The Minnesota Vikings finally decided to part ways with RB Dalvin Cook, but what does it mean for Ty Chandler’s fantasy football value for the upcoming NFL season?
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Ty Chandler’s Fantasy Outlook
After six productive seasons, the Vikings decided it was time to part ways with their four-time Pro Bowl RB.
The immediate question then becomes, which Vikings RB is likely to benefit the most from Cooks’ departure?
For some context, Cook touched the ball 303 times (264 carries and 39 receptions) in 2022 for 1,468 yards and 10 TDs.
Alexander Mattison is the early favorite to be the biggest fantasy beneficiary from Cooks’ departure.
And while he has the physical build (5’11”, 215 pounds) of a leading ball carrier in the NFL, his consecutive seasons averaging less than four yards per carry and modest production as a pass catcher during his NFL career could open the door for a second RB to carve out a role in this backfield.
That brings us along to second-year pro Ty Chandler, whose 4.38 speed complements Mattison’s north/south physical running style better than rookie RB DeWayne McBride.
Chandler’s fit in this offensive scheme, which runs outside zone at one of the highest clips in the league, could see him produce some explosive plays in the rushing game in a complementary role.
Both Ty Chandler and DeWayne McBride have been splitting time as the RB2 behind Mattison.
McBride took snaps with the 1’s when Mattison left early on Tuesday due to an injury.
Ty Chandler was primarily the RB2 yesterday. Lets not forget how he played in last years preseason. https://t.co/i48noWw4GZ
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) August 4, 2023
Even with Cook playing all 17 games last season, Mattison still saw 89 total touches. It would make sense for another RB to see a similar role to either spell Mattison or get some work on passing downs.
Should You Draft Ty Chandler at His Current Draft Day Price?
The Vikings’ backfield competition is certainly one worth monitoring during this NFL preseason. At the current moment, Chandler is essentially going undrafted with an ADP of 230 overall as the RB69 off of the board.
In a backfield that doesn’t really have clearly defined roles at the moment, Chandler’s big-play ability is worth a last-round dart throw on draft day to see how the backfield shakes out.