Alexander Mattison

Mattison was a solid complement to Dalvin Cook in the Minnesota backfield after being a third-round draft pick in 2019, but it's possible that might be Mattison's effective ceiling. Power and burst allow him to hit holes hard, and improved play last season from the interior of Minnesota's offensive line gave the rookie room to run. Mattison didn't add much as a receiver (aside from a strong Week 13 showing against Seattle), but he did show decent hands in college and could be reasonably effective if he were used more often as an outlet option for Kirk Cousins. What Mattison doesn't have is speed or elusiveness to consistently get away from tacklers once he breaks through to the second level, and three of his four longest runs of the year came in the fourth quarter of games where the Vikings held multi-score leads. For a player brought in to provide insurance in case Cook got hurt again, it was also discouraging that Mattison was sidelined at the same time as Cook the final two weeks, opening the door for Mike Boone to make a splash. Cook's summer holdout put all eyes on Mattison, but Cook ended up reporting for the start of training camp.

The Vikings surprised some by nabbing Mattison, a projected Day 3 pick, late in the third round of the 2019 draft. It isn't too hard to see what caught the team's attention, especially considering the trouble Dalvin Cook has had staying healthy. Mattison was a workhorse at Boise State, and his three-down skill set and stout frame (5-11, 221) should allow him to step straight into a starting role if necessary. He doesn't have plus speed or elusiveness and might not be a big-play threat, but he attacks holes with power, burst and balance, and he gets to the second level consistently even if he doesn't do a lot of damage once there. Even if Cook stays healthy, Minnesota could elect to use Mattison in short-yardage spots and at the goal line, and a lack of competition on the depth chart - Mike Boone, Ameer Abdullah and Roc Thomas are the other reserve running backs - points toward some carries for the rookie. But considering Cook's propensity for injury, Mattison should be on the fantasy radar.