The Minnesota Vikings haven’t exactly featured a prominent running game recently, with only 26 total rush attempts combined over the last two games. But with the team clinging to faint playoff hopes, which Vikings running back should fantasy football managers look to start: Alexander Mattison or Ty Chandler?
Here’s the fantasy outlook for each player heading into Sunday.
Should You Start Alexander Mattison in Fantasy This Week?
Mattison was inactive for Week 15 against the Cincinnati Bengals, and in two games since he returned to the lineup, he’s carried the ball just five times for 16 total yards. These are not numbers that inspire confidence for fantasy managers heading into an all-important game for the Vikings.
Mattison did see more time last week against the Packers. He was on the field for 40% of the Vikings’ offensive snaps, but he hasn’t been on the field for 50% of the team’s snaps since Week 12 against the Chicago Bears.
Mattison remains a player with the potential to be productive out of the backfield. Even with his disappointing production the last two games, Mattison is still averaging 5.0 yards per carry over his last five games.
However, he still hasn’t found the end zone on the ground this season through 173 total rush attempts. That is easily the most rush attempts by anyone without a touchdown run this season — the next closest on the list is RB Jamaal Williams of the New Orleans Saints at 92 carries.
Should You Start Ty Chandler in Fantasy This Week?
If the last four games are any indication, Chandler is the man in Minnesota’s backfield — possibly beyond this season. He’s been on the field for more than 50% of the Vikings’ offensive snaps in each of the last four games.
However, the results have been mixed over those games. While Chandler did have a career-high 132 rush yards and a touchdown in Week 15 against Cincinnati, he’s rushed for a total of 92 yards on 30 carries (3.1 yards per carry) in the other three games.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
In the first matchup with the Detroit Lions two weeks ago, Chandler was held to 17 yards on eight carries but had a touchdown. It should be noted that the Vikings had the ball for less than 22 minutes in that game (21:38), so it’s not as if the opportunities were plentiful in that game.
Using Pro Football Network’s Start/Sit Optimizer, our Consensus Rankings say that Chandler is the player to start. His projected 10.2 points include 102 rushing yards and no receptions. Still, his projected stat line outperforms Mattison’s 6.6 points.
The latter is projected to finish with 28 rushing yards and one reception for eight yards.
My ranking for the two running backs aligns with the consensus. Chandler has received more and more time on the field over the last month, and it’s clear the Vikings like what they’ve seen in second-year back.
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