeWayne McBride. Those are the guys to monitor in the preseason; see if one can make a run at the job if Mattison disappoints.

--Andy Richardson

Alexander Mattison Dalvin Cook

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