Pre-Free Agency Vikings Roster Evaluation: Ty Chandler Is Set for an Increased Workload, but Do the Vikings Need More Help in the Backfield?
Josh Frey
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Free agency across the NFL officially gets started on Wednesday, March 13th.
Over the 11 days before free agency, we’ll be taking a bit of a deep dive into the Vikings roster to evaluate where each position group stands before the team can officially begin signing players on the open market. These evaluations will be broken up into the following topics:
- Quarterbacks
- Running Backs
- Wide Receivers
- Tight Ends
- Offensive Line
- Defensive Line
- Edge Rushers
- Linebackers
- Cornerbacks
- Safeties
- Special Teams
Today, we’ll continue the series by going over the Vikings RB room, which seems set for big changes for the second consecutive year.
The Current Vikings Running Backs
After the Vikings released Dalvin Cook last June, 2023 became the first year in which there was very little certainty as to how Minnesota’s rushing attack would look. Between Cook and Adrian Peterson before him, Minnesota has virtually always featured a workhorse RB1 in their lineup throughout the 21st century.
This past season didn’t see a ton of positives in terms of running the ball for the Vikings, but Ty Chandler proved to be a glimmer of hope for what could be possible in 2024. The second-year back took on the lead RB role over the second half of the season and totaled 102 carries for 461 yards and three rushing TDs.
Behind Chandler, Kene Nwangwu, Myles Gaskin, C.J. Ham, and DeWayne McBride fill out the current depth chart at running back, meaning they still have a full room of bodies at the position heading into free agency.
Nwangwu has largely served as the kick returner throughout his three seasons in a Vikings uniform without carving out much of a role for himself in the offense while C.J. Ham, one of the last remaining fullbacks in the NFL, is around largely for his blocking ability. Neither player should be relied on for heavy workloads (at least in terms of carries) for the Vikings next season.
Gaskin, who remains in Minnesota on a futures contract, began his NFL career in Miami, but this past season for the Vikings, he appeared in just two games and didn’t record a single carry for the offense in 2023.
Then there’s McBride, who was selected by the Vikings in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft after a very productive career at UAB. However, he was stashed on the practice squad throughout his entire rookie season and didn’t play in any games.
Overall, the Vikings have plenty of players in their RB room, but outside of Chandler, can any of them be relied upon to take on a strong workload next season? That is the question Minnesota will have to answer in the coming months.
Pending Free Agents
As of now, the Vikings have two players from their 2023 running back group headed towards free agency. Cam Akers, who suffered a torn Achilles against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9, was brought in to help Minnesota’s rushing attack after a couple poor weeks to begin the season. In total, Akers played six games for the Vikings, totaling 38 carries for 138 yards and a touchdown.
For awhile, Akers appeared to be the only Vikings running back headed for free agency, but that changed earlier this week when Minnesota made the decision to release Alexander Mattison, who started 13 games for the Vikings in 2023.
Mattison was selected by Minnesota in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Boise State, and he began his career as Cook’s backup. However, after Cook was released last offseason, the RB2 took over the RB1 role for 2023 and recorded career highs in both carries and rushing yards.
However, Mattison did not record a single rushing touchdown in 2023, and his rushing average of 3.9 yards per carry led Minnesota to turn a large portion of the carries over to Chandler. Now, Mattison heads to free agency hoping to hop aboard another team, leaving the Vikings with a hole to fill in their room.
Potential Free Agency Targets
This year’s free agency class is loaded with talent at the running back position. Names like Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, and D’Andre Swift are set to hit the open market in a week and a half and could reverse what has been a downward trend for RB contracts over recent years.
Of course, the Vikings likely won’t be looking to spend major money on a running back this offseason, considering they have existing options in the group and plenty of other, more pressing needs to fill. However, if Minnesota is going to consider turning their offense over to a rookie QB, they will need to find an immediate option to improve their rushing attack.
Because of this reality, Henry could be an intriguing free agency option this offseason. The 30-year-old running back is entering the tail end of his career and shouldn’t be relied upon to carry an offense. However, he remains a dominant option down near the red zone.
For the sixth consecutive season, Henry totaled double-digit touchdowns; plus, he ran for over 1000 yards in 2023. His 34 carries in the red zone this season resulted in 88 yards and a whopping nine touchdowns, which ranked tied for sixth among NFL running backs, per Fantasy Pros. Minnesota struggled mightily in the red zone this season (totaling just seven rushing touchdowns as a team), so Henry could help fill that void.
No True RB1 in the Draft, but Plenty of Suitable Candidates
If the Vikings don’t pick up a running back in free agency, they almost certainly will do so via the draft in April. This year’s class doesn’t have a Bijan Robinson-esque player who is clearly at the top of the group, but the second day could see a lot of running backs fly off the board.
Trey Benson is a player who comes to mind because of his intriguing combination of size and speed. He totaled 906 rushing yards and 14 rushing TDs this past season at Florida State while also catching 20 passes for 227 yards and another touchdown.
Other names that could be on the draft watchlist for the Vikings include Ray Davis out of Kentucky, Bucky Irving out of Oregon, MarShawn Lloyd out of USC, and Will Shipley out of Clemson.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Fantasy Pros, Pro Football Reference, and Sports Reference CFB.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.