The Case for a Revitalized Alexander Mattison in 2022

A Preview of Vikings-Lions in Week 3
Jan 3, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports.

Forced to guess, I’d say most Vikings fans believe Alexander Mattison is merely an average running back. If that’s true, then I disagree with most Vikings fans. I’m of the belief that the fourth-year RB has the capacity to be a really good player.

Dalvin Cook is, without question, this team’s RB1. When healthy, Cook is a sensational back, someone who glides on the football field as he effortlessly makes defenders miss. It’s no exaggeration to say he’s one of the most talented players in the NFL. The issue, of course, is with the lack of health. Cook joined the Vikings in 2017 as a second-round pick. Since then, he has failed to play a full season in all five years in the league.

Having a strong RB2 makes an awful lot of sense, folks. This is where Alexander Mattison comes in.

Last year, Mattison averaged a measly 3.7 yards per carry. It’s a discouraging number, one that suggests the young RB struggled throughout the year. After all, he had 134 rushes, the most of his career. We ought not forget, though, that he previously averaged 4.6 yards per carry and then 4.5 yards per carry in his first two seasons. Overall, the offense wasn’t as dynamic last season; Klint Kubiak struggled at various points in his first season as an OC. Might a new offensive system and play caller help to push Mattison higher? Expecting to see the RB above 4 yards per carry isn’t unreasonable.

The 61.0 PFF score was similarly discouraging. He finished the year as the 54th RB out of 62 who made it into the final rankings. His run grade was down at 49th overall among 52 eligible running backs. His receiving grade was 36th out of 58.

Again, though, we’d be wise to remember that he finished 2020 as a top 10 RB on PFF. He was 9th overall in 2020.

Now, I don’t necessarily expect Alexander Mattison to be a top-10 RB who averages nearly 5 yards per carry in 2022 (though I’d be thrilled if he did). Rather, I expect him to be a strong complement to the offense, someone who can fill-in when Cook needs a break.

Mattison has soft hands. He turned 39 targets into 32 catches for 228 yards and a touchdown. His average depth of target was a mere 0.1 yards down the field. In his first two seasons, that number was 2.3 yards and 2.7 yards. In other words, he had to catch the ball at nearly the line of scrimmage, perhaps explaining his more modest receiving averages (his yards-per-catch average dropped to 7.1 yards). More encouraging is that he set career highs in broken tackles. He broke 14 tackles as a runner and 8 as a pass catcher. In three NFL seasons, he has dropped the ball just once.

I’m anticipating a bounce back season. He struggled last year, but so too did a lot of players. The new coaching staff alongside the history of strong play lead me to believe that we can expect a stronger 2022 for Alexander Mattison.



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